Crime & Passion

by Chantel Rhondeau

  “Madeline’s phone is off,” Jeremy replied. “I’ve been calling her all morning to figure out how to get you free. It goes straight to voice mail.”

  Donovan closed his eyes and leaned his head against the desk. Because he hurt her, she blocked out the world. It could get her killed and it would be his fault. The only hope Donovan had was that she would also ignore someone knocking on her door.

  “Suzie left here about ten minutes ago. If she headed straight there, she’s probably at Madeline’s already. Call the cops. Get her some help. Please.”

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  The phone line went dead in Donovan’s ear. He pressed the button to get a dial tone again and punched in Madeline’s number. Maybe, by some miracle, she decided to turn her phone back on and he could warn her.

  The phone rang once. “You’ve reached Madeline Scott. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you soon.”

  Damn. “Maddie, you’re in danger. I hope you’re checking messages. Whatever you do, don’t let Suzie Stone into your apartment.”

  ***

  Suzie circled Madeline’s neck from behind with her arms, holding something in her hands just below Madeline’s line of vision. Madeline struggled to get the woman off her, and Suzie yanked her hands backward, pulling the object taut against Madeline’s neck and cutting off her airway.

  Oh, Lord, no. It’s a rope. She’s going to strangle me.

  Madeline reached behind her head, raking her nails against Suzie’s hands as the rope tightened further. Madeline attempted to stand. With her height, she’d have an advantage on her feet. She twisted her head sideways, trying to loosen Suzie’s hold on the rope as her lungs cried out for air.

  She gripped the arms of the chair to heave herself up, doing her best to wrench the rope out of Suzie’s hands as she moved. The pressure let up a bit on the rope and Madeline sucked in a deep breath.

  “Oh, no you don’t, bitch,” Suzie said. “I won’t let you get away. Donnie’s mine, as soon as I take care of you.”

  Hard knuckles rapped against Madeline’s temple, dazing her, and she fell back against the chair. Stars obscured her vision as the rope tightened. She couldn’t get oxygen and her lungs burned as they hungered for air. Madeline clawed Suzie’s fingers, trying to loosen their grip.

  “Stop fighting,” she whispered into Madeline’s ear. “It’ll all be over soon.”

  Doing the only thing she could, Madeline brought her head forward then quickly snapped it back against Suzie’s face. Pain erupted against her skull, but she was sure it was worse for her attacker.

  “My nose!” Suzie shrieked.

  The tension around her neck loosened and Madeline swallowed in sweet breaths, wedging her fingers under the edge of the rope and ripping it off her neck.

  Her only chance was to run to the bedroom while Suzie worried about her nose. Her phone was there and she could call the police. She leapt from her chair and tried to make a dash for it, but wooziness slowed her as her vision darkened.

  “You’re not going anywhere!” Suzie tackled her from behind and Madeline fell to the floor. Bony fingers wrapped around her neck. “You can’t live.”

  Madeline bucked wildly, trying to throw Suzie off her back. She felt the other woman shift and Madeline lurched rapidly to the side. There was a sickening thud as Suzie’s head connected with the coffee table and the glass top shattered.

  Madeline looked at the jagged shards. Great! More weapons for the psycho bitch. She jumped to her feet, hoping Suzie was stunned enough to stay down until she got to the bedroom.

  She hadn’t taken more than three steps before a hand closed around her foot. Madeline’s forward momentum caused her to go down again. She kicked out as hard as she could, wishing she had shoes on to do more damage as her bare foot connected with some part of Suzie’s body.

  “You can’t have him.” Suzie gripped Madeline’s bare leg beneath her robe, digging in with her long fingernails and sending sharp pains shooting through her as Suzie tried to scale Madeline’s body like a cat climbing a tree.

  “I don’t want him.” Madeline twisted, flipping onto her back and kicking Suzie as hard as she could. Her heel connected with the soft tissue of Suzie’s stomach and Madeline scooted backward along the floor. “He’s all yours. I promise.”

