Take Me in the Night

by R. L. Kenderson

  “Not at first glance, no. And I haven’t gone through everything, but I can’t shake the feeling. It might sound odd, but in the military, I learned to rely on my instincts.”

  I put my hand on his chest. “I don’t think it’s odd. Who do you think it was?”

  He shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  Something about the way he’d said that had me questioning his honesty. “You’re not telling me something.”

  A heavy sigh. “That’s because I don’t know how to tell you.”

  I was on alert. This didn’t sound like it was going to be good.

  “You know how I called you this afternoon?”

  “Yes.”

  He hadn’t sounded like himself.

  “I had just left your father’s.”

  This had me sitting up. “What?”

  Maddox then proceeded to tell me everything that had happened.

  “What an asshole! He actually offered you money to stay away from me?”

  He grasped my hand and squeezed.

  “And someone watched us have sex and took pictures.” I shuddered again. “It’s a good thing we haven’t been screwing all over town, or he’d have enough pictures to make a scrapbook.”

  “I’m sorry, Addy. I hate that someone saw us like that.”

  I squeezed his fingers back. “It’s not your fault. My father…well, he’s something else.” Something occurred to me. “You don’t think my father was the one in your apartment, do you?”

  “I don’t know. Obviously, your father is lacking a few morals, but I can’t see him breaking in here. This is going to sound crazy, but I feel like he would think it’s beneath him.”

  I laughed. “No, I totally understand what you mean. It doesn’t seem like my father. Bribery and blackmail are his style. Breaking and entering below his usual standards.” I lay back down, half on Maddox, half on the bed. “What are you going to do?”

  “I didn’t think to call the Carsons. Maybe one of them stopped in.” His shoulder shrugged under my head. “I can hope anyway.”

  I hoped, too, but I didn’t have a good feeling about it. I could hear in Maddox’s voice that he didn’t either.

  Forty

  Maddox

  Addison left my bed around seven in the morning after being glued to my side all night. I loved sleeping with that woman, but I was going to have to invest in another fan. She sure made me hot. So much that it always woke me once or twice in the night.

  But I just used it as a chance to make love to her. If she was going to wake me up even if it wasn’t purposely, she was going to give me her body. She never complained though, and I suspected she liked it.

  I just stepped out of the shower when there was a knock at my door.

  “One minute,” I yelled out of my open bathroom as I quickly threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.

  I took a quick glance at my watch to see it was only eight in the morning right before I opened the door.

  Who’d be here this early?

  There, standing on the landing, was Sheriff Whitlock with a pair of handcuffs in his hands.

  “Maddox Wolfe?”

  “You already know who I am.”

  Prick.

  “Please step outside and put your hands behind your back.”

  “What the hell for?”

  “You’re under arrest.”

  Not again.

  “I repeat, what the hell for?”

  “The attempted murder of Brandon Taylor.”

  Addison’s ex?

  I had a sinking feeling that I was in a shitload of trouble.

  “Where were you last night?”

  It was twelve years ago all over again.

  “Home.”

  I sat in the interrogation room, handcuffed to the table like I was some sort of threat.

  “Go through your day with me.”

  “I woke up and went to my sister’s for brunch. I got home a little after noon, and Brantley’s lapdog asked me to come to Mr. Graham’s house.”

  Whitlock snickered, and I knew he didn’t believe me about going to Graham’s house. To be fair, I wouldn’t have believed me either.

  “Then, I went and worked out, came home and showered, and spent the rest of the evening at home, alone.”

  “What about during the middle of the night?” The sheriff picked up a piece of paper and squinted. “Between the hours of eleven p.m. and six a.m.?”

  I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to say it, but it was the truth. “I was with Addison,” I said through clenched teeth.

  Whitlock hooted with laughter. “I’ve seen the two of you around town together, but if you think she’s going to alibi you…” He laughed again. “Well, you know what happens when it comes to her vouching for you.” His laughter died, and he smiled at me. “Don’t you?”

  I calmed myself. I knew Whitlock wanted to rile me up. I knew he wanted me to get mad. He wanted me to mess up somehow. Good thing for me, I’d been through SERE—Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape—training. I could take whatever this asshole threw at me. As long as I didn’t let my soft spot—Addison—be affected too much.

  I shrugged. “I guess we’ll see.” I looked toward the two-way mirror. “Have you called her yet?” I asked casually. “She’s kind of my lawyer, too.”

  “Well, asshole, if you were with Addison last night, then why the hell did we find a handgun registered to you at the scene?”

  Fuck. I had been right about someone being in my apartment. And it was worse than I could even imagine.

  “I have a question for you,” I said. “Why would I shoot someone and leave my gun there, only to be caught? I’m obviously being set up.”

  The sheriff shrugged. “Maybe you’re an idiot. Maybe he scared you, and you dropped it. I don’t know why you left your fucking weapon there. I just know you did. We have you red-handed. If you confess now, I’ll get them to go easy on you.”

  Yeah, right.

  “And what’s my motive?” I challenged him, ignoring his question.

