Page 106 of Finding Eve
Nothing remained to hint at the atrocities perpetrated in the twelve-by-twelve cell.
Except for Bryan.
Her vision tunneled, the edges fading to black, and what remained in her line of sight sent her reeling. Back pressed against the far wall, her brother stood bare chested in a pair of blue-and-white-striped pajama bottoms. Blood stained the fabric, smeared his skin, and coated his hands to the elbows.
Comprehension filled her with horror.
“Jellybean?”
Her lungs constricted, and with every ounce of air she had left, she whispered, “Why?”
“He didn’t let them go,” he said, gesturing toward a briefcase resting on the floor a few feet away. His shoulders shook as his tears continued to flow. “He didn’t let them go. He lied.” He gasped for breath. “Every word the judge said was a lie.”
“Who killed the women, Bryan?”
His gaze on her, he didn’t respond to Adam’s question. “I didn’t know. I swear to you, Eve. I didn’t hurt them. I didn’t want to hurt anybody.”
Tell me you love me, Mommy.
Suspicion slid into her consciousness. “Did you hurt your mother?” Eve asked, dreading the answer, but needing the truth. “Did you hurt Beverly?”
“It was an accident!” Bryan cried. “She wanted to send me away. I tried to stop her, and she fell. I didn’t push her! I didn’t!”
“I believe you,” Eve lied, and hoping to defuse the situation, she lifted her palms, and ignoring Adam’s head shake, she took a step into the room. “But right now, we need to find the person who murdered the women so we can stop him.”
“I didn’t hurt them.”
“Tell us who did,” Eve begged.
His face a mess of mucus and tears, Bryan wiped his arm over his mouth before shoving his hand into the front pocket of his baggy pajama pants.
“Hand out of your pocket,” Grant shouted, the muzzle of his pistol aimed at Bryan’s chest.
“I didn’t know he hurt them!” Bryan’s gaze darted around the cell, bouncing off the floor, the ceiling, the walls.
“Back up, Eve,” Adam ordered as he stepped in front of her, gun at the ready.
“Show us your hand,” Grant said again.
“I didn’t know he killed them!”
“Who?” she cried, stepping to the side so she could see around Adam’s broad shoulders. “Please! Tell us who murdered the women, and I promise, no one else will get hurt.”
“Detective Vonn.” He withdrew his hand from his pocket and in one motion pressed the muzzle of a snub-nosed revolver to his head.
“Drop the gun,” Grant shouted.
“I’m sorry, Eve.” Tears streaming down his face, he looked her in the eyes and cocked the hammer. “I never wanted to hurt anyone.”
Time slowed, his hand shook, and with their gazes locked, Eve saw the exact moment he made his choice. “Forgive me.” He dropped his arm just as Adam stepped in front of her and two shots rang out in rapid succession.
She didn’t see the bullet hit Bryan in the head, only the spray of blood that splattered the wall behind him. His body crumpled sideways, his torso hitting the floor with a lifeless thud while Adam sank to his knees in front of her.
Her ears buzzed.
She could see Grant shouting, his lips moving as he came toward her. Doc. He was calling for Doc. She looked down at her chest. Nothing. No red bloom of blood. No white-hot searing pain. Nothing.
Ripping Velcro the first sound she registered, her gaze followed the noise to the source. Head hanging low, Adam listed to the side, his fist pressing into the concrete to keep himself from toppling over.
