“I would say that’s the truest statement I’ve heard in a long time,” Kreskin said. “How do you feel about it?”
“I just want Maddie to be happy.”
“I’ve seen her. She seems happy.”
“Yeah.”
They lapsed into silence for a beat, Nick never asking where they were going. It didn’t matter. Kreskin would tell him when it was necessary. After a few moments, Nick broke the silence because he simply couldn’t stop himself.
“It’s cute that she was trying on the dress, right? Like … she’s the cutest woman in the world.”
“Oh, good grief,” Kreskin groaned. “I can’t wait until you two get past this ‘no, I love you more’ stage. It’s starting to get old.”
“I think you like it.”
“I think you’re a sap.”
“Maybe a little.” Nick’s grin widened. “We’re going to be married in less than a week. In a few days, I’m going to be able to call her ‘my wife’ and know that it’s never going to change.”
Kreskin wanted to make a snide comment, but he couldn’t. His partner was simply too earnest. “You’re going on a two-week honeymoon, right?”
Nick nodded. “A gift from George. We’re going to Disney World for a week – and Harry Potter World because Maddie is dying to see it – and then we’re doing a week on a cruise.”
“That sounds like a nice honeymoon.”
“I know. I can’t wait.”
“Me either. It means I’ll be able to go two weeks without hearing about your endless love for Maddie. It’s going to be like a vacation of my own.”
“I’ll send you texts so you don’t feel left out.”
“Don’t you dare.”
NICK WASN’T SURPRISED WHEN Kreskin pulled into the driveway at the Clark home. He figured this would be their first stop, and as much as he hated returning to reality, he knew he didn’t have a choice. He wanted this case closed as soon as possible so he could focus on the wedding.
Aaron was in the front yard looking at a mower. He had it tipped on its side and was peering at the blades underneath. Nick hunkered down when they got close enough and followed the boy’s gaze.
“Problem?”
“It won’t start,” Aaron replied, his affect flat. “I don’t usually mow the lawn so I’m not sure what’s wrong with it.”
“Hold on.” Nick used his hand to remove some of the old grass that had dried and stuck to the blades. “Let me try to clean this off. It will probably start after that.”
“Thanks.” Aaron dragged a hand through his dark hair and focused on Kreskin. “Why are you guys here? I thought my mom told you everything she already knows.”
“We have a few more questions for her. Is she inside with your sister?”
“She’s always with my sister.”
“Your sister needs a lot of attention,” Nick supplied. “That’s probably not easy for you, though. I’m guessing you feel as if you’ve been neglected because of your sister’s needs.”
“Not at all.” Aaron was blasé as he leaned back on his haunches. “My sister is kind of a pain. There’s no getting around that. She’s not bad when you learn her quirks, though. She just likes a routine. She’s pretty normal otherwise.”
“It’s nice that you are so patient with her.”
“She doesn’t bug me. Sure, she’s embarrassing when she melts down, but that doesn’t happen as much as it used to and she really can’t help it.”
“Well … .” Nick didn’t know what to say to that. “How is your dad? I hear that he’s off the ventilator.”
“He still hasn’t woken up.”
“No, but the doctors are hopeful it will happen.”
“I heard them talking to my mom,” Aaron countered. “She didn’t want me to hear, but I listened anyway. They said that he lost a lot of blood and they’re worried because he hasn’t woken up yet, that maybe he has brain damage or something.”
That was news to Nick. “You can’t worry about that right now. You can’t sit around fretting about what might happen. You can only tackle what is, not what may be.” He rolled the lawn mower so it was resting upright. “Try it again.”
The lawnmower roared to life on the first tug and Aaron flashed a grateful thumbs-up to Nick. Since the conversation was essentially over thanks to the noise, Nick and Kreskin made their way to the front door. Alicia didn’t answer until the third knock and she looked frazzled when she finally pulled open the door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her already pale face draining of color. “Has something happened? Trevor isn’t … dead … is he?”
“Not last time we checked,” Kreskin replied calmly. “I believe he’s stable but still unconscious.”
“Oh.” Alicia pressed her hand to her chest. “Good. Although … why are you here?”
“We have some things we have to discuss with you.”
Suspicion flitted through Alicia’s eyes. “What? I told you it was an accident.”
Kreskin didn’t as much as blink. “Can we come in? This conversation might take some time.”
For a moment, Nick thought Alicia might actually slam the door in their faces. Instead, she pushed it open and ushered them inside. The two police officers followed her through the house, not stopping until they reached the kitchen, which looked as if a tornado had hit.
“What happened here?” Kreskin asked, alarmed. “Did someone break in?” There were dirty dishes and garbage strewn around the room.
“No, this is just what happens when Aaron makes Catelynn breakfast,” she replied. “He tries but … he’s not good on the domestic front. He gets that from his father.” Her smile was wan as she started sweeping items into an open garbage bag. “What is it you want to discuss with me?”
“Several things,” Kreskin replied, fighting the urge to wrinkle his nose in disgust. “First off, we got the ballistics report back from the state police. You should know, it’s impossible for Trevor to have shot himself.”
