Page 118 of Black Flag

His lips twitched intoa small smile. It was pretty fucking evident by my appearance more than adiscussion took place. “But you don’t know where Darrin is at now?” OfficerHenley looked up at me. His confusion was transient as he took in my darkstare.

“I have no idea wherehe went when I left the bar.” I answered.

“When was the last timeyou saw Van Lambert?”

“He was with me at thebar.” I ran my fingers through my sweaty hair. “I haven’t seen him either sinceI left the bar.”

“What time did youleave the bar?”

I shrugged. “I don’treally know but I would say it was around 11pm.”

“If Mr. Lambert is yourbody guard, why wasn’t he with Sway?”

“We agreed for him tohave the week off since I, or a family member would be with Sway this weekend.”

“So you haven’t heardfrom him since the bar?”

I shook my head. “Ididn’t say that.” I smiled darkly.

“You’ve been in contactwith Mr. Lambert?” He scribbled a note as if this would be his answer.

“Yes, we spoke about anhour ago. I asked him to please come to the hospital to keep an eye on Sway.”

“Where is he?”

“I didn’t ask himthat.” I told him. “He just said he would be here tomorrow sometime.”

Henley leaned forwardagain and turned off the recorder. “Well I can tell you that Darrin is missing,but something tells me you know that already. There is a warrant out for hisarrest and when he does turn up, he’ll be going to jail for a long time forviolating a restraining order. It’s a serious crime. He will also be chargedwith attempted murder of Sway, as well as your unborn child as well. As far asthe other charge...it’s pending a test.”

My fists clenchedimmediately at the word that had been haunting me...rape.I looked at him intently; I could have burneda hole through him. Slowly, I leaned forward against the table, waiting for hiseyes to meet mine. I could be one scary motherfucker if I wanted to be. Rightnow, I needed to be.

“Are we finished here?”I asked then laughed manically. It was becoming apparent that I had seriouslylost my goddamn mind at that point.

“Yes, you may go.” Hetipped his head the direction of the door. “I hope your fiancée makes a fullrecovery.”

I said nothing, thedoor slammed behind me.

Spencer and Aiden werewaiting in the hallway for me when I walked out; both leaning against the wall.

“Is everything okay?”Aiden asked hesitantly, his forehead glistened with sweat.

“Just calm the fuckdown, Aiden.” I turned toward Spencer. “Give him some sleeping pills orsomething.”

He’d been a nervousfucking wreck since we left the bar, convinced we were all going to prison forlife. Emma got him hooked on some TV show called CSI. He was sure someforensics bullshit was going to put us all away.

I was moments away frombitch slapping him.

We weren’t in thewaiting room a few minutes when a doctor appeared asking for me.

“Are you listening tome Mr. Riley?” Dr. Clayton asked when I approached the critical care units withhim. Our pace seemed stalled.

I was trying to listento him, really I was. He was explaining how Sway and the baby were doing. Butas his lips moved, I couldn’t hear the words being spoken. I shook my headtrying clear my thoughts as if that would help. There was no clearing my headright now.

“Sway is being sedatedat the moment. She’s woken up a few times but whenever we tell her about thebaby, we have to sedate her again.” His eyes were just as watchful as thedetectives had been.

It seemed everyone waswaiting to see when I’d break. The problem, I already had.

“The baby is indistress but the heartbeat is steady. The ultrasound indicates everything isstable. Originally, we thought the baby was seventeen weeks but after this lastultrasound an hour ago, the baby is measuring at eighteen weeks, two days. Thisis good news. The heart and lungs are developing nicely. I’ve asked someonefrom Obstetrics to come down and talk to you guys in the morning, well, laterthis morning.”

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