Simon Says Die

McKinley.”
    Pierce shoved Madison behind his back. “Hamilton, you’ve got enough evidence to justify a forty-eight hour hold on this man.”
    â€œAbsolutely.” Hamilton strode forward, yanking out his cuffs as he stepped around the desk. But instead of handcuffing McKinley, he stopped, his face mirroring shock.
    Pierce frowned. “Why aren’t you cuffing him?”
    Hamilton shook his head. “There’s no way this man is the stalker. He’s not the man Mrs. McKinley chased in the park. He’s And he couldn’t have abducted anyone.”
    The look of satisfaction on Damon’s face made dread shoot through Madison.
    â€œWhy not?” Pierce demanded.
    Damon eased around the desk.
    In his wheelchair.

 
    Chapter Twenty-Four
    E VERYONE STARTED TALKING at once.
    â€œHe’s faking it,” Madison insisted. “He’s the one I chased in the park. He shot Pierce, and abducted me. He’s no more paralyzed than I am.”
    â€œTsk, tsk.” Damon clucked his tongue. “Is that any way for a wife to treat her long-lost husband?”
    She took a step forward.
    Pierce grabbed her and pulled her back. “Mr. McKinley, how long have you been in that chair? Looks new to me. Did you buy it right before you wheeled in to the station?”
    Damon glanced down at his chair and wiped his thumb across one of the stainless steel bars, making a play of rubbing a smudge out of it. “I take good care of my equipment.” His face turned sad. “After all, without it I’d be at the mercy of others.”
    â€œHow is it that you’re here and not dead?” Hamilton asked.
    â€œWell, now, that’s a long story. One I’m happy to share with you, officer.” He turned his steely gray gaze on Madison. “After I speak to my wife. In private.”
    â€œThat isn’t going to happen,” Pierce growled.
    â€œI have a feeling Madison won’t agree with you,” Damon said.
    â€œI’ve got nothing to say to you,” she spat. “You’re a murderer. You killed my father. And you killed that poor woman they found buried in my yard, along with the yardman.”
    He placed his hand on his heart. “Accusing me of murder, my dear? How shocking. I am, of course, quite innocent of these terrible charges.”
    Agent Casey stepped forward. “Who died in your car in the accident in New York? Who created those fake contracts, signed with your name, as part owner in businesses who all insist the contracts aren’t real?”
    â€œContracts? I assure you, I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” He sighed heavily. “Let me guess. My dear wife provided them to you. Has she become a forger now in addition to her other . . . skills?”
    Madison tried to shove past Pierce, but he grabbed her and held her back.
    â€œAnd the man who died in your car in New York?” Casey asked.
    Simon clucked his tongue again. “I was carjacked, mugged. Terrible business, that. He took my wallet, my car, even my clothes. I had short-term memory loss from my injuries. It took a bit of time before I realized what had happened, and who I was.”
    Pierce snorted. “Right. And then, instead of going home, you let the world believe you were dead. I’m not buying it. You were running from something, or to something. Why did you fake your death?”
    â€œI didn’t fake my death. But once I realized everyone believed I was dead, I had a very good reason to allow that belief to stand.” Again he looked at Madison, who was peering around Pierce. “Madison, I’m sure you’ll want to speak to me, alone, before I answer any more questions about the last time we saw each other. Don’t you agree?”
    Pierce shot a glance at Madison. Her pale face and wide eyes told him they were in trouble here. He’d been worried yesterday, when Alex interrupted their conversation, that she was still holding something back. He’d meant to ask her about it. But he’d gotten a bit distracted after he took her home.
    What else could Damon possibly be holding over her?
    He turned back toward Damon. “You’re not getting anywhere near her.” He shoved Madison behind him again, and this time she didn’t resist. “And don’t expect me to believe for one second that you’re really paralyzed. You’re the man who shot me in the