Crime & Passion

by Chantel Rhondeau

  Hopping out of the car, Donovan waved them over. “Suzie Stone’s in the back, handcuffed.”

  “I can’t believe that happened.” The shorter officer shook his head. “They still don’t know how she escaped. Good work catching her.”

  Donovan nodded. “Look, she’s set something up to harm a citizen in Pleasant View. I’ve got to get back there.”

  The cop opened the back door and grabbed Suzie’s arm. “No problem. We’ll take care of this, but we’ll need to talk to you later.”

  “Thanks.” He looked across the car to where they loaded Brice into the ambulance. “Take good care of him,” he yelled at the men.

  One waved a hand in acknowledgement.

  “Donnie, please.” Tears coursed down Suzie’s cheeks as the officers hauled her out of the car. “Don’t leave me. I love you. I’m sorry. Give me another chance.”

  “I know you’re sick, Suzie.” He clenched his jaw and met her eyes. “But I’ll never forgive you for this.”

  Without another glance at her, Donovan hopped into the cruiser and took off. He picked up the CB again. “Has Eric Sanders checked in?”

  “We’ve had no radio contact with him since he got to Woofy Cuts.”

  Damn it. If Eric tried to protect Madeline by taking her home, he’d spring whatever trap Suzie had waiting for them. “Keep trying to contact him. Tell him to stay away from Madeline Scott’s apartment. Dispatch a unit there and tell them to wait for me.” His fear turned to irritation. “And why the hell haven’t you been answering the phone line?”

  “Didn’t you hear my earlier calls? There’s been a huge accident on the highway right outside of town. There aren’t any available units and I’ve only had time to answer the 9-1-1 line.”

  Had the entire world gone mad? He forced himself to take a deep breath. “Never mind. I’ll get to Madeline myself.”

  ***

  Madeline unlocked the apartment door, an uneasy feeling settling on her. “Maybe we should wait for Donovan at the police station.”

  Eric shook his head. “Didn’t I tell you? He said Suzie set something up to harm you, and the apartment’s the only place he’s sure is safe. He said to wait here for him. I really think we should listen to him.”

  Madeline ran her hands over her arms, feeling chilled and a bit overwhelmed. “What if he’s wrong about the apartment being safe? She couldn’t have possibly done anything to the police station.”

  “All I know is what he told me. Don’t you trust him?”

  “Of course I do. I just don’t...” I don’t really trust you.

  Eric’s phone went off yet again, and again he silenced it.

  “Shouldn’t you answer that? It might be Donovan.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not his ring tone. I don’t want to get caught on the line with anyone, in case he calls. I know you’re anxious to speak with him.”

  “I wish I could find my phone.” It hadn’t been in her purse. She couldn’t imagine what happened to it.

  She put her keys back in her purse and opened the door. Whether she trusted Eric or not, Donovan obviously had decided to—Madeline didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

  Eric walked into the apartment close on her heels and Madeline couldn’t shake the discomfort tightening her chest.

  “You’re crowding me,” she complained, taking a step away from him.

  “Sorry.” He followed her into the living room. “Wait here while I check things out.”

  She nodded and sank down onto the couch, heart pounding. “Try not to shoot anyone,” she whispered as he walked into the bedroom.

  Chewing on her fingernail, she looked around the room, wondering if Suzie actually had done something to the apartment despite Donovan’s certainty it was safe. Then again, Suzie likely focused her attention on Donovan. That had always been the woman’s objective, her reason for everything.

  Eric walked back into the room, gun in his hand. He crossed the carpeted area and stopped behind the couch, out of Madeline’s line of vision.

  She craned her neck back to see him looking down at her. “Aren’t you checking the kitchen?”

  He shook his head. “Game’s over.”

  The cold metal of the gun slid across her neck and Madeline froze. “What are you doing?”

  “I really do like you and wish things were different. You picked the wrong boyfriend.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “Maddie, Maddie, Maddie. This really does make me sad.” Eric sighed and ran the cold barrel of the gun against the side of her face. “How many times did I try to warn you? Donovan is poison...a bad person. Now you’re paying the price.”

