Page 93 of Marked

Sweat rolled over Lawson’s brow and dripped into his eyes. He nodded. “You have my word.”

“Like that means anything.” Cole tucked the weapon away. “You’ll see me again.”

CHAPTER 23

“Jesus, Sophia. Tell me you realize how bad this looks,” Kenneth said, his tone sympathetic but also thick with anxiety as he rubbed his brow.

She squirmed in the chair across from Kenneth’s desk, keeping her gaze glued to her boss to avoid looking at the two other cops, who were taking notes. She’d had to navigate Kenneth’s questions regarding the farm and how Bella was found very carefully. “It’s what happened.” It took all her effort to push the words between her teeth.

“And conveniently, every person at the farm was found dead?” His aged jaw rocked back and forth. “Give us a minute, please,” he said, flicking his wrist toward the other officers.

They both tucked their notepads away and left, closing the door behind them.

Some of the apprehension icing the back of Sophia’s neck thawed. At the end of the day, Kenneth was on her side. Of that she was certain. But he wouldn’t put his career on the line to protect her. She had to keep him in the dark and hope he’d accept her story.

“I know what this looks like. But all I can say is Bella is back. That’s all that matters. I don’t have the means to storm a property and kill eight men alone. Maybe there’s more we don’t understand.” She shrugged. “Maybe they got spooked, or knew someone was coming for them so they wanted to dump the—”

“Dump the kid who could identify them? I seriously doubt it. You have a good idea of what they would have done instead.”

The moisture left her mouth and her throat ached. She tossed her hands in the air. “Okay, then. Arrest me. But you and I both know I didn’t set foot on that farm.”

He slid the photos of the dead bodies across the desk. “Someone sure as hell did.”

She rubbed the tops of her thighs, summoning all the calm she could muster. “I didn’t kill those men.”

He sighed and leaned back in his seat then rubbed his gray stubble. “Yeah, I get it. Just have a lot of questions from higher-ups to answer.” He dropped his hand and smiled. “I’m glad the kid’s okay. I’ve got a feeling you want some time off.”

She nodded eagerly. “I’m considering a leave.”

“All right. Don’t do anything hasty. Let me know your plans by the end of next week.”

“Thank you,” she said, and stood.

He waved and smiled wearily.

As she exited the room and walked down the hall, her skin itched. Could she ever come back here after all that had happened? She’d lied to her boss. Been part of a crime—an accessory to murder, no less. And, more than that, Bella’s kidnapping was related to the case she was working on.

How could she ever feel safe again?

She pushed open the glass door of the building and stepped outside. The late-afternoon sun greeted her but did nothing to ease her tension.

Next week, she’d submit her leave request. Nothing else needed to be decided—except how she’d put food on the table. She had savings and investments, could maybe downsize their apartment.

Her phone chirped, and she stopped at the bottom of the stairs outside the police station. As she looked at the screen, her heart stalled. The unknown number had to be Markie’s. She swiped to answer and pressed the device to her ear.

“Hello?” she answered cautiously.

“It’s me.” The stony, hesitant voice confirmed her suspicions.

“Hi. Thank you for calling. Do you have some information for me?”

“I do. It’s fucking big, lady. Big. I need to see you in person.”

Sophia chewed her bottom lip and stared out at the parking lot. Had it not been for the recent kidnapping and vandalization, she’d be more apt to jump on the meeting. But a tiny voice tugged at the back of her mind: This could be a trap.

“You there?”

“Uh. Yeah.” She had to do it. There was too much riding on taking down Lionsgate. Bella would never be able to return to normal until Sophia had wrapped this up, and she simply couldn’t do so without risk. She needed backup, but given the delicacy of the case, she couldn’t pick just anyone. “Where and when?”

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