Simon Says Die

“I’ve changed my mind. The first to die won’t be your mother. It will be your new boyfriend. Get a cashier’s check today and meet me tonight at your house. If I see any cops, I’m gone and your boyfriend dies.”
    She shook her head. “No. I won’t do it. And you can’t hurt Pierce. He can take care of himself.”
    He arched a brow and snorted. “Really? How sure are you he can protect himself twenty-four hours a day? You aren’t the only one who’s an excellent shot. I happen to be quite lethal with a rifle. I can reach your boyfriend from a long ways a way. I promise you. If I want to kill him, he’s as good as dead.”
    She started shaking so hard her handcuffs rattled against the bench.
    The sound of footsteps against concrete had Madison and Damon both looking back at Pierce. He stepped over to Damon’s wheelchair. “This meeting is over.”
    Damon smiled up at him. “I got what I wanted.” He held up his hands. “Now take these wretched cuffs off.”
    Pierce ignored him and took Madison’s cuffs off first. He led her over to one of the uniformed police officers. “Take her inside.” To Madison, he said, “Wait for me.” Then he turned around and strode back to Damon.
    â€œW HAT DID YOU say to her?” Pierce demanded as he sat on the same bench Madison had been sitting on a few minutes ago.
    Damon raised a brow. “That’s between me and my wife.”
    â€œShe’s not your wife. She divorced you, right after you killed whoever died in that car in your place. So if your plan was to frame her and put her in prison so you could get the courts to award you her money, think again. You’ll never see a dime.”
    Damon blinked, his face reddening. “She divorced me? Truly?”
    Pierce nodded.
    Damon cleared his throat and shrugged, back in control. “Doesn’t matter. My plans, whatever they may be, are not affected by the state of my marriage.” He yanked on one of the handcuffs. “I have nothing more to say to you. I suggest you release me, now, before I call a lawyer and sue you and everyone else in this station.”
    Pierce gave a harsh laugh. “I don’t think your background can stand up to the scrutiny of a drawn out lawsuit. If you want to try, go ahead.” He leaned forward. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it ends here. If I ever see you anywhere near Madison, I’ll throw your ass in jail.”
    Damon gestured to his chair. “Come now. What could I possibly do to hurt my dear sweet wife? And why would I want to?” His lips curved up in a taunting smile. “Maybe I’ll strike up our relationship where we left off. She really is a little firecracker in bed, as I’m sure you know. I wouldn’t mind having some of that again.”
    Pierce jumped off the bench and grabbed Damon’s shirt, lifting him out of the chair as far as the handcuffs would allow.
    â€œLet him go!” Hamilton and two other police officers grabbed Pierce and tried to pull him back.
    Pierce shrugged them off. “Stay away from Madison.” He let Damon fall back into the chair.
    Hamilton grabbed Pierce’s arm. “Get your temper under control before I arrest you for assault.”
    â€œGet your hands off me. Now.”
    â€œOnly if you promise not to touch Mr. McKinley again.”
    â€œScouts honor,” Pierce gritted between his teeth, not bothering to mention that he’d never been a scout.
    â€œI’ve changed my mind about speaking to you any further, Lieutenant,” Damon said. “I insist you let me go, or I will sue you and your department for assault. I’m ready to leave.”
    Hamilton glared at Pierce and motioned to one of the police officers. “Un-cuff him, and get him out of here.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Pierce demanded. “You can’t let him go.”
    Hamilton waited until Damon had been wheeled back into the building.
    â€œI don’t exactly owe you or Mrs. McKinley anything, not after being lied to for so long. I’m not going to put myself on the line for either of you when I don’t have any physical evidence against Damon McKinley. The FBI will have to take it from here, see if they can build a case. However, I have already instructed my men to keep him under surveillance. When Casey has enough evidence for a warrant, I’ll