by Karen Rose
‘Chill, Scar,’ Deacon murmured, with a light touch to her shoulder. ‘Nobody’s keeping anything from you. This was hot off the press right before Isenberg brought you in here.’
‘I even made copies for you,’ Kate said. ‘But we didn’t want to influence Marcus before he’d had a chance to ID her.’ She gave Scarlett a sheet of paper on which several photos were printed. Scarlett held it up to the light coming through the glass, so that Marcus could see too.
He rested his hand against the small of her back and leaned to look over her shoulder. There were three photos. Beside each was an enlargement of a detail in the original. The first was a trio of young women in short shorts and skimpy tank tops, arm in arm, smiling for the camera. The second and third photos were graduation pictures of other people – but which also included Alice Newman in the background. In the third photo, Alice, dressed in her cap and gown, stood with a man old enough to be her father. He was fit and trim, wearing an expensive suit, his arm tight around her shoulders. They weren’t posing for the photo and the view of the man’s face wasn’t complete, but the enlarged detail showed he was smiling with pride.
‘We got the name Alice Newman from the DMV database after running her photo through facial recognition software,’ Kate explained. ‘Then we cross-checked social media and found her tagged in this beach photo. The woman in the middle graduated from Kentucky Law too, so we searched the photos in her social media accounts.’
‘You’d think a lawyer would be more careful about her privacy settings,’ Marcus said.
‘Lucky for us she wasn’t,’ Scarlett replied.
‘We found Alice in the background of two graduation pictures,’ Kate went on. ‘The man in the third photo has no social media presence that we could find. He’s also not in the DMV database. Nor is Demetrius Russell, for that matter.’ She rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles. ‘Wish me luck. Sit tight, Marcus. I’ll motion you in when I’m ready.’
Unfortunately, Alice sat mutinously silent, staring at the glass when Kate had the guard turn her chair around. After working it for thirty minutes without a single reaction from Alice, Kate crooked her finger at the glass, motioning Marcus to join her.
Marcus drew a breath and squared his shoulders before walking from the observation room into Interview Four. He didn’t say a word at first. Just focused on Alice’s reaction when she saw him. He wasn’t disappointed, and neither was Kate Coppola.
Alice’s eyes narrowed, flashed with pure hate. Had Marcus not been expecting it, he might have taken an actual step back.
‘Hello, Allison,’ he said quietly. ‘Or is it Alice?’
She leaned back in her chair, her lips curving in a bitter smile, full of malice. ‘Well, well, well. If it’s not Mr Nine Lives himself. I should have killed you when I had the chance.’
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wednesday 5 August, 6.55 P.M.
Scarlett blew out a breath. ‘That clarifies things,’ she said to Deacon.
‘I’d say so,’ Deacon murmured. ‘The women still get me. They look all sweet, like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths, you know? And then they go all Miz Hyde and freak me the hell out.’
Scarlett smiled at the genuine dismay in his voice. Deacon was the sharpest partner she’d ever had, but he tended to get blindsided by truly evil women. ‘It’s one of nature’s equalizers,’ she said, ‘like with sea anemones. They look like a pretty flower until their tentacles shoot paralyzing toxin into their unsuspecting prey, and then bada-bing. It’s game over.’
‘You are blood—’
‘You better not be about to say bloodthirsty,’ she warned. ‘I’ve got tentacles too.’
‘Pfff,’ Deacon scoffed. ‘But I’ll tell everyone that you scare me if you want me to.’
‘That’ll work,’ she murmured as Marcus took the chair next to Alice, spun it around and straddled it. ‘She was so close to him, so many times, Deacon. Why didn’t she kill him when she had the chance?’
‘I don’t know. She didn’t, though,’ Deacon said softly, lightly bumping his shoulder into hers. ‘Keep telling yourself that. He’s alive and she’s in custody.’
On the other side of the glass, Marcus broke his silence. ‘Why didn’t you?’ he asked Alice. ‘You had a number of opportunities to kill me even after your partner botched the pillow job. Thanks for saving my life, by the way. Demetrius was pretty close to finishing me off when you told him that someone was coming.’
Alice’s mouth opened in surprise before she could catch herself. ‘He was a useless fool.’
