Chapter 14
I rush upstairs to my apartment and bolt the door closed once I'm inside. I press my back against it and run a hand through my hair. I didn't really listen to either Gale or Leevy on the ride back home. All I could think of was Darius and the cold look he gave me when I left. My heart pounds now as I panic that he knows that I know. I was stupid to question his knowledge of the case. I should have just smiled and nodded along.
I fumble for my phone in my purse and call Detective Thread, the lead investigator in this case. I can't just ignore what I discovered, even if Darius is my friend. Thread picks up after a few rings and it sounds like I just woke him.
"Everdeen, why are you phoning me at this time of night?" he asks.
"I'm sorry to wake you but I found some information about the Madge Undersee case," I say.
"You found something more on Ryan?" Thread asks.
I shake my head even though I know Thread can't see me.
"Ryan didn't do it. It was Darius Donnelly. He has Madge's missing engagement ring in his wallet," I say.
Thread sighs.
"You're certain it's her ring? How did you see it anyway?" he asks.
"I only got a quick look but it was the same design. Why else would he have an engagement ring? And there was something else too. He knew Madge was killed in her bedroom," I say.
"He was probably just speculating. And if you just got a quick look at the ring then it's probably one that is similar. I can't arrest Darius on a hunch you have," he replies.
"It's not a hunch. I know it was him. I could see it in his eyes! You should at least send someone round to his house to check it out," I urge.
"I'm not going to do that, Katniss. I know you are having a hard time right now but Darius was like a son to me when he worked here. I'm not going to drag his name through the mud just because you have some wild theory," he says.
My heart sinks in my chest. I suddenly remember something the Mellark's said on Caesar Flickerman's show. They speculated that whoever killed Madge had help from the police. That's how evidence got planted and other suspects were overlooked. Darius worked in the police force for six years before he left to set up his own security company. He's bound to still have friends that would help him cover it up and frame Ryan. If Thread is helping him it would also explain why he lied to me about looking into Seneca Crane. I can't trust him.
"Darius has no motive to kill Madge. She was his best friend. He was devastated by her death," Thread adds.
I nod my head but I'm silent on the phone. I would take a guess that Darius' motive has something to do with unrequited feelings he had for her.
"Sorry to bother you," I reply.
Thread mutters something on the other end of the line before telling me to go to bed and stop worrying about the case.
I shake my head when I hang up. Clearly the police are involved in this cover up and won't help me. But I can't sit back and let Ryan be locked away for a crime he didn't commit. I quickly find Haymitch Abernathy's number and tap my foot impatiently as I wait for him to pick up.
To my surprise it is not Abernathy's gruff tones that answer. Instead a perky Finnick Odair picks up.
"Finnick? I didn't realise you were Aberbathy's secretary now," I say.
Finnick laughs.
"I definitely have the looks to pull it off," he replies seductively. "Haymitch even said he'll buy me something pretty if I do a good job."
I smile and shake my head.
"Don't you have a wife and kids you should be at home with? Or are you being the ultimate cliché and having an affair with your boss?" I ask.
Finnick barks out another laugh.
"Haymitch is a very attentive lover," Finnick replies. "Why don't you come and join us in a three way. Or is there another reason you called?"
"I know who killed Madge," I reply.
This shuts Finnick up. He drops the cocky bullshit and I can hear him moving on his seat.
"How do you know that?" he asks.
"It's Darius Donnelly. He's a friend of mine and we were out for drinks when he dropped an engagement ring. It was the engagement ring that Ryan gave Madge," I say.
"Holy shit. It could make sense though. He texted her about an hour before she was killed asking to come over. Madge didn't reply but he could have still gone around anyway," Finnick replies.
"You can't trust the police. I think it's been Thread that has helped set Ryan up," I add.
Finnick lets out a long whistle and I can imagine him shaking his head.
"What about motive? Do you think he had feelings for her? That he was jealous of Ryan?" Finnick asks.
"Mrs Flanagan heard a man and woman arguing the night of the murder. Madge shouted how she didn't love whoever was in the room. Darius could have told her his true feelings and she didn't reciprocate. That's his motive," I reply.
Finnick doesn't say anything else but I hear a door opening on the other end of the phone. Finnick moves away from the phone to speak to the person that has just entered. Once he's explained everything, Haymitch Abernathy takes the phone off him.
