DAVINA [Rick Grimes AU Series]

| CHAPTER SEVEN |

CHAPTER SEVEN - CRIME SCENE

Rick had spent three hours laying in his bed, holding Davina tightly against his body.

Despite how emotionally and physically drained he was, he couldn't even close his eyes. He replayed every moment of the early hours of the morning over and over again.

He had moments of regret, anger and relief.

He wondered if the police had been called to the crime scene yet, if Merle was sitting in a cell, or if they had found something so small that could link Davina to the crime scene.

Rick was petrified that, eventually, the truth would come out, and in many ways, he regretted helping Davina. He should have called the station himself, informed them of what had happened and had them come and arrest Davina and Merle, but he was also glad he didn't.

He didn't want to lose Davina. Not because of this, and he was beginning to understand why Merle chose to do what he did.

Rick was broken from his thoughts when his phone began to ring. He felt Davina stir but not fully wake as he reached to the nightstand to check who was calling.

It was the station. His stomach dropped, and he knew then that they must know of the murder and were calling because they needed as many bodies as possible to rally around. Door-to-doors would need to be completed for the entire area, a search warrant would be issued for the Dixon's house, and interrogations and statements would be endless.

His hand shook as he answered his phone and brought it to his ear. He was surprised to hear Shane's voice on the other end of the line but grateful it was his friend and not another colleague.

"Hey Rick, I know it's your day off, but Sheriff needs all hands on deck. There's been a murder," he heard Shane say.

Rick steadied his breathing, "okay, I'll be there soon," he replied.

_____

Rick didn't want to leave Davina alone, but he had no choice. He couldn't fake illness or declare it was his day off, and he didn't want to come in, so he had no choice but to leave.

He had woken her as gently as he could, but she flinched and screamed as she rose. He explained what he had to do and made her promise to stay in his house.

Rick arrived at the scene thirty minutes after he had been given the rundown at the station.

He had been informed that they had received a call at approximately 4 am from Merle Dixon. He claimed to have woken up to the body on the floor and was intoxicated. Merle had made claims that he remembered the man banging on the door demanding to find any prostitute that would take him. He had informed the police that he had told the man to fuck off, but he got aggressive and pulled out a knife, but after that, he couldn't remember.

Rick knew it was likely that he told the story that way so that they couldn't catch him out with small details people don't even begin to think about. The placement of the stab wound, where he was stood or what time it happened.

The area around the motel was cordoned off, with police officers working in groups to pry statements from those who had been in their rooms that morning.