Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (59 page)

“That’s fine,” Marcos says, and I know what he’s thinking. Who the hell is he to tell Samantha Colby that she can’t give her statement to the officer of her choice. “Come see me as soon as you get back to the station,” he reminds me. Then he turns and leaves, following the CSU technicians out.

Conner retrieves a clipboard and some witness statement forms from the car, and we sit and take a very tearful statement from Samantha. And since everyone’s finally gone but Conner and me, I sit beside her and hold her hand as she relieves the entire horrifying ordeal, and Conner writes her statement out for her since she’s too upset to do so. When she’s finished, I take her into my arms and hold her close for several minutes. After Conner reads the statement back to her to make sure it’s correct, Samantha signs it and I witness it. Then she falls into my arms again.

“Hello, I’m Herman Nelson, the building manager.” The voice comes from a round, middle-aged man with a really bad toupee who’s peeking in the doorway along with the building’s security guard.

“Mr. Nelson,” I speak up, lightly rubbing Sam’s back with my hand, “I apologize about your door.”

“Oh, no no no, Detective, please don’t worry about the door,” he insists. “That can be fixed. Our chief concern is Miss Colby’s safety, of course.”

“Samantha!” Lucas Colby rushes in, looking around wildly. When his eyes light on Sam, the relief on his face is evident. I stand and step aside discretely as he rushes to his sister’s side. As I stand watching them, Sam looks up a couple of times making eye contact with me. She tries to concentrate on what her brother is saying, but I can tell that all she really wants is to be back in my arms. And that is all I want too – to fold her into my arms and hold her close and never let her go!

“I’m sure the city would be more than happy to pay for replacing the door,” I hear Conner say. “After all, we did damage it.”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” Nelson says.

“I will pay for whatever repairs are needed,” Lucas Colby says, standing up and joining the conversation.

“Oh, we would not dream of it, Mr. Colby,” Nelson says. “I only mention the door because I have been on the phone trying to reach the company to get the repairs done. They’ve informed me that it may take 24 hours or longer to get to us so … in the meantime, the apartment will have to be boarded up to be secured.”

“That’s not a problem, Samantha you’ll come home with me,” Lucas says to Sam, then he turns back to the building manager. My eyes lock with Sam’s and I get the feeling she wants to protest. God knows I want to protest! I look back at Lucas and Nelson and Conner, and while the three of them are busy arguing over who should pay for the damaged door, I step over to Sam and sit down beside her on the couch and take her hand, giving it a little squeeze.

“How are you doing?” I ask softly, looking into her sorrowful eyes. She blinks at my question and shrugs at me, silently. With my thumb, I wipe away a stray tear as it travels slowly down her cheek. At least she appears to have calmed down quite a bit. “So … you’re going to spend the night at your brother’s?” I ask quietly, and she glances over at Lucas.

She looks at me and shrugs again. “I guess so,” she says, her voice barely audible. I nod slightly at her response and swallow nervously. Marcos just ordered me to stay away.
Fuck that!
“I want you to come home with me,” I say, looking into her eyes.

Her face brightens a little. “You do?”

“Yes. Only … I have to go back to the station for a while and take care of a few things. Make sure this asshole stays behind bars. I don’t want you alone in the meantime,” I tell her.

“You could pick me up from Lucas’ when you’re finished,” she says softly, and her voice sounds hopeful. “I mean … if you wanted to.”

“Yes, I want to,” I tell her definitively, and she nods her agreement. Then a thought occurs to me. “Sam, does your brother know about us?” She silently shakes her head. “Well, we’re going to have to tell him.”

“Guy?” I look up and Lucas is shaking hands with the building manager who then exits the apartment, and Conner is looking at me expectantly.

“Yeah, okay.” I glance back at Sam and then back up at Conner and Lucas. “Can you just give me a couple of minutes, Dave? I’ll be right down.” He looks at me for a long minute and, I get the feeling he knows what’s up. He glances at Lucas and at Sam and then back to me.

“Yep. I’ll just leave with the uni and get the ball rolling. I’ll see you back at the station. Miss Colby,” he says turning to Samantha.

“Thank you, Detective Conner,” she says softly, and he nods and then turns and walks out the door.

