Once Upon A Half-Time 2(142)

“She said I was there,” I said. “I have an alibi.”

“Josie, are you certain?” The chief ignored me.

She sucked in a desperate breath. “We…weren’t sleeping the whole night. He didn’t leave the house.”

Hardly left the bed.

Nolan’s stare burned through me. I could practically smell the gasoline he used to ignite his own campaign property.

“Could have just asked me, Nolan,” I said. “Saved yourself the dirty work.”

Nolan regained his composure. “If Josie says he was with her all night, then I suppose he’d have no reason to leave her. The vandals might be one of the Braddock’s kids, some sort of practical joke.”

Chief Craig moved slow, disappointment threading his motions. He’d have to try harder to land my ass back in jail, and I was sure he’d try.

“Fine. You’re free to go, Maddox. But don’t give me a reason to haul you in here again.” His voice lowered. “Don’t want anything to happen to those you leave behind.”

Asshole. Nolan threatened Josie, and the chief harassed my sister. No one was safe in this godforsaken town.

And it was about to get worse.

Josie didn’t wait for me. The station’s chime twinkled as the door slammed behind her.

Fuck.

I knew it was possible that she’d find out about my jobs for Nolan sooner or later, but I’d hoped it’d stay a secret. She’d never forgive me for taking a job from him. Nolan was more than an obsession to her—he was the cause of everything evil in the town. She didn’t care that other men had the same reasons to burn her shop, and she ignored every logical explanation that proved Nolan wasn’t the arsonist. He was just a lecherous bastard who’d never torch a building that would have benefited him financially.

But she wouldn’t forgive me for my desperation.

I had to try.

Nolan stopped me before I chased her, stepping in front of the door. I wasn’t in the mood for threats, and murder would be too damn noticeable in the middle of the police station.

“I told you to stay away from her.” He buttoned his suit. “This should guarantee it.”

“You really think you can keep us apart? Are you that pathetic that you’d burn your own damn signs just to humiliate me?”

“They were misprints. This way I can order a new batch with the insurance money.”

“Glad you could break her damn heart to stretch your campaign budget.”

“You never did tell her you were my errand boy, did you?”

She had a good idea now. “Doesn’t matter. She’ll forgive me.”

“Are you so sure?”

“Josie’s mine.” I leaned closer. “The sooner you realize it, the safer you’ll be.”

“Another threat?”

“Unlike yours…my threats are guaranteed.”

Nolan raised his eyebrows. “Do you think she’s worth it?”

What kind of question was that? I didn’t answer. He shrugged, passing from the door to let me chase after her.

“It just seems strange a love that strong wouldn’t last through prison,” he said.

“What the hell do you know about—”

“I know she never visited you in jail. Never wrote. Never called. Maybe you ought to ask her why she deliberately ignored you in prison…even after you saved her life.”

Ice shredded my veins, and doubt planted deep in my mind, in that dark and unsettling place I knew existed but fought to suppress. Nolan left me to assist the chief on another lead.

Son of a bitch.

I wasn’t playing his games anymore, and I’d make sure he paid for humiliating Josie.

First, I’d find her, explain myself, tell her why I slept with the devil to give my angel her halo.

Then, I’d get to work.

Three men threatened Josie, but one just wormed his way to the top of my shit list. I didn’t care if Nolan was responsible or not. Once I was through with him…he wouldn’t need his damn campaign signs.

Dead men didn’t get elected.





13





Josie





My phone rang for the tenth time.

This ended now. I was done ducking calls, done simmering in anger, just done with Maddox.

How was I supposed to trust a man who would betray me, who would work for a man like Nolan? I sacrificed so much to try to protect Maddox, and he walked right into the lion’s den.

He helped the bastard who burned down my shop!

I answered the call and tried to sound anything but heartbroken.

“Maddox, I mean it. Stop calling. I will not talk to you—”

“Uh…Josie? This is Larry from Willowbend Health Care Center...”

I dropped my bowl of cookie dough. I had been too depressed to even bake the damn cookies.