‘Bingo,’ Deacon murmured.
‘I so want her ass to fry,’ Scarlett murmured back.
Marcus shrugged at Alice. ‘You’re here and he’s not, so what does that make you?’
‘Obedient,’ she muttered.
Her lawyer cleared his throat. ‘Miss Newman.’
‘Don’t worry,’ she said with a laugh that chilled Scarlett to the bone. ‘I’m not going to tell them anything useful. Not unless I get what I want.’
‘And what is that, Alice?’ Kate asked.
‘Immunity. Total and complete.’
Kate choked on a laugh. ‘Really? I don’t think so.’
Alice smiled smugly. ‘Then you’re wasting my time. And yours. I walk or you get nothing.’
‘Perhaps,’ Marcus said quietly. ‘Or maybe Agent Coppola doesn’t need you. I wonder if DJ will be as stoic when she questions him.’
‘DJ’s just a boy toy. He knows nothing.’
‘Perhaps,’ he said again. ‘We’ll find out soon enough, because he’s in the interview room next door,’ he lied smoothly. ‘I’d love to see his face when he finds out his daddy is dead. Or does he already know? Will he still follow you around like a puppy when he finds out what you’ve done? I hope not. I’d like to see the kid grow a pair and throw you to the wolves.’
This time Alice’s shock was pronounced, her eyes narrowing to mere slits. ‘Fuck you, O’Bannion.’
Behind the glass, Deacon tilted his head. ‘How did he know that?’
‘He guessed,’ Scarlett said. ‘She said Demetrius was a useless fool. Marcus knew that Phillip had stabbed Demetrius. He knew that DJ was younger and Alice had him on a short leash at the gym. He added it up. He’s smart like that, you know.’
Deacon rolled his eyes. ‘I think I’m going to puke.’
Scarlett’s lips twitched. ‘Now you know how I’ve felt all these months.’
Marcus had twisted his face into a grimace. ‘I don’t think so. I didn’t want to fuck you before I found out you wanted to kill me. Desperate women aren’t my type.’
‘You can go to hell.’
Marcus didn’t flinch. Didn’t bat an eye as he regarded Alice with contempt. Scarlett’s heart swelled with pride. Then collapsed in her chest when he replied.
‘Not yet. I haven’t used up all of my nine lives.’
‘There’s still time, Marcus,’ Alice said a smile.
‘Fucking idiot,’ Deacon growled. ‘Poking a cornered snake with a stick is not smart.’
‘He’s got a damn hard head,’ Scarlett said, gritting her teeth. ‘I’ll smack him later.’ Her cell phone buzzed, but she ignored it for a moment, not wanting to look away from the viper sitting at the table. Sitting too damn close to what’s mine.
In the interview room, Marcus raised his brows at Alice. ‘Since you’re here and Demetrius is dead, someone else will have to take the baton. Who? Not DJ. He’s just a puppy. This guy maybe?’ He tapped the photo that Kate had enlarged. ‘Is he your sugar daddy?’
An almost intangible tightening of Alice’s body, then she relaxed with a smile. ‘Yes. He was. He paid my tuition and I was his arm candy. Then I graduated and didn’t need him anymore. Got a better offer.’
Kate sat next to Marcus. ‘Assassin was a better offer?’ she asked. ‘I wouldn’t think you’d need a law degree for that.’
Scarlett’s phone buzzed again and she cursed softly, not wanting to miss Alice’s answer.
/>
‘It’s Vince,’ Deacon said, looking at his own phone. ‘He’s decrypted the files from Drake Connor’s flash drive. You coming, Scar?’
‘In a minute. I want to finish this.’ She handed Deacon the external drive that Diesel had given her. ‘Can you ask him to scan this for any booby traps? It’s got the non-picture files from McCord’s computer.’
‘Do I want to know how you got these?’ Deacon asked.
‘No. Tell Vince I’ll go through the files. I need to be sure they’re safe for my computer.’
‘Okay,’ Deacon said cautiously. ‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’ He looked over his shoulder. ‘You coming, Lynda? Agent Troy?’
Scarlett hadn’t forgotten they were back there. Nor had she forgotten that there was one other person sitting in the back row. She waited until Deacon and the others had left before sighing wearily. ‘You might as well come closer, Dad.’
