“My cell phone is broken. I would have called you.” Delilah said. “Sorry for worrying you and mama. I was just so messed up after the brunch I needed to go somewhere and clear my head.”
Queen watched her friend. Observed her mannerism in silence.
“So you heard, huh?” Delilah smiled. She plopped down in a sofa chair and crossed her legs. “I know. I know. It’s on the internet. All over the news.” Delilah rolled her eyes and gave a girlish blush. “I don’t know where to start. I didn’t know what I was going to do it when I went to that brunch. I didn’t know. But then I saw Mother Abigail and everything, even from when we were kids, all came back Queen. It all came rushing back to me. She confessed. Mother Abigail confessed! She bragged about turning our parents against us after Peter Collin’s died. I know mama and daddy signed on board for it, but to hear Mother Abigail say it to my face. Something in my head snapped. I didn’t care anymore.”
“Where did you go? Afterwards?” Queen asked.
“Huh? I just told—”
“Where did you go, Dee?”
“For a drive. I drove around, and then it got late, and I came back here.”
“You’re lying.” Queen sat forward. “I knew something was going on with you. You’ve been acting weird since day one. I knew it. But I got all this stuff I’m managing with Goodiva missing and this damn quarantine. I should have paid more attention, though.”
“I’m fine, Queen,” Delilah mumbled.
“Are you? Because you just blew up your world, your parents' world, Noah’s future in this town is over. You know that, don’t you? It’s bigger than a scandal. It’s much worst now.”
“The Montgomery’s aren’t our future!” Delilah shouted back.
“Since when! Their disaster is your disaster now. You live in this town. Your businesses are in this town; your money is tied to that family. It’s your life, regardless of what that asshole in that cottage is whispering in your ear!”
“Maverick? He has nothing to do with this...”
Queen shook her head. “First Goodiva goes missing because of Jaxon Mayfair. And then you find out Noah’s, not Charles's son, because of Jaxon Mayfair. And now, Maverick’s here because of Jason Price! In a week, he’s here, and you’re destroying everything you were trying to protect. When you go back to court, what will you have, Dee? What! Who will you be? Don’t you see the setup!”
Delilah fell silent. Queen was too angry to stop. She clenched her teeth when she spoke. “Dee, you know me. I don’t give a shit about the Montgomery’s or what people in this town think. I care about you. And this was important to you, so I protected it for you. Noah’s life is tied to every decision you make right now. You have the courts involved, and you’re lying to me.”
“I’m not lying,” she stammered. “Not explaining myself is never the same thing as lying.”
“You were with him! The entire town is up tonight on a witch hunt for those Montgomery’s and the Mayfairs. If it’s wasn’t for the quarantine, they’d have pitchforks and take them to the streets. And you’re in bed with him?”
“Who—”
“Stop it, Dee! When did this start?” Queen shouted.
Delilah's eyes stretched. She sat there stuck on what to say or what to do. Queen had enough of the men in this town, and their lives destroying whatever sanctity she and her friends tried to build. She was done with it.
“You don’t know him, Dee. Not really. Let me tell you who Maverick really is. A bad cop and—”
“That’s enough,” Delilah said.
“He’s lying to you!” Queen over shouted her.
“I said that’s enough!” Delilah stood. “Shut up! Shut your gat damn mouth!”
Stunned, Queen sat back. Delilah was so angry she had both fists clenched. Delilah shook with fury. She glared at Queen as if she were the enemy. And that scared her. Delilah never turned on her. Ever.
“He’s a good man. Yes. I was with him. I needed him. I needed to escape all of this crap. I’m tired of carrying all of this crap alone. I didn’t plan it. I-I-I don’t know how it happened. But it did. And since then, he has been a friend to me. If you don’t like it, then get the hell out!”
“It’s not real. Whatever you are feeling for Maverick isn’t real. Can’t you see that?” Queen pleaded. “A week, Dee. A week and you have this man professing his love to you?”
“What did you say?” Delilah asked.
“He said—never mind!” Queen shook her head. Delilah left her sitting there. Queen got up to go after her, but she could hear her crying as she ran up the stairs. None of it made sense. But Queen was determined to get her answers. She turned and left the house.
THERE WERE A FEW KNOCKS at the door, and Maverick was ready. He’d been waiting. Delilah was always on his mind, and he had hoped she suffered from the same need. Her return proved him right. He opened the door to have a gun pointed directly in his face.
“Step back!” Queen said with both hands on the grip of her weapon.
Maverick put up his hands and stepped back.
“Move!” Queen demanded.
Maverick walked back in slow, measured steps.
“On your knees!” Queen kicked the door shut.
Maverick went down on his knees and put his hands behind his back. Queen walked around him and placed the iron cuff’s on him. “Can I ask what I’ve done?”
“Shut the hell up. You have the right to remain silent—”
“What have I done!”
Queen continued to recite his rights and force him to stand. Maverick managed to stand just fine. Although he was twice her height and weight, he complied. Queen was jumpy, and a jumpy cop, good or bad, was never something you should trust. “What am I being charged with?”
“You had something to do with this. It’s all a setup. That video of Charles, where did she get it? Huh?” She tugged the cuffs, and he winced. “You know where motherfucker... kidnapping of Goodiva, you’re part of it, aren’t you? You’re in on it. You’re working for someone, and I’ll prove it. Oh, and this thing you pulled with her, manipulating her into sex, it’s rape!”
“Rape?” he glanced back at her.
Queen was looking around and then at him. She was in a state he didn’t understand at first. But knowing her history and the trauma she must have suffered as a kid, he suspected her anxiety was misdirected. “I didn’t rape your friend. I would never.”
“We’re done playing games. You’re going to tell me what the hell you’ve done to my friend.” Queen removed her gun again and pointed it at his back. “What the hell is going on here. Or I swear to God when I’m done with you, you’ll wish you did.”
“Okay,” Maverick said. “Let’s talk. Because I know you’re smart enough not to shoot a man in his back that is handcuffed. I’ll tell you everything. But you’re going to be disappointed, Queen. I’m not the monster here. I’m not your monster.”
“What the fuck does that mean!” Queen shouted.