Ruthless Regret (Ruthless Games Duology #2)

Chapter 45

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

ZAIN

My eyes are fixed on Holson’s face through the one-way glass. I haven’t seen him since he took the stand at my trial, describing his part in the investigation that put me away for two life sentences. I thought I’d feel angry, the same way I felt about Ashley during the entire time I was imprisoned. But I don’t. I feel nothing, except tired.

The detective looks uncomfortable, shifting in his seat while McFadden talks about the case, and throwing in the questions we’ve prepared. So far, Holson’s answers have been vague, noncommittal. I’m sure he’s dancing around the truth, and it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to burst into that room and demand answers myself.

It’s infuriating, frustrating , watching him squirm like this, hearing him avoid answering the questions.

Fourteen years. Fo urteen years of my life were taken because of lies, manipulation, and half-truths. The idea that Holson might have known something and said nothing gnaws at me, like an open wound that refuses to heal.

Ashley touches my arm, and I pull my attention away from what’s playing out in the room to look at her.

“Are you okay?”

I nod, but I’m lying. Every second that passes feels like another reminder of the time I’ve lost. Time I can never get back.

“Detective Holson,” McFadden’s voice comes through the speaker, calm but firm. “Can you explain why you took the lead in Ashley Trumont’s interviews? You were a junior detective at the time. Handling a sensitive interview like that, it wasn’t typical, was it? Detective Ramsey put a lot of trust in you. You didn’t find it unusual to be given that role? ”

Holson hesitates, his eyes darting to the side. “Ramsey asked me to handle it. He said being younger, I might have a gentler touch with a traumatized kid. He said I’d be able to connect better with her. Less intimidating, I suppose.”

“And you didn’t find that strange?” McFadden presses, leaning forward slightly. There’s something in the way he delivers the question that makes it clear he’s not buying Holson’s excuse.

Holson shifts, looking more uncomfortable by the second. “At the time, no. I was flattered, I guess. Thought he was showing faith in me.”

Flattered .

Something isn’t adding up, I can feel it in my gut. Holson’s lying or leaving something out. I’m sure of it.

McFadden studies Holsen. “But it wasn’t just the interview with Ms. Trumont, was it? You also led the interrogation with the suspect, Zain Ryder. That's a lot of responsibility for a junior detective, handling both elements of the case.”

“Ramsey wanted me to lead that too. Said it was important to have continuity, keep things consistent.”

“Continuity … I see.” McFadden adjusts position in his seat, his tone turning sharper. “During that interrogation, you brought up something pretty significant, something that played a big part in the trial later as motive. Louisa Conway’s pregnancy. That information wasn’t public knowledge. How did you come by it?”

He blinks, caught off guard. “I … what?”

“Louisa’s pregnancy,” McFadden repeats. “It wasn’t public knowledge. In fact, only Jason and Zain knew about it. So how did you know?”

The color drains from Holson’s face so fast, I almost expect him to pass out. “I … what?”

“Louisa’s pregnancy,” McFadden repeats. “It wasn’t public knowledge. In fact, only Jason and Zain knew about it. So, how did you know?”

Holson’s eyes widen, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. “I must have … Ramsey must have told me.”

“But how did Ramsey know?” McFadden’s question hangs in the air, a trap set with perfect precision.

“I don’t … I’m not sure. There must have been something at the scene. A scan image, maybe.”

I take a step closer to the glass, my heart pounding. That’s complete bullshit, and Holson knows it.

McFadden’s expression doesn’t change. “Let’s talk about the case itself. Did you have any doubts during the investigation about Mr. Ryder’s guilt?”

There’s a long pause before Holson answers, and I swear I can see the cracks forming in his resolve. “I … I had theories. Things didn’t add up. The evidence, the timeline ... but Ramsey shut down every question. Said it was handled.”

“What kind of theories?”

Holson shakes his head. “Just ... thoughts. Ideas about what might have happened. But Ramsey was so certain about everything, so quick to wrap it all up.”

“And you went along with it, without raising any questions?” McFadden’s voice hardens.

“What was I supposed to do?” Holson’s voice breaks. “He was my superior. And by the time I really started to doubt, it was too late. Ryder had already been convicted.”

That’s it. I can’t take it anymore. Before I can stop myself, I’m through the door and in the interrogation room. McFadden stands up and blocks my approach, but I sidestep him and keep moving. My attention is on Holson, on the man who sat by and let my life be destroyed.

“What theories?” I slam my hands down on the table in front of him. The impact rattles the metal, and Holson jumps. “What did you suspect? What did Ramsey know?”

“ Ryder?” He gapes up at me.

“Answer the fucking questions!” My shout bounces off the walls.

The detective blanches. “I swear, I don’t know what Ramsey knew. He never shared it with me. But something wasn’t right.” He almost trips over his tongue in his hurry to reply. “The way he handled the case, how quickly he dismissed any evidence that didn’t fit ...”

“And you never thought to question that? To take your concerns to someone else?”

Holson flinches, his eyes dropping to the table as he swallows hard. “It wasn’t that simple,” he mutters. “Ramsey was ... he was good at making you believe he knew best.”

“So you just went along with framing an innocent man?” My voice is flat.

Holson looks like he’s about to collapse. “I didn’t know. Not at first. And by the time I started to have doubts ... it was too late. What was I supposed to do?”

My mind is racing, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear—Ramsey knew something. Something about Louisa, about that night, that he never shared. And whatever it was, it was big enough to make him rush the investigation and pin it all on me.

I turn and stride out of the room, ignoring McFadden’s calls to calm down. I can’t be calm right now. I need space to think, to breathe. The air in the room is suffocating me.

Ashley is standing in the hallway, just outside the door, her face pale, eyes wide.

“Zain,” she starts, but I shake my head.

I can’t talk to her right now. I need a minute to get myself under control.

“Bathroom.” The word is clipped, and I stalk past her until I find the door I need. Once I’m inside, I shoot the lock and lean against it, closing my eyes and breathing deeply.

Name three objects … Cell phone, sink, urinal.

Three sounds … water dripping, my heart beating, voices faint beyond the door.

Move three body parts … fingers clench, head tilts, shoulders roll.

I take in another deep breath.

Okay, good. Another one .

I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, open my eyes and straighten. The noise in my head reduces to a whisper, and I’m ready to go back outside. I throw open the door, Ashley is standing just beyond it.

“I need to figure out what Ramsey knew,” I say, my voice hard, resolute. “Whatever it was, it’s the key to all of this. And I’m going to find it, no matter what it takes.”

“We will. We’ll figure it out.” Her voice is soft, soothing, like she knows I was hiding in the bathroom so no one would see the anxiety attack trying to take over.

Her eyes meet mine. I break contact, and look toward the interrogation room. Holson might not know everything, but he’s confirmed one thing for sure—Ramsey was hiding something.

And I’m going to find out exactly what it is.

My steps are slower as I walk back into the room where McFadden and Holson are. They both look at me, with differing expressions. McFadden looks irritated, Holson looks … scared.

"We're not done here." I break the silence, my eyes on Holson. "Not by a long shot. You're going to tell us everything you suspected, every fucking theory you have. You’re not leaving this room until I know everything that you know."