“You’re kidding me. You walk off with evidence, I take the hit for the lost item. They’ll dock my pay for an iPhone. You need to log it in and submit a requisition.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Fine. I’ll be back with the form,” he said, slapping Madison’s phone down on the counter.
About to leave, he turned back.
“And I’m requesting a body cavity search on her, you hear? Probably got drugs up her cooch.”
Wallace stalked away. He knew that wasn’t true. It was sheer harassment.
The officer waved Madison toward a bench along one wall. “Have a seat and don’t move.”
Sitting there, reality hit, and she started hyperventilating. Body cavity search. Jesus. She’d be stripped naked. They’d take her clothes, make her wear an orange jumpsuit. Fingerprint her, take a mug shot. Tell the law school. She’d get expelled. And then what? Go to jail. Not just for one night, but every night for a long time, for a crime she didn’t commit. Her life would be over. Just like Danny’s. She used to think they were so different. But they weren’t. They were the same. Equally at the mercy of that criminal with a badge. Her mother would have two children in jail.
Oh, shit. Mom.
More than an hour had passed since their phone call. Mom didn’t know where she was. She’d be in agony worrying. Just like with Danny. Argh, Danny. Madison finally, truly understood how her brother felt, and it was unbearable.
She had to get out of this situation. Not just for herself, but for him. And for Mom.
She put her head between her knees to get her breathing under control. By the time she raised it again, she knew what she had to do.
“Excuse me, Officer. Can I have my phone call now, please?”
“What d’you think this is, a hotel?” the woman said.
“I’m entitled to one phone call. I’m a law student, and I know that’s the law. I’d like it now, please.”
“Well, too bad. I’m swamped with paperwork because of you. You’ll get your call when I’m done. Now be quiet.”
“I can make all that paperwork go away. Let me have the call, and I guarantee the feds will come pick me up. They’ll take the case over before you lift a finger.”
“I got news for you, honey. The feds aren’t about to come pick you up at this hour when they could wait for us to bring you to them tomorrow. I’ll have to book you anyway.”
No. Getting booked would create a criminal record. She had to head it off.
“I promise they will, because they’re looking for me, and they’re really anxious.”
“I just entered you in the database. There’s no federal warrant out for you.”
“They want me as a witness. That’s why there’s no warrant. They don’t want it getting out, or I won’t be valuable. I’m telling the truth, I swear. The U.S. attorney is Andrew Martin. Call him yourself if you don’t believe me.”
The officer was wavering. Madison went with her gut, hoping this time, it would work.
“Just, whatever you do, ma’am, don’t tell Wallace that you called the feds,” she said. “That would piss him off so much, because he’s in a competition with them to make this case.”
“Me calling the feds would piss off Charlie?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Guy’s an ass.” The officer picked up the desk phone. “What’s that U.S. attorney’s name again?”
A couple of hours later, Madison was dozing on the bench when a dark-haired woman in a gray pantsuit walked up to the desk officer and flashed a badge.
“I’m here for the prisoner transfer on Madison Rivera. Special Agent Olivia Chase, Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Olivia.
Madison’s head snapped up.
“That’s her,” the officer said. “I’ll need chain-of-custody on both prisoner and evidence.”
“Just show me where to sign.”
Agent Chase took custody of Madison’s wallet, phone, and the bag of drugs. Hauling her to her feet, she marched her out to an SUV in the parking lot.
“Let me see those cuffs.”
Taking a key from her pocket, she unlocked the handcuffs. As Madison shook out her hands, tears glazed her eyes. She was free.
Or was she?
“I’m no longer under arrest?” she asked.
“I’m tasked with bringing you to DC for an interview, and I want you to be comfortable. Doesn’t mean your status has changed, so don’t try anything.”