He hears the train’s horn off in the distance. It’s coming. He turns the radio up loud but doesn’t recognize the rock song he’s going to die to. He revs the engine, keeping his foot on the brake for now. His mom’s face flashes before him, followed by Nikki’s. When the train appears, his sweaty hands grip the steering wheel and his body is flooded with adrenaline. It’s now or never.
Just before he can accelerate and end his shitty life, a police cruiser with its lights blazing skids in front of his car, blocking him from the tracks.
He looks up in a daze as the train goes speeding by. He should be dead right now.
He watches in the rear-view mirror as a black sedan grinds to a halt behind his car, blocking him in. The guy who arrested his mother all those years ago is approaching his open passenger window. He’s holding a gun.
Anger builds up inside him. Detective Douglas is going to arrest him for Nikki’s murder, he just knows it. He looks around to see if he can somehow get away, but he’s trapped. Desperate, he opens the glove box and pulls out the hunting knife he keeps in there.
“Stay away from me!”
Douglas stops next to the window. He bends down to survey the inside of the car, and when he’s satisfied there are no guns present, he slips his own back into its holster. Then he raises his hands in front of his chest. “Calm down, Mason. I’m not here to hurt you.”
“The damage is already done. You ruined my life when you arrested my mom. You started all this!” He’s surprised by his own tears. It must be the shock of still being alive. Should he feel grateful? Because he doesn’t. He feels like it’s yet another thing he can’t do right.
The detective looks confused. “What are you talking about? I haven’t arrested Angela McCoy.”
Owen’s confused himself until he remembers that most people don’t know who he is. “My name isn’t really Mason McCoy; it’s Owen Harper. Surely you remember Madison Harper?” he spits.
A look of contempt replaces the confusion on the detective’s face, and Owen knows then that he’s screwed.
“I watched you drag her away when I was ten years old. You ruined my life!” He tries wiping the tears of frustration away with his free hand, but they keep coming.
Detective Douglas crouches down next to the passenger window and rests one hand on the door. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were her son. I guess nobody tells me anything around here.” He pauses. “Your mother killed a police officer, so I had to arrest her. She was convicted by a jury, not by me.” He nods to the knife in Owen’s hand. “Will you put that down? I’m not here to hurt you.”
Owen doesn’t trust this guy. He saw how aggressive he was with his mom that night, and he saw how frightened she was. Convinced that he’s trying to trick him, he moves the knife to his own throat as the detective’s eyes widen.
He notices Officer Jim Greenburg slowly approaching his car. Jim’s been to their house many times, for card games with his dad. He knows who Owen is, so how come Douglas didn’t?
“Don’t come any closer!” he shouts to Officer Greenburg. “I’ll kill myself, and it’ll be on you. You’ll have to explain it to my dad.”
The cop hesitates and then backs off.
Douglas looks worried. “Listen to me. We just want to make sure you’re safe right now, that’s all. We won’t ask you anything about Nikki Jackson’s death. This is about getting you to safety and letting a doctor check you over.”
“I didn’t kill her!” He knows they won’t believe him.
“Okay, well it’s the first time you’ve told me that because it’s the first time we’ve spoken.” He’s so calm. “Now that I know that, I know to look for someone else. And when you’re ready, you can tell me what you do know about that night. But for now, drop the knife. You don’t want to hurt yourself.”
Owen’s hands are so sweaty the knife is slipping from his grip. “Yes, I do.” He nods to the railroad tracks. “What do you think I was about to do before you showed up?”
Douglas realizes what he means. “There’s no need to do that, Owen. You hear me? If you’ve done nothing wrong, we can figure it out. You can tell us why Nikki might have wanted to kill herself, so we can stop investigating her death as a homicide.”
Owen shakes his head. “Nikki did want to kill herself, but you’ll never understand why. How can you? I bet you had parents who loved you and fed you properly and didn’t constantly berate you. I bet you’ve never known anything bad in your life.”
