Page 75 of Demo

“Yes,” Ronald answered gruffly.

Mateo Castillo must be the name of Richard’s loan shark then. Ronald’s reaction to the man was understandable. He’d tortured Ronald and threatened Cindy. Who knows what would have become of them if the club hadn’t stumbled upon them?

The detective turned back to Paige. “I understand you’ve had some financial troubles of late.” She indicated between Paige and Demo. “How long have you been involved with Mr. Snyder?”

Paige swallowed hard, not liking the implications behind the question. She’d been a widow for over fourteen months, but she hadn’t known that when she’d started sleeping with Demo. For all intents and purposes, shehadbeen unfaithful to her marriage becauseshedidn’t know she was no longer married.

“Less than a month,” Demo supplied honestly.

“And did you ever meet Mr. Hannigan?”

Demo shook his head, “Never.”

“It would be helpful to our investigation if you gave us access to both of your phone records,” the detective prompted.

“Whatever you need,” Demo told her. “Neither of us have anything to hide. Paige was not even aware of the extent of Mr. Hannigan’s debts until creditors started contacting her a few months ago.”

“Is this true, Mrs. Hannigan?”

Before Paige could answer, her phone rang from inside her purse. It was sitting on the bar across the way. Everyone looked in that direction. Paige sighed as she got up with a muttered, “Excuse me,” to the detective. The only reason she was going to answer it was in case it was Abby or Bulldog regarding her boys.

When she saw the caller ID was her mom, Paige hit ignore and threw the phone back inside her purse. She wasnotdealing with her mother right now. The woman had the worst timing ever and, frankly, Paige did not want to hear her mother bitch and complain about Paige taking a restraining order out on her husband.

There was enough drama going on in Paige’s life right now that she did not need to add her mother’s to it too.

“Sorry about that,” Paige said as she retook her seat. “What was your question?”

Before the detective could voice it, her phone rang again. Paige scowled at her purse. She stomped over to the bar, pulled her phone out, ignored the call, and then put her phone on silent. She would deal with her mom later. Like, in five years.

Paige retook her seat.

“Are you sure you don’t need to get that?” the detective asked with a raised eyebrow.

“No,” Paige said shortly. To Demo’s inquiring look, she whispered, “My mother.”

He nodded his understanding.

“Mrs. Hannigan, other than contacting the police,” the detective looked pointedly at Ronald and then Carlos, “what efforts did you make to find your husband?”

Paige wished she could correct her and claim Richard was herex-husband. As morbid as the thought was, Paige was grateful that she didn’t have to fight her way through a messy divorce. At least Richard’s death would give her that.

But the fact that that thought even crossed her mind made her feel guilty, even after all he’d done to her and the mess he’d left in his wake.

“To be honest, not much. I inquired with the police often, but nothing beyond that. I had two small children at home that required my full attention and I needed to get my business up and running. Richard running off with his latest floozy wasn’t exactly a high priority.” Glancing at Cindy, Paige added, “Sorry.”

Cindy waved her harsh words off. “It’s taken me a long time, but I’ve come to terms with my son’s faults. I know he had many and I’m sorry you got involved in them at all.” She dabbed under her eyes with a tissue.

The detective gave them a moment before continuing, “So your husband was having an affair?”

Paige let out a long sigh. “I suspected for a long time that he was. I can’t give you a name or names. I never saw actual evidence of such. There was a time, just before we came here, that Richard came home crying. He said he’d had a hard day at work. He brought me flowers and this expensive jewelry set. It was diamond earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace. I never knew why he was so upset, but I suspected. I always got gifts after he was away on business trips and I found more than one piece of clothing with lipstick stains or missing buttons.”

Demo took her hand again. She squeezed it tightly. Her suspicions regarding Richard’s behavior was one of the reasons she had such a hard time accepting gifts from Demo.

With her eyes on the detective, Paige missed the exchanged looks between Demo, Steel, and Lucky. She did notice Ronald’s flinch, though, and suspected it was difficult for the man to addinfidelityto his son’s long list of sins.

Harried footsteps came barreling down the stairs to the main room. Paige had never been upstairs in the clubhouse. She knew the club called the large conference room their Chapel and it was where they held their meetings they called Church. Demo attended an officers-only meeting there on Fridays and then a meeting for all patched members on Saturdays. Even Harper said she’d only been up there once and that was because she’d followed Jasmine inside after the other ol’ lady had barged into a meeting to tell them something she’d remembered.

Keys leaped down to the main floor, skipping over the last three or four stairs. He came running up to them, a frantic look in his eyes.

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