Crime & Passion (26 page)

“You didn’t ask.” Jeremy pulled away from
him. “It’s not your business what I choose to do with my money,
Donovan. Don’t turn me away again.”

“But that’s so much money, and it will all be
for nothing if Maddie...if she...” Donovan’s breath hitched in his
chest, blocked by the spasm of pain constricting against it. “If
she dies, there’s no reason for me to get out,” he blurted in a
rush.

Jeremy blinked rapidly, and Donovan knew he
held back tears. “I know you’re in a lot of pain right now, son,
but did you ever think that maybe the girls and I need you right
now, regardless of what happens to Madeline?”

Donovan thought it was impossible to feel
lower than he already did, but his mood took another nosedive. “I
wasn’t thinking at all. Of course I want to support you guys.”

“Then not another word about the money, if
you please.” Jeremy checked his watch and shook his head. “It’s too
close to five. I don’t think they’ll wire the money until tomorrow.
You’ll have to stay here another night.”

Donovan looked around the room. “I thought
they’d move me to Eureka by now.”

“I talked to Stone about that before I came
over here,” Jeremy replied. “They’re planning on transferring you
Thursday afternoon.”

So that gave Jeremy two full days to get him
out of here. If the money came through, he’d never have to make the
trip to the larger jail. “I appreciate everything you’re doing.” He
paused as another thought occurred to him. “If you were with Stone,
does that mean you know what happened with Suzie?”

Jeremy sighed. “They sent her to the psych
ward at Eureka General.”

“The same hospital Maddie’s in?” Donovan
stood from his chair, not knowing where he thought he could go, but
needing to move around. “That’s a
great
idea.”

“Both women are being guarded, Donovan, but
Suzie’s had a complete break with reality. She had to be placed
there.”

That was so obvious it didn’t even bear
stating. Still, Donovan couldn’t help but be angry he was behind
bars and she wasn’t.

“Did Eric tell you she tried to strangle
Madeline?” Jeremy asked softly.

Donovan sat back down and leaned in close,
shaking his head. “Like Frank and, uh...”

“And Maria, yes.” Jeremy’s eyes darted around
the room as though to spy a potential listener, although he and
Donovan were the only people in the room. “The rope was a different
color, but the same type. Brice Carter is going to find out if it
was stolen from Bill’s Big Boy Toys too.”

“You think maybe Suzie planted that rope in
my car?”

He nodded. “And your house.”

Donovan narrowed his eyes. “My house? Brice
never said they found any there.”

“He didn’t know when he arrested you. I heard
it from Stone himself when I requested information for
Discoveries.”

“You failed to tell anyone I fired you, I
take it?”

Jeremy waved that away. “I knew you didn’t
mean it. From what I understand, there’s still one length of rope
unaccounted for, but everything else stolen was either used, in
your coat closet, or in the trunk of your cruiser.”

Donovan tried to make sense of it all. He
couldn’t figure out why Suzie would kill Frank Johnson in the first
place. Unless she actually looked at his file before she said she
had and killed Frank as a favor to him. She’d seemed excited at the
prospect of killing other wife beaters that day in his
apartment.

He quickly explained that conversation to
Jeremy. “Plus, she’s the one who urged me to get rid of the rope.
Maybe she actually planted it while I took a shower, knowing I’d
never look for it because I’m innocent. She made a threat against
Maddie that day too. I just never connected the dots to Maria.” He
blinked away sudden moisture from his eyes as Jeremy wiped tears
from his. “With Brandon being there, I was sure he was the guilty
party.”

Jeremy had jotted notes on his legal pad as
Donovan talked. He scribbled something else down. “Why get you
arrested though, if she wants to be with you?”

Donovan shrugged. “Maybe she planned all
along to offer to pay my bail if I agreed to marry her.”

“That could be. She’s taken a big enough
break from reality that theory is plausible.” Jeremy tapped the tip
of his pen rapidly against the notepad. “The problem is, how do I
go about getting this investigated? Her dad is likely to block our
efforts.”

“And where’s that last length of rope? Why
didn’t she use it on Maddie?” He tried not to think about the fact
that Madeline might die as he said this, just like he kept trying
to forget Maria was dead.

