The Frame-Up (The Golden Arrow #1)(93)
I don’t have to wonder what to do for long, because from behind me a voice I recognize very, very well rises above the chaos.
“Don’t anyone move. I’m Detective Kildaire of the LAPD, and as far as I’m concerned, all of you are under arrest.”
CHAPTER 27
“Matteo!” I’m delighted and mortified to see him in front of me. “You came!” I note with distaste that Detective Rideout is present, along with a few other police wearing San Diego uniforms.
“Yes, I got your text . . . I also found you on a surveillance tape at a warehouse, as well as your fingerprints on some items of interest in a box of comic tear sheets. You failed to mention that when you told me about the painting.”
I wince.
He spares me a quick glance, then back to Agent Sosa. His eyebrows shoot up as recognition dawns on his face.
“Kildaire, get this crazy woman off of me. We’re in pursuit of a suspect; they tackled me by mistake.” The police behind Matteo shuffle around, gearing up for action, instantly on alert for a person of interest.
“No, you are the suspect,” I argue back, turning to Matteo. “Don’t let her go. I promise I’m right.” It makes sense. She had access to the drugs. She had access to the reports. Matteo asked her to watch Yee’s interview, and she probably saw the Casey interview too. Enough to know we were on her trail. This explains her icy disdain for me at the party. How she didn’t want me taking a picture of Anthony Munez. Maybe afraid I’d put two and two together and recognize the similar dark eyes, the same straight nose. Only I didn’t. Not until now, when I could study her face up close. Sosa. A married name. I’d been looking for one White Rabbit, but she is the protégé—a family business. I remember the day James handed her a baggie at the warehouse. And when I heard Officer James admit to interfering in the case, potentially committing murder. And though I was wrong in assuming Rideout, I was right on all other counts.
Matteo’s gaze rakes my face, taking in the blood covering my cheek. His shoulders relax momentarily when he realizes I’m not mortally wounded, but the royally pissed look doesn’t take long to surface again. He helps me up, then squats down next to Sosa, placing a restraining hand on her back to keep her prone while he continues speaking. “I am going to give you thirty seconds to explain what went on here before you’re all taken to the station. MG, you told me you wouldn’t do anything stupid. Assaulting an officer qualifies as really stupid.” There’s no hint of a smile or smirk in his gorgeous hazel eyes.
I have to gather myself, heart hammering inside my chest. I’m surprised my ribs contain it. This is where the rubber meets the road. I need to lay it all out and hope Matteo believes me. Forgives me for doing it on my own. I take a breath and recap how I texted him to encourage the leak and lure the Golden Arrow and/or the White Rabbit to the auction.
The story tumbles from my lips. The auction, the chase.
“I was attacked,” Sosa interjects. “I arrived just as the lights went out. Someone shoved me through that doorway. I was giving chase.” She does have a lump rising on her cheek. But so do I. Shit went down in that room; it’s not a stretch of the imagination that someone’s elbow caught her face as she dove out the door.
She’s pretty convincing. I have the slightest moment of self-doubt. Could I have seen this wrong? No. The story fits.
I can’t read Matteo’s face. He’s Detective Kildaire all the way right now. He looks to each of us in turn. Weighing my testimony. Assessing. “And you all”—Matteo motions to Amy, Shwanda, and Latifah—“just thought that rather than waiting for security or calling the police, you’d ruin merchandise and put lives at risk by chasing a thief through a convention by yourselves?”
No one answers, but all eyes turn to me. The captain goes down with the ship. “It’s my fault. Waiting at the auction. This whole idea. The chase just . . . happened. I’m sorry about that.” But I caught one of the suspects we’ve been searching for. That has to count for something, right?
I can hardly bring myself to meet Matteo’s eyes, but when I do, I wince. There’s condemnation in his gaze, but beyond that, there’s hurt. Betrayal. Maybe a semibroken heart. And definitely broken trust. I feel as badly about that as anything. It’s hard to breathe, like someone is sitting on my chest. I did the right thing, but I’ll have to pay the price.
Matteo’s mouth is a thin line. “You’re going to have to come in for questioning.”
My shoulders sink slightly, but I take a deep breath. “I realize that. And I’m ready to accept my punishment.”
Matteo’s gaze flicks away like he can’t keep looking at me. He grunts and rises to his feet. “Fine. Rideout, call Officer James. Tell him we need holding cells for questioning.” He motions to two officers who step forward and lift Agent Sosa off the ground. The snap of handcuffs is audible as they tighten around her wrists.
But I can’t get past the mention of Officer James. We cannot go into custody with him around. We’ll end up dead for sure. “Wait! You can’t!”
The cops stop what they’re doing and face me again, most wearing expressions that say they clearly think I’m off my rocker. I clear my throat and drop my voice so that only Matteo can hear me. “Um, you can’t have Officer James involved. He’s been working with the White Rabbit.”