Simon Says Die

word.”
    Her face reddened even more as she tried to pull his hand away from her mouth.
    He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I swear to God, if you say one more thing before I get you in a closed room away from the people who want to put you in prison, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here. Got that?”
    Her eyes narrowed, but she nodded.
    He lowered his hand. “We need a minute, Hamilton.”
    â€œWhat you need is to come to the main conference room so we can talk this out.”
    Alex had been watching all the commotion without comment until now. He stepped forward, stopping in front of the lieutenant. “You forget that you formally dropped all charges against Mrs. McKinley. If you’re reinstating those charges, keep in mind she already posted bail. So, unless you’re prepared, right now, to press new charges, she’s free to go. If you aren’t going to arrest her, then I suggest you give Pierce and Madison some privacy. Otherwise, I’m advising my client to leave without making any more statements.”
    â€œAll right.” Hamilton didn’t look happy at all, but he waved toward the back corner of the room. “Take my office. But make it quick. I want answers.”
    A S P IERCE LED Madison into Hamilton’s office, he reminded himself that this was the woman he’d made love to last night and this morning. This was the woman who’d crept into his heart even though he didn’t want her to. He cared about her.
    He reminded himself of that again.
    He cared about her.
    Therefore, he should not strangle her.
    The moment the door to Hamilton’s office closed, Madison wheeled around, practically shooting sparks from her eyes. “Do not, ever, put your hand over my mouth and tell me to shut up again.”
    His jaw tightened. “Save the histrionics for someone you can intimidate. Now that we’re not in the middle of a room full of cops wanting to arrest you at the slightest provocation, tell me what you were so hot to tell the lieutenant.”
    Some of the anger left her, and she started to look worried. “There might have been one tiny little thing I haven’t told you yet. It’s not that big a deal, really. But I’m pretty sure I know why Damon wants to talk to me.”
    â€œGo ahead. Enlighten me on this tiny little thing that’s no big deal. Please. I’m all ears.”
    She plopped down on one of the chairs in front of Hamilton’s desk. Pierce sat in the chair across from her and rested his forearms on his knees.
    â€œThe last night Damon and I were together,” she said, “we fought, just like I said. When he wouldn’t leave, I . . . well . . . I grabbed one of my guns to make him leave. I might have . . . well . . . shot him.”
    Pierce dropped his head into hands and counted to five before he looked back up at Madison.
    She was chewing her bottom lip, looking worried for the first time since Damon had wheeled around the desk. “I guess that didn’t sound so good once I said it out loud.”
    â€œYou think? I don’t suppose you shot him in the back? Because that might explain the wheelchair.” He didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice.
    She huffed and crossed her arms. “Of course not. I shot him in the shoulder. He was perfectly fine when he ran out the door. That wheelchair thing is recent, a ruse. I have no doubts about that.”
    â€œWell, it’s good to know someone around here has no doubts,” Pierce grumbled. “I’m a little slow here, so bear with me. You shot him . . . by accident?”
    She shook her head. “Oh no. I meant to shoot him.”
    This time he counted to ten. “Can you please remember, for one second, that I’m a federal officer? Please tell me you were not trying to kill him.”
    She frowned, looking as if he’d just insulted her. “I always hit what I aim at. If I’d wanted to kill him, he’d be dead. I would have double-tapped him in the head.”
    He blinked. “Double-tapped?”
    She nodded. “Two quick shots, one, two . . . right between the eyes.”
    Counting wasn’t helping his temper, but he tried it again. He counted to twenty this time.
    â€œMads, what do you think would happen if you told this to Lieutenant Hamilton? He’d arrest you for attempted murder. You can’t tell