Give Me Grace(153)

“You won’t lose her,” I vowed. It was a promise I didn’t know I could keep, but I made it anyway. I had to for my own sanity because the thought of losing Grace would send me mad.

Henry stared down at his knuckles. They were red and starting to swell. Glancing up, he said, “Sorry for hitting you.”

I shook my head. “No you’re not. You’ve been wanting to do that since you found out Grace and I were seeing each other.”

There was a silent pause. “You’re right. It felt good.”

“Same.”

His brows rose. “It felt good for me to hit you?”

Gabriella and Mitch returned, saving me from trying to form a response. I got to my feet and held out a palm to Henry. He took it and I pulled him up.

“Casey, you’re free to go.”

“What?” I faced Gabriella. “How?”

“Several things. First, we found your cab driver. He just left after giving his statement. He says you passed out after telling him to follow the cab that Grace was in. He lost her cab in traffic so he got your address from your wallet and returned you to your loft, helping you inside. We have your security footage of you returning home at the time he stated, which corroborates his story. Further, there’s no record of you leaving before Travis and Mitch arrived this morning,” she told me. “Forensics have you cleared of gun powder residue and blood on your clothes, and you’ve come back positive for Rohypnol. We’ve got experts analysing the footage of your interaction in the main bar,” Gabriella told me with a quick glance at Henry. She obviously kept her words deliberately vague in deference to his presence. “While it’s clear your drink was handled, what’s unclear in the footage is the exact moment the drug was slipped in your drink.”

Henry’s mouth fell open. “Someone drugged you?”

“Someone’s trying to set him up,” Mitch informed him with drawn brows.

“Who?”

“That’s not clear at this stage,” he replied.

“Have you picked her up?” I asked.

Mitch and Gabriella shared a quick glance before she said, “Not yet. We’re trying to locate her.”

“Right,” I muttered. Good. Because then I’d get to her first. “So I can leave?” I asked Gabriella.

“Sí.” She splayed a pile of printed pages on the table. Clicking a pen, she held it out. “You need to sign your statement and official release papers first.”

Taking the pen, I began scrawling wherever she pointed, not knowing what the hell I was signing and not caring. I needed to get out of there and get my hands on Morgan.

Minutes later I was walking out of the interview room.

Gabriella called my name. I halted at the doorway and half turned to look at her. “Officially, I need to warn you to keep out of the investigation.”

“Warning noted,” I replied with a nod, and duly ignored, I added silently, feeling her eyes on me as I walked out the door with Henry following behind. Gabriella knew full well I had no intention of heeding her official warning, yet she was letting me go anyway. I would owe her for that.

I faltered when I reached the waiting room and found it full. All eyes turned my way and relief hit me when I didn’t see a single accusatory pair in the bunch. Tim broke from the herd as soon as he saw me walk out. He launched himself at me, wrapping his arms around my neck and his legs around my waist. I didn’t break stride. I didn’t have time. Not even when I felt the splash of his tears on my neck.

“Casey,” he squeaked when my arms came around him and squeezed as I kept walking.

“You okay?” I muttered in Tim’s ear as Travis fell into step beside me. Tim might piss me off most times, but he was like a little brother to me and I looked out for him.

“No,” he managed. “I’ve never been so angry in all my life. I can’t believe they would arrest you while Grace is out there, scared and alone and hurt.” He pulled back to search my face. “Are you okay?”

“No. I’m not. I’m barely holding it together,” I admitted.

“What can I do?” Tim asked.

“You can round up the entire team and get them in the office. Get Mitch to brief them. We need everyone to hit the ground running.”

“Done,” he declared.

“Thank you.” I told him, grateful for the unwavering support. Loosening my grip, I unlatched him and set him on his feet. He returned to the huddle in the waiting room while Travis and I kept going. Mitch had been bailed up by the group and appeared to be explaining everything. I would owe him for that, too, because right now I didn’t have the time, nor the inclination, to speak to anyone. My favours were racking up.