Page 114 of Bonking the Billionaire

“I’m not asking for a lawyer. It was an accident,” I said. “Is he in some kind of trouble?”

“Mr. Carrington?” She gave me a look like that was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard. “No. Not anymore.”

“Good,” I said. “So he can come with us.”

“You can’t leave. We need to finish recording your statement.”

“Lawyer,” Layana said.

It felt silly that I would need a lawyer when I hadn’t done anything wrong. I wanted to get this over with. I wanted to see Oscar. But my bestie was looking out for me, and she was right.

I took a slow breath. “Fine. If you have questions, I should have a lawyer. You can appoint one to me, right?”

“You can’t request a court-appointed lawyer unless you’ve been charged with a crime.”

Well that sucked.

“You’re saying you didn’t know who Mr. Carrington was when you kidnapped him?” the officer asked.

“Kidnapped?”Layana and I said at the same time.

Layana burst out laughing.

A tsunami of nausea ripped through my middle. I put a hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t throw up. It took me a few moments to get it together enough to answer. “He came out of the hospital and didn’t know who he was. He stayed with me, but not because I forced him to.”

“Totally consensual,” Layana said.

The officer took some more notes.

“I’d like to see him now, please,” I said. “Is he being accused of doing something wrong?”

She turned the paper for me to see. “Sign here.”

“She’s not signing anything,” Layana said.

The officer looked at me. I couldn’t afford a lawyer, but at least on this point, I definitely could agree with Layana. Signing things seemed like not the best idea given the circumstances.

“Take a seat,” the officer said.

We did.

“Do you think they’re going to arrest me?” I whispered to Layana.

“You didn’t do anything wrong. I mean, I guess they could consider you an accessory after the fact to whatever Oscar did. I’m thinking something corporate yet get-your-hands dirty, like extortion with a side of breaking all your toes.”

“He wouldn’t,” I said.

“You didn’t know him before.”

“But I do know him. I know the man he is. He’s a good person. I’m sure of it.”

“Sometimes good people do bad things.”

I couldn’t accept that. All of this was some sort of misunderstanding, I was certain of it.

Layana leaned closer. “What’s with everyone thinking you’re kidnapping people lately? Like with that little girl at the carnival?”

“Shh.” I elbowed her in the ribs. The last thing I needed was for the police to think I was a serial kidnapper.

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