some kind of protection in the big city.
Grace didn’t feel any safer, but a Taser was better than nothing. She just had to be prepared to use it. Perhaps Riley hadn’t been as prepared. When she found Riley, she’d be sure to ask. Because she would find Riley. Alive.
* * *
DECLAN SPENT TWO hours in a holding room, where he was repeatedly grilled about his part in the attack in downtown DC. Thankfully, he’d had his wallet on him, but the majority of his money was in his rucksack. If...no...when he was released, he only had a five-dollar bill to get something to eat, but no money to get around. He might as well stay the night in the jail. At least he’d get a free meal and a bed to sleep on, out of the cold, rain or whatever the weather was doing outside.
The police had allowed him to make one phone call. When he’d dialed his number, the phone service indicated his phone was not online at that time. Meaning the battery was dead and the woman he’d entrusted all of his worldly goods to had yet to find or charge it.
His one call wasted, he was escorted back to the holding room, where he was questioned all over again by yet another detective.
“What organization are you with?” the detective asked.
“I’m not with any organization,” Declan responded.
“Witnesses reported you were armed with a submachine gun. One like the other attackers carried.”
“I was in the right place at the wrong time. I watched those men kill the security detail surrounding a limousine, and then they kidnapped that woman. While others stood around gawking, I took it upon myself to do something.”
“So, you just waltzed in with your submachine gun and jumped into the back of a van?” The man snorted. “Highly unlikely.”
“I was unarmed. However, I was able to disarm one of the attackers and confiscate his weapon.”
“Convenient.” The detective’s lips pressed into a thin line. “By all accounts, the attackers were highly trained. How is it you were able to relieve one of them of his weapon?”
Declan shrugged. “You obviously aren’t buying anything I have to say. Why should I bother talking to you?” He looked past the detective. “I want to talk to a lawyer.”
The detective glared. “You’ll be talking soon enough.”
Though his hackles rose on the back of Declan’s neck, he stared back at the detective, wiping all emotion from his face. “I’ll talk when I have a lawyer.”
The detective smirked. “You got one?”
“I will as soon as you let me make a call.”
“You had your chance to make a call.”
Declan sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
The detective leaned forward, his lip curling back in a snarl. “Look here, jerk, I have ten dead tourists, nineteen injured, and the DC mayor and the President of the United States breathing down my neck for answers.”
Declan clamped his lips tight. He was done talking.
The door opened behind the detective and an older man in uniform stuck his head in the door. “Solomon, a word with you.”
The detective gave Declan a narrow-eyed glance. “We’re not through here.”
As far as Declan was concerned, they were.
Detective Solomon left the room. A moment later, a different officer entered. “Mr. O’Neill, please come with me.”
Declan rose, fully expecting to be led to the rear of the building and stuck in a cell. His stomach rumbled. He was all for being incarcerated if it meant getting a meal out of it.
Instead, the man led him out of the holding area and back to the front of the building.
A group of men in dark suits stood in a cluster around a woman. She waved them aside and strode toward him, her head held high, her blood-stained clothes worn like a suit of armor.
She was the woman he’d saved from the kidnappers.
“Declan O’Neill?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. That’s me.”
“You have been cleared of any charges. These kind officers are releasing you.” She raised her eyebrows and stared around at the policemen standing by, as if challenging them to say anything different.
“I don’t understand,” he said.
“What do you not understand about your being released?” she asked. “I told them that you saved my life and fought valiantly against my attackers, risking your own life to save mine.” She frowned. “I’m appalled they took you into custody to begin with. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who witnessed your heroism. Between my account and those of others who were nearby, you’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Please don’t call me ma’am. Makes me sound like your grandmother.” She sniffed. “As well I could be. But that’s neither here nor there. My name is Charlotte, but my friends call me Charlie. I prefer Charlie. And if you don’t have a ride, I would gladly take you anywhere you want to go. And the sooner, the better. It’s almost midnight, and I’ve had a hell of a day.”
“Thank you, Charlie.” Declan squared his shoulders. “I don’t need a ride,” he lied, unwilling to admit he was homeless, possessionless and broke.
“Then we’ll wait until your ride arrives.” The woman looked around, found a chair and promptly sat.
“You don’t have to wait,” Declan said. Appalled that he would be caught out in his lie.
“I want to make sure the police don’t decide to reacquire their prisoner.” She glared at the nearest officer. “He’s not one of the terrorists who attacked me,” she reiterated.
The officer held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not saying he is, but we can’t have a crowd in the building. We have work to do.”
The older woman harrumphed and rose to her feet. “Fine, we’ll wait outside for Mr. O’Neill’s transportation to arrive.” She nodded toward the four men in suits. “Come along.”
Charlie led the way to the exit. Before she could open the door, Declan stepped in front of her. “Let me,” he said.
Charlie smiled. “Such a gentleman.”
“No, ma’am.” He stepped through the door and closed it in her face. After scanning the area around them, he turned and opened the door for her to come out.
She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, a frown wrinkling her brow. She leveled her glare at the men in suits. “You should have gone out first and checked for potential attackers. Instead, you let this young man do it for you.” She flicked her fingers. “You’re all fired.”
The
