Against Me (Cedar Tree Book 3) by Freya Barker Read Free Book Online

down before calling in the troops, but it all gets fuzzy after that. Actually, I got nothing after that until these yo-yo’s woke me up this morning, still comatose in my chair. Apparently, I never even made it to bed. All they said was there had been a problem that occurred overnight and they needed me to come in for questioning. Since they weren’t being very forthcoming, I insisted on calling my lawyer before I went anywhere, and called the GFI offices instead, hoping to get Neil or Dana. They would find out what the hell is going on.
    Yet here I am, still sitting in this damn room where Detective DiRoberto and officer Beck left me after a brief round of questions about my whereabouts last evening and night, which I answered to the best of my knowledge. When I asked what had happened, all I got was a "we'll be right back," and they were out the door. That was about two hours ago according to the clock on the wall.
    I'm wearing the clothes I fell asleep in last night. I haven't even brushed my teeth or run a washcloth over my face, let alone had anything to eat or drink and I really, really need to piss. Twice already I knocked on the door I found they had locked, to get someone's attention, but no luck. They keep me waiting much longer and I'll piss on the floor. Let them clean up the mess and then I'll launch a fucking complaint afterwards. Morons.
    I was getting good and steamed up when the click of the lock being released had me look up and see DiRoberto come in the room, followed by Gus.
    "Katie," he nods in my direction, "You okay?"
    "Am I okay? No, I am not fucking okay. I've been stuck here for three goddamn hours without food or drink, or – and let me point out that this is of utmost importance – a goddamn washroom break! I'm about to piss my pants and I don't give a rat's ass if it's all over your damn floors!"
    Most of my tirade’s been directed at the detective whose previous blank look is replaced with a barely detectable frown, but when Gus turns his ire on the detective as well, the change in DiRoberto is instant.
    "Are you fucking telling me my disabled employee, whose ass was dragged in here as a potential witness to a murder, has been left without basic needs? I could have your fucking badge for this!" He thunders two inches from the detective's face.
    But I've stopped listening. I stopped listening when I heard 'potential witness to a murder,' and a sick feeling settles in my stomach. What ? I lift my hand to stop the tirade, but it isn't until I yell his name that Gus turns to me.
    "Gus! What murder? Who’s dead?"
    "They found the body of a woman in the dumpster on the edge of the nursing home's parking lot this morning. All indicators are she died sometime last night. She was a nurse at Larchwood."
    My hand slapped over my mouth to hold back the bile that was coming up. I'm afraid to ask, but I need to know for sure.
    "Who? What was her name?" I whisper.
    "Woman by the name of Susan Conklin." Detective DiRoberto has to look at his notebook to get the name right.
    "Sue. She goes by Sue," I manage, before I start heaving.
    Another small room with another small window, but this time it’s a bathroom in the police station where I’m trying to clean myself up after spitting up bile all over myself. I wasn't very clean to start with, but now I reek like a homeless alcoholic after a 5 day binge. One of the female officers was kind enough to give me a spare set of sweats she had in her locker, or else I'd have to go back in there stinking to high heaven, but I’m going back in there. I have so many questions.
    A commotion outside the bathroom is penetrating my thoughts, and I'm about to stick my head out to see what’s going on when I hear Caleb's voice.
    "Where is she? I need to see her right the fuck now. Tell me where she is or I'll tear this whole goddamn place down. I took three and a half hours to make a four and a half hour drive to get here, with nothing but my thoughts. I just need to see