Page 42 of Heist

Chapter Eleven

The mood in the car was solemn after Patrick and Holly got off the phone, but Austin was in work mode now. If the police wanted to talk to Patrick, she could handle that.

Squeezing his shoulder, she said, “We should come up with a game plan for talking to the police. They’ll want to question you. Let me step in and represent you until you can talk to your lawyers in California. I’m assuming you don’t have a New York attorney.”

Patrick was shaking his head. “I appreciate the concern, but I don’t need a lawyer yet.”

“Don’t talk to the police without an attorney,” Elijah said quietly. “Even if you go in for a voluntary statement, you should take someone.”

“Yes. Me,” Austin insisted.

“Hush,” Patrick admonished. “I said no lawyers.”

Austin sat back against the seat and scowled. “Fine. Be a hard head then.”

“Everyone in this car knows what our dynamic is, Austin. I swear to God I will spank you right here if you don’t drop the sass.”

Austin whirled to face him. “No. This isn’t sass. This is fucking concern for your wellbeing and I willnotbe punished for that.”

Patrick glared. “You can be concerned and respectful at the same time. I appreciate the worry and your desire to help. If I feel like I need an attorney, you’re going to be my first call but right now, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Now, be a good girl, say yes Sir, and I promise we’ll talk more when we get home. And no, you’re not in trouble. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

Austin scowled but muttered, “Yes, Sir,” and turned her attention to her phone.

Patrick squeezed her thigh, but she wasn’t ready for his affection, so she pulled away.

“I think we should get out in front of this with a statement to the press as soon as possible,” Holly said as she typed on her phone.

“She’s right,” Hunter said.

“No. I don’t want to say anything to the press unless I absolutely have to. This is none of their God damned business. You guys are acting like I had something to do with this.” Austin could hear the frustration in his voice.

Holly shook her head. “No. I’m acting like you lost it on a reporter earlier today when they suggested you were interested in the pumpkin. It doesn’t matter that you were at a night club with us all night and have an alibi. People are going to speculate.”

Austin’s phone lit up, indicating she had a voicemail. She pressed the play button and lifted it to her ear.

“The police want to question you,” she said quietly as she lowered the phone.

“How do you know that?” Patrick asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.

“They’re at my apartment. My building security just called and left a voicemail.”

Patrick swore into the dark.

“Now, will you let me represent you? Just for tonight. You can get a lawyer you’re more comfortable with later.”

Patrick picked up her hand. This time she didn’t brush him away. “Yes,” he said, his tone soft. “I’m sorry for being stubborn.”

Austin smiled. “It’s OK, but the script is reversed. You don’t say a fucking word unless I tell you to, clear?”

Patrick gave her a wry grin. “I get the feeling you’re going to get way too much enjoyment out of this.”

Austin flashed him her dazzling smile and said, “Maybe just a little, but I promise that all of my advice is for your own good, so please don’t let your hard head or your dominant pride get in the way of listening to me.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss there. “I hear you. I’ll be good, I promise.”

“Do you want us to come with you to talk to the police?” Holly asked.

Austin shook her head. “No but drop us off first. The police can see that we were indeed at Hunter’s club opening. If you want to get out of the car, give us hugs, that sort of thing, it will look good. How much did you drink tonight, Patrick?”

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