Page 120 of Truth

“How do you know Brianna Reeves, Mr. Coleman?”

“She lives with me.” To anyone else I would say she’s my girlfriend, but I wasn’t sure what Oscar would think best given the situation, so I decided to be as vague as possible.

“And you live here?”

“Yes. In the penthouse.” I was not above throwing my money around if it gave the officer pause about questioning me. It wasn’t something I did often, but under the circumstances, I didn’t feel any guilt about it.

“And how long have you known Miss Reeves?”

“About three months.”

“According to her father, she’s been missing for over a year.”

“Is there a missing person’s report?” I knew there wasn’t, and hopefully that alone would call into question whatever story Jonathan Reeves was telling.

He frowned and reached for his radio. “Dispatch?”

“This is dispatch.”

“Can you run a check to see if there’s a missing person’s report for a Brianna Reeves?”

“Ten-four.”

The officer and I stared at each other for several minutes, waiting for the dispatcher to return to the line.

“That’s a negative.”

“Thanks,” he responded to the dispatcher as he readjusted his gaze to Jonathan Reeves.

“Do you know why Miss Reeves has a restraining order against her father?”

I nodded. “He broke into our apartment last month. To be safe, I had my lawyer file a restraining order on her behalf.”

“Was a police report filed?”

“No. Security removed him from the building. You can confirm that with Tom and Jesse, if you’d like. They’re the ones who escorted him out the last time.”

“Why didn’t you report it?”

“As I mentioned earlier, Brianna isn’t comfortable around men she doesn’t know. There would have been police in our home asking questions and looking for evidence. I didn’t want to put her through that. I hoped being removed from the property and served with a restraining order would deter him. Apparently it didn’t.”

“And why is she so scared of men, Mr. Coleman?”

Luckily I didn’t have to answer that as Oscar came storming into the building like he owned the place. He narrowed his gaze at me and the officer I’d been talking with, and strode over to our side. “Are you harassing my client, officer?”

Oscar handed him his card.

“No. Just asking a few questions.”

“Well, the questions stop now.”

“Sheriff Reeves has made some pretty hefty allegations against your client”—he glanced down at Oscar’s business card—“Mr. Davis.”

“Are you planning to arrest Mr. Coleman?”

The officer stood up straighter. “No. No one is under arrest but Mr. Reeves for violating his restraining order.”

“Then I suggest you take care of Mr. Reeves and leave my client alone. He and Miss Reeves are the victims here.”

---