Page 40 of There Once was a Dancer
“You don’t know that.”
“What’s going on here?”
Rex’s fierce-looking captain stood at the door. Rex thrust the picture at his boss. “Wallace is showin’ him this shit!”
The captain took the picture out of his hand, looking at it and then pinning Agent Wallace with a glare. “Why is Mr. Adams still here? All the valets were released hours ago.”
Wallace glared right back. “Because he seems to know Castillion. Of course, I’m going to keep his interrogation until I’ve cleared the others.”
Rex grabbed me by the bicep, practically lifting me out of my chair. “We’re leavin’.”
Wallace jumped to his feet. “Now wait just a minute. We’re not done in here.”
“Yeah, you are,” Rex shot back. “Is he under arrest?”
“No! I’m interrogating him.”
“Were you mirandarized, Cachi?” asked Rex.
“No.”
“This man was brought in for questioning, not an interrogation, Special Agent Wallace,” the captain said. I could hear the ice in his voice. “That was done at SAC Bradley’s okay after you made a stink about it. As you already know, all the valets were questioned at the scene. They shouldn’t have been brought down here to begin with, but my wishes were overruled. This man has already told you over and over that he knows nothing about the guests at the party.” He looked at me and glared back at the agent. “And you haven’t even let him change,” he growled. He was really angry. “You’re done here.”
“But I need to ask—”
“You’re done, Wallace.” The captain looked at Rex. “Cachi’s car is still at the scene.” He turned to me. “He said you drove, correct?”
I nodded. “Si, I pick Marcello up from his house.”
The captain nodded. “He told me as much.” He turned to look at Rex. “Please arrange for Mr. Adams to get home. I know he’ll want to change as soon as possible.”
“Will do, Candy,” Rex said, pulling me out of the room.
He said nothing as he walked me down the hall and back to the freight elevator. “Sorry, Cachi. I can’t take you to the main elevator dressed like that.”
“Is okay, Rex. You take me home?”
“Yeah, I’m takin’ you home.”
“You take me to your house, Rex?”
“No, I’m takin’ you to your house. Your mama will be worried.”
I shook my head as I checked my watch. It was nine. “No, Rex. My mamá…she see me like this and she will freak out.”
He looked over. “Shit. You’re right. Okay, you can shower at my house. I’ll lend you some clothes and then I’ll take you home.”
“Gracias, Rex.” I sighed softly, so tired now, I felt like I could barely stand. The elevator stopped and Rex pulled up the gate. We left by the same side door where I’d been escorted into the building by Agent Wallace. I smiled as soon as he unlocked the ugly, green door on his car and waited until I’d climbed into the front seat. This time I recognized the scent of Lola’s shampoo, something I hadn’t been able to place before meeting Rex’s sweet, little dog. I wondered how often he took her places because it was obvious that he did, if her scent lingered.
He got into the car and turned to me, reaching out to touch my cheek. My breath caught as he ran the back of his knuckles down the side of my face. The look in his eyes was devastation. “Look how close you come to—” He stopped, looking away as he dropped his hand.
I immediately reached for his hand, taking it in both of mine. “Rex, I’m fine.” My words came out shaky as he stared down at our clasped hands. He closed his fingers around mine and then looked up at my face. His expression was tortured at best. “Rex, nothing happen. I’m fine.”
He shook his head. “That ain’t true. You could’ve been killed. Those men who hired you were very bad men. You understand, don’t you, Cachi?”
I nodded. “Si, I understand, pero, I do not know them. I only know Marcello. I tell Agent Wallace ten times, but he no believe me.”
His face darkened with a deep frown. “Well, he should believe you. You could no more be a part of any cartel, than Icould.” He squeezed my hand and blew out a harsh breath. “I don’t get the hard on Wallace has for you.”
