Married to a Lie

e y

protection, of a life rebu

ice, in a quiet

ore. The smell bro

preg

of life inside

and, steady, if a lit

hours, the weight of

urder remained a closed b

, he said.

night, craving pickles, when

s partner, M

rgent, drifted through

Mike was saying. His voice was s

e was rough, tired. "She was there. All the

oni

ysical blow. Mark's wife.

. "You said she couldn't have don

emotion in his tone I'd never heard before.

o my mouth, st

her?" Mike's question hung in

out. "I stalled the investiga

ct Ve

pect in my pa

ut her? You married her, Dave. You live with her. S

eath my feet

ce dropping even lower. "To make sure she didn't stir

od ran

... to protec

our badge, your integrity. For Veronica Hayes. A woman who's married to your own

fiance and pain. "And that's enough. I'd do anything to keep

ion, a declaration of a

ity sha

my protector, my hu

, his proposal – all

kicked, a small,

rriage, was built

vy with resignation. "Think about what y

study door o

lent, my heart po

he *loved* her. He had deliberately sabotage

er justice, over me, over

lt s

iced his so

ust a pawn

g weight. My marriage, my sup

to g

know ev