Chapter 8 - The Officer Bryce Had Already Bought
Officer Ruiz did not move.
Deputy Pike’s gun remained pressed against her spine.
Tessa stood at the top of the stairs.
Bryce held the cash box.
Kendra gripped the railing behind him.
Owen lay injured in the sewing room.
Judith leaned against the wall, barely conscious.
Pike looked at Tessa.
“Camera.”
“What camera?”
He smiled.
“Bryce said you might be recording.”
Tessa kept her face blank.
Bryce stared at her jacket.
“Take it off.”
“No.”
Pike pushed his weapon harder against Ruiz.
“Do it.”
Ruiz’s voice remained steady.
“Tessa, don’t give them anything.”
Pike struck her with the gun.
Ruiz dropped to one knee.
Tessa unzipped her jacket slowly.
The body camera was clipped beneath the collar.
Bryce climbed the stairs.
He ripped it free.
Then he smashed it against the railing.
Plastic shattered.
Pike laughed.
Tessa looked at Ruiz.
She looked back.
A tiny green light blinked near the button of Ruiz’s uniform.
Her own camera was still recording.
Bryce did not notice.
“Where is the backup?” Bryce asked.
“There isn’t one.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I came alone with Owen.”
Pike glanced toward the sewing room.
“Where is he?”
Kendra answered.
“Down.”
Pike’s expression hardened.
“Dead?”
“I don’t know.”
Judith let out a soft moan.
Bryce turned toward her.
“Mom, you caused this.”
Tessa stepped between them.
“No.”
“You caused this when you stole the first dollar.”
Pike ordered everyone downstairs.
They moved into the den.
Kendra closed the curtains.
Bryce placed the cash box on the dining table.
Pike forced Ruiz into a chair and handcuffed her.
“You have made a terrible mistake,” Ruiz said.
Pike shrugged.
“I made an investment.”
Tessa stared at him.
“How much did he pay you?”
“Enough.”
“Enough to kidnap an officer?”
Pike smiled.
“By morning, it will look like Officer Ruiz broke into the Marlowe home with you.”
“She brought an unauthorized weapon.”
“She attacked me.”
“And Owen died trying to stop her.”
Owen’s voice came from the hallway.
“You’ll need a better story.”
He staggered into the room.
Blood ran from his nose.
His left arm hung at an unnatural angle.
But he was standing.
Kendra grabbed the pistol Bryce had recovered.
She pointed it at him.
“Sit down.”
Owen looked at Judith.
“I’m sorry.”
Judith shook her head.
“You came.”
That was all she needed to say.
Bryce opened the cash box and began feeding documents into the fireplace.
Tessa lunged.
Pike caught her.
The first papers curled in the flames.
“You can’t burn bank records,” she shouted.
“They exist somewhere else.”
Bryce glanced at her.
“Not the ones with Dad’s handwritten notes.”
The letter caught fire.
Tessa watched her father’s words blacken.
Something inside her broke.
She twisted against Pike and drove her heel into his knee.
He cursed and released her.
Tessa rushed toward the fireplace.
Kendra fired.
The bullet struck the mantel inches above Tessa’s head.
Everyone froze.
Judith stared at Kendra.
Kendra’s hands shook violently.
“I didn’t mean—”
“You fired at my daughter,” Judith whispered.
Bryce grabbed Kendra’s wrist.
“Give me the gun.”
She pulled away.
“No.”
“Kendra.”
“No.”
Her face had changed.
The controlled wife was gone.
“I did everything you asked.”
“I lied.”
“I signed papers.”
“I held her down.”
“I cleaned the blood off the bathroom floor.”
Tessa looked at Judith.
“What blood?”
Judith began shaking.
Bryce stepped closer to Kendra.
“Stop talking.”
Kendra laughed wildly.
“You said we would be rich.”
“You said Mercer would protect us.”
“You said Fallon would declare her incompetent.”
“You never said your father left evidence.”
Bryce’s voice became dangerous.
“Give me the gun.”
Kendra pointed it at him.
“No.”
Pike reached toward his holster.
Kendra swung the gun toward him.
“Stay back.”
For the first time, the alliance began to collapse.
Tessa slowly moved toward Ruiz.
Kendra’s eyes darted around the room.
“All of you ruined everything.”
Judith spoke softly.
“No.”
“You chose this.”
Kendra’s face twisted.
“You looked at me like I was never good enough for your son.”
“I welcomed you.”
“You tolerated me.”
“You kept saying Bryce had changed.”
“You kept asking where the money went.”
“Because it was stolen.”
Kendra screamed.
“Stop saying that.”
She aimed the gun at Judith.
Tessa moved without thinking.
She stepped in front of her mother.
The front windows suddenly exploded inward.
Glass filled the room.
A black object rolled across the floor.
Smoke erupted.
Tessa heard shouting outside.
“State Police.”
“Drop your weapons.”
Through the smoke, Pike grabbed Ruiz by the throat.
He pressed his gun against her jaw.
May you like
“No one moves,” he shouted.
Then Bryce snatched the cash box and ran toward the back door.
