Page 102 of Coveted Justice

“It’ll be fine,” Maddie said, her voice quiet. “I’ll be okay.”

Tanner had been a cop and he knew what it meant to let a murderer waltz away with his wife. It meant that he might not see her again. His heart slamming against his ribs, he tugged at the scarf around his wrists but they didn’t budge. They weren’t extremely tight but it was going to take some time to get out of them.

Time he didn’t have. Trisha was going to take Maddie now.

“Calm down,” Trisha commanded. “I’m not going to hurt her. I’ll leave her at the airfield.”

“Which airfield?” Tanner asked, twisting his wrists and trying to work a finger into one of the knots. “Where are you taking her?”

“To an out-of-the-way airfield that no one ever uses. It’s perfect for my dramatic getaway. You know, Tanner, I think my dad would be proud of how I’ve planned all of this out. Except for today, of course. I didn’t know you’d be here at the house so that was unexpected, but I like a challenge. I like having to think on my feet.”

“Why didn’t you just stay hidden and let us leave?” Maddie queried. “We never would have known you were here.”

“I couldn’t take the chance that you’d take the money. I needed that cash to play for my flight.”

“We would never have taken the money,” Maddie replied. “It doesn’t belong to us.”

Trisha laughed and shook her head.

“Right. Because politicians are so honest. Get real. I had to intervene. Now let’s go. I don’t want to miss my flight.”

He and Maddie exchanged another glance. He could see the longing in her eyes to stay but also the determination that she would be fine. It wasn’t the first time she’d had a gun pointed at her, but he damn well hoped it would be the last. The first time almost did him in and he wasn’t getting any fucking younger.

This time Trisha grabbed Maddie’s arm. Tanner flinched as the woman’s fingers wrapped around his wife’s wrist.

“Let’s go. I promise you’ll see each other again. In probably less than two hours or depending on how long it will take your husband to get out of those ties. I’m guessing it won’t take a long time. You tied them, after all.”

Tanner had already worked his thumb into one of the knots. He’d be right behind them when they left. He wouldn’t take a chance that Trisha wouldn’t keep her word.

He didn’t trust killers to tell the truth.

And Trisha Parnham was definitely a cold-blooded killer. She’d already murdered her father and tried to off her brother. Would his wife be her next victim?

Tanner would kill the bitch if Maddie so much as had a hangnail after this.

“Dump your purse,” Trisha demanded when they stepped outside of the house. “And get in the car. You’re going to drive.”

Trisha had parked her car across the street and down two houses. Maddie and Tanner hadn’t even noticed the vehicle when they’d arrived. Not that she knew what Trisha drove, but her husband might.

“I don’t know where we’re going.”

Maddie was proud that the words didn’t come out shaky. She was scared, but also a little pissed off, too. This woman had killed her father because she thought he didn’t love her enough. She’d tried to kill her brother because he was the family favorite. Trisha Parnham needed intense therapy.

And a prison term.

Trisha pointed the gun at Maddie, her expression cold.

“I’ll tell you where to go. Now drop the purse on the driveway and get in the car.”

Doing as she was told, Maddie set the purse down on the pavement and walked on shaky legs to the blue BMW parked at the curb. Climbing into the car, she took the keys from Trisha who jangled them in front of her face.

“Head east,” the woman commanded. “Then I’ll tell you where to go from there.”

Maddie sent up a prayer that Tanner was currently extricating himself from her scarf. She’d tied him as loosely as she’d dared.

She wanted desperately to believe that Trisha wouldn’t shoot her, but she didn’t have much faith. If she’d kill her own family, then an almost stranger wouldn’t faze Trisha in the least.

I have a lot to live for. I won’t give up easily. I’ll fight tooth and nail if I have to.

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