Page 70 of In Cold Blood

“His name’s Jake Randall.”

“Never heard of him. What was he, a client?”

She roared with laughter. “That’s a little bigoted.”

“What is?” He smiled back.

“Because he has tattoos. That’s what you’re about to say, isn’t it?”

“No.”

“Well, you make it sound as if he’s a criminal.”

“Please.” Noah pulled up his sleeve to show her his own ink. “He just looked a little… rough around the edges to be your type.”

“Oh, so I have a type?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Really? And what’s yours?”

“Don’t switch this back to me,” he said playfully. “Come on. Where did you meet? At a greasy biker bar?” He added that at the end in jest. Noah owned a motorcycle but enjoyed teasing her.

Madeline slapped him on the arm. “Actually no. I…” She breathed in and he caught the hesitation.

“Yeah?”

The smile faded. “I met him through a friend of a friend.”

“Is he treating you right?”

“Of course. But it’s still early. It’s only been a couple of months.”

“But he knows about your past.”

“Um…”

“Maddie.”

“Look, I haven’t told him yet. Okay. I mean it’s not like you throw that shit out there. Hey, I was in an abusive relationship with an alcoholic. Are you liable to slap me around? If so, tell me now.”

She blew out her cheeks.

“But you plan on telling him, right? Before things get serious.”

She looked at him. “Yes. Of course.”

Maddie accelerated. The engine growled as they took eachturn at high speed. The headlights flickered as they passed through dense clusters of trees casting shadows on the rough asphalt.

She worried Noah to no end. He knew the statistics on the cycle of battered women either returning to their abuser or entering another volatile relationship. He could still remember the phone call he received from Luke telling him about the incident.

Ray had gone nuts when he heard the news. He had to be restrained by officers who had shown up after a neighbor heard Maddie’s cries. Noah hopped on the first flight back to find his sister in the hospital, hooked up to a slew of tubes. Her face was unrecognizable. If anything could have pushed him over the edge, it was that moment. He detested violence against women. Despite his father’s flaws, that was not one of them. His parents had argued. Everyone did. But hitting your partner, well, that was a one-and-done situation. There was no going back after that, whether it was by a man or woman.

Tommy was lucky they arrested him before Ray reached him, otherwise, Ray would have done time, that was for sure. Instead, Maddie’s partner ended up in the pen, charged with domestic violence. The penalty varied in New York depending on whether it was a class B, C, D, or E felony charge. Tommy’s was deemed assault in the second degree and he was given seven years in prison. But with good behavior, he could be out in three. Thankfully, he was still inside.

Madeline was quick to change the subject, asking him where he went on vacation before this, how Savannah was doing, and if their father had convinced him to return home. She didn’t like talking about her ex and for good reason. It brought up too many wounds. Although she’d healed externally, Madeline was aware of how it had rocked her confidence and trust. Still, despite all she’d been through, it wasn’t long after his incarcerationthat she made attorney and took charge of prosecuting people like Tommy. In some ways, it was satisfying to know she was helping those who had walked in her shoes.

As the Lexus crawled up toward the cabin, Maddie stared. “It’s so odd that he never told me about this.”