  Whitlock shrugged. “He’s fucking your girl.”

  Don’t get mad, Wolfe. This jack-off is not worth it.

  “He used to fuck her. He’s not fucking her now because she spends every night in my bed.”

  “Except last night,” he said with a smirk. “Rumor has it, she was out of town.”

  “She came back early.”

  “You wish. But, even if she did, like I said, you’re probably on your own again. Just like you were twelve years ago.” He sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. “I know you think she’ll come forward because she held your hand at Brook Days. But this is her career, man. She’s not going to risk it for some loser like you.”

  I knew the sheriff was just trying to goad me. I knew he was spewing shit from his mouth.

  But there was a part of me that did worry. Would she come through for me?

  Twelve years ago, she had been barely eighteen. She was thirty years old now. I’d seen her go to bat for her clients. She would do the same for me.

  I hope.

  And that little sliver of doubt had me wanting to jump over the table and strangle Sheriff Whitlock.

  Part of me was glad I was in chains. It helped stop me from doing something stupid, and it would stop Whitlock from being right about the kind of person I was.

  Yes, I had been jealous of Brandon a couple of times, but I’d never thought about murdering him. And, if I had, I sure as shit wouldn’t have been so stupid as to leave my weapon behind.

  One thing was for sure. I needed to get the hell out of there. I would never find out who wanted me behind bars otherwise. And I would never be able to clear my name.

  Because, even if Addison alibied me, my gun was a very strong reason to convict me.

  I looked Whitlock in the eyes. “I think I’d like my lawyer now.”

  “Suit yourself. Don’t come crying to me when you’re looking at twenty-five to life.”

  I didn’t say
a word.

  Whitlock pushed back his chair and stood. “You’re making a big mistake.”

  I continued to stare.

  The sheriff went to the door and opened it. “Get this asshole his lawyer. Get Addison Graham down here now.”

  Forty-One

  Addison

  When I heard the news about Brandon, I rushed over to the motel. Being that Brook Creek is a small town, news traveled like wildfire. I made it there just as they were loading Brandon into the ambulance.

  I tried to talk to him, but he was unconscious. He was bleeding from his head, and the paramedics said he’d been shot. I started crying because the nearest hospital was about twenty to thirty minutes away. And, even then, the town was only about sixteen thousand people. It wasn’t a big hospital, and he’d probably have to be stabilized and moved to Des Moines.

  I went back to my office, feeling sad and hopeless. My friend could die, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it, except call his parents. That was the worst phone call I’d ever had to make, and I never wanted to have to do that again.

  In a daze, I was sitting and staring at my computer. I should be working on stuff, but I felt like my brain was mush.

  I hadn’t even noticed that Serena hadn’t come into work until she ran through the door, dread written all over her face.

  I sprang from my chair. “What’s wrong?”

  I immediately thought that Brandon had died, and I was in such a panic that I didn’t even consider the fact that, if that had happened, I would probably know before Serena.

  “Sheriff…” She took a couple of deep breaths. “Sheriff Whitlock arrested Uncle Maddox.”

  “Why?” I had just seen the man less than two hours ago.

  “For attempted murder. The sheriff says he’s responsible for Brandon.”

  “That’s crazy!”

  “I know, but apparently, he has evidence.”

  I snatched my purse from the table in my office. I needed to get down to the sheriff’s station.

  At the same time, my phone rang.

  “Addison Graham.” Please be quick.

  “This is Deputy McAllister. Your client is requesting your presence.”

  “Who is the client?”

  “Maddox Wolfe.”

  Good man. He knew to call me.

  “I’ll be there in five. Wait.”

  “Yes?”

  “Did the sheriff have you call me right away?”

  Deputy McAllister hesitated. “No, ma’am.”

  Ma’am?

  He was only three years younger than me.

  “Thank you. And, Deputy?”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Call me ma’am again, and I’ll sue you for so many things that you’ll be tied up in court for years.”

  I pushed the button to hang up the phone and released it. Once I heard the dial tone, I called in a favor from a classmate from college, and then I rushed to the sheriff’s station.

  Of course, good ole Sheriff Whitlock was there to greet me.

  “His bail hearing is set at nine fifteen.”

  I looked at the clock. “That’s in fifteen minutes.” I wouldn’t have any time to prepare.

  The sheriff shrugged like it was out of his control when he was probably doing this on purpose. He scratched his head. “You can wait, but I think the next one is at six.”

  “P.M.?”

  He smirked. “A.M.”

  Motherfucker.

  “Fine. Nine fifteen it is.”

  I had to use all of my professionalism when I saw Maddox walk into the courtroom. He held his shoulders high, but I could see the defeat in his eyes.

  Oh, baby, I promise I’m not going to let them take you away from me again.

  When he saw me, the relief and happiness that crossed his face made my heart race. Despite the circumstances, that look told me so many things, including how he felt about me.

  He came to stand next to me.

  “How are you?” I asked. “I’m sorry I couldn’t see you until now.” I looked over at the sheriff and narrowed my eyes. “I wasn’t given much warning about your bail hearing.”

