Detective Stowe was sitting in the gray hard interrogation room, staring silently at Valerie Keller. Valerie’s eyes were puffy and red, and her hair was loose and unkempt. A piece jutted out from the side above her ear where she had feebly attempted to gain some control over her world. She’d failed.
In the second interrogation room, sat her sister, Evelyn. This room was even more austere with nothing more than an industrial table, complete with a loop to attach handcuffs, and two plastic chairs.
Ty hated that Valerie had gotten wrapped up in this. She was a nice person, but he was struggling to come to terms with what had taken place. She had to have been involved or at least had some knowledge of her sister’s intentions, but this was her chance to tell her side of the story and exonerate herself from a potential crime.
Holly was scratching at the edge of her blue plaster cast on her left arm, and he was surprised that it was already bothering her. It was going to be a long six weeks, but he would be there to take care of her and get her everything she needed.
He felt horrible that she had been hurt in the home invasion, but he was glad that he had been there and had been able to stop the woman before she had killed Holly. Another couple of minutes, and he held no doubt that the woman would have tried to beat her to death.
He’d be lying if he didn’t kind of love the fact that when he had found Holly, shaking and crying after the police had arrived at his place, that she was still holding the lamp. He’d asked her what it was about, and she’d explained that she intended to take down the woman if need be.
It was funny to him that they had both gone to household objects in order to have a weapon.
He’d always heard a computer could be his best weapon, but he had never really thought of it as one as much as he did now. The thought made a smile flutter over his lips.
When he arrived in his office this morning, there had even been a little pink toddler computer on his desk, with the note that read “In case of emergencies.”
His coworkers definitely thought they were a bunch of clowns. But it did make him laugh.
On the other side of the coin, when the sheriff had called him into his office after the attack, he wasn’t as amused. But he really couldn’t say anything as he had used the computer to stop a crime. No doubt it would end up costing the department a couple grand, but he wasn’t sad or repentant. The only thing he was sorry about was the fact that he hadn’t taken action against the woman before she had the chance to hurt the people he loved.
“Has Evelyn said anything?” Holly asked.
Ty shook his head. “Not since she came back from the hospital. They drew blood on her, and according to the doctor, it sounded like Evelyn was higher than a kite. High doses of opioids in her system as well as barbiturates and marijuana.”
She shook her head, but she didn’t look surprised. “I’m sure she and Robert were using together. It definitely helps to make sense of some of their erratic behaviors.”
He looked over at her and noticed the way her blond hair was loose around her shoulders in a long cascading wave. Her makeup was on point and, aside from the cast on her arm, she seemed perfectly put together. For the first time since he’d come back into her life, she seemed to be at peace. Unfortunately, he had a feeling he was going to cause an upheaval and he didn’t like himself for it. Yet, they needed to find answers and sometimes a little upheaval wasn’t a bad thing.
“She’ll be going through detox soon, and before she does, we need to get her to start talking.” He caught Holly’s gaze and sent her a wordless question.
“Seriously?” she asked, having been able to read it on his face. “You want me to go in there? Don’t you think that it will send her over the edge? She’s a drug addict and unpredictable.”
He reached down and took her hand in his. “This isn’t like before. You are in a controlled environment, she is handcuffed and I’m right here. All I want you to do is get her talking. I know it’s unconventional, but I want to see her response to you.”
She stared at their entwined hands like they were a lifeline, and she was on a sinking ship. He hated that look on her face. The last thing they were was sinking. No, they were rising on the tide of change and finally breaking through the storms that had ravaged her life. She was strong and together they would grow even stronger.
“If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to—no pressure. If you choose to go in, I’ll be right by your side.”
That made her entire demeanor change. She lifted her chin and her shoulders straightened. “Okay. I just don’t want to be in there alone with her. I know what she is capable of,” she said, lifting her casted arm.
“If I have my way, you’ll never have to do anything in your life alone again.” He winked.
Her mouth dropped open and she tilted her head slightly, reminding him of a confused puppy. She was no puppy, but he loved that expression. He’d do anything to see that expression every day. There was nothing better than surprising her.
“But you haven’t...you don’t love me.” She smiled widely as if she knew, without him saying, what he was thinking and feeling.
In this moment, he wasn’t about to break that seal. He sent her what he knew was his most charming smile. “We will see about that. Besides, you’re still on trial,” he teased.
The door to the interrogation room opened, and Stowe walked out and into the large chamber that looked into both interrogation areas. He was shaking his head and looking dejected as he closed the door behind him. The reality of the moment pulled them from their playfulness, and Ty was reminded all too much about everything that was at stake.
