Page 51 of Hidden Rocco
If he protected Mica, and she continued to help his mother, then what happened to him didn’t matter.
Brickenridge stood and banged on the door like they were done.
Officer 4973 returned with a pad of paper and took the seat opposite him. Brickenridge sat beside him like they were friends, or at least on the same side.
Once everyone settled, 4973 asked, “Mr. Hellsworth, do you work for Miss Murphy?”
Mr. Brickenridge gave him a pointed stare.
Rocco scratched his neck as this wasn’t how he remembered the last time he was questioned. The last time the cops all had acted like he was guilty and talked down to him, but he nodded as he said, “Yes, sir.”
4973 then asked, “Did you ensure she and her son were safe before you scouted the house for danger?”
Again Brickenridge’s gaze was penetrating and he didn’t blink. This must be his sign to answer simply.
Rocco folded his hands together. “Yes, sir.”
4973 then played with his pen between his fingers and glanced up, “Do you know who you fought?”
Brickenridge’s blue eyes seriously didn’t move. It was like he saw everything. Rocco’s face felt hot and he shrugged. “No. He hit me from behind with my boss's flower vase and started the fight.”
4973 hit the button of his pen and it clicked. “You’re clearly an expert brawler, Mr. Hellsworth. You survived a former professional boxer’s assault.”
A professional wouldn’t need metal rings. It was a low end trick, like his brothers would have used on him as a boy. Rocco had survived because this wasn’t his first run-in with bruisers. “I see.”
The officer stood up and held his hand out to shake.
Rocco’s stomach twisted.
Was this some sick joke? He half expected to be thrown against the wall and handcuffed.
But he stared at the man’s hand again as he stood.
The older lawyer with the tie wouldn’t be much help and would probably be knocked out in any fight fast. Rocco reached forward and shook 4973’s hand who then said, “You can go now, but stay close in case we need to question you further.”
He didn’t care that his eyes opened wider. He knew because of the slight sting in his cut eyelids from the fight. “Is Miss Murphy still in danger?”
4973’s lips pressed together and he stared at him like they were equals. “We believe she is, yes. The perp was paid a large sum of money to locate her whereabouts and we believe he signaled her location to his boss.”
“Got it,” Rocco said.
His job wasn’t over then. Somehow he was being let out, and he’d get his chance to ensure that Mica and Jacob were safe from harm.
The officer patted his arm and said, “Keep her safe.”
Then 4973 opened the door.
Rocco’s body tightened, certain they were going to cuff him, but as they were buzzed through to the waiting area, he asked his short bald lawyer, “They’re just letting me go? That’s it?”
His lawyer adjusted his red tie and said, “I told you. I’m a good lawyer.”
They made it to the door and the cool night air brushed against his battered face that must look like a mangled mess. He crossed his arms and glanced down at his lawyer. “But they didn’t look me up?”
Brickenridge shrugged as they went down the few steps and said, “Miss Murphy wants you with her and with her kind of money, we all do what she wants.”
Until he’d met Mica he hadn’t believed women like her existed. Half of him still didn’t, but he glanced up and down the street. The lawyer said she was in a nearby diner. Rocco said, “I see.”
Brickenridge walked with him to the bottom stone step and clicked his Lexus on. “She’ll make this town a fortune when she opens next year and brings in high-end clientele who will eat at our restaurants and shop in our stores.”
