Page 63 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

“Tell me one of y’all killed him,” she snarled.

“I’m okay,Tammy,”Ellietold her with a small smile on her face.

“You will be, girl.Youwill be,”Tammysaid, shaking her head.

26

ELLIE

I looked up and realized it wasn’t justTammyandJackin the room withWadeand me, but othersI’vecome to know the past few months were also here.ChuckandVincewere behind my brother, along with one of the new guys who were just hired at the security firm, thoughIcouldn’t place his name.ThenIheard a sniffle, andIsawRuthiestanding next toJackas she looked at me.

“HeyRuthie,I’mgonna be okay,Ipromise,”Isaid, hoping it would ease her concerns.

“Damn right she will be,”Tammyinterrupted. “EspeciallyafterIget my hands on that bitchBethand wring her neck.”

A deep cough, meant to get attention, came in from behind the group.Ilooked up and sawArcherwith a man next to himIdidn’t recognize.

“Elliana, my name isDetectiveCooper,” the man said, and only then didInotice the badge on his belt. “I’dlike to ask you some questions if you’re feeling up to it.”

Wade leaned down and spoke to me softly, taking my hand. “Youdon’t have to do this right now if you’re not up to it.”

“It’s okay.I’drather get it over with soIdon’t have to think about it again.”Isqueezed his hand to reassure him.

“Please call meEllie,”Isaid to the detective and told him to ask what he needed to.

He told me to start from the beginning right beforeIwas grabbed.

I explained aboutBethtelling me thatWadeneeded me, and we’d gone outside.AsBethandIhad walked out the door, something hit my head, and the next thingIremembered,Iwas waking up in the house with my hands tied to the headboard.

I continued, and there were several gasps from the women and several growls from the men whenIgave specific details, but the part that seemed to bother all of them the most was anything to do withBeth.Everyonewas upset to find out she’d been helpingRandallthe whole time.

“Beth said you two had a connection,”Isaid, looking atWade.

“That’s a crock of…”Wadeinterrupted, shaking his head. “Wenever went out, andInever gave her any indicationIwas interested.”

“I know,”Isaid, squeezing his hand to try to calm him down. “Shesaid you two were getting close and were going to be lovers ifIhadn’t stepped in.Shesaid when she saw us getting close, she had to get rid of me.”

I explained how all the things that had been done to my car—the radio, the moved seats and mirrors, and the air freshener were all done byBeth.Shewould take my car keys out of my purse whileIwas at work, go change something in my car, and come back before her break was over.

Even afterItold them thatRandallhad shot her, the only response was fromChuck, who muttered, “Goodriddance bitch.”Igot to the part aboutRandall’sother confession and started to cry.Ilooked at my brother and could barely even mutter the words.

“He killedGran,”Itold him.Iturned to the sergeant and told him the details, trying not to cry through it, even though it broke my heart to know that she died because of me.HadInot datedRandall, she never would have died when she did.

“I’ll kill that motherfucker,”Jackgroaned, not loudly, but loud enough that the sergeant looked over at him.

“That won’t be necessary,”Archersaid from the back of the room.

“Did you arrest him?”Iasked the sergeant, needing to know ifIwould have to testify.

“He didn’t make it,MissHutchinson,”DetectiveCoopersaid.

I was sure the confused look on my face was obvious.IfeltWade’shand squeeze mine, andIlooked up at him.Hisface held no emotion and was entirely unreadable.Ilooked back at the sergeant.

“What do you mean?”Iasked.

“The injuries he sustained fromMr.WatsonandMr.Fletcheras they were restraining him from attacking you were too much, and he was pronounced dead by theEMTson the way to the hospital,”DetectiveCoopersaid.

This was news to me.IrememberedRandallon top of me choking me, and then he was gone.ThenIsawWade’sface, but everything after that was a bit fuzzy.

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