“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, pulling out a pad and a pen. “I’m Officer Mast. If I could just get a statement from both of you, along with your names and addresses.”
“Is the driver going to be okay?” Jacey asked in a quiet voice.
“I believe so, ma’am,” the officer answered. “Looks like she banged her head, she’ll be bruised and sore for a while, but she should be fine.”
“She’s bloody lucky, driving around in a sardine can like that,” Derrick muttered with a frown, thinking about how small it was to his sister-in-law’s car, and how he had never been happy with Holly driving it.
“An expensive sardine can,” the officer commented, nodding in agreement. “They’re taken her to the hospital, so we just need to piece together what happened. Is that your vehicle?” He nodded over at Derrick’s car.
“Yes, it’s mine. I’m afraid I didn’t see the accident, however. By the time I pulled up, the car was already on its roof.”
“And you, miss? Were you in the car as well?”
“No, I was walking past and saw the accident.”
“Okay, I’m going to call a colleague over to take your statement, miss. Joe,” he called out. “Come over here, will you?”
“Is that okay with you?” Derrick asked Jacey as the two policemen spoke to each other. “I can stay with you if you’d rather.” He wouldn’t leave her if she was feeling vulnerable or afraid.
She stared up at him for a long moment. “You’re an interesting man, Derrick. I have a feeling your wife must be a lucky woman.”
“I’m not married,” he replied. “Do you need to call anyone? They could come and get you.”
Jacey shook her head. “No. There’s no one to call.” A look of sadness crossed her face before disappearing.
How did someone as beautiful and sweet as Jacey not have anyone worrying over her? Derrick opened his mouth to question her when the officers returned and split them up.
As he was answering Officer Mast’s questions, Derrick kept an eye on Jacey. She had her arms folded around her body defensively, and she couldn’t seem to meet the officer’s gaze. There was something odd going on, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
“Right. Thanks, Mr Ashdown. I think we have everything we need, but we’ll get back to you if we need anything else.” Derrick nodded to the officer who became distracted as a van pulled up.
“Didn’t take them long,” the cop muttered, turning away to intercept the people jumping out of the van, one of them carrying a news camera. What the hell? He turned and strode toward Jacey.
Jacey could scarcely believe that she’d just lied to the police, giving them a false name and contact details. But what other choice did she have? She couldn’t give them her real name. Nor did she want to tell them that she was homeless. That the reason she’d been first on the scene was because she’d been sleeping in a doorway across the street.
She needed to get out of here. Now.
/> “Are we finished now?” she asked.
“Yes. Thank you. We’ll be in touch if we need more.”
Jacey nodded, trying not to look guilty as she felt. Did he know she was lying? Did he notice that she couldn’t meet his gaze?
“Jacey, are you okay?” She jumped, whirling to meet Derrick’s worried eyes.
“Ahh, yes, I’m fine.” She glanced over to find a man pointing the news camera their way. “I’d really like to leave, though.”
Derrick glanced around. “Where’s your car? I’ll walk you to it.”
“Excuse me, Sir, Ma’am, did you see the crash? Did you speak to Cece? How badly hurt was she?”
Derrick turned to frown at the man rushing toward them. A shorter man, carrying the camera, followed quickly behind him.
“Cece? The singer?” Jacey said surprised. “Wow. I didn’t even recognize her.”
“I’m with Channel 7. Can we interview you?”
Jacey quickly turned her face away, toward Derrick. He placed his arm around her, pulling her tight against him. Immediately she felt safer.