Page 36 of Cornered

“Cherry!”

Her friend looked up, caught Steph’s eye, and burst into tears.

Steph started to run to her, but Tate appeared and snagged her arm. “Not right now, Steph.”

She jerked away from him and shot him a hard glare. He frowned but didn’t flinch. Steph backed down. He was just doing his job.

His stance softened. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“No, please. I want to go to the station with you. I know I can’t talk to her, but maybe it will help if she knows she’s not alone. That I’m there. That I believe in her.”

He sighed, then offered her a faint smile. “You’re a good friend.”

“Thanks.”

It didn’t take long to arrive at the station, where Tate escorted her inside and allowed her to sit outside the interrogation room Cherry had been led to.

Benji was next door, their father in yet another room. Their mother had yet to be found.

Tate and Cole had disappeared into the room with Cherry fifteen minutes ago. Steph reached for her phone, only to remember Gage Bolin had taken it and probably tossed it somewhere. She sat back with a huff, then leaned her head against the wall and prayed.

She wasn’t sure how much time passed, but she might have dozed mid-prayer because the next thing she knew Tate was calling her name. She blinked and stood. “What is it?”

“Cherry insists she will only talk to you.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re her friend and she needs to tell you what happened. According to her.”

“Oh. Okay. Is that allowed?”

“It is. Follow me.”

When Steph stepped into the room, Cherry brought her handcuffed wrists up to swipe her cheeks. Steph walked around to hug her, and Cherry let loose with a sob followed by tears that seemed to have no end.

But finally, she stopped, drew in a deep breath, and took the handful of tissues that Steph gave her, compliments of the box on the table.

“Okay,” Steph said, “I’m here. Talk to me.”

“They want me to tell them where my mother is, but Steph, I promise I don’t know. She and my dad have been cagey my whole life, but I never knew about their illegal activities until about three weeks ago.”

“But Benji knew.”

“Yes. Apparently.”

“How did they hide it all from you?”

“I guess it all started after I went to college. Then when I came home, they were knee-deep in it. To be honest, I knew something hinky was going on, but just ignored it. I was sobusy trying to keep the business going that I convinced myself I didn’t have time to worry about people on the property after hours. Or strange calls in the middle of the night. Or my parents constantly traveling.” She shrugged. “Maybe I just didn’t want to see it.” She scoffed. “You can’t imagine how stupid I feel.” Tears welled once more. “But they’re my family,” she whispered. “I love them.”

“I know,” Steph said. “I never would have thought they’d be involved in anything illegal.” She hesitated. “Well, Benji maybe, but not you or your parents. They were always involved in charities and—”

“Charities that they used for money laundering.”

Steph sighed and raked a hand over her hair. “I’m sorry, Cherry.”

“I am too.”

They fell silent a moment, then Steph bit her lip, pondering how to approach the next subject. She reached out and squeezed her friend’s fingers, always aware that Tate and Cole and who knew who else were watching from behind the two-way mirror. “Cherry, tell me what happened with Brenda.”

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