Page 63 of The White Picket Fence

“I don’t know. I grabbed her from her house.”

Charlotte glanced at him sharply. “There was a police guard at her house.”

“They’re dead,” Kevin said flatly.

Charlotte gasped. “You killed them?”

He shrugged. “They were in my way.” Then he smiled again, a malevolent sight. “Enough of that kind of talk. What do you think of the kitchen?”

Charlotte stared at him. “What?”

His smile dimmed, and she took a wary step back. “I had this kitchen remodeled just for you, Charlie. What do you think of it?”

She looked around wildly, willing her brain to cooperate. But he’d killed two cops. And Mr. Lombardi. And Mrs. Fadil. And he’d nearly killed Kayla’s father and Dottie.

I have to get us out of here.

She forced yet another smile. “It’s a beautiful kitchen.” It really was. It looked as if it had leapt from the pages of a magazine. The appliances were all shiny and new. The cabinets gleamed. But she could see that the window was nailed shut. There was a door on the far wall that probably went to the basement. That was a possible exit, but he’d probably locked it, just as he’d locked the door into the garage.If I can just get his keys... “This is everything I always wanted. Would you like me to make you a nice lunch? Or maybe a late breakfast? What would you like to eat?”

He sat in one of the kitchen chairs, waving his hand like a sultan. “Surprise me.”

She opened the fridge, blinking in surprise at how well it was stocked. “Give me a minute to see what I can make. Do you have any food allergies?”

“You don’t remember?” Kevin asked.

Charlotte exhaled slowly. “Sir, I don’t remember a lot of things since my attack. I had a head injury.” It was a lie. She hoped he’d believe it. “So if I don’t remember everything, please don’t take it personally.”

“I bet you rememberhisfavorite meal,” Kevin muttered.

French toast.“I don’t,” she lied, opening drawers, familiarizing herself with their contents. Looking for a weapon.

The knife block was conspicuously bare, the empty slots mocking her. There were forks and spoons in the drawers, but not a single knife. Not even a butter knife.

It appeared that Kevin wasn’t taking any chances.

“I’ll need to chop some vegetables,” she said lightly. “But you don’t seem to have invested in a single knife.”

“I’ve set them aside,” he said. “I’m not sure that I trust you yet. I had to force you to come with me.”

She leaned against the counter, giving him her full attention. “You could have simply called me. You didn’t have to threaten me by taking Kayla. She’s innocent in all of this.”

He met her gaze squarely. “I thought you’d reach out to me, especially after your aunt went to the hospital.”

Fury geysered up inside her, and she had to breathe to calm it. “I didn’t realize that was you. I honestly didn’t believe you were capable of hurting so many people.”

He didn’t blink. “I’d do anything for you. I robbed stores for you.Twice.Went to prison for you.Twice.”

She swallowed hard. “Why?”

“Because I love you.”

She barely managed to control the shudder. “No, I mean why did you rob stores? Is that how you bought this house?”

He laughed. “No, idiot. My father wouldn’t give me any money, but I needed to come to you. To bring you home from college. But I ended up in prison.”

“And the second time?”

“I wanted to get to you in Memphis. I saw your marriage announcement, and I needed to make you leave him.”

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