CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Bryce wasn’t sure how many times he’d made love to the woman who lay beside him, but when his phone rang, waking him from a deep sleep, it felt like he’d barely closed his eyes. At some point, he’d sent a text to his grandmother to let her know he wouldn’t be home. The phone continued to ring and he stumbled from the bed and padded down the corridor into the living room. He glanced at the Caller ID and frowned.

“Jett, how are you doing?” he said by way of greeting, pitching his voice low in deference to Chanel who was still asleep.

“Bryce, where are you? It’s after eight.”

Bryce glanced at his watch and cursed. He had no idea he’d slept so late. He was supposed to be at work.

“I’m sorry, mate. I was up all night. Some kind of…stomach bug. I overslept.”

“No worries. Do you feel well enough to come in? We’ve had a development overnight. We received an anonymous tip. The boss has approved a search warrant.”

“An anonymous tip? A search warrant? Great. Whose property?”

“It’s an address in North Sydney. An apartment rented by Doctor Chanel Munro. The boss—”

The rest of what Jett said was drowned out by the roar of noise in Bryce’s ears. His heart thudded and blood rushed through his veins. He sucked in a breath and then another and did his best to find his tongue.

“Chanel Munro? Why the hell would the boss approve a search warrant of her apartment? She didn’t have anything to do with the murders. Has he forgotten it was Doctor Munro who came to me in the first place? Who’s the so-called anonymous tipster you’re talking about? What did he have to say?”

“I’m not sure. The boss didn’t divulge any details, only that we needed to search the apartment rented by Doctor Munro.”

Bryce shook his head in frustration and cursed again. “I don’t believe it. I fucking don’t believe it.”

“Well, anyway, the boss obviously thinks there’s enough to go on. We’ll have to toss the place and see.”

Bryce opened his mouth to utter another instinctive protest, but then closed it. If Jett had called and given him similar news about any other suspect, he would have accepted it without a murmur. If the boss had okayed a search warrant, that was good enough for Bryce. Usually. It was completely different when the suspect was a woman he believed was innocent. Even more so when he’d just climbed from her bed.

After assuring Jett he would be at work shortly and telling him not to do anything until he got there, Bryce bid his partner a hasty good-bye and headed back to Chanel’s bedroom. Her arm was flung out across his pillow and her hair was spread every which way. She was still asleep and he reluctantly leaned across the bed and gently shook her awake.

“Chanel. Come on, honey. You need to wake up.”

“Mm, no, go away; it’s too early.” She rolled over, away from him and took the covers with her.

He smiled before he could stop himself and then remembered the phone call. “Chanel, I mean it. We need to get up. The police are on their way.”

That seemed to get her attention. She tensed and then a second later, flung the covers out of the way and sat up. She stared at him in surprise and alarm.

“The police? Here? What are you talking about?”

He drew in a breath and eased it out. “I just had a call from Jett, my partner. The task force are getting ready to execute a search warrant on your apartment.”

She frowned and her face flooded with confusion. “Why would they be doing that? I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I know that. I’m not sure what changed overnight. Jett said something about receiving an anonymous tip. Apparently, whatever was said was enough for my boss to approve a warrant.”

His words seemed to finally sink in. Color leached from her cheeks. Her hand came up to her mouth and covered a gasp. She shook her head back and forth with increasing vehemence.

“No, there must be some mistake. You must have misunderstood. They couldn’t be coming here. I didn’t do anything. I had nothing to do with those deaths.”

Bryce reached out and drew her close, pressing her head against his chest. Her arms went around his waist and she clung to him. Her breath came fast and he did his best to calm her down. Hysteria was the last thing she needed.

“It’s all right, honey. I’ll look after you. Trust me, this is my thing. If you did nothing wrong, sooner or later, the task force will realize that. They’ll execute the warrant, find nothing and then leave.”

“Will they make a mess? Cut up the cushions of my couch?”

Bryce allowed himself a small smile. “No, sweetheart. That only happens on TV. Although it does depend a little on what they’re looking for. If it was a stash of heroin, maybe your couch would take a hit.”

She pulled away from him, not taking kindly to his joke and stood and left the bed. Seemingly unaware of her nakedness, with her arms crossed defensively over her chest, she paced the confines of the bedroom.

