Thirty-One and a Half Regrets
Page 92

Joe backed up, dragging me with him. “Let’s discuss my lack of manhood out here where there’s more room.”
Crocker followed, grinning at Joe like he was a Christmas present. “I thought you two had broken up, but the way you’re holding her tells me otherwise.”
Joe didn’t answer. Instead, he pried my hands from his jacket and pushed me behind him. “Our personal life is none of your business.”
“I’ve spent the last five months making Rose very much my business.”
Joe tensed and I put a hand on his shoulder. “Please don’t.”
“Listen to her, Joe. I’ll just kick your ass, and then Rose and I will pick up where we left off.”
Joe started to unzip his jacket. “I want you to put this on and go outside,” he said to me.
“What about the two other guys?”
“I’ve taken care of them.”
I shook my head. “I need to help Mason.”
Crocker sneered. “She was making out with the DA when I found her in the closet. His hands were all over her.”
Joe tensed again. “Go get him.”
Watching me with a leer, Crocker’s eyebrows lifted in appreciation. “As you can see, he had her half undressed and ready for me. I can’t say I blame him.”
Joe’s face reddened.
“He’s lying, Joe! He’s trying to piss you off.”
“Go get him,” he growled again. He waved his gun at Crocker. “Move away from the hall.”
Lifting his hands in surrender, he backed away from the hall and into the center of the living room.
I ran into the bedroom and pulled the chair out from underneath the doorknob, throwing the closet door open. “Mason.”
He lay on the floor in front of the door, blinking to adjust to the light. “Rose? I heard shouting. How—”
“Joe’s here.”
“What about the rest of the state police?”
“Not yet.”
I helped him sit up. “Did he hurt you very badly?”
He grimaced and took a deep breath, then looked into my eyes. “I should be asking you that question.”
“I’m fine.”
His mouth pressed together tightly enough to blanch the skin around his lips.
“I need to find something to cut that tie so you can balance enough to stand.”
He nodded.
When I ran into the hall, Crocker was still taunting Joe. “—fantasizing about her for months. One version she’s—”
I disappeared into a bathroom and found a small pair of scissors in the drawer before hurrying back into the bedroom to cut through the plastic cord. After I snapped it, Mason rubbed his wrists for a second and then reached for me. We held each other for a long moment, and then I helped him up.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered when he gasped.
“Just give me a moment to recover.”
I wasn’t sure how long we had left before Joe ripped Crocker apart with his bare hands.
We hobbled to the door and Mason stopped just inside the doorway.
“Put on your jacket.”
After I did, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder again and we eased through the door.
Crocker turned his attention to us. “Here come the lovebirds now. You should have been here, Officer Joe. Mr. DA was about to drop every charge against me to protect Rose’s virtue. Even the murder charges if I promised not to touch her.”
Mason ignored the insult. “Joe, how soon until the state police arrive?”
“I don’t know. I called Chief Deputy Dimler to bring him into the loop. He told me they’d contacted him to coordinate the capture.”
I lowered Mason onto a kitchen chair. “Where is everyone, then?” I wheezed out. “They should be here by now.”
“Good question.” Joe scowled.
“Rose, you covered up,” Crocker mock frowned. “I want to see your pretty—”
“Shut. Up.” Joe shouted.
The front door opened and Chief Deputy Dimler came through the door, wearing civilian clothes and pausing to take in the scene. “Good job, Detective Simmons.” He turned his attention to Mason and me. “Mason, good to see you’re alive and well.” But something seemed off. He was too nonchalant.
Mason picked up on it too—I could tell from the stiffness of his shoulders.
The chief deputy stopped next to Joe and pulled his gun out of its holster. “Why don’t you wait outside for the rest of the state police officers and I’ll take over here?”
Jeff unzipped his jacket, revealing a necklace that was hanging halfway out of his T-shirt.
A St. Jude’s medallion.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
My mouth dropped open.
Joe’s eyebrows lifted. “Rose, what’s wrong?”
“It was you all along,” Mason said, his words laced with a mixture of disappointment and anger. “You were the leak.”
I pointed at his necklace, which Jeff was already stuffing inside his shirt. “He’s wearing a St. Jude’s medallion. All of Crocker’s men wear them.”
Joe shook his head. “No. They didn’t when I was part of their group.”
“They do now. I’ve seen it myself and Jonah confirmed it.”
“Mason, seriously. Are you suggesting I’m one of Crocker’s men?” Jeff laughed good-naturedly. He lifted his hand to his chest. “We’re friends. We’ve been working this case together for months. We play basketball together. Hell, you came over to my house and watched the Little Rock-LSU game.” He shook his head. “Being lost in the woods has made you a bit paranoid, which is understandable. I’ll let it slide. No hard feelings.”