Page 118 of Ice Cold Liar

“He hurt her.”

“Hudson hurt a lot of people.”

“Onyourcommand.You’re the one who gave him the missions at the CIA.The executions.”

She shrugged one shoulder.The oversized uniform slid to the side, exposing more of her skin.“They were criminals.They had to be stopped.”

“You turned him into a killer, just like his father.”

“I’m pretty sure his father had already fucked with Hudson’s head plenty.And maybe…well, I suppose that’s just the old nature versus nurture debate, isn’t it?Was poor Hudson a helpless victim of circumstance in all of this?Or was he always meant to be evil?”The cuffs clinked against the table.“I guess we’ll never know.”

“You got Brock to kill for you.”

“Um, yes.Already made this confession.I get bored when I repeat myself endlessly.”She turned toward the one-way mirror.“I cooperated, so I should have been rewarded.”

There would be no rewards for her.

A long-suffering sigh escaped Madeline.“Brock overheard Ivan and Hudson.He learned about their deals.He reported to me.Brock became a useful tool for me, and yes, I got him to eliminate Ivan.Ivan was a national security threat, after all.”

“Was he?”

She winked.A move that wouldn’t be picked up by anyone on the other side of the one-way glass because Madeline had angled her head back toward him.

“Clark Anderson was on your payroll.”A fact Eb already knew but he wanted her reaction.

“I don’t think I’d saypayrollexactly.But he did help when needed.And the man was buried up to his eyeballs in trouble because of his connections with Ivan and Hudson.”Her nails began to tap on the top of the table.Short, unpainted nails.“I don’t really get why you’re here today.I mean, it’s a pleasure to see an old friend, don’t get me wrong.But…I thought you’d left the CIA.You quit, remember?”

“You’re being charged by the state of Louisiana and by the federal government.”

“Why are you here, Eb?”A ghost of a smile came and went on her lips.“Or could you just not stay away from me?Did you miss me?”

Not even a little.“What happened at the police station?What made you leave me and go after Naomi?”

“I planned to eliminate her all along.Couldn’t risk that perhaps Hudson had let something important about me slip in the heat of the moment to her.”

“Bullshit.”

Soft laughter.Mocking.“I did plan to eliminate her before we spoke at the police station.I had Brock’s old car ready and waiting behind the station.My plans were perfect.Though…” Her hand rose and brushed along her left temple.Brushed deliberately along the scar that raised her skin.“I should have made sure the trunk was completely empty.My mistake.I’ll own up to that.I didn’t think to look beneath the flooring of the trunk.”

“Something happened.Something set you off while you and I were talking in the police station.Something made you act right then and there.”

She rubbed the scar.“I’ll say—yet again—people like us don’t get happy endings.”

He searched her gaze.“You didn’t want me to be with her.”

“I did so much for you, Eb.I helped to get vengeance for your sister?—”

“You got me in the prison, but I didn’t kill Sebastian Glass.”

“I helped you.I liked you.With Hudson gone, I thought…maybe you could be the match for me.But you—you fucking shot me, Eb.”Anger sharpened her words.

“Yeah.I did.Twice.”

“For her.”

He nodded.“For her.”

Her lips pulled down in disgust.“And where is she now?Still in your life?Still willing to trust the man who has committed such violence in front of her?Who lied to her?Who wanted to seduce her and lock her away?”Madeline pointed to the observation window.“I don’t think she’s behind the glass.I don’t think she’s watching.You know what Idothink?”

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