Chapter 6 Interrogation

Island's POV

“Look, girl, I just got back from a very horrible crime scene, and I just want to wash this entire night off me and head back to the precinct.”

I pushed past Tamika and stepped fully into the house. Immediately, five furry bodies surrounded me.

“Hey, babies…”

My exhaustion melted a little as I crouched down, letting Atlas shove his nose beneath my hand while Pepper practically climbed into my lap. Moose wagged his entire body, Nova circled my legs, and Scout pressed himself against my thigh like he hadn't seen me in years instead of a few hours.

I laughed softly and scratched behind Atlas's ears.

“I've missed you guys.”

Then I kissed the top of Pepper's head.

God…I could stay like this forever.

No murder scenes, no dead bodies, no five-pointed stars carved into someone's face. And most importantly, no Zane fucking Chandler…Just my dogs.

“Hey, madam.”

I heard Tamika's voice behind me. But I ignored her.

“Don't you dare try to get past me like that.”

I continued petting Moose.

“Island….”

Nothing.

“Island Meyers….”

I sighed.

“What?”

“You're not getting away from me that easily.”

I finally looked up.

Tamika was standing in front of me with her hands planted firmly on her hips, looking like she was about to conduct a federal interrogation of her own.

I raised an eyebrow.

“What now?”

She pointed at my dogs.

“Look at you… Hugging and kissing those dogs like they'll give you the warmth a man would.”

I stared at her. Then I looked at Atlas, and then back at her.

“Shut up, girl.”

She grinned.

“I'm just saying…”

"Shut up, girl. That's all you ever talk about. Look, I'm really tired.”

I stood straight, rubbing my tired eyes.

“Look, I'm really exhausted. I've been awake for almost twenty-four hours, I've spent the night at a murder scene, and I have to be back at the precinct in ....”

“Uh-uh.”

She raised one finger.

“Uh-uh…Nope.”

I stopped.

“What?”

“I already told you girl…you're not getting off the hook that easily.”

“What hook?”

She stared at me like I'd personally offended her ancestors.

"Why the fuck didn't you reply Oscar?"

I stared at her.

"Okay..."

I was already exhausted.

"Who the hell is this…. this Oscar? And why are you so hell-bent on destroying my life because of this person?"

Tamika gasped dramatically.

"You... You didn't just say that."

I couldn't help laughing.

"Say what?"

"Wait…."

She stared at me.

"You're kidding, right?"

I frowned.

"You don't know..."

She slowly turned away from me, one hand pressed against her forehead.

"My goodness, Island."

I watched her in confusion.

"What?"

She threw her hands into the air.

"What has come over you, girl? What is your deal? Let's start from there. Women, men... what is your deal?"

I opened my mouth, but she wasn't finished.

"I spent hours trying to find the perfect date for you. I fixed you up, practically drove you to dinner to meet him, and now..."

"Ohhhhh."

Realization hit me.

Unknown Optimist. That was Oscar?

Damn, Island. At least you should have learned his name.

"Well..."

I stood and began taking off my shoes.

"In my defense, I said I was going to call him."

"Call him?"

Tamika's eyebrows shot up.

"When, Island? When were you going to call him?"

She followed me into the living room.

"Look, girl, life isn't about work, work, work."

I scoffed.

"Oh, trust me, T. It is. If not, Rihanna wouldn't have sung about it."

Tamika stared at me.

"That is not what that song means."

"I don't know. Sounds like a work-life anthem to me."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious, Island. You have to go out and live your life. Live crazy. You know…enter a bar, get fucking drunk, go topless and fuck some guys senseless..."

I stared at her.

She shrugged.

"You know... just live."

I shook my head, but a reluctant smile tugged at my lips.

"You're insane."

"I'm trying to save you."

"I don't understand…From what?"

I was already laughing. God…this girl is crazy.

"I'm trying to save you from becoming a seventy-year-old woman with five dogs and no husband. Stop laughing Island"

I looked down at my five dogs.

"Sounds peaceful."

"Island!"

I laughed.

"Okay, okay."

She wasn't going to let this go.

"Look, T, I get that you're worried about me. I really appreciate it, girl. But I've come too far to turn back now."

She folded her arms.

"See?"

I reached for her hand, but she ignored me.

I sighed.

"You know my dad's case?"

Her expression softened slightly.

"I'm this close to solving it."

"Hmmmmm."

She dropped heavily onto the sofa.

"Color me surprised. That's what you've been saying for the past how many years now?"

"No. No, this time it's different."

I sat beside her.

"A new lead came."

Her expression changed.

"What kind of lead?"

"The same way my dad was murdered."

She stared at me.

"Really?"

This time, there was genuine interest in her voice.

I nodded.

"Yeah."

I swallowed.

"But it's a young girl."

"Who?"

"Zane Chandler's younger sister."

Tamika's mouth fell open.

"Whoa..."

"What?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"Zane Chandler?"

She sat up straighter.

"The handsome, sexy hockey star who looks like God specifically took a day off just to sculpt him?"

I stared at her and I seriously considered hitting her with one of the cushions.

"Yes, Tamika." I said through clenched teeth.

She grinned.

"Whoa. That's huge, girl."

I sighed. But she continued talking.

"I've been trying to get that guy on my show for ages, but he's been ignoring me."

