by Ronica Black
Avery stopped. Waited. They turned.
“Avery Ashland,” Finley said. “You’re under arrest for the murder of Hale Medley.” He walked behind her and wrenched her arms up behind her back.
“What? You can’t be serious.”
“I’m afraid so.”
He clicked on the cuffs and they pinched into her wrists.
She looked to the sergeant. “You can’t do this. I didn’t kill Hale.”
“How about Lana Gold then?” He stepped up and grabbed her arm. “You’re also under arrest for the murder of Lana Gold.”
Avery’s knees buckled. “What? Lana?”
Sergeant O’Connell tugged on her, forcing her to walk while Finley pushed on her lower back from behind.
Avery thought about begging, pleading, but her body went heavy and numb and she felt herself disassociate as if she were floating away. There were just no words. There was…nothing. She lowered her head and tried to control her rampaging heart. It couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t be.
They put her in the elevator and she faced the wall, refusing to turn around. Her shoulders went slack and she began to tremble.
“Please take the cuffs off when you walk me out. These people count on me, work for me.” Her voice was raspy, almost a whisper. Not at all like herself.
“Not on your life,” Finley said.
Avery closed her eyes, then heard the elevator ding as the door opened. She turned and took a step out into what could only be her own future hell.
Chapter Twenty-seven
“She looks rigid,” Finley said. “Closed off. I bet she tells us to go to hell.”
Maria looked through the two-way mirror at Avery Ashland who sat handcuffed to the small table. Her eyes were wide, and she was pale. Her body was straight and stiff. With every breath she took, she seemed ready to completely cave, but then she’d straighten and grit her teeth. She looked terrified despite her best efforts to hide it.
“No. She’ll talk. She’s too scared not to.”
“Scared? Right. She has no conscience, doesn’t feel fear.” He was tired yet hell-bent on getting Ashland to squeal. His wrinkled clothes and two days’ growth on his jaw made him look like a drunk just home from a two-day bender. She was doing her best to keep him levelheaded.
“I don’t know about that, Fins.”
“You gonna lay it out for her?”
“Before her attorney gets here, yes. And she’ll talk. Trust me on that.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “If you say so.”
“It has to work.” Ashland had already insisted she’d only talk to Maria. It was the only reason why her sarge was even letting her anywhere near her. He entered as if on cue, looking equally as tired as Finley. A few other higher-ups followed him in. She gave them a nod.
“It’s up to you, Maria,” he said.
“I know, sir. Thank you for giving me the chance.”
He nodded and looked beyond her at their suspect.
“You better get in there.”
Maria left them and entered the small interrogation room. She brought with her a cup of coffee and set it down in front of Avery. Avery eyed her and hesitated to take it.
“Wait, let me get the cuffs.”
Maria released her and sat across from her. She pushed the coffee and Avery took it. When her hands trembled, she set it down and hid her hands in her lap.
Maria smiled. “I do that all the time. Hide my hands when they shake.”
Avery looked at her curiously, and Maria continued.
“It happens a lot, or at least it did. And I’d freak out, afraid for anyone to see. I felt like it made me look weak.”
Avery held her gaze but said nothing. Finally, she spoke.
“How are you feeling, Detective?”
Maria shrugged. “Better. But it’s going to be a long road.”
“I’m sorry.” She stared into her eyes, and Maria saw the hard edges soften. “I was never informed about what was wrong. I just assumed it was bad.”
Maria fell silent. “I’ll be fine.”
“From what my detective told me and based on your symptoms…”
Maria cleared her throat, feeling exposed.
“Is it serious?”
Maria glanced away.
“I’m sorry. For whatever it is.”
“Don’t be.” Maria forced a smile. “I’ll be fine. Question is, will you?”
Avery looked away. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
Maria expected as much. “You know, I didn’t think you were guilty for a long while. Even now, it’s difficult for me to believe. But, Avery, all the evidence points to you.”
She whipped her head and stared into her with wild eyes. “What evidence? Tell me, so I can explain it or whatever. I swear to God I didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t even know Lana was dead.” Her whole body trembled and she stopped to breathe. When she calmed, she spoke in a low voice. “I swear on my nieces I didn’t kill anyone.”
Maria sat back and took a deep breath. Swearing on her beloved nieces. She was serious. Or at least doing a damn good job pretending to be.
“Just tell me what you’ve got on me. It has to be bullshit because I didn’t do it.”
Maria saw the desperation in her face, heard it in her voice. She was surprised when she felt a pang of empathy. She’d heard the same from many a perp, but never before had she physically reacted. She pushed the feeling away.
“Let’s start with Hale. We have the photo of you and Hale on which you’ve written a verbal threat. We have your DNA from that same photo. We also have a fiber with your DNA on it in the limo he was last seen in. That fiber matches a blanket we took from your home.”
“But—”
“Let me finish. We have Lana’s statement which we took before she died, that puts you with Hale on the night he died. We have surveillance photos of Hale that we found in your home. And we have surveillance tape of you and him arguing at one of your parties that we also found during our search. Not to mention, that you can’t seem to prove your whereabouts on the night of his death. And finally, we have numerous witnesses that claim they’ve heard you threaten Hale’s life on more than one occasion.”