"The ring won't be enough," Abernathy says. "And they still won't release Ryan. The only way he won't go to trial is if we get a confession from Darius."
"But if there is enough evidence on Darius it will make your case stronger. Do you have friends on the force who you would trust to check out Darius, maybe get a warrant to search his house?" I ask.
Haymitch pause for a long moment as he thinks.
"I may know some people. I'll see what I can do tomorrow. You sit tight. I know you have nothing else to do but you are not an investigator," he says.
"Okay," I reply.
I hate that there is not more that I can do. I'm not good at feeling useless.
I discuss a few more details with Abernathy before saying goodbye and hanging up. I sit in the living room for a long time before I go to bed. My head buzzes with thoughts about Darius. I play every interaction I've had with him over the past six months and search my mind for more clues that he was Madge's killer. When I do go to bed, I don't ever fully get to sleep. My dreams are full of Madge Undersee and the terrified look in her eyes when she was shot by her best friend.
I'm up, drinking a strong cup of coffee, when Prim gets back from her nightshift. She eyes the mug of coffee and smirks.
"A big night last night?" she asks.
I shake my head.
"I'm not hungover. I couldn't sleep. I know who killed Madge Undersee," I say.
Prim's eyes widen in surprise and some of the tiredness in them disappears. She pulls up a chair and leans in to find out more information.
"What the hell?" she asks.
I give her a weary smile before I tell her everything that happened last night. Once I've finished she leans back in her chair and lets out a long breath.
"Do you think Darius knows you know?" she asks.
"Yes. He gave me a pretty cold look when I left," I reply.
Prim flicks her eyes to the door.
"Jesus Christ, Katniss! Are you safe here? He knows where you live," she points out.
"I don't think he would do anything rash. He's been too clever up to this point," I say.
Prim doesn't look convinced and chews on her bottom lip. As she does so my phone buzzes with a message. I look down and raise my eyebrows when I see who it's from.
"It's Darius," I say.
Prim's eyes widen and then she leans in so she can read the message with me. I take a breath as I press the button to open it.
Katniss, we need to talk.
I gulp and look nervously at Prim. She looks back at me with fear in her eyes.
"Promise me you won't go anywhere by yourself today," she says.
I nod my head and try to keep my heartbeat under control.
I spend the rest of the day locked in the house with Prim. I reply to Darius with a lie that I've gone to stay with my parents for a few days and don't have time for a chat. He doesn't reply which makes me more anxious.
In the early evening Prim gets ready for her night shift. Thresh had come round earlier in the day to check on us and they both sit in the kitchen in their scrubs.
"I still think you should go to Mom and Dad's. It would be good for you even if we weren't worried about Darius," Prim says.
I shake my head.
"I'll be fine. There's no need to get paranoid," I reply.
Prim nods her head but doesn't look convinced. Thresh puts his arm around her and kisses her temple to calm her down a little. Soon after there is a knock on the door and I freeze. Prim turns to look at me guiltily.
"Don't hate me. But I didn't want you to be left alone while we are at work," she says.
"Who did you call, Prim?" I ask.
Prim smiles at me before walking to open the door. I get up off my chair to follow her. Peeta smiles nervously once she's open the door. Prim fiddles with the end of her braid as she explains herself.
"I thought it would you give you another chance to apologise. You both have a lot to talk about," she says. "I know I wasn't very supportive before and Katniss said some stupid things but things are different now. Enjoy!"
I open my mouth to say something but Prim grabs Thresh's hand and darts out the apartment before I can say anything. Peeta turns to watch them flee but then turns back to face me.
"I baked you some cheese buns," he says.
He holds up a plastic box and the smell of bread and melted cheese tickles my nostrils. I smile back at him and step aside to let him in.
"You didn't have to come round today," I say.
Peeta shrugs his shoulders as we both take a seat on the couch
"Prim is pretty persuasive. And she's right. We need to talk," he says.
I nod my head in agreement.
"I was really hurt with what you said about Rye. And it was made worse because you said it to purposefully hurt me. But I believed you when you apologised for it. It's just taken me a while to accept it," he says.
I nod my head and look down, ashamed.
