The Escape (US Marshals #1) - Lisa Harris Page 0,86
me to go with him.”
“You told us you broke things off with him when he went to prison,” Jonas said, “but you didn’t, did you?”
“No . . . I . . .” Bianca fidgeted with her ring. “He had this crazy plan that he was going to escape, and I needed to be ready. I transferred money and did everything he told me to do so we’d be ready to run once he escaped.”
“So you waited.”
“He said I should trust him.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have done that.” Jonas tried to keep the irritation out of his voice. “How long will it be until he dumps you just like the other women? All he really wants is your money.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“But I think a part of you does believe us,” Madison said. “Otherwise you would have given him full access to your offshore account as well. Right?”
Bianca stared at the table. “I know what you’re doing. You feel sorry for me. You wonder how I can still believe he’s innocent after everything you’ve told me.”
Madison tilted her head. “It is hard to understand why you risked everything for him.”
“Why does any woman put her heart on the line like I did? We do it for love. For adventure. And yes, I still love him.”
“And you believe he loves you?”
“You can show me all the evidence you want, but I know Damon. I know he loves me. You don’t have to understand, but my first husband . . . he provided for me financially, but ours was more a marriage of convenience. Two people who had a lot in common and whose marriage was, well, convenient. But there wasn’t a whole lot of love between us.”
“Just tell us where he is,” Madison said.
Bianca dismissed the request with a shake of her head. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what name he’s using.”
“We have more proof, if what we’ve given you isn’t enough.” Jonas pulled up a photo of Stephanie Phillips on his phone. “Recognize her?”
“No.”
“This is Stephanie Phillips. We have growing evidence that Damon killed her. He’s a con man. A grifter who has swindled millions of dollars from at least three women.”
Bianca wiped away a tear off her cheek. “None of this is true.”
“Think about it,” Madison said. “What do you think he’ll do when he gets the rest of your money?”
“You are so wrong.” Her voice rose. “Damon would never hurt me. He loves me.”
Jonas could see the struggle in the woman’s eyes and the hesitation in her voice and knew they were winning. She’d banked everything on one man’s promises, and every last one had just shattered into a million pieces.
“It’s time to stop playing games, Bianca.” Jonas switched photos. “This is Daisy Porter—”
“No. I never saw this as a game. I gave up everything for him.” Her shoulders dropped, defeat etching her face. “Left everything. If it was nothing more than a lie . . .”
“I’m sorry,” Madison said.
Bianca avoided their gazes. Silence fell between them for a moment before she asked, “What do you want me to do?”
“We need you to help us bring him in. What exactly was the plan?”
She took the tissue Madison offered her and blew her nose before continuing. “After I landed, I—I panicked. Damon had already arrived on a different flight and told me he’d make a distraction. Then he told me he’d arranged a ride for me to meet him. I don’t know. If he thinks I’ve been compromised . . . or I’ve turned on him . . .”
“Call him and let him know your luggage was late and you’re on your way.”
She hesitated, then dialed and placed the call on speaker. “Damon—”
“Where are you?” a low voice replied.
“I’m on my way. I’m sorry. My bag was late. I missed my ride.”
“We’re running out of time. Is anyone following you?”
“No.”
There was a slight pause on the other end. “I’ll send the driver back for you. His name’s Tyler.”
“Are you sure that’s safe?”
“Do you trust me?”
Bianca hesitated, but only for a brief moment. “You know I do. Where are we meeting?”
“I’ve got us flights out of the Hobby airport. It’s better if we don’t leave together.” Barrick hung up the call.
Madison signaled at Jonas. “I need to talk to you outside.”
He stepped into the hallway behind her, then closed the door. “Patterson’s trying to trace Barrick’s phone, but in the meantime, we can put a tracking device on her, and she’ll lead us right to him.”