Page 94 of His Puppet

“He can’t take her back if he’s dead.”

Matt drops his hand and frowns.

“Think about it for a second,” I say, my heartrate picking up pace. “You pin me for the murder of ajudge, and I will never see the light of day. You take out two predators in one night.”

We sit in silence for several moments before O’Rourke speaks.

“If you truly believe I’m a good cop, then you can’t seriously—”

“You’re a cop who’s willing to accept evidence you know was planted in order to bring down a man you know is guilty. You want justice. I’m offering it to you.”

He tilts his head, and I go on.

“We both know whatever evidence you have to pin me will be lost within the next day or two. You can try to bullshit me about not needing my confession if you want, but you’re only kidding yourself. You know who my family is.”

O’Rourke takes a breath and runs his hand through his beard. He’s cracking. “Do you really care this much about her?” he asks, his face softer than I’ve seen it.

My lungs shrink thinking about just how much I love Emily. I know what he’s asking. Do I love her enough to trade my freedom for her? Do I love her enough to sacrifice myself?

Without a goddamn thought.

“Do you remember the panic you felt when you thought you might lose your wife because of the thing with Emily?”

His face reddens, and he glances over his shoulder as if to check if someone is there. He turns back to me and nods.

“I understand that panic now. And I’m feeling it ten thousand-fold.”

His face softens fully, and the empathy on his face that would normally make me sick brings me relief.

“How soon do you think that evidence would be lost?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I don’t have that kind of time. I need to leave now.”

O’Rourke nods and looks absently at the table while he thinks. He clears his throat. “If I talked the chief into allowing me to let you go because I thought you would lead me to Emily…”

“Yes?” I ask, my heart thudding in my ears.

“Could I trust you on your word to get rid of any evidence of where she was and who may be holding her?”

“Absolutely,” I say, nodding. “No evidence.”

“No witnesses, Bianchi, I mean it. Your alibi will involve my surveillance.”

“This isn’t my first fucking rodeo.”

His lip curls, but he accepts that answer. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll bring you both in. I’ll take your statement, and someone else will take Emily’s. Be sure they’re the same.”

My eyes narrow, and I tilt my head. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want me to go down for the judge’s murder. That would make him look bad and get him fired, without a doubt. But if mine and Emily’s statements match up…

“What crime are you planning on charging me for?” I ask, confused.

He leans forward, and his face grows serious. There’s a fire in his eyes that roars, and he looks like a man who’s about to get what he’s been chasing for a lifetime.

“You’ll slip up eventually. And when that time comes, I will have no need to plant evidence to put you in cuffs. As badly as I want to put you away now, I need one thing from you first.”

“Anything,” I say, an urgency in my voice, my muscles primed to sprint the hell out of here to get to Emily before it’s too late.

“Tell me where Officer Mathews’ body is.”

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