For God’s sake. They were letting Bergen and Patience get further away. They needed to get a move on, and call for reinforcements.
“That’s a forgery!” I exclaimed. “Any impressionist art expert worth their salt would be able to tell you that if you give them a few minutes to study it.”
Yes, perhaps they wouldn’t be able to identify Bergen’ssignature brush stroke the way I had, but they’d still be able to prove it was a fake.
“In that case, you’re in possession of a forgery,” Harrison said. “Either way, you’re coming with us.” She jerked her head at Kade as she clamped the cuffs around my wrists. “You, too. As far as I’m concerned, you’re all accessories to a crime. We just need to work out exactly what the crime is.”
My jaw clenched. “While you’re working that out, they’re getting away with the real Monet. Zeke is in danger. Please. I don’t care what you think you know. Please help him.”
Harrison looked at Goodwin, who shrugged.
“Put Officers Smith and Hernandez on the case,” he said. “Rather waste their time than ours.”
Harrison stepped aside and made a call. Meanwhile, Goodwin gestured at the exit.
“Please, walk ahead of me, Miss Ryan,” he said. “Mr. Campbell, do I need to cuff you, or will you come willingly?”
“I’ll come,” Kade said. “But you’re making a mistake.”
Goodwin laughed. “That’s what they all say.”
He opened the back door of the police cruiser and indicated for us to get in. I climbed in and scooted over, making room for Kade.
“I’m so sorry about this,” I murmured. Our current predicament was all on me. If I hadn’t dated a thieving asshole four years ago, none of this would ever have happened. Zeke wouldn’t be in harm’s way and Kade wouldn’t be in a tight spot with me.
“It’s not your fault,” he said, as if reading my mind. “We chose to be involved. The only person to blame for this is Bergen.”
“And Patience,” I added, still shocked by the second betrayal. Somehow, even though we were no longer friends, I felt blindsided by her actions. Back when she and Bergen had supposedly started sleeping together, wehadbeenfriends. What kind of person screwed their friend’s boyfriend?
Harrison emerged from the building and got into the passenger seat just as Goodwin claimed the driver’s seat.
“Backup is two minutes out,” Harrison said. “They’ll secure the scene and start questioning witnesses.”
“Great.” Goodwin eased the car forward, moving slowly. He didn’t pull out of the property until another police car—lights flashing—swerved in beside us. Then he raised a hand to the other cops and started the journey back to the police station.
“Please make sure someone is looking for Zeke,” I pleaded, not afraid to beg if it meant he came home safely. I was terrified of what they might do to him, especially if he antagonized them.
When we reached the police station, they separated me from Kade. I was escorted to the same interrogation room they’d put me in last time. I expected them to start asking questions, but instead, they left immediately. The lock clicked ominously into place behind them.
ZEKE
“I’d rather not,”I told Bergen, knowing that as soon as I got out of the car, they’d probably shoot me.
“Get out,” he repeated, waving the gun in my face. His complexion was waxy, his jaw tight with pain.
“No, thanks.” I didn’t move an inch. “I have absolutely no incentive to get out. If I do, you’ll shoot me. You apparently don’t want to make a mess in your car, so I’m safer if I stay right here.”
“Patience.” He shot his girlfriend a look. “Get him out.”
Wide-eyed, Patience got out of the passenger door and moved around to open my door. Bergen climbed out of the driver’s seat, reset the locks, and joined her. The way he was holding his shoulder made me think he’d need to seek medical treatment soon. He was an artist. He wasn’t used to dealing with this level of pain. Adrenaline was keeping him going for the moment, but it wouldn’t for much longer.
Patience cautiously bent and reached for my ankles to drag me out. I snapped one of my legs up, kicking her in the face. She reeled backward, blood spurting from her nose.
At that moment, another vehicle pulled up behind us and men spilled from it, rushing at us. Bergen spun, raising his gun with his good arm, but he was too slow. Someone tackled him to the ground, disarming him in the process. Patience flailed, still bleeding, as a dark figure leaped on her and pinned her arms behind her back. A silent struggle ensued, and a minute later, both Bergen and Patience were subdued, their hands cuffed and an armed guard standing over them.
“Zeke, you all good in there?” I recognized the voice as belonging to David, one of Kade’s unit leaders.
“Peachy,” I called. “Great timing.”
