AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What is the meaning of this?” Nelson demanded. “This is a private event. We have all the proper permits.” He lowered his voice, leaning toward André and Jean-Pierre. “You’re making a scene.”
“Apologies,” André said. “Mr. Ducote, we need you to come with us.”
Lamont swallowed hard. “If you’ll call my office on Monday morning, my assistant will be happy to give you an appointment.”
Jean-Pierre rolled his eyes. Actually rolled his fucking eyes. “Don’t make this any harder than it already is, Ducote. We know.”
“What do you know?” Nelson asked in that quiet way that demanded respect.
André met Lamont’s gaze. “We know everything. Do you really want me to spew it all out here? In front of all these people? Come with us peacefully, Ducote. It’s your only option.”
“I have no idea what they’re talking about,” Lamont said to Nelson, sounding outraged.
“Mule,” Jean-Pierre said, then cocked one brow, the smug sonofabitch. “And Ashley.”
Lamont couldn’t breathe. People were staring. Some had their phones out, recording everything.
Nelson’s rich friends were frowning and stepping back.
André took a step forward, putting him only two feet away. Close enough to grab me. “Mr. Ducote, please. I’ll cuff you, but I don’t think that’s how you want to walk away from here tonight.”
Jean-Pierre leaned in, his tone pitched low. “Joelle is dead, by the way. But I think you already knew that. We have so much to talk about. We have so much evidence to show you.”
When he didn’t move, André sighed and produced a pair of handcuffs. The room went wild. Flashes went off. Photographers were jockeying for position.
This can’t be happening. I was so careful. This cannot be happening.
But it was happening. And he needed to get away.
In one motion, he drew his handgun from his pocket, stepped behind Lorraine Nelson, and put the gun to her head. Screams filled the air. He didn’t know who was screaming and he didn’t care. He only cared that they got out of his way.
Lorraine gasped and struggled, but he shoved the gun harder against her temple and pressed his free arm across her throat. “Don’t fight me,” he hissed, “and I won’t hurt you.”
She went limp, a whimper passing her lips.
Her husband made to grab for her, but Lamont took a giant step back, dragging the older woman with him. “Don’t. If you want her to live, then don’t.” He raised his voice so that André and Jean-Pierre could hear. “Call off your dogs. My finger is on the trigger. I will kill her, right in front of you. I swear it.”
André’s jaw clenched and he waved the officers back. “Let’s calm down now, Mr. Ducote. Put the gun down and let her go.”
“No.” Lamont dragged Nelson’s wife back another step. “Get everyone out of my way.” He wrenched left toward the stairwell and the old woman stumbled.
“She has a bad heart!” Nelson screamed.
“Then don’t make me hurt her!” Lamont screamed back. Walking sideways, he kept an eye on André especially. The man had drawn his gun but was clearly afraid to fire. Which was kind of the point of having a hostage, so at least that part was working.
In André’s other hand was a police radio and he was talking into it. Barking orders. Probably covering the exits.
I’m screwed. I’m so screwed.
But all he needed to do was get to the street. For once he was grateful for the damn festival. There were tons of people in the street. He could disappear. He could take another hostage. He could take dozens of hostages.
No.He would focus on disappearing. More hostages would just prolong this nightmare.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea and Lamont sucked in a lungful of air. It was so hot. He was dizzy from it. Sweat was pouring off his forehead, stinging his eyes. But he kept them open and fixed on the exit sign.
The cops were walking alongside him, clearing him a path, getting people to move out of the line of fire. If they tried to stop him, he would kill Lorraine. But then he’d have no shield.
This move rarely worked when criminals tried it, but it was the only option he had left. If they knew about Ashley and Joelle, he’d have no leverage in court.