  He sounded tougher somehow—less timid. The certainty that he was going to kill her filled her with dread and Madeline blinked back tears.

  “Don’t hurt me, Eric. I haven’t done anything to you.”

  “It’s nothing against you. The problem is, you’re everything to him. Collateral damage, baby.” Eric leaned over the edge of the couch and draped his arms around Madeline’s chest, the gun tracing along her breast and then digging into her lower ribs. “I want him to suffer for the rest of his life. You wouldn’t help me out by leaving him and hurting him that way. Now I have to make you leave permanently.”

  A tear spilled over the side of her face. “What did he do to you?”

  “I tried to tell you that.” He sighed into her hair. “You blew me off and didn’t want to listen.”

  “I’m sorry.” Madeline licked her dry lips. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

  “Donovan shouldn’t get love and marriage and happiness,” Eric whispered into her ear. “He should spend the rest of his life in prison. Payback for what he stole from me. A few stray fibers on the rope that couldn’t be linked to him and all my plans were ruined.”

  She had to keep him talking. He obviously wanted to. The longer he talked, the more opportunity she’d have to get away.

  “Your plans?” Madeline turned her head toward him, forcing a smile on her face though her stomach twisted with revulsion at the nearness of him. “I thought you were just a follower. Have I been wrong?”

  “I knew you thought I was a loser.” He dug the gun deeper into her, and Madeline tried not to cry out with pain. “I’ve been in control this whole time.”

  Donovan always insisted Eric had a crush on her. Maybe if she played into his ego, she could find a way to save herself.

  “That’s exciting to hear. Bad boys are so mysterious.” She ran her hand across the top of his, stroking down the barrel of the gun and back up to tickle his hand. “Tell me how bad you are, Eric.”

  “Very bad.” He laughed. “Did you actually think Suzie killed Frank and Maria?” The gun eased away from her and Eric stood up. He kept the weapon pointed on her, but walked around the end of the couch to sit next to her. “She was all too eager to confess when I told her it would help her get Donovan. She’d do anything if it made Donovan love her. Stupid woman.”

  He fed into a sick woman’s delusions? He was as disturbed as Suzie, it seemed. Madeline forced the smile to stay on her face. “So you killed them and talked Suzie into confessing?”

  “I paid off the guard at the hospital who sat in on her supposed confession. I promised to get her out of the hospital so she could get Donovan back. All she had to do was confess to the murders. I can’t have anyone suspect me...not before I destroy Donovan’s life. After that, it doesn’t matter.” He shrugged. “A few more thousand bucks for the guard, and he was happy to help her escape this morning so I could complete my plan.”

  The plan to ruin Donovan’s life by killing her. She had to keep him distracted. So far, she couldn’t come up with a way to escape. The gun trained on her was powerful motivation against trying to run. Talking was her only defense.

  She batted her eyelashes and tried to seem impressed with his story. “So, it was you who planted all the evidence in her house?”

  “She already had the shrine to Donovan set up. N
ewspaper clippings, pictures, a diary detailing every encounter they’d ever had. She really is a loony one. I just planted the baton, the last rope, and a blanket from my bedroom.” He shook his head. “That damn blanket. All my careful planning, and they dropped the charges against him because of those blanket fibers.”

  “That must’ve frustrated you,” Madeline murmured sympathetically.

  “Suzie had a dark running suit in her closet and I put that with the other stuff since you saw me that day.” He slung his arm around her shoulder, resting the gun across her chest. “Almost shit myself when Donovan said you thought it was a cop. Good eye, Maddie. Thought I was going to have to kill you months ago because of that, and you wouldn’t stop cooperating with the police.”

  “So you hurt Brutus as a warning to me.” Which explained why Brutus attacked him today—he must have remembered Eric. Too bad Madeline didn’t connect that earlier.

