Free Cuff Master by Frances Stockton

Terrence panicked when the authorities gathered
the necessary warrants and went to arrest him.
    Mills was paying for his crimes. But Ethan and Sam had
failed. They’d failed Jennifer because they’d followed Alisa Bailey’s spiritual
advisor’s insistence that Jennifer’s stepfather had been responsible for her
death.
    “Mrs. Bailey,” Ethan greeted softly, being careful not to
move Morgan.
    “Ms. Everhart couldn’t have started a fire,” Mrs. Bailey
admitted. “She complained of a headache. I think it must have made her say
crazy things. I’m sure she didn’t mean them. She didn’t have cigarettes with
her that I could see.”
    “Didn’t mean to upset Alisa,” Morgan muttered. “I saw her,
Ethan. I spoke to Jenna. She’ll not rest in peace until you expose her stepfather.”
    “Morgan, stop, you can’t make accusations such as that,”
Ethan warned softly.
    “You don’t believe I’ve spoken to Jenna,” Morgan said.
    “I believe that you believe it. I believe someone hurt you.
On the chance that that person’s still near, we can’t talk about this here.
You’re confused, sweetie, and hurting.”
    “For once, I’d like you to support me. Guess that’s too much
to ask.” Morgan turned her face away from his hand. He’d been stroking her hair
back behind her ear while the EMT placed a bandage on the wound.
    “Does she need stitches?” Ethan asked the man.
    “Probably a few, but the wound isn’t terribly deep,” the
medic said. “I’d recommend getting her to the ER. She could have a concussion
or go into shock. I checked her lungs and they sound clear, but I’m keeping
that oxygen mask on her until a doctor tells me otherwise.”
    “Please don’t make me go to the hospital unless it’s
necessary.” Morgan spoke quietly to the EMT, doing her best to ignore Ethan,
but he wasn’t going anywhere.
    Seeing her deflate because of his doubt, Ethan had to take a
chance. Morgan believed what she’d said. Ethan didn’t know what to believe, but
to push it aside because he didn’t understand wasn’t fair to her.
    “Alex? How fast can Ryan get here?” Ethan asked.
    “He’s already on his way. Maybe five minutes, tops,” Alex
answered.
    “Dr. Ryan Hathaway can take care of Ms. Everhart,” Ethan
told the EMT. “If he thinks she’s got a concussion, I’ll take her wherever he
recommends.”
    “Not you,” Morgan hissed with more venom than Ethan
expected. She looked so sad and lost and uncertain, the pain and the blood on
her face and in her hair making everything that much worse.
    “Try to see if you can stop me.” Keeping an eye on Alisa
Bailey, he leaned in close to Morgan. “Hush now, honey, I want to hear what you
have to say. I can’t if you’re in danger and Jenna’s mother is standing there
watching. I failed that woman. I can’t fail you. Understand?”
    Carefully, he touched his hand to her temple, keeping her
focused on him. Morgan’s gaze, though glazed with discomfort, held his. For a
moment he was lost in her.
    Then she began to struggle and he refused to let her win.
“You didn’t fail, Ethan. Jenna’s stepfather killed her. If I can find Erica
White, I plan to prove it. Then I’m going to nail that asshole to the fucking
wall.”
    “You’re not to do anything, you hear me? You’re going to
have to trust me and let me do my job.”
    He didn’t know why or how it happened, but right then and
there he believed Morgan. If there was one shred of evidence out there that
would expose Bailey for what he’d done, he’d find it.
    “So now you want to play hero, Detective? What’s changed in
two minutes? Hoping to get laid? Can’t, got a headache.”
    “I’m not a hero, but I am your man, Morgan Everhart. That
means I support you in all things, even those I don’t understand. Don’t shut me
out because I’m a stubborn sonofabitch, okay?”
    She held still for a moment longer. Ethan held his breath,
waiting for her decision. Ultimately, she inclined her