Page 120 of Stutter

I feel my heart swell with joy that he wants me with him today.

He’s been closed off in the office a lot these past few days since he shot Arlo, not really speaking to any of us. But I’m sure that’s his way of compartmentalizing everything.

“You can’t just take her for a whole day.” Jonas gripes but Damon shakes his head at him.

“I said themajorityof it. Plus, we’ll still be in the house. Are you dancing tonight?” Maverick asks.

I shake my head and lift my hands.Simon’s gone. There’s no need for me to dance anymore. I’ve already resigned.

“Good.” He replies with a grunt. “Once you’re all showered, I need you all to come down to the office. I need to show you Clarissa Hoover’s interview.”

“You had access to that?” Jonas asks what we're all wondering.

“I was able to get access to the transcripts, yes.”

“How?”

“Officer Smythe. Seems like there’s more people out there that want the Syndicate dismantled and eradicated.” He gets out of bed, and I follow.

We all shower pretty quickly, meeting Mav in the study, sitting shirtless behind the desk. Steam slowly rises from a mug of coffee beside the paperwork he’s shifting through, pen to his lips, tapping. I go to sit in his lap and his hand immediately rests where my hip and thigh meet.

Jonas and Damon sit in front of the desk, and we wait for Maverick to start but he gives them copies of the papers he’s looking at. “Page six.”

They flip, and I begin to read the transcript as well.

Off. Storm:Pretty convenient you didn’t drink a drop and were able to drive to the scene of the crime.

C. Hoover:He ordered me not to drink before the party. He was going to be schmoozing with his former frat buddies and networking. And it wasn’t the scene of the crime! It was our home away from home!

Off. Storm:We found the strawberry lip gloss in your car.

C. Hoover:Yes! I use it when I go… when I’m out without him, which is a lot. He’s hardly ever home and when he is… it’s like he’s a ghost. He doesn’t exist even when he’s at home. He hated me.

Off. Storm:Explains the failed epi-pen.

C. Hoover:I grabbed the wrong one, okay? It was a mistake. Another reason he hated me – I can be dumb sometimes when I panic.

Off. Storm:We saw the CCTV footage from inside your home, Mrs. Hoover. You stood there while he was gasping for breath.

C. Hoover:*sniffs* I thought about it, okay? I thought about it for two seconds –

Off. Storm:Fifteen. You had fifteen seconds where you could’ve saved him but instead you kicked at his body.

C. Hoover:I nudged at him. I didn’t kick him. And I called you immediately!

Off. Storm:Let’s look at the facts – you grabbed the wrong epi-pen. When you came back, you had two chances to save him, Mrs. Hoover – one, with the new epi-pen, the second, was performing basic lifesaving skills – CPR. CPR with a round of the antihistamine could have saved your husband’s life, instead you got down on the ground, and you waited until he stopped breathing.

C. Hoover:*heavy breathing*

Off. Hoover:There’s also these exchanges of texts between him and his father. ‘I think Clarissa is trying to kill me.’

C. Hoover:I would never! I made a mistake, okay! I would never! I would- oh my god, I’m going to throw up!

Off. Hoover:Get a custodian in here. Clarissa Hoover, you’re under arrest for the murder of Simon Hoover, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand?

C. Hoover:Yes, I understand.

“What does this mean for us?” Damon asks.

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