"I know. I'm sorry. I was very selfish. After I saw your parents on Flickerman's show I realised how much this whole thing is hurting you. I'm sorry I couldn't support you," I reply.
"And I'm sorry that I didn't take your concerns about your job seriously. I understand why you freaked out even if I think you could have handled the whole situation better," he says.
I smile gratefully at him.
"I should have never have kissed you. The timing was all wrong," I reply.
"I agree. We shouldn't have started something. It was always going to end the way it did," Peeta says.
"And now?" I ask. "Can you actually ever fully trust me again?"
Peeta shrugs his shoulders.
"I don't know. And I don't think we need to rush anything. I'd just like to get to know you without the case hanging over our heads."
"So friends?" I ask.
I chew on my bottom lip as I wait for Peeta's answer. Slowly a smile spreads across his face.
"Yes. Let's start with friends," he replies.
A smile breaks across my face and I let out a sigh of relief. I release the tension in my shoulders and reach out to pick up a cheese bun.
"You know I'm going to want to eat these all myself," I say.
"I didn't expect anything less," Peeta replies.
I wrap my hand around the still warm bun. Peeta watches me with a smile as I inhale the smell deeply and then pause briefly before savouring my first bite.
"Oh yes, Peeta. This is amazing," I say dreamily.
Peeta chuckles from beside me and I glance to the side to look at him.
"What's so funny?" I ask.
Peeta smiles again.
"You know that you make sex noises while you eat," he says.
"I do not!" I exclaim.
"Really? Does 'Yes, Peeta! Fuck, you're the best!' not sound familiar?" he replies.
I thump him in the arm.
"Don't be cocky. You weren't that good in bed," I say.
Peeta grins and leans in closer to me.
"I think you're lying, Everdeen. Because you would walk funny the next day. You were certainly the best I ever had," he whispers.
A shiver goes up my spine and I gulp down my bit of cheese bun. Just the memory of him makes my clit throb.
I turn to face him slowly and he looks back at me with a cheeky glint in his eye. Warmth begins to spread out in my chest. I can't stop the smile spreading across my face. Any awkwardness slowly begins to slip away and it reminds me how it was before Madge Undersee got murdered.
We turn away from each other and Peeta chooses a movie to watch. The box of cheese buns sits between us and we munch on them as we spend more time talking than paying attention to the movie playing out on the screen. I almost forget about Darius and what he could be planning.
However, about half way through the film, there is a knock on the door and a cold voice floats through.
"Katniss, let me in. I know you're home. Your car is outside," Darius says.
I turn to Peeta with a panicked look. He gets up and carefully walks to the door while I shut the TV off. Darius bangs on the door again.
"If you don't open up then I will just open it myself. It wasn't hard to steal a key from your super," he says.
My heart rate increases and Peeta and I share a worried look. A second later I hear a key in the lock and I rush over to the door. Maybe it I pretend ignorance he'll go away. I pull the door back and Darius smiles back at me. He looks agitated and his bronze hair is a tangled mess. He hasn't shaved today and his pupils are thick and black. He's so different from the friend I knew.
"Sorry. I was just in the bathroom," I lie.
I step aside to let Darius in. He stalks into my apartment and Peeta sidles up beside me and slips his hand in mine. I give his hand a tight squeeze to reassure him I know what I'm doing. Darius looks surprised when he turns around and spots Peeta beside me. He scoffs and shakes his head at the sight.
"I can't escape from you Mellarks. Good to know you are fucking him. Is that why you got thrown off the case?" he asks.
"Peeta is a friend. He came round to watch a movie with me," I reply.
Darius scoffs again.
"I'm not an idiot. Friends don't stand that closely together. Madge certainly never held my hand that tightly," he says bitterly. "What is it about you Mellarks that make girls swoon? Are your dicks made out of chocolate?"
"You never seemed to have a problem getting girls when we went out together," Peeta says. "The girls loved your cheeky personality."
Darius glares at Peeta.
"I don't need your pity compliments. You're not as arrogant as Ryan but you use that charm of yours to good effect," Darius replies.
I can feel the anger radiating out from Darius towards Peeta. In his mind, he just sees Ryan. I'm only beginning to truly understand the extent of Darius' hatred towards Peeta's brother.