“A fiber? That’s impossible.” She shook her head. “I was never in a limo with Hale. Someone had to have planted it. Someone is setting me up here. Framing me.”
“That’s your answer?”
Avery looked incredulous. “Yes!”
“That’s all you’ve got?”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“See, we think Lana baited Hale that night. Maybe drugged him at the country club and got him in the limousine. You were either in there waiting or they soon picked you up. From there you took him to this mysterious warehouse she mentioned where you tortured and killed him.”
“No. No. Impossible.” She stared into Maria, and Maria swore she could almost hear her mind reeling for explanation. She jerked as if she’d found one and then spoke. “The fiber. It could’ve come from Lana herself. She was a frequent visitor to my home. You know this. She could’ve transferred it.”
Maria nodded and shrugged. “Possible, but not likely.”
“What do you mean? Of course it’s likely. It has to be likely. Because I wasn’t in any damn limousine.”
“Was Lana at your home the day of Hale’s death?”
“Well, I don’t know. Because I’m not exactly sure what day he was killed. No one has ever told me.”
Maria smiled. Good answer. Avery was coy, she’d give her that.
Maria continued. “Let’s talk about Lana. Lana was found in her bed early this morning by a friend. She was tied to the bed with an empty bottle of pills nearby and a letter in which she confesses to her part in the murder of Hale.”
“I don’t believe it,” Avery said. “Lana couldn’t kill. It’s not in her nature.”
“As opposed to what? Your nature?”
“I’m just saying I don’t believe it. Someone is setting th
is whole thing up. You assholes are just too dumb to see it.”
“Why would she point the finger at you, Avery?”
Avery shifted as if uncomfortable. She sipped her coffee again this time with steadier hands.
“Lana and I have had our problems. She always wanted more than I was willing to give, yes. But nothing that would result in any of this. Not murder. She was squeamish.”
“Did she love you? Was that the issue?”
“Even if she did…it proves nothing.” She shook her head. “What makes you think I could possibly kill her?”
“For starters, the way she was killed. She was tied up and force-fed the same muscle relaxers that were found in Hale.”
“So? I had nothing to do with Hale, so how does that tie in to me?”
Maria drummed her fingers along the tabletop. “You’re really going to play it like this?” Was she that stupid? She highly doubted it. But she obviously thought they were.
“Ms. Ashland, we found the same medication in your home during our search.”
Avery tried to stand, but Maria stood first and waved her down as a warning.
“That’s crazy. There’s no way.”
“We found them hidden in the tank of your toilet in an unmarked prescription type bottle.”
“Bullshit!” She slammed her fists on the table. “I’ve never had anything like that in my home. I never needed it.”
“You’re insinuating someone planted that as well? To frame you?”
“Yes!”
“Who? Lana? Would she do such a thing? Could that be why you killed her? To stop her and to shut her up?”
Avery shook her head. A tear formed and fell. She wiped it away quickly and steeled her jaw once again.
“I would never hurt her. Not like that. I’ve known her for years. She’s…she was…a friend.”
“A friend who killed Hale and tried to blame you? I’m sure glad I don’t have friends like that.”
Avery closed her eyes. “I’m telling you, she couldn’t kill. Not Lana. As for the limo ride with him, she probably just wanted to scare him is all.”
Maria’s attention sparked. “What do you mean by that?”
Avery stared into her coffee. “There were a lot of women upset with Hale for obvious reasons. Maybe some of them just got fed up and they wanted to put a little scare into him. Only…”
“Only what, Avery?”
“Only one of them got carried away. Or…one of them wanted me to go down in a big, big way.”
“Who? Who would want you to go down, Avery? And who would want to scare Hale?”
“You’ve got all kinds of evidence, Detective, you’re going to have to tell me.”
“I need you to tell me, Avery. All we have is Lana and you say no way.”
She shook her head. “I can’t because I don’t know. I only heard rumors. Rumors that some women wanted to get together to stop Hale. They were supposed to only go so far. I said I’d help, but—I had him followed, had the photos to blackmail him—but that was the last I heard of it.”
Maria came out of her seat as the door opened and Avery’s attorney Bruce Milo stormed in in his golf clothes.
“That’s it, interview is over.”
“She’s under arrest and she’s been made aware of her rights,” Maria said.
“Yes, I’m aware of the charges and of your so-called evidence against my client.” His face was red from the sun, and a stark tan line had formed around his eyes where he’d worn his sunglasses.
“First degree murder for Hale Medley and Lana Gold,” he said as if repeating. He looked at her and his eyebrows shot up, and then out came a laugh. “Good luck with that, Detective. Avery, hang tight, I’ll see you at the arraignment.”
Avery nodded and appeared weak. Maria had never thought she’d see the day when Avery Ashland looked weary and weak. Perhaps she was human after all.
“The girls,” she finally said. “I’m worried about the girls. Please tell them I’m all right. And that I’ll be home soon.”
“Of course.”
He looked to Maria. “I assume you will treat her well?”
“You have my word.”
