Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Tremaine.” The detective that was questioning him shouted.
Max opened his eyes as if he was waking from a lazy afternoon nap. His eyes connected with the man questioning him, and he stared right through him. I shivered a little at the chill that emanated from him, and wrapped my arms around my middle.
“What?” He asked softly.
“Did you have sexual relations with this woman?” The detective asked.
Max didn’t even glance down when he answered. “No.”
“She was raped according to the autopsy. You were the last to be seen with her.” The detective explained.
Max studied him. He studied the detective for so long that he actually started to shift in his seat uncomfortably. “She was raped before she even left New Mexico. I’ve already told you that we were going to help her, yet you refuse to acknowledge that fact. What other way do I have to explain it to penetrate that thick skull of yours?”
The young detective started to lose some of his fine control. The Chief muttered “rookie” under his breath while shaking his head. I watched intently as Max leaned forward slowly and asked, “What is it that you have against me?”
“I have nothing against you.” The detective visibly swallowed.
“Damn, he’s good.” The Chief surmised.
“So why is your pulse so high? Why are you clenching your fists under the table? Why are you so close to throwing up?” Max taunted.
“I’m not close to throwing up.” The detective squeaked.
“What’d she give you in exchange for you setting me up?” Max asked him.
The detective blanched. “I-I don’t k-know what you’re talking about.”
“Bingo.” The Chief said happily.
“You knew he was going to figure this out?” I asked perplexed.
“I knew the kid was up to something when he jumped to be on this case. He tried to get it from Richard, but I passed him over due to his inexperience. Max is hard headed; I knew he could get the confession out of him. I just needed this on tape.”
We watched for a few more minutes before Max finally broke him. It was uncanny how all he had to do was speak to him, and the detective admitted to everything. According to the detective, a little over a week ago a woman approached him and asked for his help. She’d threatened the man’s sister, and he had a bad feeling about it. He knew she was serious, too. She made him wear a wire to work every day, and apparently monitored his conversations throughout the day.
“You know, all you had to do was say something to somebody, and this would have been resolved. Now a young woman was brutalized and killed due to your stupidity.” Max said harshly.
There was no sympathy in his voice what so ever.
My temper spiked as I realized that Max was in here for four goddamned days just because the Chief had a trader in his midst. It started as a small irritation, but then slowly wormed itself into a full-blown hissy.
My hand raised on its own volition and slammed itself against the one-way mirror. It landed with a sharp smack, making the Chief jump and Max to turn and eye the mirror. The young man was now on his knees crying, and that just added fuel to the fire. What did he have to cry about?
“So let me get this shit straight. You purposefully took the man I’m marrying away from me for four days. You made him miss Thanksgiving with his family. You made him sit inside a goddamned jail cell when he should have been with me? Do I understand you right?” I hissed.
The chief took a visible step back and regarded me with worried eyes. “I’m sorry, but it was necessary.”
“Can you let him go now? We’re supposed to be getting married right now.” I ground out.
“Of course, honey. I just hope that baby you’re carrying doesn’t end up a troublemaker like this one. He deserves it after all the shit he put me through.” The Chief said as he gestured in Max’s direction with his head.
I didn’t feel like wasting my time, but if I did, I would have told him that I wasn’t a princess either. I was awful as a child, and he was lucky that he didn’t have Max and me in the same town growing up. We would have been trouble to the ninth degree. Plus I wanted to rip his balls off and feed them to him.
“Go get my groom.” I demanded.
ɸ
Max
“You could have at least told me you were trying to flush someone out. I would have understood.” I said to the Chief.
“You’re right, I could have. Just thank that woman of yours, and get to the wedding before she castrates my entire force. She’s nuts.” He said.
“Payton’s here?” I asked startled.
I scanned the holding room, but didn’t see her anywhere.
“Yes, sir, she is. I’m lucky she didn’t lop my head off with the attitude she threw. She wasn’t happy in the least to know that I didn’t really have a reason for you to be here.” The Chief explained.
We rounded the corner to the lobby and my breath caught. Payton staring out the front door was the perfect sight for sore eyes. She was in a white strapless dress that hugged her curves flawlessly, and stopped about three inches above the knees. The skirt was full and fluffy, reminding me of a child’s dress that was meant to twirl around in, but she in no way, shape, or form resembled a child. Her boots had pointed toes that looked like they would hurt like a bitch to be kicked with them; they even had fuckin’ spurs on them. Her hair was up in a proper up do with stray tendrils that slipped free. She looked so goddamned beautiful it took my breath away.
Feeling my hot stare she turned quickly, and my eyes about popped out of my head. The top half was made of a corset-type thing. Her perky breasts were perfectly proportioned, but what flabbergasted me was the mud that splattered the front of her dress. Hell, now that I looked closer it was all over her boots, too.