Free Romance: The Billionaire's Desire by Kelli Sloan Page A

circumstances,” I reply as the elevator doors open to the foyer.
    I love this city.
    In the ten minutes that it took us to arrest Nathan, word has gotten around quick enough for a mass of journalists to be gathered outside. 
    Word travels fast in the time of social media.
    “Keep your head down and try not to say anything stupid,” I say to him as we walk out into the frenzy.
    “Mr. Templeton!  Mr. Templeton!” the journalists wrestle each other for the next question.
    I open the police car door and David gently guides Nathan into the back seat. 
    This story should make the front page tomorrow.
     
     

 
     
    Chapter 2
     
    The Charges

 
     
     
     
    Nathan is obliging as we escort him to the station, but we leave him sitting in the interview room for an hour while we discuss our next steps with the Captain.
    “This arrest better be sound,” the Captain booms to us. 
    “You signed off on it,” I bite back.
    “I’m saying you’d better have done this by the book, Sarah.”
    Captain Sean Patterson and I have a varied history.  I try hard to do this job well and the Captain tries hard to make sure I do it by the book.
    “In the interview, you both better…” 
    “I’m going in alone,” I interrupt his orders.
    “You’re going to interview him alone?” David questions me.
    “I think he’ll open up more if it is only a woman questioning him.”
    “I don’t think…” David disagrees.
    “I agree,” the Captain stamps his authority, “But take me through what we have on him first.”
    “We’ve got his DNA at the scene of the crime and a witness who places him there.”
    “And this is the first time we’ve talked to Nathan about this?” the Captain questions.
    “You know how these guys work, Captain,” David answers, “If we give them a sniff of an arrest they’ll jump out of the country.  We had to do it this way.”
    The Captain nods, “Tell me, what’s his motive?”
    “He wants that painting,” I reply, “He has a collection of Vin Gang paintings in his mansion, and the owner of the stolen painting wouldn’t sell it.  This is a man with a history of bending the rules to get what he wants.  He’s very sneaky.”
    “He’s tried to buy the painting before?”
    “He has.  He offered the woman twice as much as it was worth but she said no.  She said that he has made six offers in the past two years for that painting.  But it was her prized possession, so she wouldn’t budge on it.”
    “And have we found the painting yet?”
    “We’re working on that, Captain.  We’re searching his properties now.”
    “He wouldn’t be stupid enough to keep the painting at one of his properties.  I can’t imagine that we’ll find the painting anytime soon,” the Captain replies.
    “You never know,” David adds, “Some of these rich guys are so arrogant, they think they can get away with anything.  And this guy seems like one of those.  He even asked us to leave his boardroom when we showed up.”
    “I’ve read about him,” I add, “He has a reputation for being very rude.” 
    “Who’s the lawyer?” the Captain continues his questions.
    “That’s Derek K. Turner,” David responds, referring to the other man in the interview room.
    “Derek K. Turner - the famous criminal lawyer?” 
    “This guy only employs the best.”
    “I thought Derek K. Turner worked out of Washington?  How did he get here so fast?”
    “He was in town on another meeting.” 
    “That lawyer would be worth thousands of dollars an hour.  How long have they been waiting in there?”
    “An hour,” I smile.
    “Good.  They won’t be happy with that but they’ll accept it.  When you go in there, let them complain about it, and apologize for the wait.  And be careful with that lawyer, he’ll be tricky.  Don’t play any of his games.”
    “Shouldn’t be too hard to work past him,” I smile as I approach the door.
    “Try and get a confession Sarah.  Wrap this up quickly.  I