Marques was seething and Madison's calm voice made it worse. She put her hand on his shoulder and turned him to face her.
'What?'
'Marques, calm down. It's not over, we'll get him.'
'How can you say that? It is over Madi. He won; he doesn't trust me anymore. He'll leave and we'll never catch him. He'll probably kill me...and you...before he leaves, but either way, it's over.'
'I won't let you quit, there is no way in hell I'm going to let you quit.'
He pushed past her and started pacing the room. 'I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. How could I have been so stupid! He'll eventually put two and two together and figure out that me being there when the cops arrived...'
'How could he? You said he was high; hopefully he won't remember anything, and wonder how he got to wherever he is now when he straightens up.'
'He won't forget...he never does. He'll figure out I was just playing along with his stupid games. He'll come after me and anyone else who gets in his way. He killed Jon, Madi, just like he...'
Marques stopped himself before saying what he was thinking; that Foster had killed him a long time ago. That Foster had destroyed Marques' life when he'd made him take that car.
Marques slid down the wall, his head in his hands, and felt rather than saw Madi next to him. 'It's hopeless, Madi, I'm going to Webbe to tell him it's over. Foster knows I don't want anything more to do with him; there's nothing keeping him here.'
Marques closed his eyes as Madi brushed the tears of exhaustion from his face with her thumb.
'I don't know what I would do if you weren't here,' Marques mumbled. 'You're the only person I have left now, and I'm so...grateful...that you are here.'
Madi smiled despite the desperate situation and wiped Marques' face gently again. Her breast brushed his knees lightly as she inhaled, her breathing quickening and deepening.. Adrenalin seeped Marques' system, coming to rest at the bottom of his abdomen, penetrating the feelings of anger and exhaustion that were playing for dominance.
Madi enclosed Marques in her arms and rested her head on his shoulder. 'I won't desert you, Marques,' she whispered in his ear.