Page 46 of Loved

I sat down behind my computer and opened up the feed of my living room. “Probably something to do with Penny’sfriendTyler.”

“I thought the investigation was about sexual misconduct? Did you spank Tyler after you broke his nose?”

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but this shit wasn’t funny. I ignored him and turned the volume on my computer up a bit.

Detective Reed was smiling at Penny. "You know, when people act defensive, it usually means that they have something to defend."

She glared at him. "I don't have anything to hide."

“It looks like she’s got this covered,” Ian said.

“Yeah.” I smiled. I really loved when she was feisty. I kept watching the screen.

"Good,” Detective Reed said. “I expected as much. You're an open book, Penny. Straight As in high school. Same here except for the occasional B. You're a good girl. Respectable. A First State scholarship winner even. That must have made your parents proud."

"Yes, it did." She straightened her shoulders a bit.

"So the question is, what made you risk all that? What made you decide to sleep with your professor? Were you worried about…losing your scholarship?"

He thinks she slept with me for a grade?He’d just said that Penny was smart and had good grades. She didn’t need to do that. What kind of shit detective was this guy?

"What? No,” Penny said firmly.

"What kind of arrangement did you two have exactly?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Was it for the presents? Or maybe you weren't doing as well this semester. You have a C average in your statistics class right now.”

That was because I was distracting her. Not the other way around.

“Did you do it for the grades?" he pushed.

"Dowhatexactly?" she said.

"Did he, or did he not, agree to give you an A in his class if you gave him sexual favors?"

She stood up. "I think you should go."

"So it's true, is it?"

"You have no idea what you're talking about. We never did anything that we didn't both want to do. James is a good guy."

"Good professors don't sleep with their students."

"Tim." Detective Turner had finally spoken. He put his hand on Detective Reed's chest, as if holding him back. "Why don't you let me take it from here." Detective Turner gestured toward the couch.

Detective Reed nodded and sat down on the sofa. I stared at Detective Turner, who was now smiling. I was a little surprised by the sudden change. Were they seriously trying to good cop, bad cop Penny?

“Amateur move,” Ian said.

I nodded. “Agreed.” They knew that Penny got good grades. But they hadn’t done enough research to know that she loved T.V. She knew this move and she wasn’t going to fall for this shit.

"Please, Penny, take a seat," Detective Turner said. "I'm sorry about my partner's outburst."

Penny sighed and sat down as far away from Detective Reed as possible.

I smiled to myself.

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