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He stood between me and a bullet.
She’d never forget the absolute terror she’d felt when the gunshots had blasted.Did Eb realize that she’d seen his blood splatter into the air?She hadn’t realized that he’d been hit in the arm, not at first.She’d thought the bullet had gone into his chest.That he’d been lethally shot right in front of her.And a scream of pure terror and rage had erupted from her.
But Eb had been okay.
Okay.Eb is all right.He’s safe.I’m safe.We are okay.
He’d bounded down the steps.And the person shot in the chest?It had been Clark.The detective who’d tried so hard to get her locked away.He’d been the one who tried to kill her.
The door to the interrogation room flew open.
Naomi jumped.It wasn’t Colson returning to the small room that felt increasingly claustrophobic.
“Come with me,” Madeline commanded as she stood on the threshold of the interrogation room.
Naomi frowned at her.“Where’s Colson?”
“I sent him to hang with Hunter.”Madeline glanced upward, as if seeking divine assistance.“Why does this have to be so hard?”A mutter.Then she extended her hand toward Naomi and motioned with her fingers.A come-on gesture.“Do you want to stay in this room for the next twenty-four hours or do you want to see Eb?I am trying to help you.”
Naomi lunged out of the chair and was across the room in an instant.“I want to see Eb.”
“That’s what I thought.”Madeline seemed pleased.“Come on, let’s go.”
And they did.They left with Henry.Through the maze of hallways, they twisted and turned.There weren’t any cops around.Naomi wondered where all of the uniforms had gone.She and Madeline hurried to the back of the station, steered clear of holding, and Madeline shoved open a door that led?—
Wait.Outside?
Naomi stopped as the sun hit her in the eyes.She lifted a hand to shield herself.
“Get in the car,” Madeline told her.“Now.”
And…there was a car waiting.An old sedan, with its trunk up.
“The trunk,” Madeline snapped.She even tried to push Naomi forward.
Naomi didn’t move.The other woman could not be serious.And I am not in the mood to be pushed.“What is happening right now?Where is Eb?”She turned toward Madeline.“Where is?—”
Gun.Madeline had a gun pointed right at her.Dammit, when would peoplestopdoing that?“I am so over guns and them being aimed at me.”
“You’re getting in the back of the car.Now.Or else…” Madeline shifted the gun toward Henry.“Or else I’m shooting your dog.”
Every muscle in Naomi’s body locked down.“The hell you will!”
“I didn’t want to do this here.”An annoyed sigh.“But I can.I can come up with a story.You overpowered me.You forced me out here.Your dog attacked me.I had to shoot him…then you.I had to shoot you to save myself.”She widened her eyes.“You think Eb will be sad when he finds your dead body?Or do you think he’ll be a bit relieved to have you gone?”
Naomi gaped at her.
“It’s your choice.I can kill the dogandyou right now…or you can get your ass in the car.In the trunk.”She looked over her shoulder, then back at Naomi.“Now.”
No way did she want to get in that trunk.Naomi hesitated.
“Fine.”Madeline nodded.“I sure as hell hope that old saying about all good dogs going to heaven is true because Henry is about to get a swift trip to the afterlife.”She began to squeeze the trigger.
Naomi lunged for her.She grabbed Madeline’s arm.
The gun fired.
ChapterTwenty-Three