Free Endangered: A Delecoeur Mystery #1 by Jenna Harte Page A

she heard his menacing tone. Peeking around the corner she saw Chas
had a gun and heard his plan to kill both Julia and Max. Madeleine snuck back
around to her side of the dressing room to see what she might have to help the
situation. As she looked around the corner she saw Julia standing on her side
of the bedroom. Julia would surely see her if she tried to get to the utility
closet. On the other hand, Julia’s life was apparently in danger as well. Would
she give Madeleine away? She’d have to risk it.
    She moved slowly towards the closet.
Carefully she wrapped her fingers around the doorknob. There was a tiny squeak,
but Julia didn’t move. Madeleine let out a breath and pushed the door open.
Inside she found a tidy closet, but nothing she could use as a weapon. She made
her way out again and quietly shut the door. She glanced at Julia. Their eyes
caught. Julia’s held surprise and then turned away. Madeleine held her breath.
When Julia didn’t say anything, Madeleine hoped she might be spared.
    “Chas, this is ridiculous. You might
want to kill me, but killing Max won’t get what you want with or without a
note.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean Madeleine isn’t dead.”
    Oh no! Madeleine
thought.
    Max eyes widened and looked back to the
bathroom. He couldn’t see Madeleine, but guessed that Julia had. It would be
too much to hope that Madeleine would sit tight.  He looked to Julia his eyes
imploring her to stop.
    “You’ve gone mad mom. We went to the
funeral yesterday.”
    “Did you see her body in the casket?
Think Chas. Max would do anything to keep her safe. Even fake her death.”
    “Shut up! I killed her. I shot her
myself.”
    “You didn’t.”
    “Okay so where is she?”
    “She’s not here. She’s in a safe house.”
Max jumped in with a warning glance to Julia.
    “How convenient.”
    “Well he’s not going to keep her here.
Think Chas,” Julia said.
    “Stop saying that!” He yelled pointing
the gun at her.
    “If she isn’t dead, you’re safe as long
as you let us go. You can’t be convicted of a murder you didn’t commit,” she explained.
    Max saw Madeleine peek around the corner
on his side of the dressing room. He moved forcing Chas to turn his back on her
in order to keep Max in sight. Max glared at her, his eyes told her to move
back. Instead, she moved towards his closet. God, what was she doing? One
little turn and Chas would see her.
    “She’s right. You have what it takes
Chas. If you want to be recognized as my son, we can still do that.”
    “You’re lying.” Chas pointed the gun
back to Max. “I thought you’d be a different kind of father.”
    “I could have been had I known,” Max
said. “I still can, given the chance.”
    Madeleine opened Max’s closet one
millimeter at a time. She’d remembered the golf club he kept there. It had been
a souvenir from a celebrity tournament that he'd lost. Apparently, the winner
felt sorry for Max and gave him his putter. It was useless in the closet, but
maybe it could do some damage if she swung it hard enough. She had wanted to
open the closet door wide enough to slide in, but was afraid that would take too
much time. So when the opening was big enough, she reached her hand in to feel
around the back. She felt the coolness of a metal rod. She tried to wrap her
hand around it and felt it begin to slip. Oh God, she thought. She leaned in
and closed her fingers around the staff. Slowly she pulled it towards her,
clutching it to her body when it finally was free of the closet. Moving slowly,
she stood.
    “Give him a chance, Chas. He can be the
father you deserved,” Julia said moving next to Max.
    “You told me once, mother, that it would
be dangerous to cross Max. And you said I should never underestimate him. If I
take your advice, I can’t believe a word he says to me now. I killed his
beloved wife. My only choice now is to kill him.” Chas raised his gun towards Max.
    Madeleine’s heart leapt to her