Simon Says Die

hadn’t killed anyone, he relaxed, if only a bit.
    One of the technicians stepped into the room, holding a clear plastic bag. “Lieutenant?”
    Hamilton waved him over, and even before the tech showed Hamilton the bag, Pierce knew things had just gone from bad to worse.
    Hamilton read the label on the pill bottle inside the baggie. “Maxiodarone, the same drug that came back on several of Mrs. McKinley’s searches on how to make a death look like a heart attack.” He handed the baggie back to the technician.
    â€œWhere is Mrs. McKinley?”
    M ADISON HELD HER hands down on the glass plate while the scanner read her fingerprints. “Hey, at least I won’t get any ink on my fingers this way.”
    The policewoman taking her prints didn’t even crack a smile.
    Madison took a deep breath, trying to still the tremors that kept going through her. She felt like her insides were shaking so hard her teeth would start rattling any minute.
    Other than the day her father died, this had to qualify as the worst day of her life. And the way things were going, she was worried the coming days might even top this one.
    â€œStep over here, please. Face the camera. Don’t smile.”
    Smiling hadn’t even occurred to Madison, not when she was being arrested and processed for murder.
    The policewoman clicked the camera sitting on the tripod. “Turn to your right please.” Click. “Now to your left.” Click.
    â€œFollow me please.”
    She swallowed hard and followed the policewoman down a narrow hall. The officer stopped in front of a door with a thick glass inset and slid a card through a card reader. The door buzzed and clicked open.
    â€œStep inside, please.”
    Madison’s heart was pounding so loud she felt light headed. She moved into the tiny cell, then jumped at the sound of the door buzzing closed behind her. Alone, in a six-by-eight room with no windows, she gingerly sat down on the tiny cot attached to the wall and drew her knees up to her chest.
    She still hadn’t seen Pierce and didn’t even know if he knew she’d been arrested. An hour after he’d left her with his brothers, two police cars had roared up the driveway with lights flashing. She hadn’t even been given a phone call yet.
    Trapped. The walls felt like they were closing in. Panic bloomed in her chest. The feeling of being locked up, no windows, no way out, reminded her of how she’d felt when she’d been abducted.
    She closed her eyes and tried to block out everything around her. She pictured Pierce, handsome and smiling in his gray Italian suit, her favorite—exactly the way he’d looked the first time she’d met him.
    Before she’d hurt him so badly that he could no longer stand the sight of her and he’d dumped her at Alex’s house.
    T HE BUZZER SOUNDED on the door, startling Madison. She looked up as the door opened.
    Pierce.
    She jumped up and launched herself at him. He caught her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
    â€œI’m so glad you’re here.” She hugged him tight, then belatedly remembered his bruised ribs and pulled back. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
    He tightened his arms, pulling her back against him as he kissed the top of her head. “I’m fine.” He eased her back and anchored her against his side. It was then that she noticed who he’d brought with him.
    Alex Buchanan.
    He looked far more serious and grim than when he’d threatened her on the back deck of his house the night she’d met him.
    â€œWhy is he here?” she asked.
    â€œPierce,” Alex said, motioning toward Madison, “give Mrs. McKinley a dollar.”
    Pierce pulled out his wallet, extracted a dollar, and handed it to Madison.
    She blinked at the money in her hand. “What is this for?”
    Alex held out his hand. “Give me the dollar, please.”
    She frowned in confusion, but handed him the money.
    He shoved it into his pants pocket. “Congratulations. You just hired yourself a lawyer.”
    â€œYou? Why would you want to help me? You don’t even like me.”
    â€œMadison—” Pierce said.
    Alex held up his hand. “She has a valid question, and a valid point.” He lowered his hand. “I don’t trust you, but Pierce does. He thinks you’re innocent, and he wants me to help you. That’s good enough for