Page 27 of Brick
Brick clenched his jaw.That fucking bastard.
“He went to her room and got her stash...then injected her with heroin.Between what she already had in her system and what he gave her, it was enough for an overdose.We called the police.When they got there, we told them she was sitting on the couch with us and she got up to go to the bathroom, tripped, and hit her head.
“Keetan was already an officer at the time.A suspected murder would have ruined him, and I’m sure he thought it’d look bad that he was sleeping with me.”
Brick fought to control his emotions.She’d been so young, and already in a tough position.He couldn’t blame her for trusting Keetan and going along with his story.The fact that he’d pinned his sister’s death on her was just fucking wrong, though.
“Well, first of all, he made the call to cover up the death.That in itself is a crime—”
“He threatened to tell the police it was my idea.”
A muscle near his ear twitched.“Still.He’d be under scrutiny.So unless he has some kind of evidence pointing toward you, it’s your word against his.”
Her face fell.She pulled her hand from his and balled it into a fist.“That’s just it.He has proof I confessed to her murder.When I said he was crazy, I meant it.”
What the fuck.
***
“How’s that possible?”Brick’s sharp question made her shrink.
Oh, how dumb she’d been.She’d tried to locate the audio file but hadn’t succeeded.Keetan kept his devices locked at all times.She hadn’t even known about the recording until Fargo.For the seven years she’d been with him before she attempted to leave the first time, he’d threatened to go to the cops.But wasn’t until she left the state that he told her about the file.
One desperate night filled with too many beers, she’d cried to him about Shelby.Said that she’d been responsible.That she never should have pushed his sister, even though she’d lunged at her.
The bastard had held her.Comforted her.But he’d chosen his words carefully.When she’d finally left him she’d remembered how short his responses had been during her breakdown.How he hadn’t recounted any details.How he’d kissed her before she could mention the drugs.
She’d basically signed over a confession.
“I had a weak moment,” she said softly.“We talked about the evening of Shelby’s death, and I said it was my fault, that I’d pushed her.I didn’t know he’d started recording our conversation.He was careful to cut things off before we spoke about the drugs.”
Brick murmured a curse.“Well unless you knew you were being recorded, it won’t hold up in court.”
“I read that before when I looked up the laws around audio recordings being used against a person.But I...I couldn’t chance it.My god, couldn’t they take Bray for the simple fact that I’m under suspicion of manslaughter?”
“I don’t know.”
“Anyway.He has a recording of what could be considered my admission.Which means I’m screwed either way.”
He leaned forward and caught her chin with his thumb, forcing her to look at him.“That’s exactly why we can’t run from this.”
She blinked.“We?”
“Yeah, we,” he said, without hesitation.“I’m not letting my son’s mother go to jail.But you have to work with me from here on out.We’re not enemies.”He lowered his hand, and her skin craved the warm strength of his fingers.
He clenched his fist on the console as if to keep his hand to himself.“We’ll start by checking Keetan’s mom’s house.How’s she going to react when she sees you?”
She scrunched her nose.“She’ll call the police, I’m sure.Keetan must have told her everything about Shelby.Mary thinks her son walks on water, so she wouldn’t even question him hiding Bray or reporting me.”
He shifted into drive.“This is going to be interesting.”
They’d have minutes to see if Bray was with Mary.After that, they’d have to run again.Brick got back on the interstate and continued following the directions, which led them to a familiar old bungalow with white siding and black shutters.
“This it?”Brick asked.
“Yeah.God, I hope Bray’s here.”
He parked across the street.“If she has an outdoor camera, it won’t catch my license plate number from here.Ready?”