"Of course he has."

"How is he?"

I blinked.

"What?"

"Zane…"

She leaned closer.

"Is he even more handsome in person? Huge? Does he really look like those pictures? And do you think he can actually handle a woman like those bloggers say?"

Was this girl serious right now?

"T…."

I stared at her.

"Focus..."

"Sorry."

"His sister just died, Tamika."

Her smile disappeared.

"And she died exactly how my father was killed."

The room went silent.

"Jesus."

She leaned back.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Same method?"

"Same signature."

Her face lost all traces of amusement.

"The star?"

I nodded.

"The star."

She stared at me for several seconds.

"So what happens now?"

I looked down at my hands.

"I don't know."

"Do you think there's a connection?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Of course there was a connection. The star….The exact same five-pointed star. In the same placement, same precision and same deliberate cruelty.

I'd spent ten years telling myself that whoever killed my father was gone. That maybe he had disappeared, that maybe I'd never find him. But tonight, I saw something I hadn't seen in a decade. I saw a signature, and killers didn't leave signatures by accident.

"I don't think it's a coincidence."

Tamika's expression tightened.

"You mean..."

"I mean whoever killed my father is still out there."

The words sounded different once I'd said them aloud. It sounded more real, terrifying and more hopeful.

After ten years ... .Ten years of searching and years of dead ends. And suddenly, I wasn't chasing a ghost anymore, I had a trail.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table.

I glanced down.

CHIEF VANCE.

My stomach tightened. At four-something in the morning, that was never good news.

I picked it up immediately.

"Meyers."

Rob's voice was unusually quiet.

"Where are you?"

"Home."

A pause.

"Get down to the precinct."

I straightened.

"Why? What happened?"

"It's Zane."

Damn. Of course it was.

I closed my eyes briefly.

"What did he do?"

"Well…He's not letting this go."

"What does that mean?"

"Whatever he's got against you, it must be serious. He called the mayor.”

My eyes snapped open.

"He what?"

"He's demanding that you're removed from the case."

My jaw tightened.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I were."

I stood and started pacing across the living room.

"Rob, you know how important this is to me."

"I know."

"No, I…I don't think you understand."

My voice cracked with frustration.

"I've spent ten years on this. Ten years. We finally have the same signature, the same pattern, and a living connection to the case. I am not letting some grieving hockey star with a god complex walk into City Hall and decide who investigates his sister's murder."

"I know, Island."

"Then don't let him. You know the evidence we have, Rob. You know what this means.”

Silence.

"That's what I'm trying to do."

I stopped pacing.

"Are you saying there's a chance he could actually get me removed?"

"There's always a chance when someone with Chandler's influence starts making calls."

My stomach sank.

"But I'm still talking to the mayor. I haven't agreed to anything."

I exhaled shakily.

"Good."

"Come down to the precinct."

"Now?"

"Now."

I glanced at the clock. 4:32 a.m.

"I have to be back there anyway."

"There's more."

I frowned.

"What?"

"Zane is here."

My entire body went still.

"At the precinct?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because apparently he wants to make his case in person."

I almost laughed.

Of course he did. He couldn't simply make a phone call like a normal human being. No. Zane Chandler had to storm into the precinct and personally demand my head.

"Is he alone?"

"His attorney is with him."

I rolled my eyes.

"Naturally."

"And Island?"

"Yeah?"

"Keep your temper."

I scoffed.

"I'm not the one trying to get someone removed from a murder investigation because I hurt his feelings."

"Island…"

"Fine."

I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair.

"I'll be there in fifteen."

"Good."

He hesitated. Then his voice changed.

"And Island?"

I stopped.

"Yeah?"

"If you're right about the connection..."

I waited.

"Then we need you on this case."

Something inside my chest tightened.

For the first time that night, someone wasn't asking me to prove that I belonged there. They were telling me they needed me there.

"Then make sure I'm still on it when I get there."

"I'll do everything I can."

The line went dead and I lowered the phone slowly. Tamika was watching me from the sofa.

"What happened?"

I grabbed my keys.

"Zane is what happened."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What about him?"

"He went to the mayor to have me removed from the case."

Her mouth fell open.

"Why? Doesn't he like you?”

"Apparently."

"And?"

"He's trying to get me removed from the case because of something that happened."

Tamika stared at me for a second.

Then, unexpectedly, she grinned.

"Oh, this is going to be interesting."

I shot her a look.

"Don't…."

"What?"

"Whatever you're thinking, don't."

"I wasn't thinking about anything."

"You absolutely were."

She shrugged innocently.

"I was just thinking that you and the hot hockey star seem to have a very healthy relationship already."

I groaned.

"Tamika."

She laughed.

"Fine…. Go."

I reached for the door and then I stopped.

For ten years, I'd been hunting a ghost.

Tonight, that ghost had returned. And now, the man standing between me and the truth was the same man whose sister had unknowingly reopened the case.

Zane Chandler wanted me gone and I wanted answers….And neither of us was going to back down.

I opened the door.

"Wish me luck."

Tamika smiled.

"Good luck, FBI girl."

I stepped outside and the cold morning air hit my face. I had no idea what was waiting for me at the precinct. But one thing was certain….Zane Chandler and I were about to have our second round.