Jonas Bishop joined her in front of the glass, crossing his arms over his big chest. ‘I didn’t know if you knew I was there.’
‘Spotted you the minute I walked in, but this wasn’t about me or you. This was about Marcus. I didn’t want him distracted. You can talk to him when they’re finished.’
‘Bossy,’ he said, but his hand was gentle when he brushed it over her hair. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She went willingly, leaning her head against his chest, but keeping her hands in her pockets.
She didn’t want him to find out that he’d been right all along. That she wasn’t tough enough to be a cop. That the job had chewed her up and was getting ready to spit her out.
Alice had sat back in her chair again. She’d closed her mouth stubbornly when Kate had joined the conversation and now stared straight ahead.
Kate checked her phone, then gave a quick hand signal to Marcus to stay put. The interview room became quiet as they waited. For what, Scarlett was unsure.
‘Why are you here, Dad?’
He squeezed her upper arm. ‘I wanted to see you. We don’t get to see you enough.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be sorry. Just don’t be a stranger.’ He hesitated nervously, this big man she’d always thought knew no fear. ‘Your uncle said you called him for help.’
‘I did. I needed a priest. Trace was an amazing help.’
Another silence as the two of them stood there looking into the interview room. ‘So that’s him, huh? The man you’ve chosen.’
There was something in his voice that got her hackles up. ‘Yes,’ she said, hearing the defensiveness in her own voice. ‘Marcus is a damn good man.’
‘I wouldn’t know,’ he said lightly. ‘I haven’t met him yet.’
‘I was going bring him over.’ Eventually, she thought. ‘We’ve been a little busy.’
‘So I hear. I never thought you’d go for a reporter again.’
‘Marcus isn’t a reporter. He isn’t like any media person I’ve ever met.’
‘You mother always thought you’d bring home Bryan someday. Gets herself into a dither worrying about it.’
Scarlett blinked, surprised. ‘I thought she liked Bryan.’
‘She feels sorry for him because he’s essentially motherless. But she never wanted him for you. I kept telling her not to worry about Bryan. That you have more sense than that.’
Scarlett’s throat grew tight. ‘Thank you.’
‘But . . .’
Her back stiffened. ‘But?’ There was always a but.
‘Your LT thinks you’re risking your career getting too involved with this guy before the case is closed. You know the rules, Scarlett Anne.’
In the past he’d used her full name when he was angry or disappointed in her. This time, there was gentleness and concern.
‘I know the rules, Dad.’
‘You didn’t say you’d follow them.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘This . . . thing you have . . . It could destroy your career.’
It wasn’t a scolding. It was reality, and Scarlett appreciated the way he said it. ‘I know. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but if I have to make a choice, I’ll choose him. I’ve waited too long to walk away from him.’
Her father blew out a breath. ‘You’ve known him two days, baby.’
She smiled. ‘Longer than that.’ Her smile faded when she looked at Alice Newman, sitting with her eyes stubbornly forward. ‘Besides, it might be a relief to get off this merry-go-round.’ Her voice wobbled, but it felt good to get the words out. ‘I’m tired, Dad.’
‘How long have you been tired?’ he asked, his voice so gentle that her eyes stung.
‘When was my first day?’ she asked with a teary laugh. ‘I take one off the street and two more take his place. Or her place.’ She blinked to clear her vision, bringing Alice’s face into focus. ‘She bought and sold people. Children. Families. Like they were animals. She and her group of cohorts tried to kill Marcus, I don’t know how many times. Because he’s kind and decent and couldn’t stand to see a girl suffer. And all I can do is arrest her when what I really want to do is—’ She cut herself off abruptly.
‘Slice her into pieces?’ her father murmured. ‘Shove explosives where the sun don’t shine? Tie her to a bed, give all her victims a sharp knife, then let them file by her one by one until she looks like a cutlery block?’
Stunned, she reared back, stared up at her father’s face. He wore no smile. ‘But . . .’
He hooked his forefinger under her chin, lifting it to close her mouth. ‘You think you’re the only one, Scarlett? Well, you’re not.’
‘But you’ve never said anything like that.’
