Chapter 2

"Marcus, you have to be joking," Gia said with a little laugh.

"Gia, this has nothing to do with you.  Please stand aside."

"Nothing to do with me?  You're arresting the man that I love, the man that I intend to marry and you say that it has nothing to do with me.  I don't think so!"

Marcus took Gia aside.  "I can't understand how a beautiful intelligent woman like you could fall for a loser like him," he said pointing at Jason.  "Come on, I'm taking you home, they can handle him."  He took hold of her arm.

Gia pulled her arm loose from his grasp.  She felt the anger building inside her.  She looked at Jason and couldn't believe how calmly he was taking this.  She turned back to Marcus with fire in her eyes.  "First, who I fall in love with is none of YOUR business!  Second, you don't tell me when to go home!  Third and most important, don't you ever, ever call Jason a loser!"

"Gia…"

She didn't want to listen to him anymore.  She walked away and moved to Jason's side.  The two other Officers had handcuffed him while she was gone.

"Marcus, is this really necessary?" she asked pointing to the handcuffs.

"He being arrested for arson and murder, of course they're necessary," Marcus said rolling his eyes.  "Let's go Morgan."

"Wait!" Gia said.  "What evidence do you have on him?  How was Zander killed?"

"Someone set Roy DiLucca's warehouse on fire tonight.  Zander Smith's body was found in the warehouse.  He died from a gunshot wound.  We have two witnesses who saw Morgan here leave the warehouse right after a gunshot was heard."

"But no witness that saw him pull the trigger?"

"No, but…" Marcus started to say.

"But nothing.  Just because Jason was in the warehouse doesn't mean that he's the one who killed Zander."

"Look, I'm just trying to do my job Gia.  May I get on with it?"

"Can I… can I have a moment alone with Jason?" she asked.

Marcus looked at his watch.  "All right, but make it quick."  He motioned for the two other officers to wait by the door.

Gia and Jason moved off to a quiet corner of Kelly's.

"I didn't kill Zander," Jason said.

"I know you didn't," she told him with a weak smile.  "It has to be whoever was setting you up for burning down the warehouse."

"That's what I was thinking," he said.

"Great minds think alike," Gia said leaning in to kiss him.

He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips before Marcus and his men interrupted them.

"We can't wait any longer," Marcus said as the two cops took hold of his arms near his elbows.  "You have the right to remain silent anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future.   If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you by the court  Do you understand these rights?" 

"Yes," Jason said staring at him.

Marcus avoided Gia's eyes as he said, "Take him away."

Gia followed them out.  She got into her car and followed them to the police station.