“Maybe it’s been planted somewhere else the
cops haven’t thought to look yet.”

“That would make sense, but none of this
speculation will do us any good tonight.” Donovan rubbed his tired
eyes. “Why don’t we work on this in a few days when things settle
down?”

Jeremy nodded. “Chief Stone might try to
block my efforts, but I’ll see if Brice Carter is willing to look
at the investigation from this angle.”

Donovan wanted to feel hopeful about that.
They at least had a direction to head that didn’t lead right back
to him. However, the thing that mattered now was whether Madeline
pulled through the next few hours. “I wonder if Maddie’s improved
at all. Could you call down there and check?”

Jeremy shook his head. “I talked to her folks
earlier. They’re on their way from Utah. The doctor said he
couldn’t tell me any further information, but her dad said he’d
call when he knew anything more and keep me updated. I explained a
little bit of the situation to him, and told him you and Madeline
are dating. I said you’d come to the hospital as soon as
possible.”

Donovan gulped back his surprise. “Do her
parents know I’m currently incarcerated?”

Jeremy chuckled. “No reason to tell them all
your secrets before the first meeting.”

“Very good point, my friend.” And if Maddie
didn’t make it, it wouldn’t matter what her parents thought.

He ground his teeth in frustration. He
couldn’t let himself think thoughts like that. Madeline was a
strong woman, a fighter. If anyone could pull through an attack
like that, it was her.

He looked back at Jeremy. “If you hear from
them tonight, do you think you could talk Eric into coming back
here and giving me the news? I know they won’t let you in after
six, but they can’t really stop an officer.”

Jeremy nodded and stood up. He circled the
table and clapped a reassuring hand against Donovan’s shoulder.
“I’ll send either him or Brice. I know they’ll want to help.”

Donovan stood, doing a little slapping of his
own against Jeremy’s back. “Thank you...for everything.”

“Hey, that’s what I’m here for. We have to
stick together.” Jeremy led the way from the room. “In the morning
I’ll get you out of here, and we’ll go see Madeline together.”

Donovan tried to smile, but another spasm of
panic laced through him. That plan hinged on whether or not she
lived through the night.

***

Donovan breathed deeply Wednesday morning,
counting slowly to sixty for what seemed the millionth time. He
glanced at the clock on the wall through the cell bars. It was
already a quarter past nine, and he had yet to hear any news. He
had no clue if Maddie even lived.

If she died, he didn’t know what he would do.
How could one extract vengeance against an insane woman?

Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes and
Donovan brushed them away. Surely, if she had died, Jeremy would
have already been by to tell him. Then again, maybe he didn’t know
how to break the news, so stayed away.

“Ahhhhh! This sucks,” he screamed as loud as
he could.

The man next to him slid sideways on the
bench, putting more distance between them.

Donovan closed his eyes, not feeling any
better for having yelled.

One...two...three...four...

***

“You’ve been sprung, Andrews. Wake up.”

Donovan made the effort to open his eyes and
look at the guard. He hadn’t really been asleep, but he had no
desire to move. It was well past noon. Madeline had to be dead. If
she lived, Jeremy would have notified him sooner.

This was the reason he hadn’t wanted to open
his heart up to love again. Everyone he loved died. It started with
his parents, then Madison, and then Maria. Anytime he let himself
care, it seemed life intervened to smack him down and snatch away
his potential happiness.

For so many years he hadn’t allowed himself
to get serious or feel anything close to love, afraid what would
happen. His feelings for Maddie came on so strong and fast, he was
helpless to stop them. Donovan didn’t want to deal with yet another
loss. Sometimes he felt like people died
because
he loved
them.

“Move your ass, Andrews. I don’t have all
day.”

Donovan lurched to his feet, lethargy making
even shuffling across the floor an effort. Jeremy needed him. Even
if loneliness suffocated Donovan every time he tried to breathe,
he’d work through this and do what he needed to.

He approached the gate and the guard handed
him his street clothes. “You can go put these on. Your lawyer is
waiting for you out front.”

