"Yes, we did interview Lexi," he said. "We're just trying to get the story straight."
Get the story straight? What is he getting at?
"And you and Emily are together… a couple?" Detective Wallace asked.
I didn't like his tone. My eyes narrowed on him. He was making me feel like I was the perpetrator.
"Yes, we are together," I answered sternly.
"And you've been together for a few months now? And your sister and Emily met at a self-defense class?" It started to feel like he was insinuating that either Lexi or I was lying or keeping something from him.
"If you have something to say to me, say it. I won't sit here and let you treat me like I'm the criminal when the asshole that did this to us is still out there."
Both detectives looked up at me, surprised at my words. I wasn't in the mood to deal with this.
"Well, here's the thing," Detective Palmer said. "I've spoken to the police in Las Vegas. They finished interviewing Jake Terrell, and he was confused and shocked by our allegations. He has five people that all say he has been in Las Vegas at his casino the days of the accident and afterward. They said there was no way he could have been in New York. We've checked the flight logs for all the major airlines and didn't see his name on any of them. We're in the process of checking private flights, but that information will take a little longer to get back. Right now, we’re stuck in a difficult spot until we can talk to Emily and get her account of the events. So we only have you and your sister saying that you think it was Jake, based on what Emily told you. Neither of you saw him personally, so you can see where we have a problem."
So the new information is that Jake Terrell has an alibi and he will be set free? You've got to be fucking kidding me.
Detective Palmer flipped open a manila folder with a picture paper-clipped to the inside front cover. Leaning forward, I realized I recognized the man in the picture. It was the investor I had a meeting with in my office. The one I had met with after I returned from London. Mike Brewster.
"Wait," I said, stopping him from closing the folder. "Why do you have Mike Brewster's picture in there?"
"Mike Brewster?" The detective cocked his head, confused. "That's Jake Terrell." He pointed to the photo.
All blood had drained from my face and every muscle in my body tightened. I met the son of a bitch. He’d been in my office.
"He was here." I slapped my palm on the picture. "He was here in New York, in my office. He came to see me a few days ago. The crazy…" My voice faded as I tried to remember the day. What he had said. What he had done. "He said his name was Mike Brewster. He picked up a picture of me and Emily. He made a comment on how I shouldn't let her go. That I should hang on to her or something like that. The son of a bitch was in my office!" I yelled at them.
"Are you sure this is the man you saw?" Detective Palmer held up the picture.
"Positive." I stared at his face.
"Is there anyone else at your office that can account for what you're telling us?" Detective Wallace asked.
"Yes, my assistant, Shelly. She'll tell you."
"Okay. We'll try to get her questioned as soon as possible, but the most important person we need to talk to is Emily. Unfortunately, without her side of it all, it's going to be hard to take him in. He's just got too many witnesses to back up his alibi. It's going to be your word against his."
"You're going to let him get away with this? He was here in New York. He tried to kill Emily. He tried to kill us by driving us off the road!" By the time I got to the last word, I had risen from my seat and was screaming, leaning over the table. I felt like Jake was going to get away with it. He was going to get away with trying to kill us! If Lexi hadn't burst through the door at that moment, I might have hit one of the detectives out of anger.
"Reed!" she screamed at me.
I whirled around, breathing hard and gripping my side. My ribs were screaming at me.
Lexi stood in the doorway, a little out of breath herself. "Emily… she's awake."
Without another word or thought, I pushed past her and ran down the hall toward the elevators, ignoring the pain radiating through my body. I didn't care about anything else right now, just getting to see her.
By the time the elevator doors finally opened, Lexi and the two detectives had caught up with me. I was the only person who sprinted down the hall once the elevator doors opened onto her floor, though. My elation of knowing I was going to see her soon crashed when I saw that two uniformed officers stood guard in front of her door, blocking my way in.
"I'm sorry, no one is allowed in the room," said the one on the left that looked like a wide receiver.
"What do you mean? Move. I want to see her. Now." I felt the anger pouring out of me. I hardly recognized my own voice. It had been a couple years since I'd felt this kind of anger. It happened the last time someone I loved was taken from me.
"I'm sorry, sir, but you'll have to wait. The detectives will not allow anyone to see her until she's been questioned."
"She just woke up from a goddamn coma. You couldn't have given her a few minutes? Maybe let her see that she has people here that care about her so she doesn't think she's here alone?" I spat out.
"Reed." Lexi came up beside me and grabbed my arm. The two officers moved out of the way as they let the two detectives through. "Reed, come on. Come sit with me," Lexi pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Reed." Detective Palmer gave me a pitied glance. "You can see her as soon as we're done questioning her."
I could feel my muscles tense and, if it hadn't been for Lexi's hand on my arm, I might have lost control. Finally, I relaxed a little, letting Lexi drag me across the hall toward the waiting room.
It wasn't until we approached the waiting room doors that I was strong enough to tear my eyes away from her door. My heart was breaking knowing that she was in there and didn't know I was here—although she probably heard me screaming at the officers blocking her door. It killed me to know that she woke up without me.
"Did you get a chance to talk to her?" I asked as we pushed through the waiting room doors.
Lexi shook her head. "I was there when she started waking up, but then the doctors came in and the nurses pushed me out before I could let her know. I wanted to stay with her, but when I saw the police officers, I came to get you."
Brandon came up from behind me. "What happened? I go to the restroom and when I come back, it's like all hell’s broken loose."
"Emily woke up." Lexi wrapped her arm through his. "But they won't let us in there. They're questioning her."
"That's bullshit." He looked at me and I gave him an agreeing nod. I just wasn't in the mood to talk.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my pocket. Robbins. Lexi and Brandon sat down and I moved a few feet away before I answered.
"Robbins, talk to me."
"Well, Reed, it doesn't look good. The last of the cops just left the premises. They don't have Mr. Terrell in custody. I haven't seen him again since he entered the building." There was a long silence. I could feel my anger building. I wasn't sure what I was going to do to control it. This just didn't seem possible. How can this be happening?
"Dammit! He's going to get away with it!" I yelled, causing the entire waiting room to look in my direction. Lexi's eyes fell when my gaze met hers. Brandon's arm wrapped around her and squeezed her tighter. I was thankful for him being there. A couple years ago, I swore on my life that I would protect Lexi from ever getting hurt again. From ever being scared again. Now, it seemed like I was the one scaring her and Brandon was there to comfort her.