Other than a shaky hand, Alicia’s demeanor didn’t change. “I don’t understand what that means.”
“It means that someone shot him,” Kreskin explained. “It means that your story doesn’t make any sense.”
“It’s the truth, though.” Alicia gathered her nerves and met Kreskin’s gaze. “That’s what happened. You took those tests of my hands. I didn’t shoot him so they must’ve come up clean.”
“They did,” Kreskin confirmed. “That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re innocent, though.”
“But I am. I didn’t hurt him. I would never hurt him.”
“Even though he was having an affair?” Kreskin dropped the bomb as if he was informing Alicia that it was supposed to rain the next day.
Again, Alicia’s expression didn’t shift. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Her tone alerted Nick that she was lying. “You know. I think you’ve known for a long time.”
Alicia swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Trevor and I were working on our marriage. He wasn’t having an affair.”
“He was,” Nick countered. “He was sleeping with Marla Proctor.”
“He was?” Kreskin’s eyebrows practically flew off his forehead. “When did you find that out?”
“Yesterday,” Nick replied, never breaking eye contact with Alicia. “I was going to tell you, but I forgot. Something tells me that Alicia already knew about her husband’s dalliance with Marla, though. When did you find out, Alicia?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she repeated, this time more strenuously. “I didn’t shoot my husband. I know you think I did, but I didn’t. We were happy. We were working on things. I didn’t do what you think I did.”
Nick stared at her for a long time before he gave up. She showed no signs of cracking. “Don’t leave town,” he instructed. “We’ll be back with more questions … and answers. This isn’t going to simply go away.”
“I didn’t think it
would,” Alicia said. “I didn’t shoot him, though. You’re looking in the wrong place.”
“Then point me in the right place.”
“It was an accident. He did it to himself.”
“He didn’t.”
“Well … I don’t know what to tell you.”
MADDIE, DRESSED IN A FRESH costume, was all smiles when she exited her house shortly before noon. She had twenty minutes to make it to the fairgrounds, so she opted to walk since she knew that Nick would drive her home when she was finished. All thoughts of transportation vacated her mind, however, when she found Marla standing in her driveway.
“What are you doing here?” Maddie asked, confused. She glanced around to see if someone was filming from the tree line for one of those hidden-camera shows. She couldn’t remember Marla ever stopping by with any intention other than mayhem.
“I came to talk to you.” Marla shifted from one foot to the other, and for the first time she could remember, Maddie realized the woman came across as nervous rather than aggressive.
“Why would you possibly want to talk to me?” Maddie queried, legitimately confused. “We have nothing to discuss.”
“On a normal day, I would agree with that. Today, though, is different.”
Maddie folded her arms over her chest, her message clear. She was done letting Marla walk all over her. The second the woman said something she didn’t like, Maddie had every intention of kicking her off the property. “What? What do you want? What do you possibly think we have to discuss?”
“Trevor.”
Maddie realized after the fact that she should’ve seen this discussion coming. “You want to talk about Trevor Clark? Are you serious?”
“I don’t know how you know about us … .”
“The spirits told me,” Maddie offered, holding her hands out and wiggling her fingers. “Don’t you know that I’m psychic?” That was the truth – and something Maddie often tried to hide – but she said it now for comedic effect. Marla knew the truth, at least deep down inside, and there was no sense pussyfooting around it. “I saw in your head yesterday, Marla. I know everything.”
“And what do you think the truth is?” Marla challenged, her eyes flashing. “What is it you think you saw?”
“You’re having an affair with Trevor. I’m not sure how long it’s been going on, but it’s definitely happening. I’m kind of curious actually: Have you been to the hospital to see him? It seems to me, since you’re so in love, you would be sitting by his bedside.”
“We are in love,” Marla confirmed. “We’re … completely in love. His wife is the reason we’re not together.”
Maddie waited for the punchline. When it didn’t come, she laughed anyway. “You cannot be serious, Marla. His wife is the reason you’re not together? They’re married. They made vows to each other.”
“He’s not happy, though.”
“Then he should get a divorce, not run around on his wife. There’s a name for people who break their vows.”
“Yes, it’s called unhappy individuals. He’s miserable, not a villain. She’s the one who shot him.”
“I don’t know that she did.” Maddie was careful when choosing words. “That situation is still fluid.”
“Well … she’s keeping me from visiting him in the hospital,” Marla snapped. “Only family members are allowed in. She got to pick the rules. I know because the nurse told me.”
“Well, maybe she was afraid you would give him herpes or something and she didn’t want him to be in the hospital recovering forever.” Even Maddie was surprised by the snarky words that escaped her lips, but she didn’t apologize for them.
“We’re in love,” Marla repeated. “It’s the same thing you feel for Nick.”
“Oh, it’s not even close to the same thing,” Maddie snapped. “Nick and I aren’t married to other people. We’re building a life together. You and Trevor are sneaking around.”
“Only until he can secure a divorce from his wife.”
