My body is frozen in place. I can barely breathe.
“Well, I did. That fucking bitch wouldn’t pay me a cent. She said she didn’t care if her father knew.” With a scoff, she adds, “She didn’t even want to see the new pictures.”
New pictures? Was Dorian still seeing Kara?
Standing suddenly, Daisy jabs a finger at Dan. “I had plans for that money. I was going to get the hell out of Ames, start a new life without my fucking father breathing down my neck.”
“Daisy—”
“No.” Her body turns slightly as she takes a step.
I stand as well and place my hands on the glass. Her demeanor changed so suddenly, it made the hair on my arms stand on end. Without looking at him, I tell the captain, “She needs a lawyer.” Or a psychologist. “Does her father know she waived her rights?”
“Yes.”
I turn to look at Billings. “And he’s letting this go on?” What kind of father does that?
The captain’s voice is suddenly gentle. “He said he’s been dealing with her for long enough.”
I scoff. “So he’s just giving her up?”
“She murdered someone, Gage.”
It makes no difference. Dorian Buchanan should be doing whatever he can to protect his child, but he’s not.
But neither am I.
My attention is drawn back to Daisy as Dan says, “Have a seat, Daisy.” His voice dropped an octave with those words.
Ignoring him, she takes one step. “This is all his fault.”
“Your father’s?”
“Yes!” she screams, taking another step closer. “I should have fucking killed him with that stupid golf club! He’s the one who deserves to die.”
She’s around the side of the table now.
“Daisy. Please sit.”
Her voice suddenly changes from angry and loud to soft and sweet. “You believe me, right?” The sound coming from her is almost creepy. “It’s all my daddy’s fault.”
Daddy? She went from spewing vitriol about her father one minute and smiling sweetly the next. I think I may understand why her father asked me which Daisy lived with me. I think there may be more than one.
“Daisy,” Dan says softly. “Please sit. Let’s talk.”
Right then, Finch steps into the interrogation room. Hell, I didn’t even know he was here. From my vantage point, I see him smile as he says, “Hey, Daisy.”
“Oh.” Her face falls. “It’s you.”
“Yep, it’s me. The guy who loved your cookies.”
Smart thing to say. I could tell Daisy was close to losing her cool.
That makes her smile. “I’m a good cook.” She beams as she moves away from Dan.
“You are.”
I’m not sure why, but at that moment, Dan makes a stupid mistake by announcing, “Daisy, I’m afraid we’ll need to take you back to the holding cell.”
“No!” The scream that comes out of her is best described as bloodcurdling. “Not you too.”
She lunges for Dan, but before she can get to him, Finch has her on the ground. He slips on cuffs as Daisy writhes on the ground while shouting obscenities.
I should do something. I should help her, them. But all I seem to be able to do is stare at the scene in front of me.
How did I not see any of it? Was I so blind and desperate for someone to love that I wasn’t able to see the murderous forest for the beautiful trees?
God, I’m a shit cop.
I stare as they escort Daisy back to the holding cell. She’s literally kicking and screaming, while I sit in the booth, frozen. I can’t move. Hell, I can’t even think.
“How could I have been so wrong?”
“It happens, son.” The captain’s voice sounds sort of soft. I don’t like it.
“Not to me.” I scoff. “I thought I was a good cop.”
“You are. You’re an excellent cop. You just let yourself fall for that girl. If what her father says is true, Daisy’s had problems for a long, long time. It’s why he didn’t want her to have visitors and why he monitored her.”
I want to believe that, but something tells me Dorian Gray Buchanan is just as culpable in all this as Daisy. “She needs a good lawyer.”
“Her father said he had a call in.”
“She needs help, sir.” Not to be locked away in a prison cell for the rest of her life.
“She does, but she killed a young woman, and for that, she needs to pay.”
I know. I just can’t say it.
In a slightly upbeat tone, he adds, “The good news is they dropped the charges against Tayler.”
“Good.” I nod, but I don’t feel excited about the news. I’m sure the women on Beedle Drive will all be thrilled it’s over.
“Go home, son. Come in bright and early. We need to talk.”
About whether or not I’ve got a job, no doubt.
Hell, do I even want the job? Maybe being a cop isn’t for me.
But what else is there?
Epilogue
Six Months Later
I pause my work in the kitchen when a knock sounds on my front door. “It’s open,” I say loud enough for her to hear, then wait and watch.
When she opens the door, a big smile slides across her face, which causes a chain reaction. Like my heart jumping in my chest at the sight of her. I smile back, of course. When she walks around the counter, gets up on her tiptoes, and kisses me on the cheek, saying, “Hey, babe,” I feel it everywhere.
Turning to face her, I lean down and kiss her lips. “Hey. How you doin’?”
“Good now, unicorn.”
I roll my eyes. She doesn’t call me “unicorn” often, but every once in a while, she throws it out there. “I’m just an average man, Kat.”
“Ha! You’re definitely not average, Gage.” She laughs, then pats my ass as she moves around me to the fridge. “Beer?”
I’m not sure if she’s asking me if she can have one or if I want one. The answer to both is “Yes.”
“Ooh, you got the good stuff.” She sets a couple bottles of a local brew
