“I got a call from Anthony, he had a visit from the police—” Lachlan stopped abruptly when April gave a sharp shake of her head. He frowned slightly at the wide-eyed, panicked expression on her face then caught a movement behind her.
“Good afternoon.” A large brute of a man walked up behind April.
“Grant, this is Lachlan and Ben Kennedy,” April said, turning to face the stranger and gesturing with her hands. “Boys, this is Senior Sergeant Grant Shorten of the Peters Junction Police.”
“You promised to wait until Monday,” Lachlan burst out, a feeling of betrayal erupting within him. They’d agreed to wait. He’d wanted to be with her when she went. Instead she’d gone behind his back, waiting until he was out of the way to talk to the police on her own.
“I didn’t call Grant!” She reached out to him, but he pulled away. “Grant came to me. My missing persons’ report has been updated.”
“What?” He was having trouble processing her words through the fog of confusion in his brain.
“There’s now a picture of me from the ball and my last-known whereabouts are listed as Sydney.”
The confusion in his brain slipped into clarity and he pulled April behind his back, turning to face the policeman. “You can’t take her,” he stated firmly. “Not yet.” Silently Ben came to stand beside him, hiding April behind a wall of brothers. Lachlan was grateful for the show of support.
“Lachlan—” April began but the Sergeant interrupted.
“If I were you, Mr. Kennedy, I would reconsider taking this position, because the next time April talks to the police this will not help her cause.” The tone of authority in his voice was unmistakable and Lachlan could feel himself bracing for a fight. Only April’s hand on his shoulder stayed him.
“Lachlan, Grant’s not here to arrest me.” She gently increased the pressure of her hand, sliding it to his chest as she came around to face him. Her eyes pleaded with him to listen and not do anything stupid. “He came to warn me. To give me time to turn myself in.”
“You’re not arresting her?” He turned back to Grant, needing confirmation from him.
“No.” Grant shook his head. “But you have until Monday and then I will have to make an official visit.” He turned to April. “I suggest you engage a lawyer by then.”
“Oh shit. We were meant to get one in Adelaide,” Ben suddenly piped up.
“If we leave now—” Lachlan began.
“If I may make a suggestion,” Grant interrupted, taking April by the arm, causing the hair on the back of Lachlan’s neck to stand up and his hand to fist uncontrollably. Grant noticed the gesture and raised his eyes in inquiry, a bemused look crossing his features as he glanced at Lachlan. With extreme effort, Lachlan gritted his teeth and forced his fingers to relax. Grant carried on as if the exchange hadn’t occurred. “April I have a friend in Jamestown who will help if I ask him to. He’s a semi-retired barrister and at the very least he’ll be able to advise you or put you in touch with someone who can help.”
It was on the tip of Lachlan’s tongue to protest. He didn’t want some small-town cop to find a small-town lawyer to help April when he was willing to spend up big in the city on her behalf. But April was already nodding her agreement. Ben had put a restraining hand on his elbow and it was obvious he would be overruled by everyone there if he opened his mouth. Instead he bit down hard on the side of his tongue until he tasted blood.
“Thank you.” April smiled gratefully. “Will you be there on Monday?”
“Absolutely. But I think, under the circumstances, that I will insist on one of the junior officers taking your statement. If my role in this came into question, then it would be better for you if I have no official input.” His words surprised Lachlan. April had been adamant that no one else knew of the kidnapping. Before he could ask, Grant was reading out his lawyer friend’s contact details off his phone and April was scribbling it down on a piece of paper.
“Will you arrest her on Monday?” Ben asked and Lachlan was surprised by the question. In his mind he’d assumed the answer was obvious and April would be taken into custody, but now that Ben had asked, he couldn’t help the tiny bubble of hope that rose up inside him.
Grant shrugged. “It’s not likely at this stage. There aren’t any arrest warrants out for April. Both her and Marie are listed as missing persons and not fugitives, so it all depends on the direction the investigation is taking in Sydney. I can’t make any promises.”
Lachlan breathed a sigh of relief. He and April could have a few more days.
“I’d better go,” Grant said and April thanked him and escorted him out the door. When she returned, she walked straight into Lachlan’s embrace and he held her firmly, wishing with all his heart he would always be able to do so.
Secret (Peters Junction Series Book 1) Page 33