“Why not do that first?” Maddie challenged. “I’m not saying I agree with that either, but why not at least be a man and tell his wife what he’s up to? Why all the sneaking around? Why bother reconciling with her if he planned on cheating again?”
“I … .” Marla had no answer.
“You’re not the first person he’s cheated with,” Maddie pointed out. “He’s been with other women. Apparently he’s been with a lot of other women. What makes you think you’ll be the last?”
“He told me.”
“I’m sure he told Alicia specific things, too.”
“I’m better than Alicia.”
“No, you’re not.” Maddie was fed up with the conversation and started walking toward the sidewalk. “You’re not better than her, Marla. You’re just … more aggressive than her. I’m not sure that’s something to be proud of.”
“I want you to promise that you’re not going to tell anyone,” Marla called out to Maddie’s back. “I don’t want people thinking I’m a homewrecker.”
“I already told Nick.”
“Tell him you were lying.”
“No.”
“Then don’t tell anyone else,” Marla snapped. “Especially don’t tell Christy. If you tell her, everyone in town will know.”
“Yeah, well, I told my grandmother, too,” Maddie admitted, thinking back to the conversation that occurred when she was stripping out of her dress. “I’m sure everyone in town already knows.”
A look of anguish washed over Marla’s features. “You told Maude? Why would you do that?”
“I tell her everything … or at least things I find interesting. She was thrilled with the gossip.”
“Now everyone is going to think I’m a homewrecker.”
“You are a homewrecker.”
“Yeah, but now everybody is going to know it.”
Maddie was unmoved as she turned her back on Marla. “Tough break for you. I’ll see you later, Marla. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”
Ten
Nick and Kreskin made a point of watching Alicia’s house from the street for several hours. They wanted the woman to know they weren’t going away — to send a clear message of sorts — and they used the time to go over their notes.
“We checked every sink, right?” Nick queried.
Kreskin nodded. “There is a full bathroom on the second floor, a full bathroom off the master bedroom on the main floor, and a half-bathroom on the main floor. All were checked.”
“I checked the laundry, too,” Nick added. “I looked through every basket, and in the washer and dryer to make sure a wet towel hadn’t been shoved inside. That doesn’t necessarily mean that she didn’t hide a towel someplace else, but that part of the equation looks good for her.”
“The problem is, let’s say we believe that she really didn’t do it,” Kreskin said. “How did someone get into the house and shoot Trevor without her noticing? Wouldn’t she have seen whoever it was fleeing? I just ... don’t get it.”
Nick pursed his lips as he pictured the interior of the house. “The office where Trevor was shot is to the left when you enter.” He used his hands to demonstrate. “The kitchen is to the right. Alicia said she was in the kitchen and went to the office when she heard the noise. Maybe the shooter slipped down the hallway on the other side of the office and then out the back door. Alicia might not have seen whomever it was if that’s the case.”
“I guess.” Kreskin touched his chin, unconvinced. “It feels wrong, though. We’re missing something. She could’ve shot him and lied about it,” he added. “Maybe she wore gloves. Did you look for gloves?”
Nick shook his head. “No. I didn’t even consider it. I think I would’ve noticed if any were lying around, but if she hid them ... that would mean premeditation.” He changed his thought process halfway through the conversation. “Do you think she premeditated it? I always assumed, if she did snap and do the deed, that it was in the heat of the moment because she found out he was
having an affair.”
“You saw her. She knows he was sleeping with Marla — and I’m going to guess that she knows about a lot of the other affairs, too — and she’s unwilling to talk about it. She pretends she didn’t know.”
“That could be a defense mechanism. Maddie and I talked about that last night. She says that some women prefer being in the dark and married rather than alone and aware of everything going on.”
“You and Maddie talked about this, huh?” Kreskin was amused. “Where did her opinion land?”
“Cheating is wrong.”
Kreskin made a face. “I know that, smarty pants. The last thing she has to worry about is you cheating on her. I was asking if she thought Alicia was capable of shooting Trevor if she found out he was cheating.”
“Oh.” Nick snickered. “She tends to believe, like you, that Alicia isn’t the type. She keeps trying to find answers that I’m not sure exist.”
“I would like to talk to her,” Kreskin admitted, causing Nick’s eyebrows to hop. “She saw Alicia right before all this went down. You told me that. I want to hear the full story.”
“She’s at the festival all afternoon.”
“She gets a lunch break, right?”
“She does.”
“Then let’s head over there. We can buy her lunch, you can fawn all over her, and maybe we’ll come up with some ideas if we all put our heads together.”
“I think you just want to spend time with her because she’s pretty,” Nick countered, enjoying the way Kreskin shifted on his seat. “Just remember ... she’s mine.”
“Ugh. Seriously, you are the biggest pain in the behind. You’re so full of yourself today it’s almost painful to be around you.”
“I think I’m a joy.”
“And I think you’re an idiot,” Kreskin countered. “You become more and more sloppy in love the closer we get to the wedding.”
“Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”
“I guess, but you’re to refrain from laying a hand on Maddie until after I finish my questioning. I’m putting my foot down.”
“I didn’t agree to those rules.”
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