Page 38 of His Wisconsin Wallflower
Devaney’s lips curved into a small but cold smile. “I have nothing to say.” Her words dripped with disdain. Still a haughty queen looking down at her subjects.
Pulling out his phone, Quinten speed dialed a saved number. “You’ll talk to the police.” With his thumb, he pressed the call button. “Or they’ll make you.”
Her eyes widened. It was the first crack in her composed facade. “You can’t be serious!”
“Watch me.” Quinten put the phone to his ear and waited for Detective Maloney to answer his call.
Chapter Twenty-One
Car doors slamming and hurried footsteps outside made Raisa’s pulse spike. Standing rooted behind the counter, Raisa gripped the edge, as if letting go would send her spiraling into chaos. The door swung open, and two uniformed officers strode in, followed closely by detectives Maloney and Zanetti. Devaney snapped her head toward them, her defiant expression faltering for the first time.
“Devaney Martin?” Maloney stepped forward with a postcard-sized, laminated card in hand. “You’re under arrest in connection with the disappearance of Vanessa Franklin, currently being investigated as a potential homicide.”
Devaney’s chair screeched as she shot to her feet. “Arrest? On what grounds?” she demanded, her voice sharp and rising with panic.
Maloney ignored the outburst. “You have the right to remain silent.”
Devaney’s shoulders tensed. “This is a mistake!” she snapped, taking a step back toward the door. “I’m not playing your ridiculous games!”
It looks like Devaney isn’t going to use her right then, huh?
“You have the right to an attorney.” Maloney’s tone was unshaken as she moved a little to the right to block Devaney’s path. “If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.”
Devaney turned the other way and tried to bolt toward the exit, almost twisting her ankle on the red heels. Gavin stepped in her way, holding up a hand to stop her. “Devaney, please, don’t do this.”
She glared at him. “Move, Gavin! This is none of your business!”
“Stop making this harder than it already is.”
She shoved at his chest, her voice rising. “You think you’re so noble? You don’t know anything!”
Behind her, the officer stepped in and grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “Don’t touch me!” she screamed, twisting and fighting against his grip.
The detective asked calmly, “Do you understand the rights I’ve just read to you?”
“I’m not stupid.”
Raisa begged to differ.
But the black-haired beauty wasn’t done. “But you are,” she about spat at the detective. “Do you know who I am? Do you know who my husband is?”
Evidently ignoring Devaney’s ‘stupid’ comment, Detective Maloney didn’t even blink but lowered the card and asked, “With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”
Devaney ignored her, turning her fury back to Gavin. “You’re a coward! You’re going to regret this. You all will!”
Beth, who had been uncharacteristically quiet until now, shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Dev—” she began, but her voice cracked.
The officer expertly pulled Devaney’s other arm behind her back, snapping the handcuffs into place. She let out a frustratedscream, her face red with rage. “This is harassment! You’re all going to pay for this!”
“Let’s go.” Maloney spoke to the officer in a calm voice. As Devaney struggled and yelled, one of her red heels slipped off. A couple of the other customers had whipped out their phones and were snapping pictures or making videos.
The officers led the cuffed woman toward the door. As Devaney passed Raisa, she narrowed her eyes, and her lips curled into a sneer. “This is on you. You think you’re so smart you’re above anyone else, but you have no idea what you’ve done.”
Raisa’s throat tightened, but she held her ground, refusing to let Devaney see her falter. The door slammed shut behind them, leaving an uneasy silence in their wake.
For a moment, no one moved. The tension in the air was thick as everyone processed what had happened in the last few minutes. Gavin exhaled loudly and ran a hand through his hair. “Well,” he said, quietly, “that could’ve gone better.”
Beth stood, her face pale, and stared after her cuffed friend—visibly devastated.
