Page 19 of Wicked Promises

Riley

It’s Margo. I’m home.

Not sure where my phone ended up.

That’s an invitation if I’ve ever heard one.

“Robert is still in the hospital,” Eli’s dad offers unexpectedly. “They moved him out of ICU. But with Margo home, Lenora is trying to be in two places at once.”

I scowl at him. “Margo shouldn’t be alone. Not with a kidnapper on the loose.”

And Unknown still harassing us.

They knew I was going to get arrested. Knew I’d find the barn… but how?

He nods. “I figured you would say that. I checked with her case worker and made some calls. Riley and her dad are going to stay with Margo while Lenora stays at the hospital.”

Not good enough, I almost say.

I swallow. “Is the detective going to come after me again?”

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t.” He sighs. “She wasn’t able to name anyone. Says she didn’t see, although she swears it wasn’t you.”

Something funny happens in my body. Every muscle gets tight. Alarmed. A lump forms in my throat, and it’s hard to breathe. She was held—they pulled her from the wreckage and did who-knows-what, and she never saw them?

“Even more reason to stay with her,” I bite out. “Who?—”

“Caleb. I’ll drop you off at Margo’s house, but do not, under any circumstances, talk to Masters or anyone else about what happened.”

Mr. Black is a badass defense lawyer. He has sway in the prosecutor’s office and all over the county. Hell, half of New York City knows of Josh Black. I don’t think the district attorney has ever had a worse record in court against one lawyer.

And right now, I’m grateful for it.

I barely slept while in holding. There was an officer keeping watch, but it was county jail. All sorts of crazies were brought in.

My phone vibrates again.

Uncle

Tomorrow morning. My house.

I can hear his anger from here. He thinks I did it, but he’s more concerned that I got caught.

I don’t respond to Margo, or my uncle, or any of the other messages. I need to see her with my own eyes.

“I should’ve taken off the duct tape.” I don’t realize I’ve said it out loud until Mr. Black has slowed the car and twisted toward me.

“Caleb.” His voice is stern. “You cannot say things like that, especially around the detective. You understand?”

“I found her on the floor of the barn.” I meet his gaze. He already heard this story when I told the detective, but it bears repeating. “She was unconscious. I was more worried about getting her to the hospital.”

“All they’ll see is someone who wanted to keep her in check. Under their thumb.”

I bristle. “That’s not it.”

“Iknowthat’s not it. I know you. But that’s what they’ll say, and that argument is what they’ll build a case on, if Masters decides to charge you.”

“She said it wasn’t me.”