“Somehow that doesn’t comfort me,” he said, walking back out.
Maria looked at Avery with pure desperation. “Avery, please tell me all you know. I can help you. Let me help you. Give me names, a name, any name.”
Bruce peaked back in. “You’ve helped enough, Detective. Avery, say no more.”
Maria left Avery, and Finley entered to recuff her and lead her out. Maria watched silently as he led her away to be processed and placed in custody. She’d always had a good feeling watching perp after perp take their walk, but this one felt different. It didn’t feel…right. Somehow, though she wasn’t sure how, she knew there was more to the story. Would they ever know the whole truth? Or would Avery Ashland remain silent and spend the rest of her life in prison?
Chapter Twenty-eight
“How do you plead, Ms. Ashland?” the judge, who sounded loud and baritone, asked.
Avery stared straight ahead, thinking of nothing but her nieces. Around her, life spun on, but she wanted nothing of it. She only wanted to hold her nieces.
A firm nudge from Bruce forced her back into reality. “Say you’re not guilty, for God’s sake,” he whispered.
She threw back her shoulders and looked up at the judge, who looked very small in his oversized robe and oversized bench. His eyes were bearing down on her, and she considered staring back, but she had little strength left to fight.
“Not guilty,” she managed, trying to remain upright. She hadn’t eaten and she was beginning to feel it. Bruce embraced her and eased her back into her seat. There was grumbling and mumbling from the courtroom behind her. The press had not been allowed in, but she’d recognized several people she knew, including Nadine, who’d looked ashen and heartbroken. Across the aisle from her, she’d seen Bryce and friends of both Avery and Lana. More than a few glared at her as if she were guilty and right where she belonged. And the others looked at her anxiously, whispering to each other like crazed onlookers. She understood their anxiety. Any one of them could be standing where she was.
Bruce nudged her again, demanding her attention.
The prosecution spoke. “Your honor, we’d like the defendant to be held in custody until trial. Defendant has the means and the motive to leave the country.”
Bruce interrupted. “Your honor, my client has no criminal record, she’s an upstanding citizen, no threat to anyone, and let’s not even get into her charity work. We recommend she be released on own recognizance.”
The judge sat back in his seat and contemplated.
“Bail will be set at one million dollars.” He pounded his gavel and dismissed them.
Avery swallowed hard. “I can go home?”
“As soon as we make bail.”
“Well, make it, damn it.”
“I will, Avery.”
“No, you don’t understand. The girls. They’re probably scared and God knows what they’ve heard.”
He closed his briefcase as people moved around them. “Avery, you’d better start concentrating on yourself here. You’re in some serious shit.”
“You said you would handle it.”
“And I’m trying. But you’re not helping. Whatever you told the detective, it’s got her up in arms, and they’re on my ass to speak to you again. To offer you a deal. You know what that means? They still think you’re guilty. And a deal would mean time. As in prison time. And I’m not even going to get into what will happen if this goes all the way to trial and the jury thinks you’re guilty. You’re looking at life.”
She didn’t speak. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t need to ask why or how things had gotten this way. She knew it was mostly her and her behavior. She hadn’t cooperated and she’d only angered guys like Finley who were gunning to put her away. But all her life she’d managed to handle things, to maneuver extremely w
ell and outwit her opponent. Even if she’d been in the wrong. So how was she losing now when she’d done nothing?
She closed her eyes. “Just get me home and let me think. I can’t spend another night using a piece of bread as a pillow in that cell with crazy women.”
He nodded and she was led out in cuffs in her black-and-white striped uniform. A pattern she hoped she’d never have to see again.
* * *
“What do you mean I can’t see them?” Avery yelled into the phone. She slammed it down when her sister again went off about her being charged with murder and then began hinting at her guilt. She picked up the phone, pressed the end button again and again, and then threw it across the room. All she wanted to do was to hold her nieces and comfort them. But her sister wouldn’t allow it.
She crumbled onto the couch and placed her head in her hands. Tears formed and slipped down her cheeks. The heat of them surprised her. She’d rarely cried in her life, and she wasn’t used to the feeling of rawness and tightness in her throat or the warmth and saltiness of the tears. All of it infuriated her at how weak it all made her feel.
“Avery?” Nadine entered the room and touched her shoulder. “Are you all right? What was that noise?”
“I threw the phone,” she said with a sigh. She wiped her eyes. “I’m not allowed to see the girls.”
Nadine saw her face and handed her some tissue. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
Avery pushed away the tissue. “Just when I think this whole thing can’t get any worse, it does. I may go to prison, Nadine. Prison.”
Nadine eased down next to her. “I have faith that that won’t happen.” She patted her knee. “Because you didn’t kill anyone.”
“How do you believe me when no one else does?”
Nadine gave a soft smile. “I’ve known you since you were four, Avery Ashland. I’ve seen you through many things, and you know many of them I didn’t agree with. But I know your heart. It’s hard and stubborn and guarded, but it isn’t a bad heart. You aren’t a monster or a murderer. You’re just a pain in the ass.”
Avery laughed and wiped more tears. “I wasn’t expecting to hear that one.”