“What?” she whispers, her body slumping as her eyes start to water. “Is he okay?”
I gotta give it to her, she’s a good actress and if I didn’t know the truth, I might have been convinced that she actually cared.
“He’s dead,” Jameson says, and she covers her face with her hands and starts to sob.
“No, no, no!.” She falls to her knees, resting her forehead on the floor while she screams and Clarkston looks at the mirror rolling his eyes.
“Ma’am.” Jameson touches her shoulder. “I know this isn’t easy but I have some questions for you.”
“I don’t know anything.” She franticly shakes her head as he helps her back into her seat, hands her a box of Kleenex and waits for her to stop crying.
“Do you know a Cece Willimson?”
“Yes, she worked with Winston, why?”
“We’re trying to figure out the connection to your husband’s murder and hers,” he says, then continues.
“From what we were able to gather, your husband and you are no longer together. Can I ask what led to your separation?”
“Winston cheated.” She sniffles. “We were trying to work things out, but it’s not always easy to get over an affair.”
“Is his affair what led to your relationship with Harry Charmers?” Clarkston asks. Her face pales as she registers what the officer said. “You two have been together for a few years now, right?”
“I… we….” She shifts her attention back and forth between both men. “Harry and I are just friends.”
“That’s strange because Harry is in the room across the hall, and he’s admitted your affair to us,” Clarkston states, taking on the role of bad cop as he looks down his nose at her.
The tears in her eyes seem to instantly dry up, and her lips press into a tight line. “He’s lying!”
“Was he also lying when he said it was your idea to find a hitman to murder your husband, the woman he’s been seeing, and her entire family?”
“That never happened,” she spits as the door opens again and Ace, one of our undercover officers, is escorted into the room in cuffs with his head down.
“Do you know this man?” Clarkston asks her, and I can see as panic fills her eyes.
“It wasn’t my idea!” she blurts, looking around like she’s searching for a way to escape. “Harry wanted to marry me, Winston wouldn’t divorce me no matter how much I begged him to.”
“I can’t believe this bitch,” Winston mutters from my side, running his fingers through his hair. “Not fucking once has she even asked where our son is, when he was with me last night.”
“You wanna go confront her?” Captain asks, and I see Winston lift his chin before he’s led out of the room.
“And you were okay with nine people dying so you could get married?” Clarkston asks Corina as I turn my attention back to the glass. She starts to shake her head, looking completely panicked.
“I didn’t… I didn’t do anything,” she whimpers, then the door opens once more to let Winston walk into the room. The moment she sees him, the color drains from her face and she looks ready to puke. “You….”
“Yeah, I’m alive.” He glares at her as she tries to stand up and walk to him. “I wish I could say I’m surprised by your latest selfish act of desperation, but I’m not. I should also let you know, not that you give a fuck, that our son is okay.” He turns for the door then stops when she screams his name.
“Winston, stop please I’m sorry!”
“Tell it to the judge, and I’ll get the divorce papers to your lawyer.” He leaves the room and as soon as the door shuts behind him, she breaks down.
“You guys did good.” Captain pats my shoulder as he flips the switch, turning the glass in front of me black. “With Ace’s video evidence, Harry admitting to his part, and the bank records where Corina withdrew enough money to pay for the hit, the case against both of them is solid.”
“Yeah,” I agree, running a hand through my hair, glad that the latest family drama is done, and after I deal with a shit load of paperwork I get to head home to my girls, who’ll remind me that there’s more good in this world than bad.
EPILOGUE
Talon
Three months later
“TALON AND BAX Mayson’s unique architectural design, style, eye for detail, and use of smart technology in their builds has brought something new to the Tennessee housing market. If you’re looking for a house that is not only energy efficient but stylish and welcoming, you’re going to want to place them at the top of your builders list. They, along with Mayson Construction, have set a new precedence in the world of construction, and in my opinion, they’ve done it with a boom. Stan Miller, Home Design Critic for Tennessee Million Dollar Home Magazine,” Mia finishes reading then squeals while shoving her phone up to my face. And since I’m driving, I barely have a chance to glance at the image—not that I need to see it. I know the photo chosen for the six-page magazine spread, the one of Bax and me standing in front of the log house we built, smiling wide. “I’m so proud of you, honey.”