"Is everything okay, Darius?" I ask, trying to act innocent. "You don't seem yourself."
"No. Things aren't alright, Katniss. I had the fucking police turn up at my house today. The had a warrant to search my property. Apparently they thought I had some of Madge's things. You don't happen to know anything about that, do you?" he asks.
He steps towards us and put his face up into mine. I lock my eyes onto his and try to stay calm.
"Why would I know anything about that?" I reply.
"Because I know you saw the fucking ring!" he snaps.
I gasp as he pulls out a gun, pushes me against the wall and places it underneath my chin. Peeta drops my hand and cautiously puts up his hands.
"Easy, man. You don't want to do anything you regret. This isn't you. I know it," Peeta says.
The cold metal presses against my skin and sends a chill down my body. My heart goes into overdrive and I concentrate on my breathing to stop Darius from seeing how scared I am. I've faced rapists and violent criminals in the courtroom but nothing prepared me for this.
"I've already done something I regret!" Darius exclaims. "I didn't want to kill her. But she was just so unreasonable. She didn't realise that I was better for her."
His voice wobbles and the gun in his hand begins to shake against my skin. For the first time I sense his turmoil.
"You were in love with her," I state.
In all the training I have ever had, I've been told to keep the attacker talking. The longer you do so the less likely they are to shoot.
"I was there for her every fucking day. I dropped everything the moment she needed me. And she was perfect. Beautiful, smart and kind. But her head always got turned by idiot frat boy types. She couldn't see that they didn't love her like I did," he replies.
"Rye loved her. You took her from him," Peeta says with a cold glare.
Darius removes the gun from underneath my chin and points it at Peeta. I gasp for breath and sag forward once the pressure has been released and Peeta puts his hands up in defence.
"She was just a trophy for him! Goodness know how many girls he slept with while he was with her!" Darius shouts.
"He never cheated on her," Peeta replies.
Darius shakes his head fiercely. I take a step so I'm in his line of sight again.
"How did it happen? I know you wouldn't have done it on purpose," I say.
I don't like that Darius is pointing the gun at Peeta. And Peeta is more emotionally involved than me. He's more likely to say something to set Darius off. Darius turns the gun back on me.
"She'd been upset that week because of the photos at the bachelor party. I thought it was my chance. That she finally realised that Ryan was bad for her. But then I went round that night and she said she was going to forgive him. Started going on about how much she loved him. I didn't want to hear it so told her that I was in love with her. That we should be together. But she wouldn't listen to me. I kissed her and tried to show her much I loved her but she just kept trying to get away," Darius says.
"You tried to rape her," Peeta says coldly.
"She wanted me. She was just scared about what Ryan would do," Darius exclaims.
Peeta shakes his head in disbelief.
"And then she escaped from me and tried to run. She even pointed her gun at me when I wouldn't leave. But I got it off her. And when she ran again, I shot her. I didn't mean to. I just wanted to be with her," he says.
"So you frame my brother for your crime. It's the perfect revenge for the person you hate most in the World," Peeta says.
Darius swings the gun round to point it back at Peeta. His hand shakes in the air as he stares at him.
"Your brother deserves it. He's the reason she's dead. If she had seen sense and been with me she would still be alive!" Darius exclaims.
Hysteria begins to rise in his voice. He's beginning to panic and I'm not sure that's a good thing. Scared people have a habit of doing rash and stupid things.
I take a step towards him and place a tentative hand on his shoulder. Darius jerks round and the gun ends up in my face. His whole body shakes now and tears gather in the corner of his eyes. I put my hands up defensively and try to use a calming voice.
"I believe that you didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident. You can leave now and Peeta and I will forget we ever had this conversation. We won't say anything to the police," I say.
Darius laughs.
"You honestly think I'll believe that," he says before sniffing loudly. "There's no way he's going to let his brother rot in jail for my crime. I can't let you leave this room, Katniss."
My palms get sweaty and my heart feels like it is coming up through my chest. I glance at Peeta and he gives me an alarmed look.
"You don't want to hurt us. You are a good guy, Darius," I plead.
"Good guys get nowhere," he says raising the gun to my head.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Peeta edge towards a table in the corner. On the table is a heavy bronze award Prim won while at college. Peeta curls his hands around it and quietly sneaks up behind Darius.
