I glanced over my shoulder at Kat, witnessing her sudden mood shift. She’d been startled and scared one second, and furious the next. But she kept her mouth clamped shut, giving Officer Denver’s radio a look that might kill a small mammal.
“Target doesn’t look crazy to me, sir. Nor does her husband, who is sitting here with her and just handed me a legal marriage certificate dated over a month ago.” He paused, his smile widening, then added, “Over.”
I smirked at Officer Denver, lifting an eyebrow at his strange behavior.
He must’ve detected my confusion because he leaned closer and said, “You folks can relax. And—sorry ma’am, no offense—but your cousin is a real dick.”
Kat huffed a surprised-sounding laugh. I leaned back in my seat, no longer shielding her body with mine. She and I shared a look while we waited for his radio to respond. We waited for a while. We waited so long, some of Officer Denver’s good mood began to deteriorate. He was just about to press the call button when the voice screeched over the radio.
“Now you listen to me, dipshit. You will not allow them to leave. I still have a court order and as an officer of the law you are bound to carry it out!”
Officer Denver leaned his head away from the radio, wincing and turning down the sound. To us he said, “If I were you, I’d tell him to get lost.”
“Thank you, officer.” Kat’s steady voice cut in. “If you could give us a moment to call our legal team, I’m sure we can get this settled.”
“Take all the time you need.” He pulled out his cell phone, stepping back from our car. “I’ll call this in and see what the captain says.”
I exited first, extending my hand for Kat. She took it, grasping her phone in her other hand and bringing it to her ear just as I shut the door after her.
“Hey. It’s me. Caleb is here and he has the police with him.” Her eyes found mine, and I was relieved, and maybe a little surprised, to discover she looked as cool as the other side of the pillow.
I motioned to Stan and she nodded, moving with me as I stepped to the driver’s window.
“You want me to drive you two out of here?” His eyes were huge as they glanced between me, Kat, and the officer.
“No need for that. Yet. I’ll let you know.” I wasn’t ruling anything out. If Caleb somehow managed to convince the police that his guardianship order was valid, no way was I allowing them to take Kat. “Call for backup, everyone in the area. Empty the building. Have them meet us down here.”
Stan nodded, grabbing his phone. “You got it.”
“And keep the motor running.”
He nodded again, already typing out a text to our nearby teams.
Kat, meanwhile, was pacing some three feet away and then back again, listening to the other side of the call.
She said, “Email it to Dan,” her gaze coming to mine. “He’ll do most of the talking.”
I mouthed, Is that Eugene?
She nodded, coming to stand next to me, leaning close, and tilting the phone so we both could listen.
“. . . that’s wise. He’ll try to get a rise out of you and he’ll have an audience, you know how he gets with an audience. I’ll send over the motion, but a document they’ve already seen will be more convincing than one they haven’t yet verified on a phone screen. Worst-case scenario, the Chicago PD will take you into custody until tomorrow when it can be sorted. At that point, you’ll be released.”
Kat nodded again, still looking calm and unruffled. Meanwhile, I was thinking, Over my dead body.
Which is why I spoke without thinking, “No fucking way they’re taking her into custody.”
“Ah, Daniel. You’re on the line.”
“I’m right here. They’re not taking her, do you hear me?”
“Mr. O’Malley—”
“It’s fine. We’ll be fine.” Kat pulled the phone from me, giving me a hard glare. “Thanks for everything, Uncle Eugene. We’ll be in touch.”
I scowled at her and sent a sideways look to Stan. He gave me a subtle nod. He was ready to go, just needed one of us to give the word.
She hung up, slipping her phone into her purse while leaning close and whispering harshly, “If the Chicago PD needs time to work this out, we’re giving it to them. I can stay overnight at a facility.”
“What if they put you in lockup?” I crossed my arms. “You been training with Fiona? She teach you how to be a ninja? You have moves I don’t know about?”
“They won’t put me in lockup.” She huffed an exasperated-sounding sigh, but her features softened. Inexplicably, a little smile tugged at her mouth. “And no, I’m not a ninja.” And then, under her breath while holding my stare she added, “And yes, I have moves you don’t know about.”