Page 70 of Ruin Me

“Because you’ll use Madison Montgomery, and she’s no longer credible. She might even be in the cell beside Mr. Luxe if we prove they conspired together.”

I shared a confused glance with Quarren before returning my gaze to the detectives.

“Please explain. Ms. Prosper abducted Ms. Montgomery and left her to die on railroad tracks. Are you forgetting?”

“Ahh, yes. The abduction that cleared Mr. Luxe of the serial murders and gave him the perfect alibi.” Salinas grinned, his joy at my demise spilling into his sarcasm. “See, we found Carol murdered like the other women, and all the clues we gathered painted a pretty clear picture. She was Mr. Luxe’s patsy. He was the man behind?—”

“Officers, I don’t mean to interrupt, but the attack on Elsie destroys your argument. The witness who found her never identified my client as the man standing over her.”

“You mean the man employed by Mr. Luxe? Funny you should mention him. We found a large deposit into Mr. Evans’ account shortly after that attack. A payoff from an employer with something to hide.”

“This is ridiculous. I didn’t bribe my assistant, never attacked Elsie, and never found Carol, though I wish I had. She had a lot to answer for.”

“We agree on that point, Mr. Luxe.” Detective Glass opened a folder. “And hopefully we can come to another agreement with your confession about how you killed her and the other women who fit your sick profile.”

For hours, they interrogated me, trying to catch me in a lie while feeding me bits of evidence to confuse me. However, Quarren was on their asses, clocking their shady questions. Despite my lawyer’s presence and his attempts to name drop the police chief and mayor, they refused to release me until my arraignment.

“Sorry, Mr. Luxe. But since it’s late on a Friday night, you won’t see a judge until Monday morning the earliest. I hope you don’t mind the humble accommodations.” Salinas led me to an austere cell where four other men of various backgrounds waited. Each person glared at me and the cops before turning their attention inward.

Whatever their problems were, they found it more important than investigating the newcomer, a blessing I hoped would last me through the weekend.

“Kent, I’ll do what I can to get you out of here before Monday,” Quarren said before leaving.

I stared at the walls, seething. Until I recalled my last words to Ife. Madison wouldn’t take me not coming homeuntil Monday well. Hell, I wasn’t taking my situation with any equanimity. My place at night was beside my little bunny, nowhere else. But now I faced charges that seemed made to frame me and no way to fight them.

CHAPTER 30

Madison

Three A.M. and still no word from Kent. I threw the blankets aside and slipped out of bed. For the first time, I understood Kent’s insistence on having me at his side at night. Our bed wasn’t as welcoming without his body heat and his warm breath fanning my forehead through the night.

Despite the late hour, I called Quarren’s number. I had no hope of reaching him, but I needed something to distract me. When his voice asked me to leave a message, I nearly tossed my phone against the wall.

I desperately needed my best friend. Any other day, she would welcome my presence because she would be as anxious as I was, but I was persona non grata in Ife’s eyes. With her off limits and my desperation growing with each passing moment, I packed up the animals and went to the only other place guaranteed to welcome me.

As I freed my pets from their carriers, my mother’s incredulous voice came from the stairs, “Maddy? Do you know you scared me nearly half to death?” She sped down thestaircase, but her first good look at my face transformed her relief at knowing I wasn’t an intruder. Instead, concern furrowed her brow and dragged at her mouth. “Baby, what happened? Why’re you crying?”

“The police found Carol.”

At the sound of my distress, Tyger, Benson, and Stabler encircled me in a protective circle.

Mom frowned. “Isn’t that good news? Now she can face the consequences of hurting my baby.”

I hiccuped and shook my head. “She’s dead.”

“Not the fate I would have chosen for her, but not one worth your tears.” Mom maneuvered between the dogs to get close to me. She cupped my face and swiped under my eyes.

“I’d agree with you if the police hadn’t arrested Kent for her murder.” I hurled myself into my mother’s welcoming arms and broke into sobs.

Benson and Stabler whimpered in commiseration while Tyger pawed at my leg.

“Honey, do you know what time it is?” My dad came grumbling down the stairs. “Your ass belongs in bed, not—Maddy?”

“They arrested Kent, Dennis.” My mother’s arms shifted but with my face buried in her neck, I had no idea what she was doing until my father’s heat joined hers.

“Baby girl, what do you need?” Dad’s voice changed from joking annoyance to concern in the blink of an eye.

“K-K-Kent, I need Kent.”

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