“Was there something else, Detective?” Lucas Colby says, turning to me. I look back at Sam and take a deep breath as I stand.

“Yes, there is.”

“Lucas,” Samantha says quietly, standing up beside me. “I’m going to go pack a bag so that I can go with you.”

“Yes, of course, Sam. You go ahead,” he says.

“I’m going to go with you,” Samantha continues, “but I’m not going to stay with you.”

He frowns at her, as if she’s not speaking English. “But your door is going to take a day or two to fix, Sam. You heard what Mr. Nelson said … ”

“Yes, I know all about the door,” she sighs. “But Josh is going to pick me up from your place once he’s finished working.”

Lucas’ frown gets deeper and he looks totally confused. “Josh? Who the hell is Josh?”

I take another deep breath as I take Samantha’s hand, looking him in the eye. “I am.”

He looks at me for a moment and I can see that it takes him a few seconds to comprehend what we’re saying. But once he does, the look on his face is difficult to read. He says nothing and just stares, looking from me to Sam and down at our clasped hands. Then he shakes his head slightly.

“Say something, Lucas,” Sam says softly.

“What do you expect me to say, Sam?” he fires off in an agitated tone. “This is a hell of a way to find out you’re seeing someone!” He looks from her to me, placing his hands on his hips in a bewildered move. Then he looks up at me. “Aren’t there rules or something about this sort of thing?”

“Not really, no.” I tell him. “I could be reprimanded or written up for it. In fact … I expect to be.”

“Is that why you sent the other Detective out of here?” he asks with an attitude, and I narrow my eyes at him.

“Actually, no. My partner is aware of the situation. But I sent him out of here because this is a private conversation and I thought Sam might feel more comfortable if it were just the three of us.” At my words he looks slightly embarrassed, and I continue. “This ‘sort of thing’ is frowned upon, for all of the obvious reasons. But there are no real rules against it.”

He sighs heavily and nods his head at me. Then he smirks and looks at Sam. “I don’t suppose Mom knows about this?” he asks her.

“No, she doesn’t, Lucas,” Sam says with a big, tired sigh. She looks completely worn out and I just want to pick her up and carry her to bed. “Now will you stop being an ass. Who’s side are you on anyway?”

His head snaps up in surprise and he looks as if she’s hurt his feelings. “That is the most asinine question you have ever asked me,” he says in an exasperated tone, and he’s clearly upset. “I am
always
on your side, Samantha. You know that!”

Her shoulders slump and she looks defeated. “I know, I’m sorry,” she says softly. “Does that mean you’re okay with this?”

“Does it matter if I’m not?”

She tilts her head to one side as she looks at him. “Well, I’m not going to stop seeing Josh, if that’s what you mean. But yes, it matters.” They look at each other for a beat and Lucas’ eyes soften as he smiles at her.

“Sam, all I have ever been concerned about is that you are safe and happy. Detective Pierce has obviously seen to your safety today. And for that, I am eternally grateful to you,” he says turning to me. “I won’t forget it.” Then he turns back to Sam and says, “But as long as you are happy, Samantha, and he is good to you … you two will have no problem from me.”

Sam lets go of my hand and steps toward her brother, giving him a big hug. “Thank you, Lucas,” she says softly.

He smiles and pats her affectionately on the back. “I swear, you are such a pain in the ass sometimes,” he tells her, and I can’t help but smile slightly at the two of them.

Sam pulls away then and says softly, “I’m going to go pack a bag.” She starts to walk off but, I gently take her arm and she stops and turns to face me.

“I have to go, Sam,” I say quietly, looking her in the eye, “I have to get back to the station.” I can see the dread and the disappointment written all over her face. It surprises me and it makes me want to stay and hold her.

“Oh.”

She looks so crestfallen that I can’t help myself. I take a step toward her and envelop her in my arms, holding her to me closely. She starts to cry softly as she clings to me, and I tighten my arms around her, pulling her even closer. “Hush now, baby,” I whisper to her, closing my eyes and kissing the top of her head. “You’re safe now, Sam. I promise you … I will never let him hurt you again, baby.”

I open my eyes and kiss the top of her head once more, and I can see Lucas out of the corner of my eye watching us closely. I have no idea what he’s thinking but, right now, I couldn’t care less. All that matters to me is Samantha. It kills me that I have to leave her like this but, I know that the sooner I leave, the sooner I can get back to her.

