Tuesday

  Merrville County Jail

  Detective Mackey is herded in front of a tiny window, recessed in one wall, behind which a mousey female officer with thick glasses is perched. She glances up at the detective, her eyes seeming to shrink in her face. Sliding a manila envelope across the desk attached to the wall beneath the window, the female officer opens it and names off every item inside.

  "Wallet, house keys, car keys, wedding ring, watch, a receipt for hazelnut coffee, a piece of winter mint gum, and a love letter from the wife. How cute? Is everything there that should be, Detective Mackey?"

  The last part of the woman officer's statement is said with extreme sarcasm. The big corrections officer behind Detective Mackey scoffs loudly. To which, the female officer behind the window smirks and rolls her eyes in his direction. James keeps his tone level and calm, refusing to take the bait. They want him to become adversarial. He won't give them the pleasure of seeing him do anything of the kind.

  "Yes. To my recollection...Everything is there."

  "Good. Then, we can get this over with."

  Mackey glances over his right shoulder at the surly male corrections officer, who simply scoffs again. Turning back forward, James wrestles with the many emotions tugging at his heart and his brain. Madison and Jamie are waiting for him outside. And so are the television cameras.

  -

  -

  The moment James is led outside, several television microphones are shoved into his face. James looks past the cameras, the jostling bodies, and the flashing lights. His eyes are only on Madison, who sits in the driver's seat of his Crown Vic.

  Madison glances over the back of her chair at Jamie Junior. The newborn is asleep in his car seat, oblivious to the nonsense going on outside of the vehicle. Madison reaches over and opens the passenger door of the car as James approaches at a fast gait. An enthusiastic reporter from Channel 1 grips the edge of the car door, pulling it open and sticking his head inside the vehicle.

  "Hey!" Madison yells. "Get the hell out of our car!"

  "Mrs. Mackey...Can you tell me what is going through your mind right now? Did you pay the full bail? When is the next court hearing?"

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  James reaches the Crown Vic. He grips the male reporter leaning into the sedan with a firm hand and yanks him out. Detective Mackey glowers at the invasive reporter with what can only be described as pure malice.

  "You heard my wife," James growls. "Get the hell away from our car...And our family. You want to know when the next hearing is? You're a reporter. Do what you all do best. Stick your nose in the dirt like every other trash eating dog. But do it somewhere else. Right now, I'd like to go home."

  The Channel 1 reporter raises both hands in the air and backs away from Detective Mackey--and the car.

  "Fine. Sorry, Detective. It's all good."

  "Uh-huh," Detective Mackey says, climbing into the Crown Vic and slamming the passenger door.

  For a brief moment, James and Madison stare at each other in silence. However, after a small eternity, Madison breaks down in tears. She leans forward as James does the same. They hug and kiss each other. James uses the thumb of his right hand to wipe tears from Madison's left cheek.

  "Dave wired us some more money, James," Madison says in a shaky voice. "But I pretty much emptied out the savings account. I'm so sorry, James. Gosh, I'm so sorry. I'm like a bad luck charm. I told you. Why did you ever marry me? This would never have happened to you. I just know it. I'm so sorry."

  James heart nearly leaps into his mouth and his stomach lurches. What the hell? Whoever is responsible for this horrible turn of events will pay for the tears on his wife's face and the turmoil in her heart. This fugging crap is not gonna fly. Not if he has anything to say about it.

  "None of this is your fault, Madison! Not one thing! Officers get accused of crazy crap all of the time. Sometimes they're guilty. Sometimes they're not. That's life as a law enforcement officer, Madison. I know I'm innocent. And I'm going to do everything I can to prove it. But...I need you to be strong, Madison. I need you to be strong for me...And for Jamie. Like you promised. I need you, Maddie. I need your strength. And...I don't want you at that next court hearing, Maddie. Not if this is what it's going to do to you. Everything will be fine. Okay, Maddie? Everything is going to be fine. Please, believe me."

  "I want to believe you, James. But...," Madison starts to say.

  James takes the words from her mouth with a firm kiss. He places his hands on either side of her face, holding her tenderly and close.

  "No buts, Madison," James says, staring directly into her frightened eyes. "I need you to believe. With your whole heart. Believe in the process. Believe in justice. I'm not going to let some scheming murderer destroy our family. Not on James Mackey's watch. I didn't become lead detective by letting facts slip right by me. Somewhere, there's a trail of breadcrumbs for me to follow. I'm gonna find it. But, I need you there with me...Every step of the way, Madison. You...And Jamie...Are the reason I haven't cracked yet. I love you both. You're my whole world."

  "James...Sometimes, I think you're too good for this world. There's so much evil in it. Yet...You...I don't know. You're always so sure of the right thing to do. I wish...I wish more people were like you. The world would be so much better."

  "I'm no angel, Madison. I have my moments," James says with an awkward smile.

  "I know," Madison says, leaning forward so that their foreheads are touching. "We've had this conversation before."

  "Have we?" James asks, his brow creasing.

  "Yes, we have," Madison answers, raising her head enough to kiss James' lips. "I want to go home, James. I want to know more of your goodness."

  James manages a slight chuckle, despite the horribleness of their current circumstances.