If they did not get a confession from Evelyn, or something from Valerie that tied her or her sister directly to Moose’s death it would be extremely hard to prove. They could get Evelyn on charges of breaking and entering and assault, maybe even more if she had been the one who had shot at them; but until they got all of the reports back from the crime lab about the knife and their findings, it would all depend on this interrogation and their ability to make her and her sister talk.
The good news was that with those charges alone, he could keep Evelyn in jail for at least as long as it would take to get the results. As such if Holly didn’t want to go in there, or if she got in there and needed out right away, there was still time. However, he also knew that Rebecca, Moose’s mother, was waiting on answers.
It was his hope that after today, he could go to her and tell her that the person responsible for her son’s death was behind bars and would go to trial for their crime.
“Valerie’s refusing to talk besides saying that she had nothing to do with the murders. The only good news is that she hasn’t lawyered up,” Detective Stowe said. He stepped beside them in front of the two-way mirror and looked in on the interrogation room with Evelyn.
She was staring down at her hands, where the shackles where pinched tight around her wrists. She moved her arms slightly, like she was trying to make them less uncomfortable, but they had been designed to hurt. If she hadn’t been combative with Holly and him, he wouldn’t have required that she keep them on, but as it was, he didn’t trust her. Especially given the fact that she was on drugs.
“Is it okay if I go in and talk to her?” Holly asked. “Maybe I can get her to start talking. At least, I want to ask her why she did what she did.” She looked over at Ty for reassurance, and he sent her a comforting smile.
He was proud of her for her strength and tenacity.
“She did what she did because she is a criminal, but I get what you’re saying,” Stowe said.
His ego must have been slightly bruised that the big-city detective couldn’t get the small-town drug addict to open up and he was aware their only shot lay with Holly. Ty shouldn’t have found a glimmer of joy in it, but he couldn’t help himself.
“She and I will go in together,” Ty said, getting in front of the man’s possible arguments against them talking to Evelyn.
“If you think you can get her to talk, knock yourselves out. But do remember that the county attorney and the judges will be watching all of the footage from inside that room. Everything that happens will be heavily scrutinized.” Stowe shot them a deathly serious look.
Ty appreciated what the guy was saying, but he needed no reminder. “I’m hoping that given the fact that she may have played a role in a law enforcement officer’s death, that this is one trial that will go a little smoother.”
“As I’m sure you know, before we make any assumptions, we need to make sure that this is the person or persons we are looking for in relation to your friend’s murder.” Stowe paused. “I know we’ve talked about it a little bit, but I still can’t understand why she would have targeted Moose.”
“He was having a relationship with Valerie—that’s why we brought her in to talk. She may give us some hard evidence connecting either her or her sister directly to these murders. When we brought her in, she admitted she’d been sleeping with Moose. Who knows? Maybe that’s why Evelyn thought she needed to act. Maybe something in her drug-addled brain told her that her sister needed to be saved.” Ty shrugged.
“Again, you’re making assumptions. We need concrete evidence or the woman in there—” he motioned toward the interrogation room where Evelyn sat “—to start talking. If we don’t, she may very well get away with murder.”
“Let me at her,” Holly said, stepping toward the door.
Stowe looked torn but gave her a stiff nod as he touched the doorknob. He pushed the door open and waited for Holly to follow Ty into the room.
Evelyn looked up from her dedicated study of her handcuffs. Her expression darkened, and her lips pulled into a twisted sneer. “Couldn’t get enough of me?” she challenged.
“If I remember correctly, I put up a pretty good fight,” Holly said.
“But I see you’re wearing a cast,” Evelyn countered, with a malicious grin.
Holly moved to the chair across from the woman and sat down. Ty stepped behind her, covering her back and giving her his support.
“How’s your head doing?” he asked, motioning to the back of her head where he had smashed the computer into her. “Got a little bit of a headache?” He really couldn’t help himself this morning.
“Gloat all you want,” Evelyn said, a twisted smile on her lips. “I still got what I wanted.” She looked directly at Holly. “Though, if I’d gotten everything I wanted, you’d be dead, too. Actually, both of you would be. If only I had killed you the first chance I had.”
Holly looked at her. “What do you mean?”
“When I had Robert’s truck. I should have waited and been more patient, but I had to shoot. I couldn’t stand watching you two smiling together. You’re the worst kind of woman. You deserve to die.”
She tried to hide her surprise and hatred toward the woman who not only despised her, but also wanted her dead.
“What did I ever do to you?” Holly asked. She leaned against the table like it could support her emotionally as well as physically.
Ty dropped his hand to her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze and hopefully letting her know that she was doing well.
“If it weren’t for you, Robert would have loved me.”
Holly made a choking sound. “You do know that I was not interested in Robert in any way,” Holly said, putting her hands down on the table in a symbolic gesture that she was telling the truth. “He wouldn’t leave me alone and I didn’t want anything to do with him romantically.”
