Page 42 of He Doesn't Deserve You

Emily’s phone began to ring, and she answered it quickly. “I’m on my way,” she said, slipping out the door.

Roman stood and watched her go.

22

Detective Martin sent Detective Johnson a terse, one-word text from the parking lot of headquarters: “Here.” Minutes later, as Martin entered the building, he found Detective Johnson waiting for him in the lobby, holding a folder in hand.

Handing the folder to Detective Martin, Johnson fell into step beside him. “Our bartender’s name is Michael Culliver, thirty-four years old,” he reported. “His rap sheet includes narcotics possession and distribution, petty theft, and rape.”

Reaching his desk, Martin dropped the file onto it and took a seat. He opened the folder and scanned the first page before looking up at Johnson, who nodded and smiled. “Brother of Maggie Culliver,” Johnson said.

“I’m going to need an arrest warrant,” Martin said.

“Already prepared the affidavit. It’s in the file. I just need your signature,” Johnson replied.

“Thanks,” Martin said as he flipped through the pages, located the affidavit, and read it carefully. After signing it, he closed the file and handed it back to Johnson. “Get this to the Judge.”

“On it,” Johnson said, grabbing the file from Martin’s hands and quickly making his way out.

Two hours later, Detectives Martin and Johnson stood on the porch of Michael Culliver’s house, pounding heavily on the front door. It took a few minutes, but when a groggy Michael finally opened the door and saw the two uniformed officers standing before him, he immediately tried to shut it again.

Detective Martin acted quickly, placing his hand on the door and pushing it open. “Michael Culliver, you’re under arrest for administering a noxious substance to Emily Anderson,” he announced, pushing the arrest warrant into Michael’s chest.

Michael refused to accept the paper, and Detective Martin let it fall to the ground. As he read Michael his rights, he cuffed his hands behind his back.

“Can I at least get my shoes on?” Michael asked.

“I’ll get them,” Johnson said and left the room to find them. Moments later, he returned with a pair of slides and tossed them on the floor in front of Michael.

Back at the station, Detective Martin sat across from Michael in the interrogation room. “What is your grudge against Emily?” he asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even know an Emily,” Michael responded.

“Maybe not, but your sister does,” Martin said, tossing a still image from a video onto the desk. The picture clearly showed Emily arguing with Michael’s sister, Maggie.

“How did you feel when Emily was yelling at your sister? If that were my sister, it would piss me off,” Detective Martin said, watching Michael closely for any reaction.

Michael remained impassive.

“Was your sister sleeping with Emily’s husband?” Martin pressed.

Michael shrugged, “How would I know?”

“Come on, Michael. You knew what was going on. Why else would you drug Emily? Were you helping your sister blackmail her? Was she going to share the money with you?” Martin’s tone grew more accusatory.

Michael crossed his arms defiantly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t drug anyone.”

“Oh, no?” Detective Martin retorted, tossing a photograph onto the table. It showed Michael dropping something into Emily’s drink. “Does this refresh your memory?”

Michael cast his eyes on the picture and said, “I want my lawyer.”

Detective Martin pushed his chair back and stood up, leaving the interrogation room. The interview was over, for now. He went to find Detective Johnson. “Let’s get Maggie in here for an interview. Maybe we can get them to turn on each other.”

“I’m on it,” Johnson replied. It didn’t take him long to find the phone number for the Hudson County Health Clinic, where Maggie and Gabriel worked. He dialed the number, and a woman answered, “Hudson County Health Clinic. How may I direct your call?”

“Yes, I’d like to speak with Maggie Culliver, please.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Culliver is not in today. Would you like to leave a message?”

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