Douglas looks away. “I’ve had my fair share of shit too.”
“Like what?” Owen lowers the knife.
Douglas turns back to him, and the look on his face makes Owen realize he’s misjudged him. “No one’s life is easy, kid. Now if Nikki was being emotionally abused at home, we can investigate her parents. But we don’t know anything about her now she’s no longer with us. You can be her voice. You can tell us what was going on in her life. Killing yourself isn’t going to help her, because then we’ll only have her parents’ version of events. Do you want them to speak for her?”
Owen looks at his hands. This guy is making sense. But he doesn’t want to believe Nikki did kill herself. They had plans for the next day. She was fine when he left to go home. He would have known if he was never going to see her again.
“Would it help to speak to your mom right now?” asks Douglas.
Owen slowly turns to look at him. He frowns. “What?” Why would speaking to Angie help him?
“Your real mom. I can take you to Madison.”
Owen’s mouth moves, but no words come out.
“Oh shit, you don’t know. She’s back in town.”
He doesn’t believe it. It must be a trick. “She’s in prison.”
Douglas shakes his head. “She was released early. She arrived back a few days ago to deal with Stephanie Garcia’s death. You want me to take you to her?”
Owen starts trembling. Why didn’t Angie tell him? He feels like he might vomit. He gulps, drops the knife and starts the car. He has to find his mom.
Before he can try to get away, Officer Greenburg tears the door open and pulls him out onto the ground. Douglas rushes around the car and looms over him. “You need to keep still while I arrest you for the murder of Nikki Jackson.”
All Owen can do is surrender as he’s painfully handcuffed and dragged to the police cruiser.
51
Madison watches Nate and Brody as they walk back to the car. They’ve pulled over at a gas station to fill up, giving Brody a chance to empty his bladder and for Nate to grab some coffees. It’s been a frustrating day so far, but she feels a spark of hope that something’s going to happen.
Nate lets Brody into the back of the car, then passes a coffee through her window. “No one behind the counter has seen Owen. But they’re not especially friendly to outsiders, so maybe they’re lying.”
She shakes her head as he walks around to the driver’s side. “I need to call Shelley. She’s not yet given me the name of the guy Douglas arrested.” She sips her coffee and wonders if Shelley’s decided that passing inside information to her isn’t worth the risk to her job. She wouldn’t blame her, but it’s frustrating all the same. She pulls out her cell phone. Before she can touch the screen, it lights up. She looks at Nate hopefully. “It’s Mike.”
When she answers, Mike sounds out of breath. “We’ve got him, Madison.” He pauses. “Douglas has brought Owen in.”
Her heart sinks and she’s suddenly covered in goosebumps. She looks at Nate. “We’re too late.”
Nate takes the phone off her. “Where is he now?”
She hears Mike say, “At the station.” Then, before Nate hangs up, he adds, “But you can’t see him so don’t bother—”
Nate drops the phone in her lap and speeds away.
Madison pushes open the door to the police station so hard she thinks it’s going to shatter. It holds up, but the look she gets from the officer behind the desk could kill. He stands up straight and crosses hi
s arms.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m here to see my son.”
She can’t believe she’s said those words. This is it. This is the moment she finally gets to see Owen and explain she’s not a killer. That she didn’t leave him voluntarily and she wants to rebuild their relationship. He can move into Steph’s house with her. They can live as a family again. She’d rather not be saying all that here and in front of an audience, but she’ll take it over the alternative, which is never getting the chance to say it at all.
Her breathing speeds up and she feels Nate’s hand on her back.
“Take a deep breath,” he says. “Just breathe.”
The cop behind the desk watches them, unimpressed. Finally he looks at Nate. “You want to fill me in on what’s going on?”
His tone is patronizing and Madison doesn’t recognize him. She wonders how many staff have come and gone in seven years.
