Crime & Passion (23 page)

***

Donovan followed the guard into the visitor’s
area. Cafeteria-style tables were scattered throughout the room.
Unadorned cement walls and a grimy white-tiled floor completed the
prison-chic decor.

He looked down at his orange jumper, thinking
how well he fit in with it all. A few other ‘guests’ sat at tables
with either family or lawyers, talking in hushed tones. Donovan’s
feet slid around in his shoes as he slowly approached the table
Jeremy and Maddie sat at. They’d stripped him down of anything that
could be dangerous, including removing the shoelaces from his
sneakers.

Madeline jumped up as soon as he reached
them. “Are you okay?”

He nodded, unable to voice the lie. He was
sure she knew he wasn’t anyway. Who could be okay in a situation
like this?

His new best friend, the guard, stepped away
from the table, but stood against the wall a few feet away. Donovan
knew the guard was there for his safety, in case one of the other
people in the room decided to jump him, but it still made him feel
more like a criminal.

“Here’s where things stand,” Jeremy said,
opening his briefcase and pulling out a yellow legal pad. “Madeline
and I can come up with sixty thousand. Do you have any way of
getting the other ten?”

Donovan shook his head and sat down. “That’s
way too much money. Leave me in here.”

Madeline sat next to him and rested her head
on his shoulder. “We aren’t doing that and that’s final. If you
don’t know how to get the rest of the money, I can ask my parents.
Maybe they’ll help.”

Donovan inhaled deeply, replacing the stench
of his cellmates’ body odor with Madeline’s wonderful scent. He
knew it would have to hold him over. He needed to break things off
with her. He would likely be in jail for a long time, and it wasn’t
fair to hold her back.

“Don’t ask your parents,” he ordered. “You
guys can’t put up that kind of money. I’m going to stay in
jail.”

Madeline’s body stiffened beside him. “Stop
talking like that. You are
not
staying here.”

“I’m a cop, Maddie,” he said. “I make a cop’s
salary. I could never pay you back. You two save your money.” He
looked across the table at Jeremy. “It’s safer with me in here.
Whoever’s killing people will stop now. I’m locked away. They
won.”

Jeremy pulled his pen out and wrote $10,000
across the top of the page. “You know it looks better if you are
out on bail when it comes time for the trial. Juries aren’t
supposed to be swayed by those kinds of things, but they are.”

Donovan shook his head. “That won’t matter.
It’s not like I’ll get a fair trial anyway.”

“If you don’t care about the jury, at least
care about me,” Madeline pleaded. “What if the killer wasn’t just
after you? What if he still wants to kill me? I need you out of
jail.”

Donovan folded his hands together in front of
him, trying to conceal the way they shook. What if she was right?
The killer would have freer access to her with him out of the
way.

“The killer will feel safe now that I’m
arrested,” he said. “There’s no reason for him to see you as a
threat anymore. I don’t think he really wanted you dead, only
wanted to keep you quiet so he didn’t get caught.” Donovan hoped
that was the case. In any event, he couldn’t help Maddie now. He
would call Brice Carter. If there was any part of Brice that still
believed in Donovan’s innocence, he would keep an eye on Madeline.
It was the best Donovan could do for her.

Her continuing to defend him might actually
put her in more danger. The killer wanted to frame Donovan and
wouldn’t want Madeline helping him get out of jail. Donovan tried
not to think about how good the killer had done with the frame job,
but the facts were, with all the evidence against him, a jury might
find Donovan guilty.

He scooted away from Madeline, breaking the
contact between them. “You’ll be fine without me.”

Jeremy tapped his pen against the paper, and
finally wrote down, ‘Madeline’s parents.’ Under that he wrote,
‘Mortgage my house.’ He looked back at Donovan. “Any other ideas?
I’m a little old to be taking out another mortgage on my house. I
don’t want to leave my girls with a burden when I join their
mother. I can put it up as collateral against the bond, no problem.
I know you’ll show up to every court hearing and I won’t be in any
danger of losing it. However, I’d rather not take a loan against
it.”

Donovan pulled his hands through his hair,
digging at his scalp in frustration. “Neither one of you are paying
anything.”

