The door swung open and the two walked in. As Cami saw them, she realized to her shock that they were law enforcement.
Blue jackets, yellow logos. Not just law enforcement. Not just police. They were the FBI.
The FBI was here? Cami felt incredulous as she took them in. Immediately, she felt her stomach clench as she remembered what she’d done a couple of days ago.
Surely, they couldn’t be here for that.
Or could they?
A solidly built man led the way. He had a lined face, threads of gray in his crisp, dark hair, and that blank, officious face that Cami associated with cops. Behind him was a younger man, with sandy-brown hair, maybe ten years younger, but the same facial expression. Those same eyes.
These weren’t just cops. They were all the way up on the ladder. If they were here, this was serious business.
Bella had taken a step back toward the tiny window and was standing seemingly frozen in shock as the agents made their way unerringly over to Cami.
And then, the man in front spoke, looking at her. His voice was harsh. “FBI Special Agent Connor. Are you Ms. Cami Lark?”
This was it. Her actions from the weekend were coming back to bite her, big time.
Cami stared into his hazel eyes. Despite the instinctive churning of her stomach, she wasn’t going to show any guilt about her actions. Not to this man. And she wasn’t going to apologize for what she’d done. Not when there had been reasons behind it.
“That’s me,” she said, raising her head and staring defiantly at him.
It gave Cami a moment of satisfaction to see how taken aback this FBI agent looked by her bold admission. Then she saw his eyes narrow as he took in Cami’s inky hair, her dramatic fade, her tattoo, and her studded jacket.
“It’s a kid. A college kid,” he muttered to his partner.
Then, to her, “You’re wanted for questioning. You need to come with us to the offices.”
“The offices?” Cami repeated incredulously.
“The FBI offices in Chelsea. Please accompany us downstairs now, Ms. Lark.”
She heard Bella gasp in horror but didn’t turn in her direction. Immediately, she knew that she was the one who’d attracted trouble to this little shop, and she was the one who’d have to deal with it. Bella didn’t deserve to be caught up in this.
“You’re taking me for questioning? You can’t be serious!” she shot back at the agent, seeing his frown deepen.
“I don’t have time to waste. Come on,” he pressured her.
“This is ridiculous. Aren’t there real criminals out there? You say you don’t have time to waste? Isn’t this exactly what you’re doing now?” Cami stood her ground.
But Connor folded his arms. “Right now, we’re just talking. But if you don’t come with me, I will arrest you and your friend, and we’ll have this same conversation with you both in handcuffs.”
She heard Bella’s indrawn, terrified breath and felt furious that this man was threatening her friend.
“She’s got nothing to do with this. Leave her alone. I’ll come with you,” she said, seeing that this was now the only way to stop Bella from getting caught up in this debacle.
She headed for the door, seeing that Special Agent Connor was casting another disapproving glance at her chunky Doc Marten boots. It seemed that her entire ensemble was triggering this heavy-featured man’s ire.
Cami noted how the two agents effectively bracketed her, one walking ahead and one behind, as they all clumped down the wooden treads. In fact, Connor was practically breathing down the back of her neck.
At the bottom of the stairs, a sleek gray car was waiting.
“Inside,” Connor said sharply, opening the back door and indicating for her to climb inside.
Cami hesitated, wondering if she should refuse on principle. But the agent was ready, with a hand on her shoulder, pushing her down.
“Now.”
Cami felt her world spinning as she was shoved into the backseat of the car, realizing that whatever she had done, this time she had gone too far—and that her world would never be the same again.