Person of Interest (A Celeste Eagan Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

as he turned away from me. “Give it back.” I shoved at the detective’s beefy biceps. Too late I realized I’d gone too far. Maybe it was when the frown pulled down those luscious lips—Rachel was right, the man was decidedly hot—or maybe it was when he pinned me up against the wall, frisked and cuffed me.
    * * *
    “Mrs. Eagan?” A young woman in a dark blue Peytonville police uniform spoke to me through the cell bars.
    “Yes?”
    Keys jangled as she unlocked the door. “Follow me, please.”
    We walked the short hall from the holding cells to a desk. She motioned for me to sit. Who was I to argue? I sat. Folding my hands in my lap, I tried to look as dejected as possible. It wasn’t really a far stretch. I’d never once been handcuffed, fingerprinted and locked away in a jail cell. I was already going stir-crazy. Even if it’d only been about an hour since I was thrown into the pokey.
    A couple of minutes later Detective Muldoon entered the room and took the chair across the desk from me. “I still haven’t been able to contact Colin Eagan, so I have no one to press unlawful entry charges against you.”
    “I told you I don’t know where—”
    His sharp gaze cut off my retort. “I’m going to drop the assault charges I could file against you and let you go with a warning.” He eyed me for a long moment then handed me a little brown bag with my belongings. “If you do hear from your ex, please let me know.” He again handed me his card. “I’ll have an officer drive you back to your car.”
    Not trusting what might or might not come out of my mouth, I simply nodded and stood. I’d held myself together pretty well at the police station and then in the squad car back to my car still at Colin’s house. But halfway home, I had to pull off to the side of the road when my hands shook too hard to keep driving. Ten minutes was all I allowed myself, then I sucked it up, took a deep breath and continued home. I’d already called Levi and he’d driven Paige back to the house and promised to have dinner waiting.
    “I’m home.” The door separating the garage and kitchen shoved back at me. “What are you—”
    “Don’t come in here,” Levi shouted. “Paige got a wee bit hurt.”
    My heart beat hard against my ribs. “What’s going on?”
    Levi might be a lot of things, but stronger than me where my daughter’s concerned, not even close. I shoved at the door with my shoulder and pushed through. “Paige?”
    I stumbled over my feet but righted myself quickly. Paige sat on the butcher block in the middle of the kitchen with Levi rapidly wrapping her hand. A dark red stain blossomed from her palm.
    “Oh, Lord have mercy.” I swayed on my feet. I might have failed to mention my extreme aversion to the sight of bloo...
    * * *
    “Celeste. Sweets. Wake up, hon.”
    I tried to shake the woolliness from my head. “Stop slapping me.” My cheek burned. I swatted away my friend’s hands. I was prone and a little uncomfortable. My eyes fluttered open, but didn’t focus on anything in particular.
    Levi hooked me under the arms and sat me up. It was none too ladylike, let me tell you. But that was what best friends were for, right? To help you in your most unladylike moments.
    “How’d I get on the floor?” I looked from my friend to my daughter and back.
    “Mom?” Paige squatted in front of me, her right hand bandaged.
    “You called me Mom . That’s twice in one day.” I smiled and ran my hand over my precious child’s head. She rolled her eyes and stood.
    I zeroed in on her bandage. “What happened, sweet pea?”
    “She dropped a glass in the sink and grabbed at it before I could stop her. She’s fine. It wasn’t too deep. Just bled like hell.” Levi grabbed my elbow. “Can you stand on your own?”
    “Yes.” Despite my affirmation, he helped me back to my feet. “Sorry, guys.” It had been a long time since the sight of blood undid me, but seeing my child bleed, yeah, there wasn’t