‘Not to you. You were a child. That wouldn’t have been appropriate. But your mother’s heard it all and more. She learned a long time ago that I wouldn’t do it. I just needed to say it, to vent off some of the pressure. Your mother understands.’
Scarlett bit her lip, not knowing what he’d do with what she was about to say. ‘I think mine is more than a need to vent.’
‘How so?’
She looked back at the glass. At Marcus waiting patiently while Kate checked her phone. ‘I’ve wanted to kill Trent Bracken so many times,’ she whispered.
‘Understandable. He killed your best friend and walked away a free man.’
‘No, you don’t understand. I haven’t just wanted to. I’ve fantasized. I’ve planned it out, down to giving myself an alibi. There were a few times that I sat outside his house with my service revolver in my hand, hoping he’d come out to take the trash down to the curb. Then one night he did. I pointed the gun and flicked off the safety. I had him in my sight for a good twenty seconds. But I didn’t fire and he went back into his house, none the wiser.’
A long, long silence. ‘What stopped you?’ he asked gruffly.
‘I don’t know. I think it was pride on some level. When I killed him, I wanted him to know who was taking him out. I wanted to feel the bastard’s blood on my hands. Maybe then I wouldn’t remember having Michelle’s there.’
His hand clenched on her shoulder, an involuntary reflex. ‘But you didn’t kill him.’
‘I just couldn’t.’ She shrugged. ‘I guess you did something right when you raised me.’
‘I did a lot of things right, Scarlett Anne.’
‘Well.’ She filled her lungs. Swallowed hard. ‘Regardless, it’s not a very good way for a cop to operate. I’ve caught myself close to the edge too many times to remember. So when Isenberg tells me I’m risking my career, I’m not so upset. I’d rather lose it for Marcus than because I beat a suspect to a pulp because he beat his child to death. Because you were right. I’m not cut out to be a cop. I’m not tough enough.’
He stiffened. ‘What the hell, girl? What do you mean, I was right? You’re a damn fine cop, Scarlett. I have never said otherwise.’
She pulled back to stare at him. ‘Yes you did, the day I got into the Academy. I was so excited, but you said my heart was too soft, that the fo
rce would chew me up and spit me out.’
He blinked at her in disbelief, but she held his gaze steadily, waiting for him to remember. She saw the moment that he did, because he paled. ‘You weren’t supposed to hear that,’ he said quietly. ‘I said that to you mother. In our bedroom.’
‘I got up to go to the bathroom and I heard you arguing.’
‘No, you heard me venting.’ He closed his eyes. ‘Dammit, Scarlett. You were still hurting from Michelle. You were like a walking ghost. I was shocked you even passed the psychological. Anyone with eyes could see you were broken.’
‘I wasn’t broken, Dad.’
‘No? What do you call stalking a perp and waiting to shoot him when he takes out the trash?’
She flushed. ‘Okay, I guess I deserved that.’
He huffed in frustration. ‘Look, you only heard part of that conversation. Your mother told me that you were a lot stronger than I was giving you credit for. That the two of us had raised you to know your own mind. That I needed to trust you. So I did. I didn’t say anything to you. I kept my fear to myself. Because I was afraid. You did have a soft heart. You still do. But you know what else your mother said that night?’
She shook her head. ‘No. What?’
‘That you came by that soft heart honestly. That you got it from me. That of all seven of our kids, you were the most like me. She was right. And it’s your heart that makes you a damn good cop.’ His voice trembled and he cleared his throat. ‘And I’ll punch the lights out of anyone who says otherwise.’
Scarlett pursed her lips, her eyes filling. ‘Don’t go punching people,’ she whispered hoarsely. ‘You’ll lose your pension.’ She quickly swiped her knuckles under her eyes, wiping away the tears before they could leave streaks on her cheeks.
His chuckle was wet. ‘Can’t have that. Your mother only stays with me for my retirement package.’ He cupped her face in one of his big palms, his eyes glittering with a few tears of his own. ‘Why didn’t you come to me and talk about this? At least yell at me? Why did you keep this inside you all these years?’
‘Because I wanted to prove you wrong. I wanted you to see that I could be a good cop too. That my heart wasn’t too soft.’