  Eric’s body shuddered against hers. “I hate dogs. Filthy beasts.”

  “But why kill Maria?”

  “You still didn’t stop helping the investigation and I thought you might figure things out. I didn’t know at the time how little you actually saw.” He sighed. “Plus, when I tried to convince you it was Donovan that day we talked at your apartment, you refused to even listen to me. Since you wouldn’t agree to go out with me, I knew I was going to have a hard time getting you away from him. You wanted him.”

  “You never let me see the real you. I might have chosen differently if I’d seen this side of you.” She forced herself to stroke his cheek with gentle fingers. “So you decided to kill me, but I wasn’t at the store. That doesn’t explain why you killed Maria.”

  He caught her hand in his free one and moved it from his face, holding it in his lap. “You always work Monday morning. I slipped inside as Donovan left and turned off the open sign. I can’t tell you how shocked I was when Maria walked out of the back room instead of you.”

  Poor Maria. Madeline still felt terribly guilty about her death. It hurt, hearing confirmation that Maria died in her place. “Why not leave her alone and come after me later?”

  Eric squeezed her hand. “That woman was too crafty. She saw the gloves on my hands and asked some pointed questions. She knew, Madeline. Can you believe that?”

  “Frank was a bastard,” Madeline said quietly, “but I wish you’d spared Maria.”

  “Well, it was a lot of work pinning that death on Donovan. Everyone knows how close he is to that family.” He sighed. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have gone after you, since you had no way to identify me. If I’d just left everything alone, Donovan would be in prison for Frank’s murder.”

  “Tell me why you hate him. What did he do to you?”

  He shifted his arm off her shoulder, dragging the gun up her arm and across the back of her neck. Madeline’s heart skipped into overdrive, wondering if she’d just recalled him to his original purpose of killing her instead of encouraging him to talk further.

  “I don’t think you really care. You’re trying to distract me. I wish you really wanted to be with me instead of him—that would destroy him worse than prison. Maybe even worse than your death.” Tilting his head to the side, he put the barrel to her temple. “I’m done talking.”

  ***

  Donovan was stuck right outside of town. Two more miles to the apartment, and he couldn’t get through the congested traffic surrounding the pile up on the highway.

  The ambulances had arrived, but it looked to be a long time before the road was clear enough to get his car past. He had to get to Madeline. Eric still wasn’t answering his cell phone and Madeline’s seemed to be turned off, sending him directly to voice mail now.

  He pulled his car onto the shoulder of the road and turned it off. Two miles would only take him sixteen minutes to run. From the looks of things here, it would be faster than waiting.

  Fear his constant companion, Donovan took off on foot, running faster than he ever had in his life.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “Wait, Eric. You’re wrong about something. I do want you.” With her pulse pounding in her temples, Madeline struggled for breath. Her life hinged on how convincing she could be. “I like this new side to you. Besides, Donovan’s not as much fun now that he wants to settle down and get married. Killed his whole bad boy image.”

  “You’re full of shit, Madeline.” He laughed. “Don’t think for a second you can fool me by flirting. I know what you’re up to.”

  Damn it. He’d just nullified her whole plan. She couldn’t use her sex appeal to get the gun away from him if he didn’t trust her.

  He slid the weapon down her face and stuck the barrel under her chin. “I’m sorry things aren’t different. We could’ve had fun for a while.”

  “Please don’t.” Tears streamed down her face and she squeezed her eyes shut. “You’ll never get away with killing me. People know we’re together right now. Don’t ruin your life for Donovan.”

  Seconds ticked by and the only sound was his breathing. The expected shot didn’t come and a spark of hope ignited in Madeline’s chest.

  “Is killing me worth trading the rest of your life?” she asked quietly. “Donovan obviously already took a lot from you. Why don’t we work out a compromise? Something that gets us both what we want.”

  The gun eased away from her skin and Madeline cracked open her eyes, blinking away the tears until she could see him clearly.

  “I’m listening,” he said.

