Colton (Cerberus MC #14) - Marie James Page 0,32
things seem left unfinished.
My cell phone rings before I even have the chance to settle back in my desk and overthink all the ways I’ve fucked up in the last month. The last thing I need as a distraction is a female murder victim with three bullet holes in her chest and a boyfriend that seems to have fled the scene.
***
“Tell me what you see.”
Sophia looks around the small home, taking in every inch of the mess made. I don’t miss the fact that her eyes avoid the woman’s body crumpled near the entryway to the kitchen.
“Chaos,” she answers.
“What else?”
“A man lives here.”
“How do you know?”
“There are three pairs of men’s shoes near the door. The jacket hanging on the hook is too large for her. There’s a pile of men’s belongings on the front porch.”
“What do you think happened?”
“She tried to kick him out. He wasn’t happy, and he killed her.”
“The boyfriend’s name is Dennis Milton,” Ramshaw says as he joins us in the room.
His eyes are on the notebook in his hands. Mine are on Sophia.
“Penny was on the phone with 911 when she was shot. She was deceased by the time officers made it to the location.”
Sophia flinches with the news. Sometimes it only takes minutes for the unthinkable to occur.
“Dispatch heard them arguing. There were four gunshots, only three hitting the victim. One went wide. Peterson found the other bullet lodged in the bottom cabinet in the kitchen.”
“He continued to shoot her as she fell,” Sophia deduces.
“There’s a BOLO out for Milton’s late model Ford Ranger,” Ramshaw continues. “He left his wallet on the nightstand in the bedroom, so I don’t imagine he has much money with him. He’s limited on what he can do. A unit has already been sent to his mother’s house across town.”
“Thank you,” I tell Ramshaw who nods at both of us before backing away.
We continue to work the scene, Sophia taking notes and writing down everything I say out loud. I’m grateful I have better control over my thoughts than she did intoxicated on Friday night because I’m awash with thoughts of her and regrets for my actions. This isn’t the time or the place to have that conversation.
We stand out of the way as the crime scene guy takes photos of nearly everything in the house. Having too much is always better than not having enough. Within an hour of us being on scene, a call comes in that the unit sent to Milton’s mother’s house was able to locate him. After a short standoff, Dennis Milton surrendered and is currently in custody on his way to the police station.
Sophia follows me to the car without a word, and I know that her sullenness is from a combination of what happened earlier in the office and knowing that another life is gone all too soon.
Interrogating suspects never gets easier. Facing evil drains me each and every time I’m tasked with doing it. Procedure sates that Sophia, not a licensed peace officer, can’t be in the room with us, but Monahan has given her permission to watch on the other side of the two-way glass. She hasn’t witnessed this part of the process yet. She’s halfway through her internship, and with any luck, she won’t have the opportunity again. We’ve had too many deaths recently, and the entire department is long overdue for a break from it.
I’m nervous as I enter the room, folder in hand and come face-to-face with Dennis Milton for the first time. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people in my time on the Farmington Police Force, hundreds of times with people in the other room, but my nerves are on edge knowing that she’s on the other side of the glass at my back.
She may see things differently after today. She may have preconceived notions from watching television about what it’s really like in an interrogation room, but everyone interviews differently. Hell, each interview is different.
I can only hope she’ll still respect me when today is done.
Chapter 14
Sophia
Rubbing the outside of my arm, I watch through the glass as Colton enters the interrogation room.
“Hey, Milton.”
How is his voice so calm after leaving the crime scene?
“I bet you’ve had better days.”
Milton doesn’t look up from the table to engage with him as Colton informs him that the interview is being recorded. He states the guy’s name, the date, and the location of the interview. He even mentions that Milton is handcuffed on his right wrist to the table