statement to Lily’s father. Seems like a pointless endeavor to me, as he couldn’t care less if she lived or died after how she treated her daughter, but me, I can still drum up sympathy for the woman. I mean, fuck, I could have been her,” I point out.
She looks at me confused, so I’m guessing Zodiac didn’t share that part of his plan with her.
“Tell me, Estelle, was it just Joan you creamed your panties for, or was it all the little girls he brought home and you helped hold down?”
“It wasn’t like that. Do you know what it feels like to be told you can’t have children? That you can’t give babies to the man you love?” she screeches at me.
“No, I don’t. Looking at you, I’m guessing God figured out early on you shouldn’t be able to procreate.” I stand and lean over her, gripping her hair and yanking her head back.
“You made a bunch of traumatized children unwilling surrogates, then once they were pregnant, you brushed them aside. If I had time I would rip you apart and send a piece of you to each of your victims. Only there aren’t many left. Suicide, drug overdoses, alcoholism, they all tried to find ways to cope with the horror they had endured at your hands.” I glare at her, but there isn’t even a flicker of remorse in her eyes.
“I was supposed to be Kai’s, but I’m guessing you and Zodiac planned on breaking me in first?”
She doesn’t answer but heat flares briefly before she can hide it.
“That’s what I thought. You know something, Estelle, I’m really going to enjoy this,” I warn her before I pull back and punch her again. This time I don’t stop hitting her until she’s out cold and dripping with blood and I’m completely out of breath.
I step back and admire my handiwork for a minute before giving her another dose to keep her out of it for a while.
I walk outside and see my men waiting for me. Knowing the drill, I strip off my clothes and toss them in the bag Baker is holding out for me.
“She still alive?” Danny asks, holding out some baby wipes for my hands and face.
I clean myself up, not bothered that I’m standing outside in nothing more than my underwear, and nod.
“For now. I still need her for leverage. Did I get it all?” I ask, looking up at him.
He takes a fresh wipe and gently runs it over my face before tossing it in the bag. “It’s all good. Your spare clothes are in the SUV. Get changed and I’ll drop you off. Are you sure about this next part?” he questions softly.
“No. Yes, Maybe.” I blow out a harsh breath. “I have to at least try for Kai’s sake.”
Danny doesn’t try to talk me out of it, for that I’m grateful, but I know he thinks this is a bad idea. I can’t argue with him though, because he’s right, this is a fucking terrible idea.
Seems luck was on my side to find his car parked at the far end of the lot. I sit patiently in the back seat, the tinted rear windows keeping me hidden from prying eyes, and I wait.
I let the quiet soothe me, almost like the starry night sky is a blanket that I wrap around myself for comfort. If I closed my eyes, I’d be asleep in seconds and likely wouldn’t wake up for a year.
I spot him approaching out of the corner of my eye. He looks tired as he rubs a hand over his handsome face, but I have little sympathy. I shuffle down until I’m lying flat and bring my gun up, ready.
He opens the door and climbs in, shutting it behind him before he freezes. I don’t know how, but I know he senses me somehow, so I sit up and point my gun at the back of his head.
“Hello, Jude.”
“Cherry,” he answers warily.
“Drive, please, we need to have a chat.”
He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me in the rearview mirror before sighing and starting the car.
He waits until he pulls out of the lot onto the quiet side street before talking. “I can’t believe you did this in front of the station.”
“I can’t believe you’re a cop, but hey ho, life is surprising.”
“Cherry,” he sighs.
“Oh no, I’m not your Cherry, not anymore. Tell me something, does Kai know you’re a cop?”