Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I shrug. I can play it cool as a fucking alley cat even though my insides are in panic mode. “There’s not much to get to the bottom of. The lady and I were in the hot tub, and those two jokers came into the backyard.”
“Did you hear them?”
“Not at first. The dogs started barking.”
“I see.” Bandy makes some notes. “Mr. Bellamy, we know you just got out of prison.”
“Yeah, I figured you’d know that. Everyone does. I’m an innocent man.”
“You pleaded guilty to manslaughter.”
“I did. For my reasons. None of which are up for discussion at this point.”
“Very well then. Let’s sit down, and I’ll get your full statement.”
Another one of the officers is talking to Savannah. She’s got her game face on, and I’m not sure where it came from. She was freaked out as anybody when she stabbed that man. But now? It’s as if she were sitting at her desk in her office, talking to a new parolee.
Nerves of steel and everything.
Somehow, she got ice to fill her veins.
“I’d like to be with her,” I say, nodding to Savannah.
“She’s doing fine, Mr. Bellamy. You have a seat.”
I rake my fingers through my hair.
Carlo’s blood is all over me. I could use a shower. I could use ten showers.
I lead the officer to my kitchen table and gesture him to take a seat. I open the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water. “You want one?”
“Yeah, sure. Thanks.”
I grab another, unscrew both caps, and hand one to him.
He takes a long drink. “All right. Full name.”
“Falcon Cooper Bellamy.”
“All right. Tell me, from the beginning, exactly what happened.” He clicks on the recorder.
I take him through everything, but when I get to the part where Savannah comes out of the pool area, I stop.
“Is that the end of your story?”
“For now.”
Bandy frowns. “Look. I get that you’re trying to protect your lady friend.”
“I’m not protecting anyone. I just think you need to get the rest of the story from her.”
“Jack over there will get it from her. I need to get it from you, Mr. Bellamy.”
“What if I say I want an attorney?”
He looks up from his tablet. “You got something to hide?”
“Nope. I’m just not sure I want to say anything more without an attorney. You know, since I’m an ex-con and all.”
He sighs. “Just tell us what went on, Mr. Bellamy.”
I blink. “I’m the one who stabbed him.”
“You think you can help her by lying?”
“Christ.”
He’s right. What am I doing? I spent eight years of my life locked up because I lied about something I didn’t do. I just hope to God Carlo pulls through. Savannah can’t have a death on her conscience.
I pour out the rest of the story.
“How many times did she stab him?”
“Three. Twice in the chest, and once in the neck.”
“And was he incapacitated by the time she stabbed him the third time?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see all of it. I was busy dealing with the other asshole. Once all the commotion started, he tried to get away from me. I didn’t want to kill him, so I pistol-whipped him and knocked him unconscious.”
“All right. So how can you be sure she only stabbed him three times?”
“Because there were three open wounds.”
Bandy make some notes. “Okay. Then what did you do?”
“She was wearing a robe because she had been in the changing room in the pool house. I told her to take off the robe, and I used it to try to stop the bleeding from his neck. The other two wounds on his chest seemed shallow, and they were starting to clot. I was really worried about the one on his neck because I thought she might have pierced his carotid. But thankfully it finally started to clot up. I hope he makes it.”
Bandy raises an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“What the hell? She was defending herself and me. Those two were trespassing and holding us at gunpoint. But yeah, I hope he pulls through. You think I want her to go through that? Knowing she caused a person’s death? She didn’t break any of your goddamned laws, but I don’t want her to deal with having inadvertently taken a life, even if the son of a bitch fucking deserved it.”
The officer tries to stare me down. “You of all people should know what it feels like to take a life.”
I stare right back at him, silently daring him to push this. “We’ve been through this, sir. As a matter of fact, I don’t know what it feels like to take a life. I’m innocent of that crime.”
“Yet you pleaded guilty.”
“Right. And I’m sure that’s the first time that’s ever happened.”
Bandy narrows his gaze. “Who are you protecting?”
“Doesn’t matter. That case is cold and closed, and it’s not what you’re here to investigate.”