"They will know it's you. Too many people know I found out the truth," I say.
Darius pushes the barrel of the gun to my forehead. I try hard not to winch as it jabs into my skin.
"Who else did you tell? I bet you told that sister of yours. I suppose I'll have to wait here until she gets back," he says.
"Don't you dare hurt Prim," I say.
"I didn't want it to be this way, Katniss," he replies.
I force myself to keep my eyes open. If he's going to kill me I want him to see the look in my eyes as I die. I straighten my back and stand tall. Defiant.
Peeta has almost snuck up on him but at the last moment steps on a floorboard that creaks. Darius spins round and knocks Peeta down with the force of the spin. The award falls from Peeta's hand and rolls across the floor. Darius is enraged when he sees what Peeta tried to do.
"You Mellarks always get in my way!" Darius rages.
Peeta tries to scramble back to his feet but Darius fires a shot and Peeta grips the bottom of his leg in agony. Blood starts to bloom on his pant leg and I hurl my body at Darius to prevent him from firing a second shot.
Darius screams as I jump on his back and sink my nails into his hand to try and get him to drop the gun. But he holds tight and then manages to throw me off his back. I bash my hip on the corner of the wall and groan as the pain shoots through me.
"Don't make this harder, Katniss," he says as he looks down at me.
I scramble back until my hand touches Prim's award lying on the floor. Darius stalks towards me but when he points the gun at me I pick up the award and knock the weapon out of his hand. The gun spins off into the living room and Darius yells in frustration.
I use his distraction to dart underneath him and towards the gun. My fingers brush against the cool metal just as strong arms pick me up and throw me onto the couch. Darius looms over me and presses his body on top of me.
"You're so much like her. Just as feisty. I like that in a girl," he says.
He plucks at my bra strap and leans in to sniff my hair. I try to fail my limbs underneath him but he's too heavy. I spy Peeta slumped in the corner and the pool of blood gets bigger around him. My heart hammers so loudly in my chest that I can barely hear anything else but I don't give up fighting. I can't.
"I'm not going to end up like Madge Undersee!" I declare.
Darius chuckles and then runs a hand up my body. He bends down to kiss me but when he opens his mouth I bite firmly down on his tongue. He yelps and his hand goes to his mouth to try and stop the blood from pouring out.
"You bitch!" he exclaims.
But I take my opportunity to slide out from underneath him. I'm gone before he realises and I dash towards the gun. I bend down to scoop it up and then turn round to face Darius, pointing the gun at his chest.
"Hands behind your back," I demand.
Darius looks at me stunned but tries to take a step forward. I pull the trigger back and he stops when he hears the click.
"I went hunting with my dad as a kid. And I was archery champion at school. I won't miss," I state.
Darius pauses for a long moment but slowly puts his hands behind his back. I keep the gun trained on him as I shuffle back and rip the cord from around the drapes. I walk back towards him and order him to turn around. I tie his hands together before dragging him to the window and tying his hands to the railing that holds the drapes. Once I've done that I get the cord from the other drapes and tie his feet together. I double check all the knots are secure and then stand up to face him. I look him coldly in the eye.
"You'll pay for what you did to Madge," I say.
Darius doesn't say anything and I then I turn to dash over to Peeta. I grab my phone on the way and dial 911. Once I've explained the situation to them I drop down to my knees to attend to Peeta.
He struggles to keep his eyes open and his forehead is clammy and sweaty. I brush some hair back and then look down to check the bleeding. The whole bottom of his pant leg is crimson red and I panic as I rip my top off and try to tie it tightly round his leg to stop the bleeding.
"Stay awake, Peeta. I'm not going to let you die today. I forbid it," I state.
Peeta manages a weak smile.
"At least I got to see you in your bra for one last time," he says.
I laugh but tears gather in my eyes.
"Don't talk like that. If you stay awake I may even let you see my breasts," I reply.
Peeta laughs but his eyelids are fluttering close. I grab his shoulders and shake him.
"Peeta! You need to stay awake! Don't go to sleep. Open your eyes for me!" I exclaim.
But I get no response this time. Instead his eyelids flicker close.
A/N: Sorry to leave you on another cliffhanger! Only one more chapter and an epilogue left after this. Hope everyone has enjoyed the ride!