CHAPTER SIXTY

 

Selene was at the shelter when she received the news that Robert Leighton had confessed to setting the fire at S.A.W. House. It came as more of a relief than shock, given the mounting evidence against him. Along with facing charges for arson and endangering lives, he would be charged with offenses relating to domestic violence and violating a protective order.

According to Dennis Cramer, the savvy attorney was also considered a suspect in The Woods Strangler case. Selene wondered if Robert Leighton had gone over the edge in his dislike and aggression toward women. Selene hoped that wasn’t the case, as she didn’t want Ashley to suffer any more than she already had.

Selene suspected that Robert would be put away long enough for Ashley’s wounds to heal so she could move on with her life. After an investigation, she had been cleared of any wrongdoing for shooting her husband in self-defense and had returned to work.

Selene was seated at her desk. At least one load had been lifted off her shoulders with the arson investigation solved and the arsonist identified.

After calling Quinn and talking for half an hour, Selene hung up and was just about to make the rounds and check on the houseguests, when the phone rang. She picked it up routinely.

“S.A.W. House. Selene Herrera. How may I help you?”

“By getting that bastard killing machine that you live with off the streets,” the distorted voice growled.

Selene’s pulse quickened. It was him! Just keep calm and try to keep him on the line as long as possible.

“I wondered if I would ever hear from you again,” she uttered, feigning enthusiasm.

“You’ll always hear from me—as long as you allow Herrera get away with cold-blooded murder.”

Selene grabbed her cell phone and punched redial for Detective Dennis Cramer’s office.

A moment later, she heard him bellow, “Cramer.”

“That man’s on the line at my office,” Selene whispered, even though she had put the other phone on mute. She hoped the trace was already in the works.

Cramer was quick to react. “Good. Stay with him as long as possible.”

Selene took a deep breath and disengaged the mute button, putting the call on speakerphone.

“I went to the police and they investigated Quinn,” she told him. “And he hasn’t been charged with anything. What more can I do?”

“That was a good first step,” the muffled voice said. “But the cops don’t want him to pay his debt to society. Not when they can find a scapegoat to hang this on. The only way to stop him from strangling more women is to take him out yourself—”

“Are you crazy...?” Selene fought hard quell her anger and stay composed to keep him on the line. “Why would I murder my husband just because you want me to?”

“Because Quinn Herrera won’t stop till he’s put down! The man is a viper and will kill again if you ignore what I’m saying. I guarantee it.”

“I need more than your guarantee that Quinn is the killer,” Selene said, trying to extend the conversation. “Do you have any proof that I can give to the police or use to take action myself?”

This seemed to throw him off, and Selene used the silence to mute the caller again and put the cell phone to her ear.

“Can you hear him?” she asked Cramer.

“Yes. You’re doing a good job, Selene. Keep him talking.”

“I don’t know how much longer I can hold him.”

“We’re almost there,” Cramer promised.

“I don’t go around collecting evidence of his crimes,” the caller finally said caustically. “But I can tell you that the evidence is in your house. You just have to find it...”

“I have trouble believing anything you say.” Selene was disgusted that she had to keep talking to this creep. “Why do you have to hide behind that altered voice? Who are you anyway? Why can’t we meet and discuss this face to face?”

“All in good time,” he said calmly. “All in good time. First, you’ve got to stop Herrera from putting the squeeze on any more pretty necks. Then we’ll talk about getting together—”

Selene muted the caller once more and grabbed her cell phone.

“We’ve got him,” Cramer declared jubilantly. “Say goodbye to the bastard.”

“I think I’ve heard just about enough of this nonsense,” Selene said to the caller. “Quinn isn’t a killer. But maybe you are! Do me a favor and find someone else to accuse. Better yet, why don’t you check yourself into an asylum for delusional people? I’m sure they’d welcome you with open arms...”

Selene hung up, feeling triumphant, though this invasion of her privacy had not yet reached a conclusion.

“We’ll find out shortly what he has to say for himself,” Cramer told her. “And if he knows more about The Woods murders than meets the eye.”

“Did you identify him?” Selene asked eagerly.

Cramer paused before saying, “Afraid so. It’s Michel Giovanni—”