“Thank you, Niko,” I whispered, letting myself cry for the last time in this place.
43
THE VILLAIN
It wasmidnight before the man of the house—apartment, whatever—graced us with his presence. He stopped in his tracks when he found Hemlock sitting at his kitchen table and Juniper bundled in my arms. I had a thick sweater and leather gloves on so the baby wouldn’t freeze.
“Officer Castle, it’s about time you showed up.”
“Where’s my wife?” he asked.
“Funny, I was going to ask you that.”
“How the fuck should I know where your wife is? I don’t even knowwhoyour wife is.”
I tsked as Juniper started to stir. “Keep your voice down, you’ll wake the baby.”
I began rocking in place, hoping she wouldn’t. I’d only picked her up a few minutes ago when she started to cry. I might be an asshole, but I hadn’t planned to use this man’s newborn baby against him—that just wasn’t right.
“Please, don’t hurt her. I’ll do whatever you want. Just put her down.”
“We’re not here to hurt anyone,” Hemlock said softly. “We just have a few questions that need answering. Then we’ll be on our way.”
“I’ll answer whatever you want. Please, just put my baby back in her crib and tell me where my wife is.”
“Your wife is safe, sleeping soundly in your room. But if I put little Juniper down she’ll start crying so I think I’ll hold onto her for now.” I nodded at Hem to turn the video feed for their nanny cam. “See for yourself.”
The officer approached cautiously, but visibly relaxed when he saw the rise and fall of his wife’s chest.
“You’re welcome to check on her before we get started.”
He looked between me and Hem, then his daughter and the camera feed.
“I just want to know wheremywife is. I promise you, I would never hurt your daughter or your wife, Violet would never forgive me.”
Castle’s eyebrows knitted together. “Violet Hayes? Violet Hayes is your wife? Who the fuck are you?”
I stepped into the moonlight streaming through the balcony door. His jaw dropped.
“They said you were dead…”
“Yes, they certainly did their best. But Violet saved my life and now it’s my turn. So, where is she?”
“I… I have no idea. Why do you think I do?”
“You expect us to believe, you have no idea what your partner has been up to? Speaking of whom, where was Officer O’Neill tonight?” Hemlock asked.
“He called out, some kind of family… Wait, you think he took Violet? Why… Why would he do that?”
“That’s what we were hoping you could tell us. We know he did it, we know he’s been after her for a while, but we don’t know why. So, have a seat. Enlighten us.” Hemlock kicked out the seat across from him.
“Who are you?”
“Hemlock, at your service.”
Castle paled. “You swear you won’t hurt my family if I answer all your questions?”
“I swear. We just want Violet back. You answer our questions, we’ll help you all get out of the city and you’ll never see us again.”
