Chapter 28 Machine
TWENTY-EIGHT
MACHINE
“I want answers, Ricci, where is Lily Fitzgerald?” Badger asked, leaning down in Ricci’s face.
We were in the interrogation room in the basement of RSS while the young girls were taken to the local hospital. Badger had been the first person who wanted a piece of Ricci, and I could understand why.
Ricci glared at her. “And why would I know anything about that person?”
Badger pulled back her fist and punched Ricci in the eye. He groaned, but then let out a harsh laugh.
“Don’t play dumb, you piece of shit! We both know you know where she is.” Badger wrapped a hand around Ricci’s throat, applying enough pressure for Ricci to know not to mess with her. “I know you had something to do with the letters and pictures being sent to me! So, where. Is. My. Sister?”
Ricci laughed again. “Stupid girl, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Ricci’s incompliance only fueled the rage that was going through my spitfire. I hated seeing her like this, distressed and furious. This was completely different than the playful anger I was familiar with. I was grateful that her fury wasn’t directed at me.
“Where is my sister?” Badger yelled at Ricci for the third time.
“That’s for me to know and you not to find out,” Ricci said, his laughter morphing into a sneer.
I leaned on the wall of the basement interrogation room as Badger punched Ricci’s other eye.
Ricci cackled. “Is that all you’ve got, Jessica?”
“Why did you send those men after me all those years ago?” Badger asked, lowering her voice, her stare not leaving Ricci.
Ricci let out another laugh. “Because you are a whore and needed to be treated as such! Especially after you weren’t home when your pathetic excuse of a father said you would be.”
My blood ran cold. I had my suspicions about what had happened to Badger, but my thoughts had just been confirmed. My fists clenched and my jaw tensed. I wanted to rip his head off. I wanted to kill him right there and then, to torture him before making his death agonizing and slow.
Badger growled before punching him in the gut. Ricci wheezed and began to cough.
“Tell me where my sister is, Ricci!” she bit out.
Ricci just looked up at her and gave her a sadistic smile. “You’ll never find her. Especially if you kill me.”
Badger pulled back her fist.
“Badger, he’s not worth it,” I said as calmly as I could. I couldn’t have her kill him before we had all the information we needed out of him.
Badger looked at me, her piercing blue eyes swimming with emotion. I gave her a reassuring nod, indicating for her to take a break.
She scrunched up her nose and looked at Ricci with disgust before storming out of the interrogation room. All I wanted to do was follow her, but I had a feeling she needed some time alone. But fuck that, I needed to talk to her. I wasn’t going to wait.
I followed her out of the room and almost ran into Kade.
“I take it questioning him is going swimmingly?” he asked.
I let out a humorless laugh and scrubbed a hand down my face. “You could say that.”
“Where’s the rest of Chief’s team?” Kade asked, looking through the two-way mirror.
I crossed my arms over my chest, knowing what he was really asking. “You mean, where is Evelyn?”
He gave me a pointed look. I rolled my eyes.
“She’s in your office. Chief ordered her to take some time to come down from everything that happened tonight and with her mom.”
“She’s by herself?” he said with a shocked expression.
“Buddha has been with her. But I imagine he’s with Chief now,” I responded.
Kade clapped me on the shoulder and started to head to the elevator.
“I’ll be back,” he called over his shoulder.
I gave him a nod in response and watched him walk away. As the elevator doors opened, he nearly ran into the cart of supplies Zombie was pushing.
As Zombie moved closer, I noticed what was on the tray of the cart. A large syringe, supplies for an IV, and some sanitary items. I gave him a nod and opened the interrogation room door for him. He nodded back before closing the door behind him with his foot.
I looked at the two-way mirror and watched as Ricci gave one of his sadistic smirks. The exchange didn’t last long, and soon Zombie stormed out of the interrogation room with a sneer on his face. I didn’t know for sure what got Zombie so pissed off, but I could guess it had to do with Aaron.
My phone pinged with a text from Kade.
Boss:
Is Zombie done with Ricci?
Me:
Yeah… Not sure what Ricci said, but Z-man just stormed out after he was finished.
Boss:
Well, he’s 2 for 2 tonight for pissing people off. Are you good for the first shift?
I let out a humorless laugh.
Me:
Always.
Boss:
Thanks, man. I am going to bring Evelyn and Badge home.
Me:
Sounds good, compagno!
I sent Badger a text to let her know that I would be home later and to give Lucy a hug and kiss from me. I was glad I knew she was safe at my house. I wanted to be there for her, comfort her after the day she had with Ricci. But I had a job to do.
I just hoped that tomorrow would bring the closure and the answers that everyone needed.