Page 81 of Benjamin and the Thief

Benjamin scoffed. “So you’re going with self-defense. Yeah, nobody’s gonna buy that, particularly not when I show them how you framed Santiago, Catalina’s brother. Remember him?”

“He robbed us!” Elizabeth piped up. “He was a thief, and he was convicted.”

“Because you produced a fake security video,” Benjamin shot back, furious that they were still trying to pretend that they were the good guys.

“That’s a lie!” James cried out.

In less than a second, Benjamin was only an inch away from him, growling low and dark. James shrank back, startled.

“You shot the woman I love in cold blood after your good friend Judge Norton got her out of prison and brought her here. I know exactly what you were planning. It’s not really rocket science. So tell me if I’m right: you planned to claim that she escaped from jail and broke in here in order to kill you and your wife out of revenge for her brother. Am I close?”

“I want my lawyer,” James spat.

“He’ll be busy with all the charges we’ve got against you. Want me to list them?”

Defiantly, James lifted his chin, his lips pressed together. His wife didn’t look any more cooperative either, though in her eyes he could see a glint of dread.

“Attempted murder of Catalina Vargas, and if she doesn’t make it, murder. Conspiracy, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, perverting the course of justice, kidnapping, insurance fraud, because for all I know, that pretty necklace is still sitting in your safe. Don’t worry, we’ll get a warrant to search your house so it all holds up in court.”

He directed his gaze to Elizabeth. “Oh, and the same charges go for you too.”

“I didn’t shoot anybody!” she protested.

Benjamin let out a bitter chuckle and glanced back at James. “Looks like your wife is ready to throw you under the bus. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure the D.A. won’t offer any plea deals to either of you. No, you’ll face a jury. And once they hear about how you tried to destroy two young people who never did anything wrong but be born poor, they’ll dole out the right punishment.”

He let out an angry breath. “If we didn’t need you alive so Santiago’s guilty verdict will be overturned without delay, I know exactly what I would do with the two of you.”

He glared at them and allowed his vampire side to emerge. His vision tinted red, and his fangs pushed past his lips.

The Prestons gasped in horror.

“Help!” Elizabeth screamed, clearly appealing to Anita and the others in the room.

But they ignored her. They knew not to interfere. This was his moment, the only chance he got at taking his own revenge on what they had done to Catalina. What they had forced him to do to her. To turn her into a creature she was scared of. It was only right that they would be scared too.

“You should pray for a long sentence, because while you’re rotting in prison, you’re safe from me. And don’t even bother to apply for bail until your trial date, because if you’re not in prison, I can get to you, and I will. And once I do, you’ll wish you were dead.”

He snarled, and both of them shrieked.

“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.”

He turned on his heel and looked at Anita.

“They’re all yours. Is the chief on his way?”

She nodded. “He and two squad cars should be here in the next few minutes. Forensics are also on their way.”

“Thanks.”

He left the dining room and marched to the kitchen, where his twin brother and Lydia had handcuffed Judge Norton. He sat on a bench and looked up.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

“I want a lawyer,” he said.

Benjamin shrugged. “You’ll need one. I’m sure you know what you’ll be indicted for, so I’m not gonna waste my time telling you. We’ll find the guard who helped you spring Catalina from jail, and he’ll go down with you. Just so you know, the D.A. will be instructed not to offer any plea deals. I hope whatever you got from the Prestons was worth ruining your life for.”

“I have information, evidence. I can testify,” he hastened to say, changing his tune in an instant.