Murdock twisted the blade in his hand. It had to be at least five inches long. “It’s one of my less expensive pieces, but it’s by far the sharpest.” He slid it along the top of her breast with the slightest bit of pressure. She could feel it drawing blood. He pressed it deeper, smiling at her. “Did I ever tell you how skilled I am with a knife?”
Caroline bit the inside of her cheek as a new, more terrifying pain hit her. This was it. This was the end. She was going to die, probably in a very ghastly way.
“I hope your principles are a comfort to you as you bleed out.” Murdock smiled at her wickedly. “They aren’t going to do you a damn bit of good once they throw your corpse into the incinerator with the rest of the traitors.”
He wrapped a fist around her hair and yanked up so she was facing him. “You’re going to die in this disgusting cell, Caroline. Alone. Slowly and painfully. It’s a shame I won’t be in here to watch you take your last breath, but I’ve got plans with a hot slut who’s far more attractive and much more pliable than you.” He slapped her face once more for good measure, the handle of the knife striking her cheek with startling force. Murdock laughed as he brought the tip of the blade to her stomach. “Shall we get started?”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Past
“There’s enough American and Canadian currency to get you across the border. Fake passports are in the car. Prepaid phones are in the glove box.” Caroline handed Christine an envelope. “This is the information you’ll need to access the bank accounts we set up for the girls. There should be enough to last them until we can get up there.” She didn’t bother pointing out that the money, which would have been their inheritance, would likely last them generations over.
“Foreign bank accounts,” Christine huffed. “So much for your ethics.”
They’d tossed out a lot of their standards over the past month. Breaking through firewalls, hacking into networks, thievery. Perceived tax evasion was the least of their concerns.
“We saw the writing on the wall,” Caroline said. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m carrying around a lot of guilt about that decision. But it was necessary.”
“I was kidding.”
Christine had copies of the trust paperwork and knew damn well how it had been organized. Caroline should have recognized the obvious joke. Her nerves were overriding her logic. “Oh.”
Christine started to say something then abruptly turned away, fiddling with the medal around her neck.
“Chrissy, don’t do this now. We can’t. You need to go.” Caroline knew that Christine was holding back tears and couldn’t look her in the face. “I need you to do this. Please.”
Christine composed herself quickly, turning around and taking Caroline’s hand. “I know.”
They walked down the foyer to where the girls were waiting with Jack, their backpacks in tow. He gave them both fierce hugs. “I love you,” he said hoarsely. “We’ll see you soon, I promise.”
Jack cleared his throat, avoiding Caroline’s gaze. “Well,” he said. “I’ll be in here.” He dashed into the study and shut the door behind him. He’d be damned if he let Christine Sullivan see him cry.
Caroline turned to her eldest. “Mo, I need you to be brave for Feef. Aunt Chrissy and Uncle Tom are going to get you to where it’s safe. Jack and I will be there as soon as we can.”
Marguerite studied her, still unconvinced. “Are you sure?” She looked down at her sister, who gazed upon their mother with fear in her eyes.
“Why can’t you come with us?” Sophie asked.
Caroline kissed her youngest daughter’s forehead. They tried to talk about it repeatedly, but to no avail. She’d been feeding both her children the same lines for the past day and a half. “Feef, we have some things we need to do here first. Things to help make it right again. We-” She would never be able to adequately explain or justify why she and Jack couldn’t leave with them. Caroline turned again to Marguerite. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think it was necessary. You know Christine, Tom, and Jess will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She’d said a swift goodbye to Jess earlier, while Jack was still with the girls. She loved Jess, she knew how much Jess cared about her daughters, and the two of them didn’t want to dwell