  “Tell me what he did that was so horrible. Let’s talk this out. You know you don’t really want to kill me. We’re friends, Eric, even if you’re right and I’m not attracted to you.”

  The gun in his hands dropped a little lower. He at least seemed to be considering her request. “How good of an actress can you be? Could you pretend to be attracted to me?”

  I thought that’s what I’ve been doing. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Convince Donovan you want me, break his heart, and then come away with me.” He smiled and reached out to brush her hair behind her ear. “We really could have some fun, even if you’re only acting. If you do a good enough job, I might even let you live once we’re out of the country.”

  “Might let me?” Madeline took a deep breath, trying to settle her nerves. “Why only might?”

  “You’d never be able to come back to him or even contact him. I’ll give you time to prove whether you’ll abide by that. If you don’t, I’ll stick to my original plan.”

  She’d have to see Donovan to ‘break up’ with him. All she had to do was figure out a way to signal him about what was really going on. She’d have to be sneaky enough that Eric wouldn’t realize it, but this might be the only chance to save her own life.

  It wouldn’t do for her to seem too eager. She had to convince Eric she really wanted to follow his plan. If he trusted her and thought she was on his side, it was less likely he’d want her dead.

  “Tell me why I should hurt him so badly. Choosing you over Donovan will hurt him much more than my death would. I’d have to destroy the man I love. What did he do to you?”

  Eric’s hazel eyes narrowed. “It’s none of your business.”

  “Even though I like you, Eric, I love Donovan.” She shrugged. “Convince me I should do this or kill me and get it over with. With my help you can get revenge and keep your freedom.” She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to seem unconcerned, though she knew she was taking a calculated risk. “I suggest you start talking.”

  “I already tried to tell you.” His jaw clenched tightly and he looked away.

  Madeline wondered if she should try to run, but she was so afraid he’d shoot her in the back before she took more than two steps. Perhaps baiting him like this was the wrong approach too. She couldn’t figure out how this man’s mind worked. Bent on revenge, he shouldn’t be thinking clearly, but so far he’d seen through all her tricks.

  Perhaps the tender approach, now that she had him thinking. She s
teeled herself against her revulsion and softly grasped his hand. “Tell me, please. I haven’t known Donovan very long, but I do know he’s not always a nice person. Maybe he deserves to suffer. Maybe you are the person I should be with.”

  Eric faced her and tears glistened in his eyes. “He killed my brother!”

  ***

  Donovan raced into the parking lot, his breath coming out in short gasps as a stitch of pain tweaked his side. Eric’s car sat in Maddie’s normal space. He was in there, with her. Donovan could only assume he was Suzie’s accomplice.

  Dread settled on his shoulders. It had been so long since Lindsey’s shooting. Anything could have happened to Madeline. She might already be...No! He wouldn’t think that way.

  He ran into the building and punched the button on the elevator. Eric was still in the building. If he had killed Madeline, surely he would have left already. She had to be okay.

  He exited the elevator and rushed to the front door of the apartment. Resting his hand against his gun, Donovan inserted his key into the first deadbolt lock.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Benny Stark,” Madeline whispered.

  “At least you haven’t forgotten about him. Benny was my kid brother. Donovan murdered him.”

  She shook her head but kept her mouth shut, not daring to contradict him. “I’m sorry,” she finally said.

  “If only Donovan could have said that,” Eric snarled, bitterness in every word. “Maybe Mom wouldn’t have drunk herself into an early grave three years later. I needed her. I was only eighteen. She left me all alone.”

  Sadness settled over her. That news would crush Donovan. If the department had allowed him to tell Mrs. Stark Benny loved her, it might have helped. She might have moved past her grief, and Eric would have kept his mother. “I don’t know what to say.”

  Tears dripped down his cheeks. “I’ve been all alone, Madeline. The department finally gave me some money the year after that, once they realized I’d never drop the civil suit. They thought that would make things better. All I ever wanted was an apology, a public announcement that Donovan Andrews screwed up.” He shook his head. “He was too proud to give me that.”