  Suzie crouched in a kneeling position, tracking Madeline’s movements. The woman snatched up one of the large glass pieces and jumped onto Madeline’s stomach, forcing her flat against the carpet. She used her legs to trap Madeline’s arms at her sides, though Madeline thrashed wildly in an attempt to throw her off.

  Suzie lowered the glass shard against Madeline’s throat. The sharp edge pressed into the skin with stinging pain.

  Madeline stopped moving, hardly daring to breathe. “Please, Suzie, please don’t hurt me. I know you love him, but don’t let that turn you into a murderer. I really don’t want him.”

  Madeline didn’t know if there was a sane side to appeal to in this woman, but if so, she had to find it. Suzie clearly had the upper hand.

  Blood dripped down Suzie’s face from where Madeline head butted her nose. She didn’t seem to feel any pain. “It doesn’t matter what you want, Maddie.” Suzie’s eyes softened in what Madeline could only hope was compassion. “This is about Donnie and what he wants.”

  The pressure of the glass against her neck eased off slightly, and Madeline dared hope sense penetrated the cloud of insanity.

  “Perhaps if you weren’t so pretty.” Suzie tipped her head sideways in a calculating manner, seeming to consider her options. “Donnie’s very motivated by beauty, you know? So shallow.” She laughed and shook her head, as though that were an endearing quality.

  Suddenly, Suzie dug the point of the shard into Madeline’s face, directly below her left eye. She swiped it downward in an arc toward Madeline’s mouth.

  For a moment, Madeline didn’t think she actually broke the skin. Sudden, burning pain erupted as the wound began to bleed. She hissed in agony and tried to throw Suzie off her.

  Suzie punched Madeline’s face with her free hand. Though it wasn’t as hard as the rap to her temple before, it was enough to stop her struggles.

  “You stop that right now, Maddie.” She smiled sweetly, blood from her still-leaking nose draining into her mouth to pool around her teeth. “I’m doing this so I don’t have to kill you. I’m helping us both get what we want.”

  Madeline closed her eyes, blocking out that psycho smile and trying hard not to whimper against the pain. “Okay. You’ve done what you needed to,” she said, although talking caused her cheek to scream with agony as it separated the damaged skin. “Let me up now.”

  The other woman laughed, and Madeline opened her eyes to see Suzie toss her black hair over her shoulder. “You don’t think that’s enough, do you? What if it doesn’t scar?”

  The shard plunged down near Madeline’s right eye, barely missing the eye itself. Suzie pulled down viciously and the edge of the glass penetrated deep, tearing through the soft skin at Madeline’s mouth and scratching against her teeth.

  Madeline screamed out as the pain ripped through her.

  “Oops. I broke that one.” Suzie clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Let me grab another.”

  Like hell, she would. As soon as Suzie’s weight lifted off her, Madeline scrambled to her feet. She had to get to the front door. By now, her neighbors would have heard her screams and have gathered in the outside entryway to see what was going on. Hopefully one of the useless gossips at least called the police department.

  “Someone help me!” Madeline screamed for good measure as she raced for the door.

  “No! Get back here,” Suzie screamed.

  Madeline heard the woman’s heels as they clicked across the floor. She grasped the handle of the door and yanked on it, only to realize Suzie must have locked it when it didn’t budge. She quickly unlatched the security lock and went for the deadbolt.

  A piece of glass s
lashed against the back of her hand, and Madeline withdrew, meeting Suzie’s blue eyes. Madeline swallowed hard and backed up a step, putting her back against the wall. “No more, Suzie. You’ve done enough. That will definitely scar me. Please...stop.”

  Someone pounded on the door. “Miss Scott? It’s Brice Carter. Are you okay in there?”

  “She’s trying to kill me! Break the door down!” Madeline yelled.

  “Bitch!” Suzie screamed.

  She angled the shard of glass at stomach height and rushed Madeline at the same time as the wood of the door made a splintering crash.

  The glass pierced Madeline’s robe, shredding through the skin of her stomach.

  “I tried not to kill you, Maddie,” Suzie whispered into her ear. “You left me no choice.”

