Chapter 51
Chapter fifty-one
Whoever is the chess master in this sick game, they’re removing the pieces.
The puppeteer is eliminating his puppets.
My only suspect is dead.
Madeline Toma slumps sideways in her leather desk chair.
She looks like a discarded porcelain doll.
Her head is tilted with her chin pressed into her collarbone.
One arm dangles off the side of the armrest while the other rests in her lap.
Her crimson acrylics match the blood that is everywhere.
Even though her eyes are closed, her face is frozen in shock.
A silver letter opener juts out of her chest. It’s buried deep like someone put all their effort behind it.
Her ivory blouse is slick with blood that pools into a circle around the weapon. Trails of ruby red run down her shirt, dripping onto the white fluffy rug below. Her chair and desk are smeared in crimson along with the phone receiver.
She tried to call for help, but she didn’t make it. Her laptop is on the floor and the framed portrait of her deceased husband lies on its side with the glass cracked.
Standing near the door is Madeline’s frazzled secretary who clutches tissues and sobs. She’s the one who found the body.
Shock runs through me as I stand next to Dominic whose arms are crossed and his face grim.
I take a step back, still unable to believe what I’m seeing.
I was so sure she was the killer.
I needed her to confess to the truth.
Now I’ll never have that chance.
The head detective paces the room with his hands behind his back. Forensics gather around the body, preparing to move Madeline to the gurney. Police guard the entrance and spill into the hall. The head detective stares at the body, then throws an accusatory glance in my direction.
“The secretary came in and found her like that, Peter?” Dominic asks, breaking the tension that fills the room.
The detective runs a hand through his blond hair.
“Officer Collins, take Ms. Ford’s statement please.
” He calls to a policeman standing nearby.
Then he turns to Dominic. “Yes, Dom, Ms. Ford came to work at eight and stated that Mrs. Toma’s office door was closed.
Apparently she had a lot of meetings and didn’t want to be disturbed.
Ms. Ford went to run errands for her at noon.
When she came back around three she found her dead. ”
He stares at me.
I can see in his eyes he knows who I am. “What is she doing here?”
“Who?” Dominic looks around.
The detective points to me. “Her.”
“She has a name and a voice.” Dominic raises his eyebrows. “Unless you don’t know who she is.”
A sour expression crosses the head detective’s face. “Of course I know her name. Who in Chicago doesn’t. I want to know why she’s here. I allowed you to come here as a favor, Dominic. I didn’t know you would be bringing company.”
“Cipriani is the other partner. I told you I wasn’t working alone on this investigation.” Dominic replies.
“Yeah and you never said your partner was the head of a mafia family,” the detective grumbles.
“That’s never been proven,” I interrupt. “Who are you anyway?”
“This is Detective Miller,” Dominic explains. “We used to work together.”
“Head Detective Miller.” He glares at me with a look like he wants to say something.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say to my face,” I snap.
Detective Miller locks eyes with me. “Mrs. Toma was involved in your businesses, correct?”
“She played a minor role.”
“Did you two have a falling out?” Detective Miller presses.
“No, why?”
“Ms Ford mentioned how before Mrs. Toma died, she was huffing and puffing for weeks about you harassing her grandson. Apparently you didn’t like how your sister was dating her grandson.”
“I never said anything of the kind.”
“Also I find it funny how Mrs. Toma is dead, and apparently her grandson Elio is nowhere to be found.”
“Peter, that's enough,” Dominic interrupts. “The focus is not on Cipriani. You said Madeline had a ton of meetings this morning, who were they with?”
Detective Miller shrugs. “They were all online meetings.”
“Then somebody must have come to visit her in-person during that time,” Dominic glances around the room.
I stare at the white sheet that covers Madeline’s frame.
“Yes, we are trying to figure out if anyone came to see her in person today.” Detective Miller glares at me again. “Now forensics needs to go over this room top to bottom so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Thanks Peter. I appreciate it. Have a great day.” Dominic takes my arm and guides me out of the office.
“How did you know she got killed?” I hiss as we walk down the corridor. More police pass us.
“Peter informed me. We worked together for years before I retired. He did this as a favor to me.”
We exit the building and cross the last few feet to the car in silence.
I glance at Dominic. His expression is blank, but I can see in his eyes he’s thinking hard about something.
He unlocks the doors and opens mine for me.
Once we’re inside, he doesn’t start the engine.
He grips the steering wheel like he wants to say something, but isn’t sure.
Taking a deep breath, he turns to me. “You didn’t order a hit on Madeline, did you?”
His response catches me off guard and I give him a look.“No. I didn’t do this. However, I plead the fifth when it comes to her grandson.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that last part.” Dominic places a hand on my arm. “Are you sure you didn’t do it?”
“Seriously Dom?” I pull my arm back.
“Well, her grandson has been eliminated, and all the clues were pointing to her…”
“I was going to go see Madeline tomorrow at her house with all my men in tow. I was going to confront her until she admitted the truth that she killed my father. I was going to torture her until she told me who else was working with her and trying to attack our family. I needed her alive, Dom. If I was going to do her in, I sure as hell wouldn’t have stabbed her in her office like a damn amateur and invite the cops in.
” I clench my fists. “I was sure she was behind all of this. Now she’s dead. ”
Dominic shakes his head. “Peter thinks you did it. I could see it in his face.”
“I don’t give a fuck what Detective Miller thinks,” I snap. “I don’t care. He’s an ass.”
Without warning, Dominic’s hand shoots out and latches onto my forearm. His grip is firm but not rough, he pulls me closer to him across the center console.
“I care,” he murmurs. “Peter may be an old friend, but I was ready to break his jaw for the way he was looking at you. It was like he’d already decided you were guilty. He stared at you like you were some reckless heartless killer and you were beneath him.”
“I didn’t kill her,” I mutter.
His grip doesn’t loosen. Understanding fills his eyes. “I know. I just hate how people judge you because of your name and who you represent. It angers me beyond belief.”
“I don’t need you to protect me,” I whisper. “I’m used to it by now.”
“That’s too damn bad,” he hisses. “Because I will always protect you. I was a fool to let you leave my life a decade ago and I’ll never let that happen again.” He leans in. His eyes search my face like he’s daring me to pull away.
I don’t.
“You will protect me even though my family doesn’t follow your former job requirements?” I mumble.
“At this point, I don’t give a fuck about what’s legal and what’s not.” His lips are inches from mine. “I just want you and only you. From now on I’ll always be by your side.”
Then he kisses me.