“We’re here to see Owen Harper,” says Nate. “He might have been booked in as Mason McCoy. Either way, Madison is his mother.”
The cop raises his eyebrows. “Let me get the arresting detective to come see you. Take a seat right there.”
“We’re fine here,” she says.
“Ma’am, he could be a while. I suggest you take a step back from my desk.”
Nate motions her over to the seats. “Let’s not aggravate anyone. We need this to go smoothly.” He looks out the window and she knows he’s checking on Brody, who they left happily wandering around the parking lot.
Her cell phone buzzes in her pocket. It’s Kate. “I’m busy right now, Kate. Can I call you later?”
“Wait, I just need to ask you something.”
Madison shuts her eyes; she can’t take much more bad news. “What is it?”
“Is it true? Is Mason McCoy your son?”
Madison finally sits down. “Shit. How did you find out?”
“We just got a tip that he’s been arrested, and the caller said his real name is Owen Harper.”
“Who the hell is leaking this stuff?”
Kate hesitates. “I can’t reveal my sources, you know that, but to be honest, I don’t actually know who it is. They’re doing it anonymously by text, but so far they’ve been one hundred percent accurate.”
Which means it must be Douglas. Madison rubs her temple. “Look, it’s true, but please keep it out of the news. I have enough to deal with right now.”
“Where are you?”
“At the police station. I’m waiting to see him. This will be the first time in seven years.” She swallows. “I never expected to be reunited with him like this.”
“I really hope it goes well for you.” Kate sounds sympathetic. “I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through. But Madison, I can’t keep it out of the news. It’s my job, and Nikki Jackson’s murder is all anyone’s talking about. The community needs to know their children aren’t at risk of being next. You must understand that.”
Madison’s stunned. She feels betrayed all over again. “Please don’t repeat anything I just said. We can’t be friends if you cover this.”
“You’re asking me to risk my job.”
“No, I’m asking you to be my friend.”
Kate hesitates. “I’m so pleased you’ll be reunited with Owen. Good luck.” She ends the call.
Madison has no idea what Kate’s going to do.
52
Mike isn’t looking forward to this, but Douglas is charging ahead of him, ready to rub Owen’s arrest in Madison’s face.
“Don’t forget who you work for, Bowers. It’s time you had my back instead of hers.”
Mike could punch him for that, but Douglas doesn’t give him the chance. He walks through the secure door that separates the front desk from the offices behind, and into the waiting area.
Madison jumps out of her seat and stands to confront him. Nate joins her, which pisses Mike off because he has no business here.
“I want to see my son,” she says.
“He’s about to be interviewed,” says Douglas, folding his arms.
“I don’t care. Let me see him.”
Douglas shakes his head. “You’re not his legal guardian or his lawyer, so you’re not permitted to speak to him while he’s here.”
Mike can see she’s trying to contain her anger. “I’m his mother.”
Douglas doesn’t flinch. “When was the last time you mothered him?”
Even Mike gasps at that comment. He watches the fire in Madison’s eyes, but one touch on the arm from Nate and she appears to calm down. He frowns. This guy is meant to be her PI, so why are they so close?
“When are you releasing him?” she asks through gritted teeth.
“That depends on what he tells us in the interview. But it’s not looking good for him.”
“What do you mean?”
Mike knows Madison’s about to get a reality check.
“I’m only telling you this so you know you’re wasting your time by hanging around here,” says Douglas. “We’ve taken his prints and they match those found on the victim and the knife. I’ve arrested him for Nikki Jackson’s murder.”
Madison’s mouth opens, but she’s lost for words.
It’s hard to watch her reaction, and Mike doesn’t know if Owen killed the girl; he can’t see it himself. He’s more inclined to believe they had some stupid suicide pact planned. All he knows is that either way, Owen’s going to serve a long time for this.
Finally she asks, “Who’s his lawyer?”
