Page 42 of Ice Cold Liar (Ice Breaker Cold Case #14)

A slight movement of her head that could have been a nod. “Hudson was not his father. He didn’t get off on torturing and killing innocent girls.” Her head turned back toward the door.

“Mary.”

She stiffened.

“Mary was the girl that Hudson loved and lost so long ago. He told me that she changed everything for him.”

“Some people can do that.” Her voice held a whisper of sadness. “They can change you for better or for worse.” She still didn’t open the door. Instead, her body turned toward him. “How will Naomi change you? For better? Or for worse?”

“Better.” He was sure of it. “She makes me want to be better. ”

“Are you certain of that?”

Yes.

“I think she makes you want to destroy,” Madeline stated softly.

“She makes you want to destroy anyone who tries to hurt her. If Hunter hadn’t pulled that trigger at the safe house, what would you have done?

I heard the report from the officers who took your statement when they arrived on the scene.

You were the person standing between Naomi and Clark.

You had no weapon. If you had moved to the side, if you had protected yourself, she would have been shot. ”

Yes.

“Can’t help but notice the bloody sleeve on your shirt.

And that nice, new bandage you’re sporting.

The bullet grazed you. Not because you moved but because Clark did, am I right?

When Hunter shot him, Clark’s aim was thrown off.

Otherwise, you’d be dead. We would not be having this conversation.

You’d be dead. Maybe Naomi would be, too. ”

Eb’s lips pressed together.

“Just so you understand what I’m saying here—you’re not better if you’re dead. Falling for the wrong person? It just makes you weaker. Not stronger. Remember that.” She spun away. Opened the door.

Two uniformed officers still waited outside the interrogation room.

They glared at Eb.

She’d been right. Clean or dirty, Clark had been one of their own. And the detective was the dead one.

“Play nicely,” Madeline threw over her shoulder at Eb.

Screw that. He wasn’t in the mood to play at all.

The door closed.

He was already halfway across the room. He grabbed for the knob. Hauled the door open.

The cops immediately blocked his path.

Naomi couldn’t believe that she was back in an interrogation room at the police station. But at least she wasn’t alone this time.

Henry sat near her feet. Naomi perched at the small table, in a freakishly hard chair, but Henry’s warm body pressed against her. He’d been with her every moment that she’d been at the station.

He’d been with her, and a blue-eyed, way too watchful man named Colson Reid had been her shadow. One glance, and she’d pegged him as CIA. Button-downed. Watchful eyes. Entirely too still and assessing. At this point, it was way easy to spot the agents.

A knock at the door had Colson rising. Leaving. Shutting that door behind him without any word to her. Figured. The agent hadn’t seemed really big on friendliness.

Just leave me to sit and stew.

She wanted to see Eb.

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 people stop doing 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 dog and you 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.