Donovan made his way to the bathroom. He
stripped the horrible orange jumpsuit off and climbed into his
clothes, not bothering to put the laces back in his shoes.

He paused at the sink to splash some water
across his face. His bloodshot eyes stared back at him from the
mirror and heavy hair growth covered his face. He looked like shit.
Not surprising really, since that was exactly how he felt.

He exited the bathroom and followed the guard
to the door that led to the front area, the door to freedom. He
didn’t even care.

Jeremy leapt from his chair as soon as
Donovan walked through the door. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here
sooner,” he said. “I had to cover for my partner at a court hearing
this morning, and then I took care of the bail bondsman. Are you
okay?”

Donovan shrugged. “I’ve had better days. I
wish you had sent someone else over to tell me.”

“I tried to find someone, but everyone’s been
busy.” Jeremy walked toward the front door. “I’ll take you home to
clean up before we head out. I’ve obtained permission for you to go
to Eureka, so you won’t have any problems about the terms of your
release.”

“Her parents are still there then?”

Jeremy opened the door and they stepped
outside. A brisk breeze blew in Donovan’s face, bringing the scent
of salt and fish. It should have felt rejuvenating, but he couldn’t
drum up any excitement.

“Why would Madeline’s parents leave her?”
Jeremy asked.

“No. I didn’t think they’d leave her. I
figured they’d ship her body back to Utah.”

“Her body...” Jeremy’s eyes widened. “I am
so
sorry. Madeline’s okay. Well, stable anyway. She’s not
dead.”

“She’s not?” Donovan let out a shaky breath,
gripping Jeremy’s arm as relief made him weak in the knees. “I was
so afraid the reason no one came to tell me was because they didn’t
know how to break the news.”

“Sorry, son. I figured you knew if she
passed, I’d contact you straight away. There’s been little change,
so I took care of what I had to so we could get to her faster.”

Jeremy pressed the button on his key fob to
unlock the doors of his car, and Donovan climbed into the passenger
seat. He buckled his seat belt and sagged in the chair.

Maddie’s alive. Thank you, God.

He glanced over at Jeremy when the other man
climbed into the driver’s seat. “You said there’s little change.
What, exactly, is going on with her?”

Jeremy pulled the car onto the street,
heading toward Donovan’s apartment. “She made it through the night
and her dad said she’s a bit more stable. She’s still in the ICU
though, and she’s in a coma.”

“A coma? I thought she was stabbed and
strangled. Why won’t she wake up?”

“I’m not a doctor. I don’t know. Maybe she
hit her head in the struggle or something.”

Donovan drummed his fingers against his
thigh, trying to contain the anger he felt. Suzie brutalized
Maddie, and it was his fault. Donovan always knew Suzie was a woman
he wouldn’t fall in love with, but dated her anyway. If only he’d
understood about her mental illness and stayed away.

“Am I going to be able to see Maddie today,
if she’s still in intensive care?” he finally asked.

“Her dad said if her vital signs remain
stable, they’re moving her to a regular room in a few hours.”
Jeremy turned into the parking lot at Donovan’s building. “He said
we’re welcome to come up, and I told him we’d be there soon.”

That was something positive, at least. He
didn’t want to have to fight her family to see her, but it looked
like he wouldn’t have to.

Jeremy pulled into Donovan’s parking space
and turned off the engine. “This might be the last thing you want
to think about right now, but I’ve finished the arrangements for
Maria’s funeral.”

“Of course that matters. What do you need
from me?”

“The girls have really taken care of
everything,” Jeremy said. “But it’s this Friday at two. I’d hoped
you would be willing to leave Madeline long enough to come, sit
with the family, and be a pallbearer. There’s going to be a dinner
afterward, but if you need to get back to Madeline at that time,
I’ll understand.”

Donovan shook his head. “I’m yours for the
whole day. Whether Madeline is awake or still in the coma,” and he
wouldn’t consider the other possibility right now, that she might
die, “I’ll be with you through everything.”

“Thanks.”

Donovan prayed Maria’s funeral was the last
one he attended for a very long time.

Donovan rolled over in bed. A quick look at
the hotel room clock revealed he’d slept only two hours, but it was
pointless to try longer. He was too worried.