Page 79 of Not Another Rockstar
“What the hell is wrong with you? You did this for money? You could’ve killed someone. Were you going to try and pin this on me like you did my studio? Why can’t you get the fuck out of my life!” The words burnt her lungs. What the hell had she done in this life or the last to be tormented like this?
“No! I would never hurt anyone. When I got here, the fire had already started. I’m the one who called the police,” he explained, pointing to the officers, who were listening in. “I helped your friend get out, and how do I know you didn’t pay me for the studio? I don’t know who did.”
“Maybe you get off on this! Being the hero after nearly killing them. No one else was involved, this is all part of your sick game!”
Axel held her tightly, and she was glad he was there, or she would’ve torn Sheen’s eyes out.
“If you didn’t do this, show us that envelope from the first time, or the text you got to come here.”
Sheen shook his head. “I burnt it as instructed. I’m not saying anything more without a lawyer.”
Phoebe let out a long sigh. “You burnt the evidence that could prove another person was involved?”
He didn’t get a chance to respond before the officer in charge of the scene grew tired of the back and forth.
“I don’t know what is going on here, but you all need to calm down! Or you’ll be arrested. This is a crime scene, so act like adults,” the officer barked, and the crowd around them backed up.
Sheen took his phone out of his jacket.
“Do you have any evidence this man set the fire?” the officer asked Phoebe.
“No.” Phoebe gritted her teeth.
“You wanted proof? See for yourself. The text came in after the fire had already started, and I called the police.” Sheen showed them a text from an unknown number, and a call to emergency services. The officer handed him back his phone, swallowing Sheen’s story.
“You could’ve sent that to yourself from another phone.” Phoebe repeated her suspicions, hate rising from her gut. “Calling the police doesn’t mean you didn’t set it.”
The officer stared at her like he wanted a reason to cuff her.
“Are you going to arrest me?” she asked, wanting to get out of there before she did something she regretted.
“Are you pressing charges?” the officer asked Sheen sternly.
Sheen hesitated, and she thought she saw a hint of worry in his eyes.
“No. This is all a misunderstanding.” Sheen shook his head.
It was Phoebe’s turn to grab Axel’s sleeve before he struck him.
“You’re free to leave the scene,” the officer instructed Phoebe and Axel.
“You can’t believe him!” Phoebe pleaded, but it fell on deaf ears.
“We will investigate and come to our own conclusions. Now, if you don’t want to be arrested for obstruction, please leave, and we will contact you,” the officer said, not giving them an option.
She hated to leave and let Sheen slip through her fingers again. She could only hope that he’d messed up this time, that he’d left some trace of his involvement behind. She needed to know if he was lying about helping Lena.
Lena waited in the car, and from her pale expression, she had watched the whole scene.
“Is everything okay? I’ve never seen you go off like that?” she asked as Axel and Phoebe reached the car, a safe distance away from Sheen.
“That’s Sheen, talking to the officers. He was in the crowd, watching,” Phoebe said, putting on her seatbelt.
Axel didn’t say a word, and she worried that he would hop out of the car and beat the answers out of Sheen if they didn’t leave soon.
Lena glanced out the window to where Sheen was still with the officers. “Him? That’s the guy who broke into the studio. He helped us get out. The door got stuck and he busted it in so we could escape.”
“Are you sure?” Phoebe asked, needing to be certain. Shock could distort things.
