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The detective slammed his car door.He advanced toward the porch.Paused and looked up at them all.His chin notched high as Clark announced, “We have a confession.”
Eb blinked.Well, well, Madeline had certainly been working fast.He was surprised that she hadn’t called to tell him the news.Why send the detective?
Clark exhaled heavily.He waved his hand toward Eb.“Brock Arison confessed earlier.Your, ah, former boss?Madeline Desalt got the confession from him.”That hand angled toward Naomi.“He set the fire at your place.Brock swears he was acting on orders from Ivan.Only he got the idea that maybe he should stop taking orders once he was at your home.The man saw an opportunity.He took it.And by that, I mean…Brock took your bat.He attacked his boss.Killed him and then thought he could blame the death on you.”His hand fell as he glanced around the yard.“Brock figured he could take you out.Act like he was getting vengeance.Then he’d walk away as the new leader of the gang.”His attention shifted back to the front porch.“Madeline told me that Brock also…he confessed to killing Hudson.”
Naomi bounded down the steps.“What?”
“I’m…sorry,” Clark muttered.
“Holy shit.”Hunter seemed stunned.“Can I predict the future now?Is that what’s happening?”
Eb elbowed him.
“Ivan and Hudson were working some kind of deal.I don’t have specifics on it.”Clark sniffed.“According to Madeline, it’s above my pay grade.”
Yeah, that sounded like Madeline.And the details probably were above his pay grade.Classified CIA intel.
“Brock found out about it.Got pissed at being left out.So he knifed Hudson.”His Adam’s apple bobbed.“You’re clear, Naomi.I’m sorry that I…hell, I’m just used to everyone being guilty.You see guilt day in and day out, and you forget that some people actually are innocent.”
Naomi shook her head.“It’s…I…are you saying…it’s all over?Brock is being arrested and I’m…what?Clear?Safe now?”She snapped her fingers.“Like that?”
But Clark shook his head.“Brock isn’t being arrested.”
Eb’s stomach twisted.“Why not?”
“Because Brock Arison is dead.Dead men can’t go to jail.”Clark took a step back.“Told Madeline I’d personally come and notify you while she’s handling the mess at the hospital.You don’t need to hide out any longer.No one is hunting you.The gang members who were part of the attack last night are being booked.You are free.”
Naomi raked a hand through her hair.“I just…” She stopped.Spun around and ran back up the steps.She grabbed Eb and hugged him.“I’m free!”
He hugged her back.Held her close.Eb could feel her happiness but something just—hell, it wasn’t sitting right with him.
Why was Hudson’s psych profile so clean?
He peered over her shoulder at Clark.The detective’s feet shuffled over the driveway.
Clark cleared his throat as he gestured vaguely toward his ride.“Gonna just need you to come down to the station and sign some paperwork, Naomi.Give official statements about what happened last night.You, ah, too, Eb.Will need you to both come.”
Naomi pulled back.She beamed up at Eb.“I’m not a killer.”
“No, baby.”His fingers skimmed under her jaw.
“Everyone will know now.I can get my reputation back.Mylifeback.I won’t be the hated Wicked Widow any longer.”
No, she wouldn’t be.“You’ll get every dream you ever wanted.”Even as he said those words, Eb could hear Madeline like a ghost whispering in his mind…
Better get ready for her to leave you.It will happen as soon as she’s cleared.We find the person who murdered Hudson, we lock that individual away, and you will never see Naomi again.Sucks, I get it, but that’s life.In particular, that’s our life.You know no one at the Agency ever really gets a happy ending in this world.We lie to everyone, even the people we want to love.
He didn’t expect a happy ending.Not for himself.But he absolutely wanted Naomi to be happy.Eb would do whatever it took in order to ensure her happiness.
“Naomi, why don’t you ride in the car with me?”Clark offered.He moved back his hand, and the holster on his belt shifted slightly.Clark wore a wrinkled suit coat over a white polo.Khaki pants.It wasn’t particularly hot—certainly not nearly as hot and humid as it could get in Baton Rouge—but Clark was definitely sweating.“Eb and his, uh, buddy over there can follow behind us.”
“Name’s Hunter,” hisbuddyannounced clearly.“Pretty sure I’ve told you that before, Detective Anderson.”
Naomi edged away from Eb.
He caught her hand because she was not going to be edging too far away.
“I think Madeline wants to talk with you, Eb.”Clark sniffed.His hands had fallen back to his sides.“You might want to put a call in to her.Like I said, I’ll take Naomi into town and get her to fill out some paperwork.You can follow behind once you tie up your loose ends here.”