“I don’t do drugs. I’ve never even had a parking ticket. This whole thing is entirely ludicrous!”

Bryce went to her. With his hands on her shoulders, he halted her progress. “Chanel, listen to me. You’re right. It is ludicrous, but the fact is, it’s happening. Why, I don’t know. I’ll find out, but right now, I need you to get dressed and prepare yourself for the arrival of the police. I’m not sure what time they’ll be here, but you need to be ready when they do.”

His words seemed to penetrate her fog of confusion and anger. She stared at him, her eyes wide and then she blinked. She looked down at herself and blushed red to the roots of her hair.

“Oh, my God, I’m naked. I need to find my clothes.” She hurried around the room and at last, settled on the bedsheet that half-hung onto the floor. Wrapping it around herself, she tucked the ends into her breasts. When she was completely covered and secure, she looked back at him.

“Will you be here, with them, when they come?”

He compressed his lips and told her the truth. “Yes.”

She nodded once and dropped her gaze. A moment later, she looked at him again. “You need to get some clothes on. Maybe a towel? What happened to your shirt? I could give you a—”

“Chanel, we’ve spent the night together. I’ve touched and kissed every inch of you. There’s no need to be embarrassed just because it’s morning.”

He stepped closer and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Although, you’re kind of cute when you blush.”

She batted him away and grabbed the towel that hung on a hook behind her door. A moment later, it landed on his head. “Quit standing there and go and get some clothes on,” she said.

* * *

Given the choice, Bryce would have opted to remain at the station during the execution of the search warrant on Chanel’s apartment, but as the leader of the task force and one of the senior detectives on the case, it would have raised questions and he was far from willing to provide answers.

Not that he had anything to hide, of course, and he was certain she was innocent. They’d execute the warrant, go through the motions, clear Chanel of any wrongdoing and go back to the drawing board. In the meantime, he and Chanel would be free to explore wherever their feelings took them.

He thought of Angela and how he’d held her hand in the final moments before she’d passed away. The machines that had kept her alive for three long years were switched off and wheeled away. Her family and his grandmother had come in and said their good-byes.

In the end, it had been just the two of them in the silent room. He didn’t know how long it would take, but it seemed no time at all before the nurses came in and told him she’d gone. Her passing had been quiet and peaceful—and for that, he was grateful. He’d done the right thing. His wife had finally been laid to rest and though he hadn’t given it any thought until that moment, he realized he’d also come to terms with the past. For the first time in a long time, he felt hope in his heart when he thought of the future.

“You ready?”

Jett posed the question and Bryce nodded in response. “How about the others?” he asked.

“Yep, all ready and accounted for. We’ll go in whenever you give the go ahead.”

Half a dozen officers waited on the curb behind him. With little danger of finding an armed suspect, they’d left their combat gear at the station, but the sheer number of them attracted attention.

Bryce couldn’t help but wince at the rumors that would circulate around the apartment block. Chanel would be forced to withstand the whispers and pointed looks that would surely come her way. He wished he could do something about that, but it was out of his control.

The anonymous tip had hinted that she was storing the ricin poison in her apartment. Bryce found it intriguing that an outsider knew what kind of poison had been used. They’d been careful to keep that detail away from the public eye. It was more than interesting to discover the tipster had also specifically referred to castor beans.

Aware that his men were waiting, Bryce gave the order to move in. Jett knocked loudly on the door that led to Chanel’s apartment and then stood aside for Bryce. A moment later, the door was opened.

She was dressed in a pretty sundress that ended just above her knees. It was white and patterned with hot-pink polka dots. Her hair was pulled back into a bouncy ponytail and her lips were newly glossed. She looked fresh and calm and composed. She looked beautiful.

“Chanel Munro,” he said, “I have a warrant to search your apartment. I have a copy here for you. If you step aside and let us in, we’ll be out of your way as soon as possible.”

Her eyes never strayed from his face. Her chin lifted and she stared him down, not even glancing at the warrant in his hand. Bryce couldn’t help the surge of admiration that rushed through his veins and settled warmly in the vicinity of his heart.

A moment later, she stepped back and allowed him and his men to enter. Taking refuge on the couch, she quickly became engrossed in her phone. Bryce had to give her points for holding it together. She looked like she couldn’t care less that she was the suspect in several murders and that her apartment was being tossed. It only strengthened his sure knowledge that she was innocent.

