Page 65 of Obsession
In fact, the entire office is quiet. Eyes peer over the cubicle walls around the room, and Grace, over by the coffee machine, looks away when I catch her gaze.
That’s fucking odd.
I enter James’s office and stop dead in my tracks.
Two detectives stand beside the desks with their hands clasped in front of their bodies.
“Have a seat,” James says to me.
I slowly walk over, never taking my eyes off the cops. My butt meets the chair, and James glances at the detectives before running a hand over his graying beard. He motions to the man to my left who’s dressed in slacks and a gray button-up shirt. “Why don’t you introduce yourself.”
“Miss Campbell. I’m Detective Chapman, and this is my colleague, Detective Briem.”
They know I murdered my dad, and now they’re here to arrest me.
My heart begins to thrash almost violently, but I’m calm as a lake on the outside. I stay silent, waiting for them to carry on.
They exchange a glance, and then Detective Chapman crouches down in front of me and looks me in the eye. “Robbie Hammond escaped prison early this morning, and we believe you’re in imminent danger.”
My heart drops, or maybe it soars. I don’t know. Emotions flood me all at once, too many to decipher—excitement, anticipation, anxiety, fear.
“He escaped?”
Chapman nods.
My lashes flutter, and I look over at James. He appears almost apologetic, as if this is his fault.
The word “How?” blurts from my lips, and I look back at Chapman.
“He killed two of the prison officers and stole their clothes. Armed with keys and an ID badge, it was easy for him to sneak out.”
I must blink at least ten times, trying to get my head around how the hell an inmate on death row can pull that off. “He could do that?”
Chapman rubs at his neck, then nods at me again. “They have a shitstorm to answer for now that one of the country’s most dangerous serial killers is on the loose.”
“Oh my God…” I breathe out as the seriousness of the situation dawns on me.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you that Mr. Hammond collected your news column. We found…” He clears his throat, glancing quickly at his colleague before admitting, “We found semen on your pictures.”
My lips twitch.
Don’t laugh.
Don’t you fucking dare laugh, Savannah. Now is not the time.
“Semen?” I ask stupidly before biting down on my tongue.
Chapman looks uncomfortable. “We have reasons to believe he has grown attached to you and that he might seek you out.”
“Why would he seek me out?” I pray to God that he doesn’t. It’s not safe for him. The police will be keeping a close eye on me.
James butts in, “Savannah, why don’t you have the rest of the week off? I can only imagine how much this is to take in with your father’s passing and now this.”
I stare at James for such a long moment that Chapman puts his hand on my shoulder, as though he needs to bring me back to the present moment. And maybe he does.
I need to see Robbie.
Is he okay?