Evelyn started to rock back and forth, but Ty wasn’t sure if it was because of a nervous tick or the fact that she was likely coming down off drugs.
“You’re a liar.” Evelyn’s movements grew more erratic. “Robert told me what a liar you were. He told me all about what you did to him, and how you wouldn’t leave him alone. He even showed me all the times you called and texted him. You loved him. You know you loved him.” The woman’s words came out faster and faster almost in tandem with her rocking.
“I talked to him because I worked with him.” She paused as she pulled up memories. “He didn’t take it well when I ignored him, and he would get more and more incensed the longer I went without responding.” Holly sounded as though she was struggling to control the emotions she was feeling from leaching into her voice.
Ty hated that she was struggling. “Evelyn, why were you on the mountain the day of Moose’s death?” He was aware that he was leading her, but this wasn’t a courtroom and he simply needed her to acknowledge the fact that she had been in proximity at the time of the murder.
“Robert had told me that she was up there. He was really upset. She hadn’t responded to him the night before she went missing. She’s so selfish. She ruins everything.” Evelyn was staring back down at her cuffs.
It didn’t escape him that she was talking about Holly like she wasn’t in the room.
“But why were you on the mountain? Were you looking for Holly?”
She looked up at him, anger filling her face with hard lines. “If I killed her, I could solve everything. I could do what needed to be done. Robert would be free of her, and he’d never be held accountable for her death. What I really wanted was for no one to find her body.”
“So, you went up on the mountain with the intention of killing Holly?”
“Yes.” Evelyn spat the word in anger. “And I would have. If that reckless man hadn’t gotten in my way. I didn’t plan on using that knife on him. I wanted to make it look like Holly had gone to the woods and slit her wrists. Everything went wrong, though.”
“Did you cut his throat?”
She blanched. “I stabbed him first... He tried to fight back, but I got the knife out and moved at him.” She paused, looking toward the mirror. She smiled, wickedly. “It is strange how easy it is to cut someone’s throat. The windpipe feels like cutting through a rubber band.”
He hated this woman. She was the epitome of a criminal. She was so self-righteous and so filled with anger and hate, there was no rehabilitating her. When she went to prison for this, which she would, he’d make sure of it, she needed to never get out.
“He told me what you guys were there to do, and I knew I was too late. But I knew I’d get another chance, I just had to be patient. I just had to watch.” Evelyn’s rocking slowed. “That’s why I went to her house... If only you hadn’t been there...” She sounded aggrieved.
Her breaking into Holly’s garage and his now made a little more sense. It was warm and sheltered from the elements. From within, she’d probably been able to watch anything she wanted through the kitchen window.
In fact, he wasn’t sure that she couldn’t have seen into his breakfast nook from nearly the same vantage point. He didn’t want to ask if she had watched them that night when he’d been with Holly. He wouldn’t let this mad woman steal anything from that wonderful night. She’d already taken enough from their lives.
Holly said nothing.
“Was the knife we found in the garage the same knife you used to kill Moose?” he asked, his stomach roiling at the thought but he forced himself to remain stoic.
“I thought it was a nice touch.”
“Why did you leave it?” he pressed.
“I wanted Holly to know I was coming for her—and that I wasn’t afraid to kill again.” She looked over at Holly and sent her a vicious smile.
Holly turned away.
As much as he wanted to protect Holly, he appreciated that she was here—her presence was helping. Evelyn hated her so much that she only cared about hurting her, and in doing so she was digging herself a deeper prison sentence.
“And why did you kill Robert, if you loved him so much?” he pressed, though he didn’t have a clue whether or not Evelyn had played any role in the man’s death.
Evelyn threw her hands up as high as she could with them being bolted to the table. “I didn’t do that. I could never have hurt him. I tried to make him stop. But all he could do was talk about her. He said she was never going to take him back. That I’d screwed everything up.” Her words came out fast. “I tried to get the gun out of his hand.” Evelyn’s voice cracked with emotion.
The way she spoke made him think that she was likely telling them the truth.
“Before I could get the gun out of his hand, he’d had it against his chin and...” Evelyn stopped talking. “I tried to help him. I tried.” Tears welled in her eyes, and a single droplet spilled down her cheek, making her appear almost human.
Ty reached for the box of Kleenex and pushed it over in the woman’s direction. He knew he should have expressed sorrow for the woman’s loss. He’d been present at more than one callout that had ended in a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was grizzly. It was something that a person could not unsee. However, these two individuals, Robert and Evelyn, had been playing an evil game.
Though they had all experienced so much tragedy and loss, Ty was relieved. They finally had some answers and a path for recourse. There would be justice for his best friend’s death and the attempted taking of Holly’s life.