Jeremy wrote ‘Cash out IRA.’ “You’re not safe
here, Donovan. You and I both know what happens to cops who enter
the system.”

“You are not doing that, Jeremy.” Donovan
pointed at the paper and shook his head. “I’ll be fine. They can
put me in protective custody in Eureka.”

Madeline whipped her head toward the nearby
guard, her ponytail brushing against Donovan’s face with the force
of her movement. “You’re watching him tonight and making sure no
one harms him, right?”

The guard nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She settled back, though still seemed
ruffled. “We’ll have you out of here before they transfer you,
Donovan. I’ll find a way.”

“You guys aren’t listening to me.” Donovan
had to stop them. Paying that amount of money could ruin their
lives...especially Madeline. She was a substitute teacher and a dog
walker. She’d never recover from that kind of financial
setback.

Besides, letting Madeline get serious about
their relationship now was a bad idea, no matter how much he cared
about her. She’d already been through a lot with that jerk,
Cameron.

What if the system failed and Donovan went to
prison? What if he received the death penalty? He wouldn’t put
Maddie through that. But he’d have to hurt her now—he knew she’d
never leave him otherwise.

“You’re wasting your time, Maddie,” he said,
putting as much scorn into his voice as he could muster. “It’s not
like we really mean anything to each other.”

Her eyes widened. “What? How could you say
that? I thought—”

“You thought wrong,” he cut in. “All I wanted
was a piece of ass, but I thought I’d get better ass for longer if
I pretended I actually cared about you.” He snorted. “It’s not like
I’m looking for anything long term.”

Her brown eyes welled with tears, and Donovan
wanted to throw himself at her feet and apologize for being a dog.
He forced himself to look down his nose at her, as though her pain
didn’t affect him at all.

“You’re lying,” she finally said. “I know you
are. Why are you saying these things?”

“All I want is for you to stay away from me,
Maddie. You’re too much trouble, getting all serious. Suzie’s more
my speed.”

A tear slipped over the edge of her eyelid
and streaked down her cheek. “Please don’t say that. You don’t mean
it.”

She didn’t believe him, even with the Suzie
dig. His last attempt was sure to work, but he knew it would crush
her. He warred with himself against telling her she was right, he
didn’t mean any of it.

He couldn’t do that though—for her sake.
Maybe if the court acquitted him before Madeline found someone
else, he could make things up to her. For now, he had to break
things off.

He forced himself to shrug in an off-handed
manner. “Face it, Maddie. Suzie’s got a better body than you. And,
really, you could stand to lose a few pounds.”

The sting of her hand slapping his face was
far less than he deserved. The sound echoed around the room and all
heads turned to face them.

Madeline’s stood abruptly. “You’re an
asshole, Donovan Andrews!” She ran across the room, pounding on the
door until the guard on the other side unlocked it. Her quiet sobs
filled the silent room.

Pain shredded through Donovan as he watched
her leave. He
was
an asshole, but he couldn’t let her ruin
her life and end up in the poor house because of him. No matter
what he wanted, there were no guarantees he’d be able to have a
life with her now.

“Well, that was unpleasant.” Jeremy folded
his arms, drawing Donovan’s attention. “That’s one thing I never
thought I’d see. You’ve always been somewhat of a jerk to women,
but Maria and I always had faith you were actually a good guy.”

“I guess you know the truth now.” Donovan
wanted to hang his head in shame, wanted to let the tears fall that
he was barely holding back. Instead, he stood from the table and
looked down at Jeremy. “I’m exactly what everyone says I am, and I
don’t give a shit what you think anymore.”

“I don’t believe that, Donovan.”

“Yeah?” Donovan forced himself to shrug. He
wished he didn’t have to be mean to Jeremy, but he didn’t want his
friend cashing out that IRA plan or mortgaging his house. The man
was in his late sixties. Doing something like that at this point in
his life could be the difference between a comfortable retirement
and working until he died. Donovan nodded to the guard, who stepped
forward. “I’m ready to go back to the holding cell.”

The guard nodded.

“Wait.” Jeremy fumbled around the table to
stand in Donovan’s way. “We’re not done here yet.”