  “It’s okay, Addy. I’m just glad to see you.”

  The judge banged on the gavel, and we proceeded with the hearing.

  Using my mother’s jewelry I’d inherited as collateral for his bond, and an hour later, Maddox was free.

  I waited for him to be released from the jail.

  He walked out, rubbing his wrists where the handcuffs had been. He looked up at me, and I gave him a sad smile.

  My handsome Maddox. He deserved so much better than this.

  “I’ll pay you back,” he said when he reached me.

  “Just show up for court, and we’ll be fine,” I joked. “I know you’ve been put through the wringer, but I was hoping we could go back to my office and get started on your case.”

  “Yeah. I don’t think I could relax now if I tried.”

  We took off and walked toward my car. It was weird how awkward things were with us at the moment. I’d pretty much used him as a pillow last night, and now, we were walking a respectable distance apart like we barely knew each other.

  “Brandon was attacked last night,” he said when we almost reached my vehicle.

  “I know. I told the sheriff you were with me, but your gun is pretty damning evidence. I’m guessing you were right about someone being in your apartment.” I stopped walking and turned around because Maddox was no longer next to me. “What’s wrong? Why’d you stop?”

  He swallowed. “You told Whitlock you were with me?”

  “Of course.” I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t believe me, obviously. But don’t worry; we’re going to get you out of this.”

  Maddox stepped forward and rubbed his thumb over my cheek. I didn’t understand why he was being so tender, but it made my heart ache because he was being punished for something he hadn’t done.

  I put my hand on his. “We’re going to fight this. I called in one badass criminal defense attorney to handle your case.”

  He frowned. “How come you know all these guys?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “First, Brandon, and now, this defense attorney…”

  I laughed. “Who said the attorney was a guy?”

  Forty-Two

  Maddox

  One of the best attorneys in the state of Iowa, according to Addison, was a small Asian woman. Olivia Mayer had to be about five-two and the size of a toothpick. She looked like she was about twelve years old, and I could see that people probably underestimated her by her appearance.

  Addison sat behind her desk, taking notes, while I went over everything that had happened with my new lawyer.

  “Did they do a gunshot residue test on you?” she asked me.

  “No. Fucking dick.”

  She nodded to her assistant, a young guy who looked to be in his early twenties. “Make sure the state police does one.”

  Addison sat forward in her chair. “State police?”

  Olivia smiled like the Cheshire cat. “You’re not the only one with connections.” She turned to me. “On the drive here, I took a look at your old case. Your court-appointed attorney was subpar, but he kept excellent records. Anyone can tell by the surveillance video that it wasn’t you in the gas station.” She tilted her head to the side. “What is it with you and people borrowing your stuff to commit crimes?”

  I laughed because it was better than getting pissed. “I don’t know.”

  I did know though. My brother, under the influence of alcohol, had borrowed my stuff like an idiot. He hadn’t set out to make it look like it was me, but his drunk brain was only thinking about himself. This time, someone had set out to make me look guilty.

  “Well, it’s obvious the sheriff is biased, so I called in someone who isn’t affiliated with this town or its history. We need fresh, objective eyes. Even with the video from the gas station and Addison alibiing you, the sheriff never looked at anyon
e else for the crime.”

  My eyes quickly went to Addison, who was nodding.

  “When I went in and told the sheriff that I was with Maddox that night, I could tell that he wasn’t listening to me. I can’t believe he keeps getting elected.”

  “That’s what happens when no one runs against you,” Olivia said. “At least, that’s the info I got online.”

  “No, it’s true. No one wants to do that kind of job anymore. They all want the big-city life.” Addison looked over at me. “Maddox, are you okay? You look a little pale.”

  While the two women had been discussing the sheriff, I was stuck on Addison talking about how she’d alibied me.

  I looked at Olivia. “Can you excuse us a moment?”

  She hesitated. “Anything you say to Addison, you really should say to me. While Addison will be working on this case with me, I’m going to be first chair at your trial if this case comes to that.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t need to talk to her as my lawyer. I need to talk to her as my woman.”

  A knowing look passed over her eyes. “Ah. Okay. Derek?” she said to her assistant. “Let’s go find something for lunch.” The two of them stood. “We’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

  I nodded, and the two walked out the door.

  I got up from my chair as soon as I heard the click of the latch being closed, and Addison did the same. We met on the side of her desk.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I clutched her hands in mine. “I have a question. No matter what, I won’t be mad at how you answer. I just need to know the truth.”

  She looked worried, and I supposed I was scaring her with my intensity. But this was important.

  “Okay.”

  “Twelve years ago…” I closed my eyes and swallowed. I opened them and asked, “Twelve years ago, you told the sheriff you were with me the night of the robbery?”

  Her eyes filled with confusion and sympathy. “Of course I did, Maddox.”

  “But you never came to my trial.”

  “I didn’t even know you had one. I went to visit my mom’s parents, and when I got back, it was over, and you were gone.” She shrugged. “I’d always thought your lawyer would make me come in and testify. After I started law school, I wondered why I was never subpoenaed.”