Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Sincerity fills her eyes after she cleans up her space. “I’ll let you know as soon as I get the results back. As much as I’d like to help you with the meds you’re going to need, you’ll have to see my colleague, Dr. Benson, on the second floor.”
“Thank you,” I say before walking out of the room.
The second ride in the elevator leaves me wondering if going to the fucking free clinic wouldn’t be better.
I try to think about Cerberus and how this affects them. If anything, someone at the campground had to pack my shit and take down my damn tent, but I can’t seem to pull my thoughts from Lennox long enough to work up an apology for whomever had to help me out.
There’s just something about knowing someone thinks you’re capable of doing something so heinous.
Where did you get the gas to pour on her genitals after you raped her?
I know shit like that happens all over the world, but this is shit we deal with in South America. It’s not as common for horrific things like that to happen here in the States. It feels like a slap in the damn face with it happening so close to home.
It’s probably not the best idea, but needing to know what happened and issuing some sort of punishment to the person that did commit those crimes feels like a must for me now. Although, I know it’s probably best if I just keep my distance from the case and Detective Lennox Maison.
Chapter 7
Lennox
I press the button, pausing the video again before clenching my hands into closed fists in utter frustration. I’ve watched and rewatched the video evidence we have hundreds of times, and nothing changes. A second man doesn’t come out of the shadows. A miracle camera angle doesn’t show up of her getting into her car.
We have nothing more than what it takes to clear Sawyer Maddox, and the cop in me thinks that’s a little too fucking suspicious.
Chief Monahan told me to let it go, to move on and not let my knee-jerk reaction keep me from finding the true evidence. I should feel grateful that he didn’t pull me from the case or suspend me, but I can’t let go of the idea that Sawyer Maddox was somehow involved in Elizabeth Burr’s assault and murder.
Barely holding back a growl of agitation, I slap my finger against the keyboard so the video begins to play again. I don’t skip the part where he and the victim make out against the wall of the bar. I slow it down, needing the reminder of just what kind of man I’m dealing with. I met him at the gym four fucking days after he had her outside of Jake’s, seconds away from no doubt heading to the same hotel he took me to. I make a mental note to call and see if they offer him a frequent flier discount for all the women he brings there.
I know it's petty. I know it was one night. I knew then not to expect anything, and I fucking don’t. What I can’t figure out is why it fucking bothers me so much. Maybe it’s because I let the idea of who he was sink in so far, even the evidence right in my damn face doesn’t have the power to change my opinion. I know I’m in dangerous territory. I know it’s the sign of a not very good cop if I can’t accept the facts I’ve been given.
They split up on the video, her going one way toward her car and him going around the back of the bar. I know he went to piss or something, and I hate him for it. Maybe if they headed to her car together, he could’ve stopped the person who wanted to hurt her. Maybe he would’ve been hurt scaring the perp away. Rapists and killers tend to have a certain victim type in mind, and I have no doubts that Maddox isn’t his type.
We’re still working under the possibility that the guy was in the car waiting for her, but we don’t know the actual truth. We don’t have a camera angle of where she was parked. Someone could’ve come out of the shadows and forced her behind the wheel. She could’ve been stopped on the side of the road a few blocks down.
Whatever events played out that night, she encountered her killer within minutes of Sawyer Maddox walking away from her. As unreasonable as it is, I still blame him for her death.
My cell phone chimes with a text, but before I can look over at it, a shadow darkens the doorway of my closet-sized office.
“You wanna head over there together?”
I look up at Colton, confusion drawing my brows tight before looking down at my phone. Jumping from my seat, I almost agree, but in the last second before speaking, I change my mind. I still need some separation to lick my wounds. There’s a very good chance that not only will I never live earlier today down within the walls of this police department, there still could be repercussions that will affect my role here if Maddox or Cerberus MC decides to pursue a civil case against either me or the department.