Jenkins screamed.
Braddock released the safety on his weapon. The click resonated in the room.
“Okay! Okay!” Jenkins wailed. “It wasn’t Nash. He killed Celeste, but he didn’t kill the others.”
“And how would you know this?” Fury pounded once more in Braddock’s temples.
“Because ...” Jenkins’s eyes were wild with fear and something else Braddock couldn’t label. “Because I was his lover. He confided in me!” Jenkins sobbed. “Told me everything.”
“And you”—Braddock twisted his hair, garnering a yelp—“were his snitch.”
“Yes! Yes! Please ... please don’t kill me.”
“Is there a video?”
“Yes.” Jenkins dragged in a quavering breath. “Yes,” he whimpered. “I know where it’s at. I can take you to it.”
4:50 a.m.
The screen flickered and images came into view.
Braddock had accompanied Jenkins to where Nash’s SUV had been towed by the forensic folks and retrieved the video from its hiding place.By the time they got back to the station the whole world was standing by, casting accusatory looks at Braddock.
Like he gave a shit. He’d done what he had to do.
He and Cooper sat up straighter as images came into focus on the screen.
“You will do it!” Cost screamed at Shelley.
“Rewind it,” Braddock ordered. His body literally shook with the anticipation now.
“Rewind.” Cooper pressed the necessary button and the whir of the tape sounded. A click indicated it was back at the beginning. Cooper pressed play.
Shelley opened the front door and Cost stormed in. “Fast-forward,” Braddock ordered. “Do it slow, where we can see what’s happening.”
“Forward search,” Cooper said as she pressed another button.
Braddock’s heart threatened to burst out of his chest as he watched the altercation between Cost and Shelley play out without the sound effects. Finally the bastard stormed out the door. Shelley leaned against it and cried.
His heart ached for what this would do to CJ if she saw it. The images faded to black.What the hell?There had to be more than that.
The screen flickered and Shelley was opening the door again. “Hit play,” Braddock ordered.
Cooper hit play.
“What do you want?”
Edward Abbott stepped into view.
“What the hell?” Braddock muttered.
“You made the first move, Shelley,” Abbott said. “This is your game. What doyouwant?”
Shelley went toe-to-toe with the man and stuck her finger in his face. “I want you to stay away from my sister. I know what you’re up to, and if you don’t back off, I’m going to tell her about the cameras ... about everything! Then she won’t ever have anything to do with you again.”
Abbott stared at her a moment. “Your whole life you’ve done nothing but try to hurt your sister. You’re the one who needs to stay away from her.”
“Who do you think you are?” she demanded. “You’re nothing but a pervert. CJ’s never going to love you. When I tell her, she’ll see the truth. You’re insane.”
