Page 93 of Ruthless Intent

She sighs. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I got hold of the police recordings of her interview and my interrogation. I showed them to her. There’s a part of hers that she says she doesn’t remember.”

I’m sure she’s lying. I just can’t figure out why.

But is she lying? You saw her reaction, the confusion on her face when she watched the recording. Maybe she really doesn’t remember it.

“Zain, are you listening to me?”

I force myself to concentrate on my mom’s voice. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Why don’t you bring Ashley for dinner tonight? If you genuinely want to clear the air, then I would like the chance to talk to her as well.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

It’s a terrible idea. I can’t trust that Ashley will keep her mouth shut. She’s a lot less compliant than I was expecting her to be.

“If you’re already at the having sex stage of things, then you might as well bring her. I’m not going to lie to you, Zain. I’m worried. You’ve been free for less than a week, and you’re already getting into a relationship. It makes no sense.”

“It makes a lot of sense from where I’m standing.”

She sighs. “I assume you’re staying here tonight, as you have that interview tomorrow.”

Fuck. I’d forgotten about that.

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

ASHLEY

What just happened? Why did he go from almost caring about whether I was hurt to threatening in less than a heartbeat?

Is he just crazy? Is it that easy for him to flip the switch in his brain? Or did something I say trigger the change?

I don’t know why, but I don’t think he’s crazy. All the time he spent in prison will have affected him, I don’t doubt that, but he’s not crazy.

After watching the recordings, and now that the shock of seeing myself on camera in an interview I don’t remember is wearing off, I’m starting to understand his anger.

What if he’s right and my memory of that night is wrong? But why would it be? Why would I claim I saw something different?

No one asked me what hand he was holding the knife in. Would it have made a difference if they did? If I’d told someone I saw it in his right hand, when he’s left-handed?

But what if I didn’t see him holding the knife at all, like he says?

Why would I say I did?

The same questions go around and around in my head.

Why was Detective Holson so adamant that I saw Zain holding a knife?

There’s only one way to see if my memory was wrong. I need to turn around. I need to think about that night. I need to relive it and see if I can remember what I really saw.

Resting one hand against the wooden door, I take a deep breath, and then turn to face the room …

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

ASHLEY

14 Years Ago

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