Fast Cars (Working Title)

Chapter 31

Donovan watched as Maisy entered the courtroom. Her dark hair had been pulled back into a braid that lay across her shoulder, providing the perfect accent to the white shirt. Her heels clicked on the floor as her skirt swayed around her legs. The scent of raspberries and vanilla washed over him.

"Wipe that dopey look off your face. You look like a hound pup."

Don chuckled. "Pretty sure it couldn't be that bad."

"No. It's worse."

Don shifted his gaze to his clasped hands.

"Miss Robertson," Tyler began. "Thank you for coming today. We'll try to make this as short as we can. If you need a break, by all means, let us know."

"Thank you."

Don listened to the questions and Maisy's answers. She was calm and confident and beautiful.

"Did Mr. Donovan ever hurt you?"

Don looked up, wondering what her answer would be.

"Just once."

"Can you tell us what happened?"

"It was fairly late one night at his apartment."

"Wait, it wasn't the first night you met?"

"No. Even then, he was a gentleman."

"About how long had you been with Mr. Donovan at that moment?"

"About four months."

Don's mind raced. What was she talking about? Why don't I remember?

"Please go on."

"It was fairly late one night at his apartment. He'd just completed a job and everyone had been celebrating. We came back to the apartment and relaxed for a while then we ate dinner. I tried to seduce him and he pinned me to the couch. His fingers dug into my arms. He told me it'd never happen."

"What would never happen?"

"Sex. He wouldn't make love to me."

"Did he say why?"

"Yes. He mentioned Stockholm Syndrome. He thought I had it. He said he didn't want to give the prosecution any more ammunition against him. I thought it odd that he'd be thinking about that. Thinking about jail time."

"At what point in time did you realize exactly who Mr. Donovan was?"

"The night we were attacked. He must have thought I was dead. I was lying on the floor. I couldn't move. I was afraid to move. He crawled up beside me and called me the name he used to call me when I was a kid."

"What is that name?"

"Puzzles."

"Puzzles?" Tyler asked as he cocked his head to one side.

"Yes. He told me because my name was Maisy that I was a maze. A puzzle. You had to work to get through the problem. He called me Puzzles almost every time he saw me."

"And were you surprised?"

"Not really. It was like I knew him, trusted him almost from the moment he took he home."

"What was it like while you were with Mr. Donovan?"

"He pretty much let me do what I wanted while we were at the apartment. He taught me self defense and how to handle a gun. I'm pretty good with a left hook."

"And he taught you all that?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why?"