  ***

  Donovan paced the confines of his cell like a caged animal. It had been over a half hour since he phoned Jeremy. “What the hell is going on?” he snapped at the guard. “You have to call the police station and find out.”

  It was a different guard on duty, one Donovan hadn’t talked to before. The man looked down his nose at Donovan. “Don’t think you can order me around, Andrews.”

  Donovan clenched his fists as rage rushed through him. He didn’t have much interaction with the county cops in the past. This man seemed almost delighted by Donovan’s anguish.

  He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He’d get nowhere if the guard didn’t agree to help him. “Look, I know you’re in charge here. I’m not trying to order you around, but a psycho crazy bitch is after my girlfriend. I need to know if she’s safe. Can you help me out?”

  “I heard she’s not your girlfriend anymore.” The guard scoffed and folded his arms against his chest, leaning against the outer wall. “Can you make it worth my time? Got any money?”

  “You son-of-a-bitch.” Donovan rushed the gate, shaking with rage.

  One of his cellmates stepped forward, patting his shoulder. “Calm down, buddy. The guards can make our lives hell if they want to. Don’t ask for trouble.”

  The guard sneered. “See, Old Jimmy’s got the right of it. I’m in control. So, what will you do to get this information?”

  Just then the outer door opened, and Eric Sanders stepped through. His eyes met Donovan’s and he walked rapidly toward him.

  Donovan put the guard from his mind, concentrating on the set of Eric’s mouth. He looked scared.

  “Please, tell me Maddie’s okay.”

  Eric shook his head, stopping in front of the bars and reaching through to grip Donovan’s arm briefly. “I can’t. I don’t know exactly what’s happening. Jeremy’s on his way to Eureka right now. He called and asked me to talk to you. They’re rushing Madeline by ambulance to the hospital.”

  His chest felt heavy, each breath an effort. “She’ll be okay though, right?”

  “I don’t know. Jeremy said something about her being cut up and glass puncturing her stomach.” Eric took a step back and ran his hands along his arms, as though cold. “He didn’t sound hopeful.”

  Donovan fell to his knees against the grimy floor, despair making it too much effort to stand. “No. It can’t happen. Please tell me this is a cruel joke because you don’t like me, and Madeline’s safe and sound.” He looked up into Eric’s eyes, noting the pity in them. “Please.”

  “I wish I could.”

  Donovan wrapped his hand around the bar of the cell, more to help hold himself up than anything. “Tell me they at least got Suzie, and she won’t be able to hurt her again.”

  Eric crouched down on his heels, getting on Donovan’s level. “They did,” he said softly. “She’s at the local clinic getting patched up. There’s glass embedded in her hands and she has a broken nose. Her father’s with her.”

  At least it sounded like Maddie got a piece of her. “Tell me they’re not letting her go.”

  Eric looked around the room at the other occupants. “I can’t discuss the details of an ongoing investigation with you.”

  Donovan nodded. Of course he couldn’t. Even if Eric wanted to tell him, Donovan was a murder suspect and other people were listening to their conversation. “Do what you can to make sure that doesn’t happen. If you can’t stop it and Maddie l-lives.” He stopped and took a shuddering breath, unable to handle the thought of her dying. “If she lives, protect her, no matter what you have to do.”

  “She really does mean a lot to you, doesn’t she?”

  Donovan gripped the bar harder and made the effort to raise his head up. “She’s everything to me.”

  “I’ll do what I can to help out. Jeremy asked me to tell you he’d be in touch once he knows anything.” Eric patted his hand. “Pray for her.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Andrews,” the guard said, “your lawyer’s here.”

  Donovan jumped up. He hadn’t hired a new lawyer. That must mean Jeremy came back to town. He bit back the bile rising in his throat, afraid of what his friend would tell him.

  He once again made the short trip to the visitors’ room.

  Jeremy looked up from the table and waved him over. The man’s shoulders slumped inward and he looked haggard. Gray stubble covered his face and his eyes were puffy from crying.

  Donovan sat down and rubbed his hand across his temple. “I’m sorry I asked you to take care of all this, given everything you’re going through.”