I pull away from our embrace and take her face in my hands, looking her in the eye. “Hey, I will be back as soon as I can, okay? But you call me if you need me.” She nods her head and bats her tear-filled eyes at me, and I lean in and lightly kiss her forehead.

She takes a step back and then turns to head for the bedroom. But she stops after two steps and stands there for a second, and I wonder what’s going on. Then she turns suddenly and rushes back to me, crying harder. Startled, I wrap my arms around her again and hold her tightly. “Sam?”

“Thank you, Josh,” she sobs, crying into my shirt.

I shake my head slightly. “What for?” I softly ask, looking down at her.

“For saving me,” she replies through a strangled sob, and I close my eyes as I gently squeeze her to me. Thinking about what could have happened to her if we had gotten here just a couple of minutes later. Or if I had listened to Conner and gone looking for Echols at the pool hall first. A small shudder runs through me at the thought and I actually feel a lump in my throat.
Shit!

“Hush, baby,” I say softly as I let go of her and take her lovely face in my hands once more. “Hey, none of this, okay?” Gently, I wipe away her tears with my thumbs. “It’s over, Sam. It’s all right. Everything is going to be all right now, baby. I promise you.”

I kiss her forehead once more and look into her eyes for a second. Then gently, I kiss her lips chastely. “You go on now. Go pack your bag. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

She nods silently and turns and heads into her bedroom. And I stand for a moment watching after her and trying like hell to appear more macho than I feel right now.
Fuck!
I glance off to my left, avoiding Lucas Colby’s gaze as I take a deep anxious breath, letting it out slowly. And then I turn towards him.

“Mr. Colby, I … ”

“Lucas.” I blink at him for a second and he continues. “You’re obviously fucking my sister; I think you can call me Lucas,” he offers evenly. And his expression is as icy as his voice.

I’m stunned by his bluntness and I clear my throat reflexively. “Lucas. I want you to know that my relationship with Samantha didn’t hinder our investigation of this case in any way. But you should also know that, if this case goes to trial … our relationship could become a big issue. I was just ordered to stay away from Sam until we see which way this case is going to go.”

“I understand, Detective.”

“Josh.” He says nothing as he stares at me, and I swallow and continue. “Samantha going home with me, needs to be kept…”

“I understand the situation, Josh,” he snaps, looking me in the eye as he cuts me off. “And I want you to know that I am only agreeing to Sam going home with you because I realize that she’s in no condition for another fight right now. Not to mention the fact that I do know my sister is a grown woman who can make her own decisions, whether I like it or not.”

Both his expression and his tone are a clear mixture of disapproval and anger, and I would give just about anything to know what he’s thinking right now. But I don’t have time to play this game; I have to get back to the station. I reach out my hand to shake his.

“I’ll pick Sam up as soon as I can,” I say, holding his gaze. He takes my offered hand and we shake, never breaking eye contact. Then he says something that takes me by surprise.

“We’ll be at my penthouse downtown. Not at my house in Bellevue.”

Lucas Colby is obviously a shrewd operator. There is no doubt in my mind that his words were chosen very carefully in order to elicit some sort of reaction from me. I don’t give him the satisfaction. “Okay,” I nod, and then turn to leave. As I walk to the elevator, I shake my head thinking about my mother’s warning that the Colbys wouldn’t be happy about me being with Sam. I sigh as I push that thought out of my head and make my way back to the station.

*****

I enter the bullpen and head for my desk and Conner looks up at me. “How’s she doing, Guy?”

I sigh heavily, shaking my head. “She’s just barely holding it together, Dave. How’s our newest guest?”

“Enjoying the city’s accommodations. I had him booked on charges of aggravated burglary, attempted rape, kidnapping, stalking, menacing, assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. As well as the original assault, theft and auto theft. Anything you’d like to add?”

“Yeah. Being an asshole.”

“That’s not a felony at this time.”

“Yeah, well, it should be.” Conner chuckles and I take a deep breath and sigh. Then I motion toward the Lieutenant’s door with my chin. “What’s Marcos’ mood like?”

“Just as shitty as it was when he left Miss Colby’s apartment. We should get it over with.”

“We?”