Chapter 11: Governor Rosewood's Threat

Sam's POV

Rachel grabs my arm, whirling me to face her. “Don't worry, Sam. I’ll talk to her, and she will come join you in the precinct soon,” she assured.

Her lips pressed tight in a huge smile, and she pulled me closer for a hug. She pressed me to her bigger, thicker body for a while. She pulled away, slipping me another smile, and she went after Riley.

I returned her smile, watching her moving through the sofas and the dining area to join Riley in the bedroom. I didn't try to be hopeful. It would be selfish of me too. Riley was right. If things go south, it could affect her career too. Though I could try to protect her identity as Rowan's alibi. But I can be 100 percent sure it can stay protected. This was a huge case.

I turned around just as Lexi held my shoulders, and we both strolled silently out of the house and stopped before my car. “I’ll try talking to Riley too. Though I know Rachel has more chance of convincing her to do this than I would ever have.”

I nodded to her. “Thanks, girl,” I said, and she pushed me gently to the car.

I drove off, while she stood outside in the small parking lot under the radiance of the bright moonlight.

I got back to the precinct some minutes later. I was climbing the stairs, my shoes pattering noisily, when I stopped. I looked around now, realizing the air was different, strange. I stood just a few steps from the door when I turned around slowly, my gaze flying back to the parking lot.

I hadn't noticed it before because of the darkness and my muddled thoughts. But now, I saw it. Stained bright by blankets of the silvery glow from the moonlight were a couple of SUVs with tinted windows and two Rolls-Royces. No one uses a Rolls Royce in the precinct, not even Captain James. Even the chief of police would think twice about getting one.

There was only one person who would bring so many vehicles here, driving with an entourage. My heart skipped immediately, and I gasped. I spun around, climbing the stairs as fast as I could. I stumbled into the office, the air stuffier than ever before.

For the first time in years, the hall was quiet, everyone sitting silently around the hall, a huge contrast to the chaos happening inside of me. My heart moved like a wildling inside of me, thrashing against my chest as it thrashed against my ears.

A strange coldness gripped my spine when I spotted Governor Rosewood and Captain James standing just before my desk, staring intently at my computer screen. A wall of bodyguards flanking them. Some even wandered about the room, gaze thrown everywhere, hunting for threats to the governor where there were none. There was only one thing Governor Rosewood and Captain James could be watching on my monitor—the CCTV footage.

Captain James's eyes drifted up, and he spotted me at the doorway. “Come over,” he mouthed silently, waving his large hand for me to come.

I dragged in a huge load of air to douse the chaos in my chest a little, and I hurried over to join them by my desk. Governor Rosewood looked from the screen to me.

Luckily, his eyes didn't deepen from recognition or suspicion as Captain James's had done when he first watched the footage. What I saw in the governor’s brown eyes was a brand of condescending indifference mixed with a little curiosity. “And who is she?” He nudged his jaw at me, covered in neatly trimmed white hair—possibly dyed. It was too white to be natural.

But why should I even care about that? I mentally reproached myself, holding on against the scrutiny of his stare.

Captain James slapped my shoulder gently in a gesture of camaraderie, faking a smile with his old face. “She is Detective Samantha Cross. One of the best in the precinct.”

“Detective Samantha Cross, sir.” I said, bowing my head a little. “I am the detective in charge of your daughter's case, sir.” I said. I was sickened at the condescending sweep he gave me with his eyes. I hated bigwigs and hated politicians. They were usually proud, arrogant, and self-absorbed. And the governor seemed like the total package.

He looked at me as if I were a nobody. Like I was no better than a corner rat. He dragged his eyes back to the monitor screen. “Send a copy of the case file to me, and my aide will leave a number for you, which you can contact to report updates on the case.” He spoke, staring at the computer screen. He didn't even bother to glance at me. He spoke as if I wasn't in the room with him.

I would have used the line never meet your heroes. But I never considered him my hero. So I found another fitting word in my head to describe him—a self-absorbed, arrogant bastard. But of course, those words wouldn't leave my head. I love my job too much to let it go.

He turned around to one of his men. “Take the hard drive, duplicate it, and return it to the precinct after. Then you find out who the lady kissing the bastard that killed my daughter was. They could be in on this together.” He said there was a new edge to his voice now. A strained, angry edge.

Colder tremors drilled up my spine then. If he does as he was saying, then I am sunk, cooked. With the tone of his voice, I could be not just an alibi but a suspect too.

I gathered myself, steeling my nerves, and I stepped forward just as his men began gathering the hard drives from my desk. “Why not let the police handle the…”

Captain James slanted me a hard, rebuking stare, and I quieted.

Governor Rosewood turned around to me now, his eyes drilling holes through me—cold and unwavering. It strengthened the coldness consuming me alive from the inside. His brows dragged up to his forehead questioningly, he demanded, “What did you just say, Detective?”

Before I could get my lips to move and release the hardness in my stomach to get my lungs to work, Captain James spoke for me. “Nothing, Governor Rosewood. She was just commenting on how much faster the investigation would go now, with your men having to find out who the lady with Rowan Drake was.” He faked a smile.

Governor Rosewood eyed Captain James and then me, and finally circled back to Captain James. “You mean his accomplice, Captain. Their room was right beside my daughter's room. It only makes sense that they are in this together.”

“Yeah. His accomplice.” Captain James agreed, faking a smile again, his lips twitching as he spoke.

Governor Rosewood then stepped forward. He stopped just an inch from Captain James. “You wouldn't want me to do your job for you, Captain. Make good of the taxpayers money and make Rowan Drake confess to murdering my daughter before two days, or I will make him talk myself. And that won't be pleasant for you and your detective, Captain. I hope you understand what I mean by that, Captain.” He said.

“I understand, Governor Rosewood.” Captain James stuttered, his voice almost like a cracked audio.

Governor Rosewood’s cold gaze found me again, and he grunted softly, bouncing off down the hall. His men ran after him like flies.

I released a breath I never knew I was holding then. I grabbed my desk, panting too.

“You heard him, Detective Sam,” Captain James said, amidst his own little fight for breath too.