The Bloodstained Bride by Rachel Woods

Author:Rachel Woods [Woods, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943685189
Publisher: BonzaiMoon Books
Published: 2019-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

30

Disappointed and disgusted, Leo stared at Derek.

His face haggard and sallow, Derek was unshaven and unkempt. His eyes, haunted and bleary, darted back and forth as he dropped down into the chair on Vivian’s right. He was wearing the same clothes he’d been wearing when Baxter François arrested him. The custom-made dress shirt was wrinkled, as were the linen trousers.

Shifting in the antique chair in front of Burt’s desk, trying to get comfortable, Leo was sickened by a horrible case of the worse de’ja vu he’d ever experienced. Everything that had occurred in his father’s office two days ago flooded his mind, a deluge of memories that nearly drowned him.

Derek Hennessy, you are under arrest for solicitation of the murder of Bessemer Elizabeth Beaumont.

As soon as the detective said those words, chaos and unbelief and confusion took over. Derek went berserk, shouting obscenities and screaming his denial of the detective’s claims. Burt was outraged, expressing his incredulity and questioning François’ detective skills. Vivian tried to be the voice of reason, desperate in her suggestions that everyone remain calm and rational.

A measured and practical response had been impossible.

Eventually, Burt managed to convince him to settle down so François could read him his rights. Stone-faced and silent, Derek didn’t put up a fight when François put him in handcuffs and escorted him out of Burt’s office.

Even now, two days later, Leo struggled to process the situation. Part of him couldn’t believe that Derek had been arrested, but the evidence François had presented against Derek was compelling and convincing.

Derek’s fingerprints had been found on the Hermes briefcase the cops recovered from Aaron Jones’ motel room. Derek’s passport had been found in the briefcase. Derek and Aaron Jones had exchanged text messages about some sort of payment. Derek had driven to the Flamingo Inn, leaving behind plastic shards from the taillight on the Mercedes he’d damaged.

Leo could only come to one conclusion.

Derek was guilty as hell.

With a long, weary exhale, Burt sat behind his desk. The leather chair groaned beneath his weight as he put his elbows on the table.

“Derek, I know that you have been through hell and, after two nights in jail, I’m sure you just want to take a shower and get some rest,” said Burt, “but before you do, I need you to answer a few questions.”

“I don’t need answers,” said Leo, leaning forward to stare at Derek. “I need the truth. Did you hire Aaron Jones to kill Besi?”

Shaking his head, Derek said, “I can’t believe you think—”

“Derek, you need to start explaining,” demanded Burt. “What the hell is going on?”

Running a hand through his greasy hair, Derek said, “This whole nightmare started before the wedding. Out of the blue, I get an email from a guy – he tells me his name is Aaron Jones and claims he has information about me that, if it got out, would ruin my life.”

“What did you do?” asked Leo.

“I called Skip,” said Derek.

“Skip Taylor?” asked Burt.

Derek nodded.

Leo glanced at this father and asked, “You know Skip?”

Burt exhaled, rubbing his eyes.

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