Page 139 of Death Wish

“Are you sure that’s the truth, Ms. Kent? We’ll protect you.”

“Yes, sir. It is the truth.”

He gave a brisk nod, then looked at Jesse more closely. “What about you? How much blood on your shirt is hers?”

“Some of it.”

“But not all?”

“No, sir. I was injured last night when Simone was abducted.”

“He was shot, too,” Simone whispered. “Please, help him.”

Forrest patted her hand. “We’ll help you both. Let me see if another exam room is open.”

“No.” Jesse held up his hand. “I know the protocol but Simone was traumatized and we’re engaged. After what she’s been through, I don’t want her out of my sight.”

“Understandable. All right. Let’s start with you, young lady.” Forrest assessed her injuries. “We’ll replace your stitches after we’ve determined if you have internal injuries.”

He looked at Jesse. “Let me check you quickly to be sure all you need is a few stitches, then we’ll go from there.”

Within two hours, Jesse and Simone had been assessed and treated.

When Jesse insisted they occupy the same room, Forrest frowned. “This is highly irregular.”

“I’m not taking chances. Simone’s kidnapper might work with a partner.”

A slight nod. “I’ll make the arrangements. The police are here and insist on talking to both of you immediately. I can refuse to allow it. However, I try not to antagonize the local law if I can help it.”

Jesse sighed. Time to face the music.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

SIMONE STARED AT the pair of detectives and scowled. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, ma’am. We’re not.” Detective Scott held his pen over his pad. “It’s a legitimate question.”

“It’s a ridiculous question. I told you Trevor White kidnapped me and in the process shot Jesse who was simply taking my dog outside to visit the grass.”

“That’s not what White says.”

“Trevor is a liar. You can’t trust a word he says. He’ll spout anything to save his own hide.”

“He claims your boyfriend attacked him and he shot Phelps in self-defense.”

“He lied,” she said flatly. “Once Trevor forced me to drive away from Hartman, Tennessee, we drove for hours until we stopped at that rundown cabin where you found him. He beat me and forced me to clean the cabin he’d turned into a pigsty with his own slob tendencies. After I finished cleaning, he took me to the bedroom and ordered me to strip. If Jesse and his friends hadn’t arrived when they did, Trevor would have raped me.”

The detectives exchanged glances before refocusing on Simone. “Tell us everything again from the beginning,” Detective Coleman said.

She sighed and started from her beating from Trevor in California until the latest escapade. Simone had to be a little creative when she told them about the trouble in Mexico, telling the men that she and Jesse had gone to Sayulita for a vacation and Trevor followed them down there.

When she finished telling them a sanitized version of events this time, she was exhausted and feeling sick. “Look, I know you have a job to do but I need a break.”

“Just a few more questions, Ms. Kent.”

“No more questions,” Jesse said from the doorway where he’d been standing. “She’s had enough. You want to ask more questions? Do it tomorrow after we’re both released from the hospital. If you push her too hard, she’ll have a setback and then you’ll be even longer getting answers. You have enough to work with for now.”

“You’re not a cop,” Scott snapped.

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