“I’ve found something!”

Jett’s triumphant yelp came from the direction of the kitchen. Bryce frowned and hurried to find him. Jett held a small brown bottle in his gloved hand.

“Give it here,” Bryce demanded. Jett handed it over. Bryce looked at the nondescript medicine bottle and turned it over in his hands. With his gloved hands making it more difficult than it needed to be, he carefully unscrewed the lid.

It was filled with a fine pale powder. Bryce’s heart went into overdrive and he reeled back in shock. What the fuck? Careful not to inhale it or come into contact with it in any way, he screwed the lid back on and deposited it into a plastic evidence bag.

“Where did you find it?” he demanded.

“On a shelf in the kitchen,” Jett replied. “What is it?”

“I’m not sure. We’ll need to get it tested, but first we’ll ask Doctor Munro. She should be able to tell us.”

“She’s hardly going to tell us it’s ricin powder,” Jett said, shaking his head.

Anger surged through Bryce and it was all he could do not to smash something. His mind spun with shock and confusion and overriding fear. He was sure he wasn’t wrong about Chanel, but what if his judgement had become skewed?

He’d been attracted to her from the moment he’d seen her and for all his vagueness about whether or not he was going to investigate her complaint, he’d always intended to do so. And he had. And he’d believed Doctor Baker. Until he hadn’t. Then he’d believed Chanel.

His thoughts spun faster and faster out of control until he didn’t know which way was up. He could see Jett frowning at him, but he couldn’t seem to stop his mind racing at breakneck speed.

“It’s okay, Bryce. I’ll go and talk to her.” Jett muttered the words and disappeared. Bryce sucked in a savage breath.

Scrubbing at his hair, he did his best to get his heart rate back under control. His anger slowly subsided and the noise receded in his head. He was the leader of the task force. This was his investigation. He needed to pull himself together and act like he was in charge. Had he been duped by a very clever criminal? He wouldn’t be the first cop to be taken in by a beautiful girl.

The awful thought had entered his mind, but now sat heavily in his gut. Had he fallen for the oldest trick in the book? Had his cock blinded him to the truth? Was she so confident of her ability to hoodwink him that she’d left the evidence out for all to see?

He ground his teeth until his jaw hurt and cursed his foolhardy dimwittedness. It was his fault. He’d fallen for her innocent act and the promise in her eyes. With steely determination, he got himself back under control. With a last look around the kitchen, he headed into the living room.

Chanel was still seated on the couch as if she didn’t have a care in the world. He’d thought her demeanor was proof of her innocence. Now it only seemed to emphasize the level of her arrogance and deceit. Jett turned to him as he entered.

“Doctor Munro claims she’s never seen the bottle before. She doesn’t have a clue what’s in it.”

Bryce stared at Chanel with narrowed eyes and his anger stirred again. “Is that right, Doctor Munro? You’ve never seen this bottle before?”

Something in his eyes or maybe the coldness in his voice gave her pause. She looked up at him in surprise and her brows came down in confusion. Fear chased itself across her face and her eyes darkened with uncertainty. In other circumstances, he would have gone to her and assured her it was all right.

But he didn’t move and it wasn’t all right. As if sensing something was terribly wrong, Chanel stood and crossed her arms over her chest. She lifted her chin and once again, stared him down.

“What are you implying, Detective Sutcliffe? Should I know what’s in that bottle?”

“It was found in your kitchen. I assume you know what it is.”

Her eyes blazed into his, anger setting them on fire. “Like I told your partner, I’ve never seen it before in my life. I’m not the only person who lives here.”

Jett looked from her to him, then back to the bottle in Bryce’s hands. “What do you want to do, Bryce?”

Bryce stared at Chanel for another long moment and breathed through his hurt and disappointment.

“Arrest her.”

Chanel gasped and her cheeks went pale. She stared at him in confusion. “What the hell? You can’t do that!”

“I’m afraid we can, Doctor Munro,” Jett nodded and pulled out a pair of cuffs.

Her gaze flew to Bryce and this time, it was tinged with panic. Her eyes narrowed in anger. “Handcuffs? You have to be kidding!”

“Bring her in, Jett,” he said and turned away, unable to remain near her another minute.