My expression doesn’t change, but my pulse rises at the contempt in his tone.
I walk with them down the hall and through the lobby where people stare at me all the way. Gaige runs toward me with a frown etched between his brows, but I stop him. “It’s okay, just try to reach Alex.”
He gives a sharp nod and retrieves his phone. My only option is to remain silent until Alex shows up. I’m sure he’ll be able to shut the detective down like before, that is if they didn’t really find a body.
The officers don’t say a word. They’re bulky with tattoos sneaking down their sleeves. One has an untamed beard and the other has a permanent sneer. Is that a scar over his jaw?
One of the officers takes the wheel as the other one opens the back door. Daniels retrieves cuffs and tries to restrain me.
I pull my hands free. “I didn’t resist arrest—there’s no need for those.”
“I’m the one who decides whether you resisted or not,” he snarls then snaps the handcuffs on my wrists.
I gulp at the feeling of being handled like a criminal. I hate this. The detective shoves me inside so I’m sandwiched between him and the other officer.
The pungent smell of coffee and smoke fill the car and the windows are securely closed. Of course. I try to breathe through my mouth as we drive down Blackwood’s streets.
We go for about fifteen minutes in suffocating silence. They don’t talk and I’m determined to keep my right to remain silent.
Why is the station so far away?
Something vibrates at my side before the officer beside me picks up. He speaks in Russian, and even though mine is rusty, I recognize the words loud and clear.
We got her.
Oh, God. Oh, no.
I try to keep my expression neutral, to not show I know what he’s saying.
This must be Ivan Sokolov, my mom’s killer, the reason Reina disappeared.
Now, he’s coming after me.
I stare out the window and sure enough, we’re out of the civilized area and headed to the highway that leads to the forest.
Shit, shit.
Think. I need to think about a way out of this. What would Mom have done under the circumstances?
“I need to use the bathroom,” I say in a bored voice.
“You’ll do that when we get to the station,” Detective Daniels says.
He’s in on this, too. He must be. That’s why he was so focused on my case like a parasite. It wasn’t for justice; it was because he works for Ivan.
“Well, it’s urgent. You got me out in a rush.” I roll my eyes. “I’m fine if you want piss all over your seat.”
The officer beside me curses me in Russian.
Well, fuck you, too.
He taps the barrier separating us from the driver and tells him something. They exchange tense words for a bit and I keep a bored façade as I try to figure out what they’re saying.
One of them is saying no, and the other says the boss won’t be happy if something happens to me. Finally, they decide to make a stop at a gas station. Detective Daniels is the one to accompany me.
“Behave.” He flashes me his gun as he stands at the entrance.
I go inside and resist the urge to melt to the ground and have a freak-out party.