Donovan had to convince Jeremy it was
pointless to help him. He could find a new lawyer, one that would
just do his job and not get emotionally involved. He loved Jeremy
too much to put the man’s future on the line.

Pain clenched his chest even tighter, but
Donovan forced a sneer on his face. “Oh, we’re done, Mr. Rains.
Leave me alone. You’re fired.”

Madeline looked at the clock beside the bed
and groaned. Now she understood how Donovan ended up in his robe
when Suzie showed up at his house a few days ago. Noon—and she
didn’t want to move. She felt like a slug, lying there, but she’d
only slept a few hours last night, too upset to sleep soundly.

Donovan’s words echoed in her mind.
‘And,
really, you could stand to lose a few pounds.’

Had he meant that? Madeline couldn’t decide.
He’d been so sweet earlier in the day. She had a hard time
reconciling the way he’d acted in the jail with the man who picked
pineapple off pizza and tried to stuff her full.

Her cell phone rang, buzzing against the
nightstand and jittering around the top of it. She let it ring, not
interested in talking to anyone today. She’d already missed two
calls from Jeremy Rains last night and three from Lindsey this
morning. Eventually she’d have to get back to them, but for now,
ignoring them seemed best.

Donovan seemed concerned about the money
aspect, and she thought at first he was trying to drive her away
because of that. Once he’d attacked her weight, however, Madeline
lost it.

She felt bad for slapping him. Mostly because
she broke a promise to herself that she’d never be that type of
girl. Still, he more than deserved it.

Her phone stopped ringing, only to start up
again within seconds. Madeline hit the ignore button and then
turned the phone off. Pulling the comforter over her head, she
closed her eyes. It seemed like a great idea to stay in bed all
day.

***

Donovan looked at the man sitting on the
bench next to him. He’d arrested Brent quite a few times. All the
men in here were petty criminals, not hardened felons. The usual
charge was DUI, although he knew Brent likely got an overnight stay
for public nudity, as he had several times in the past.

Even though his cellmates were unlikely to
harm him, despite his earlier fears, it had been an uncomfortable
night, made all the worse because he knew he hurt Madeline. He
still didn’t know if he made the right decision. If he ever got out
of here, she wasn’t likely to forgive him for that last dig about
her weight.

The one thing sure to bother her and he used
it against her in the most vicious way he could. He longed for her
after she left, knowing he might never see her again. He’d been so
stupid. He needed to call her. Even if she didn’t want to hear it,
he had to apologize. It was too cruel. He couldn’t let her believe
he really meant those words.

“Andrews,” a guard barked. “You’ve got a
visitor.”

Donovan jumped up, eagerly approaching the
gate. He couldn’t believe it. Madeline must have figured out he
didn’t mean it and came to see him. That was better than he dared
hope. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. If Maddie wanted to
stand by his side throughout his incarceration, he’d let her. He’d
also do everything in his power to prove his innocence so they
could have a life together.

“Does she look pissed?” he asked.

The man shrugged. “A little upset maybe, but
nothing you can’t handle. We all know how you are with the
ladies.”

Donovan shook his head. “Yeah. Well, except
last night. I wasn’t terribly smooth then.”

The guard laughed. “I heard about that from
the night shift. They said that woman has a hell of a right hook.
I’m surprised you don’t have a bruise across your face today.” He
opened the door so Donovan could step out.

“I got lucky.” Donovan followed him into the
visiting room.

“There you are, Donnie. I’ve been so
worried.”

The excitement ran out of Donovan like air
deflating from a balloon. Suzie jumped up and ran to him, throwing
her arms around his neck.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, doing
his best to squirm from her clinging grasp.

“I’ve been working all morning to gather the
money you need, baby.” She beamed brightly. “Are you ready to get
out of here?”

Stunned was not the word to describe how this
news made him feel. “You’re paying my bail?”

“Mmmm hmmm.” She bumped her hip into his
playfully and held his hand. “There’s only one teensy little
condition.”

“There always is.” Donovan sighed. He wasn’t
getting out of jail today. If it was anything like her last deal,
he’d turn her down. “What’s the condition?”