Page 75 of Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbi 3)

Oh thank God. It was a Christmas miracle.

But then he pulled out his handcuffs with his free hand as he shifted the aim of his gun to my forehead. He wasn't trying to injure me. He was going for the kill shot. I wasn't the one that deserved to die. My husband was. But life wasn't fair. I knew that better than anyone.

"I'm giving you to the count of three, Ensley."

That wasn't enough time to think of an escape.

"Three," he said.

There was a small glass Christmas tree decoration on the mantle. I could stab it into the side of Detective Torres' throat. But I'd never be able to grab it in time.

"Two."

Where was Snuggle Muffins when I needed him? If I whistled would he come to my rescue? Or would trying just make Detective Torres shoot a bullet into my skull?

"One."

I put my hands on the back of my head. There was no way out. I turned around. My detailed to-do list never planned for this. Tears ran down my cheeks as I knelt. Game over. I felt the cool metal of the handcuffs click around my wrists.

Chapter 27

Monday

"Detective Torres, you don't have to do this."

He yanked me to my feet. “You have the right to remain silent.”

"But I didn't kill my husband. It was just a figure of speech."

“Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.”

"Like...when you say Santa Claus' belly shakes like a bowlful of jelly. He hasn't actually raided the pantry for all the jam and binge-eaten all of it. His stomach just kind of looks like jelly jiggling."

“You have the right to an attorney.”

"I'm not a murderer! I swear to God. You have to believe me." I tried to shove my heels into the carpet to make him stop moving me, but it was no use. He was too strong. “Detective Torres! This is ridiculous. You know I didn’t kill anyone.”

He kept his hand on my bicep as he led me out of the family room and past Snuggle Muffins. “If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.”

Do something, Snuggle Muffins. Attack! Anything. Help me.

For a second, Snuggle Muffins stood up. But thinking better of it, he sat back down like his mom wasn't being carted off to jail.

I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping he could sense that I was serious.

I could have sworn he narrowed his eyes back. Then he yawned and lay down.

No one's going to feed you while I'm gone. I tried to stop Detective Torres in his tracks, but he kept pulling me. "I need to make a phone call."

“Ensley, what didn’t you understand about anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law?”

“All I’ve said is that I’m innocent. You’re not listening to me.”

He pulled me forward.

“Please, I just need one phone call.”

"You'll be given a phone call when we reach the station."

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