Page 65 of Wilde In His Arms

“Those accusations are unfounded.”Daniel, her lawyer, defended her.

“I have statements from the four children, who were regularly abused, physically and emotionally.”

Daniel interjected again.“Mrs.Lopez certainly didn’t touch or even interact with the children.”

“They all saw Mrs.Lopez at one time or another while they were locked in her cellar.More importantly, she saw them, too.She knew they were there and did nothing about it.I found the kids stashed in a dark, dank, cold cellar with no blankets, food, or water.They were inadequately dressed for the temperatures, which got as low as forty-five degrees at night, making the kids have to huddle together to share body heat to keep warm.Mrs.Lopez showed no good will toward the children at all.She didn’t attempt to rescue them, let alone provide a blanket.She was as heartless as her own children.”Nick glared across the table at her.

Mrs.Lopez finally lifted her gaze to his.“I couldn’t.”

“Because your son is a monster?He wasn’t there most of the time.He only checked on his product a few times a month, whereas your daughter was in charge of feeding them and pimping them out to her and Javier’s clients.”He hated talking about the kids in those terms, but that was basically what happened and it made his stomach turn.“Toby had a spiral fracture to his upper arm.You know how that happens?Someone twisted his arm until it snapped.The boy…eight years old…was in excruciating pain.All he got was some mild over-the-counter pain reliever that did next to nothing to help.He needed a doctor.A hospital.Instead, he wailed all night, crying in those little girls’ arms as they held him and pleaded at the top of their lungs for someone to come help them.All you did was turn the TV up to drown out their cries.”His hands fisted on the table.All he wanted to do was wrap them around her neck and shake her.

Mrs.Lopez showed no remorse.“If I did something, he would be very mad.”

“Do you think he cares if you end up in a cell for the rest of your life?Because that’s what’s going to happen.You are an accessory to his crimes.”

Daniel leaned forward.“I’m sure there’s a deal to be made here.”

“Why?”Mason asked, staring down Mrs.Lopez.“We have her dead to rights on this.And she doesn’t seem apologetic, let alone ready to help stop her son.”

She locked her arms around herself more tightly.“I don’t know anything.”

“All your family knows how to do is lie and destroy other people’s lives,” Mason spat out.“You deserve a cold cell and the loneliness of knowing he’s not going to do a damn thing to save you.”

Her head snapped up and her sharp gaze met Mason’s.“He won’t let anything happen to me.”

Nick laughed, though it held no humor.“He was there.He could have taken you with him.Instead, he left and saved himself.He knew you’d be arrested and he didn’t care.”

“He’s going to come after you for killing my Julia.”

“You think that means he cares.All that is, is a way for him to save his reputation.To show everyone that he’s a cold-blooded bastard, who will take out anyone who comes for him.So if you know what’s good for you, tell us where he is and maybe we’ll go easy on you.”

“We want an actual deal.In writing,” Daniel added.

Nick stared across the table at Mrs.Lopez.“What will it be?Save yourself, like he’d do if he was in your seat?Or save him?”

“I don’t know anything.”Not a single ounce of conviction tinged her words.

Nick seethed.“Then enjoy your new accommodations.”

Daniel turned to his client.“Let’s talk before you lose any chance to bargain.”

She shook her head.

Nick stood.“I can appreciate the fact that you want to protect your son.I have a mom just like that.But in this case, you’re letting a monster roam free to keep hurting children.That’s not noble.That’s not being a good mother.A good mother would want her child to own up to his crimes and suffer the consequences so he never hurts anyone else again.Instead you’re allowing him to roam free and profit off the children he hurts.You’re letting him feed pedophiles’ deviant needs.You are making yourself as bad and complicit as him.So either you help me stop him, or you suffer the consequences of his actions.”Nick didn’t know how else to get through to her.

“Listen to what he’s saying,” her attorney pleaded with her.“You don’t want to spend the rest of your life in prison.Not for this.The other inmates will not look kindly on you for hurting children.”

Even Nick hadn’t thought to play that card, but the lawyer was right.Mrs.Lopez would be a target once she was transferred from her holding cell to prison.

She looked across the table at him.“He moves around a lot.I never know where he’ll be.I don’t know all the places he’d go.But he owns a bar and a motel.He has a cell phone that he keeps on all the time in case I need him.”

Mason pulled out a notebook from his back pocket and a pen.“Write it down.If it pans out, it’ll go a long way to reducing your charges.”

Daniel tapped his finger next to the notebook.“I want her charges reduced to misdemeanors.”

Nick shook his head.“Only if her information specifically leads to his arrest.If not, we’ll reduce some charges, but not all.”

Daniel nodded for Mrs.Lopez to go ahead.“That’s fair.”

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