“He doesn’t have one. His father’s lawyer declined to represent him.” Douglas smirks. “Looks like the McCoys have turned their back on him. He’s asked to be referred to as Owen Harper from now on.”
With tears in her eyes and a look of desperation, Madison turns to Nate.
“I’m on it.” He pulls out his cell phone and walks away from them, presumably to call the same lawyer they used for Madison a couple of days ago.
The door to the station opens and Kate Flynn walks in. Mike glances out of the window. Bob, her camera guy, is getting his equipment ready. Great, that’s all they need. “Not now, Kate,” he says sternly.
Madison glances at her. “Really? Do you have no shame?”
Kate looks away, and Mike thinks she might actually leave, which would be a first for her. She hesitates by the door.
Madison turns to Douglas. “I’m staying here until you let me see him.”
Douglas shakes his head in frustration. “You try talking some sense into her, Mike.”
“Fuck you, Douglas!” She’s shouting now. “This personal vendetta you’ve got against me is out of hand!”
Mike feels his headache intensifying. He rubs his temples. He’d rather be anywhere else but here.
“There’s no personal vendetta, Harper.”
She steps forward. “Then why did you kill Officer Ryan Levy and set me up as the fall guy?”
The hairs on Mike’s neck stand up at the same time as Kate Flynn gasps. He looks at Douglas for his reaction.
“What did you just say?” Douglas takes a step forward. Mike pulls him back, but he gets shaken off. “That’s a serious allegation, Harper.”
“It’s a serious crime. I should know; I served your sentence.”
Mike steps between them. “Whoa! Madison, you’re out of line. You need to leave before you get yourself locked up.”
“Go ahead!” she says. “At least I’d see my son.”
He pulls her arm, hard, forcing her to look at him. “Seriously, you need to go.”
“You’re going to take Douglas’s side, then?” she says. “Just like you took Angie’s side for hiding my son?”
“She didn’t hide your son; and she gave him a home after you got yourself convicted. You should be thanking her, but once again Madison Harper acts the victim. If you ask me, Owen was better off without you.”
Madison retreats as if he’s slapped her. “What? How can you say that?”
He feels ba
d, but he’s being pushed. “Just get out of here, would you? You’re making things worse.”
Nate ends his call and joins them. “Let’s go, Madison.” He looks at Mike. “Owen now has an attorney, Richie Hope. He’ll be here in two hours. Someone needs to call us when Madison can visit her son. She has every right to see him.”
Douglas is clearly still fuming. “You should be thanking me. I stopped your son from killing himself today.”
Madison gasps. “What?”
“That’s right. When I found him earlier, he was about to drive his car in front of a train because his life is so fucked up. That’s on you, not me.” He walks away, back toward the office.
Mike’s anger wavers, because Madison looks like she’s on the verge of losing it completely. “Listen,” he says. “I’ll make sure the lawyer sees him tonight. Now go home. I’ll call you with an update in the morning.” He turns to Kate. “You need to leave too.”
He watches as Kate holds the door open for Nate and Madison. When they leave, he sighs and walks back to his desk. He grabs his mug, sensing he’s going to be here for a lot longer than he’d like.
Douglas walks up to him. “I’ll be interviewing the boy as soon as his lawyer turns up. Now that we have his prints and can confirm they match those on the murder weapon, it should be easy to get a search warrant for the McCoys’ ranch.”
Mike’s head is pounding.
“I’m intending to strike early tomorrow morning; catch them off guard before they’re awake and before their staff turn up for work. I’ll be taking five officers with me. Are you in? Or do I need to find someone else to have my back?”
Mike doesn’t trust himself to speak. He just nods.
53
Owen needs a change of clothes. He’s just spent almost two hours being interrogated by Detective Douglas, and the stress of it has made him sweat so much he can smell it drying on his T-shirt. He’s never been interviewed by the police before and didn’t know what to expect. Turns out it was exactly like the movies. Although Detective Douglas was less bad-cop than he’d anticipated.
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