  “It’s okay, Donovan. Maria would have wanted me to help you and Madeline.”

  Donovan swallowed a few times, unable to moisten his scratchy throat. He took a deep breath. “Is Maddie...did she...” He trailed off, unable to ask.

  Jeremy reached across the table to pat Donovan’s hand. “She’s alive, for now. They said the glass punctured her stomach and nicked her kidney. She made it through surgery and is in the ICU. The doctor wouldn’t tell me much—something about her prognosis being guarded.” Jeremy shrugged. “Whatever that means.”

  The news struck a blow to Donovan’s heart. Guarded didn’t sound like the doctor expected a quick recovery, maybe not any recovery at all. “I have to get out of here. I need to be with her.”

  “I’m working on that,” Jeremy said, “though I don’t know if I can make it happen before tomorrow. I’m waiting on my broker.”

  “Your broker?” Donovan’s mind flashed to the image of Jeremy writing things out on the legal pad. “You didn’t cash in your IRA, did you?”

  Jeremy nodded. “And a few of my stocks. Without Madeline’s help, I had to come up with the other forty thousand on my own. I have to put the house up as collateral, so I couldn’t borrow that much against it.”

  “Call him back. Tell him not to do that.” Donovan gripped the older man’s arm tightly. “I appreciate it, but I can’t ask that of you.”

  “You didn’t ask.” Jeremy pulled away from him. “It’s not your business what I choose to do with my money, Donovan. Don’t turn me away again.”

  “But that’s so much money, and it will all be for nothing if Maddie...if she...” Donovan’s breath hitched in his chest, blocked by the spasm of pain constricting against it. “If she dies, there’s no reason for me to get out,” he blurted in a rush.

  Jeremy blinked rapidly, and Donovan knew he held back tears. “I know you’re in a lot of pain right now, son, but did you ever think that maybe the girls and I need you right now, regardless of what happens to Madeline?”

  Donovan thought it was impossible to feel lower than he already did, but his mood took another nosedive. “I wasn’t thinking at all. Of course I want to support you guys.”

  “Then not another word about the money, if you please.” Jeremy checked his watch and shook his head. “It’s too close to five. I don’t think they’ll wire the money until tomorrow. You’ll have to stay here another night.”

  Donovan looked around the room. “I thought they’d move me to Eureka by now.”

  “I talked to Stone about that before I came over here,” Jeremy replied. “They’re plan
ning on transferring you Thursday afternoon.”

  So that gave Jeremy two full days to get him out of here. If the money came through, he’d never have to make the trip to the larger jail. “I appreciate everything you’re doing.” He paused as another thought occurred to him. “If you were with Stone, does that mean you know what happened with Suzie?”

  Jeremy sighed. “They sent her to the psych ward at Eureka General.”

  “The same hospital Maddie’s in?” Donovan stood from his chair, not knowing where he thought he could go, but needing to move around. “That’s a great idea.”

  “Both women are being guarded, Donovan, but Suzie’s had a complete break with reality. She had to be placed there.”

  That was so obvious it didn’t even bear stating. Still, Donovan couldn’t help but be angry he was behind bars and she wasn’t.

  “Did Eric tell you she tried to strangle Madeline?” Jeremy asked softly.

  Donovan sat back down and leaned in close, shaking his head. “Like Frank and, uh...”

  “And Maria, yes.” Jeremy’s eyes darted around the room as though to spy a potential listener, although he and Donovan were the only people in the room. “The rope was a different color, but the same type. Brice Carter is going to find out if it was stolen from Bill’s Big Boy Toys too.”

  “You think maybe Suzie planted that rope in my car?”

  He nodded. “And your house.”

  Donovan narrowed his eyes. “My house? Brice never said they found any there.”

  “He didn’t know when he arrested you. I heard it from Stone himself when I requested information for Discoveries.”

  “You failed to tell anyone I fired you, I take it?”

  Jeremy waved that away. “I knew you didn’t mean it. From what I understand, there’s still one length of rope unaccounted for, but everything else stolen was either used, in your coat closet, or in the trunk of your cruiser.”