CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

 

“He could’ve killed you if Todd hadn’t come to your rescue that day,” Elisa said, wide-eyed at the mere notion.

“That’s true,” Selene conceded, sipping coffee.

They were sitting in Elisa’s living room. A week had passed since Selene had been given the news that Michel was dead from an apparent suicide and suspected of being The Woods Strangler. Subsequent investigation by the authorities had positively linked items taken from Michel’s motel room to the strangler’s victims. Additionally, DNA evidence had tied fibers from clothing found among Michel’s belongings to fibers at the murder scenes.

The police had declared the case solved. No further murders had occurred, bolstering the belief that Michel Giovanni was their man.

“Thank God Michel never got a second chance with you to finish what he started,” Elisa said.

“I’m still having trouble accepting that Michel was able to successfully orchestrate this killing spree while dividing his time between a cheap motel and his car,” she blurted out unintentionally.

Elisa nearly spit out her tea. “Will you listen to yourself? Your psycho ex called you at all hours of the day and night practically confessing to the crimes, only you weren’t listening. And he was accosting you whenever he felt like it. What more proof do you need that the police haven’t already given you?”

Good question, Selene thought. I wish I knew the answer. “But what was the point of trying to convince me that Quinn was the killer if Michel was doing the dirty work himself? I mean, he seemed to be more intent on scaring me into his arms, and even ending up with some or all of the reward money than stalking and murdering those women. The police have never been able to verify one hundred percent that Michel was even in Bluffs Bay when the murders started—”

“So what are you saying? You think Quinn really did kill those women?”

Selene met Elisa’s narrowed gaze. “No, of course not!”

“Then who?”

“I don’t know. Call it a gut feeling, but I think the killer is someone who lives in The Woods and attended some of the Citizens Against Crime meetings. It doesn’t seem likely that Michel would’ve dared show his face there—and he definitely wasn’t invited...”

“Now I know you’ve lost your mind!” Elisa exclaimed. “If the police are satisfied they’ve got their man, why can’t you be? We both know your ex wasn’t a saint. Any man who would beat up on women and stalk them is just as capable of strangling them—”

Selene thought about it. Maybe she had lost her mind or had given Michel too much credit for being an abuser, anonymous caller, and flat out creep, but not a killer. Nevertheless, she doubted she would be able to prove otherwise unless the killer set his sights on another victim, clearing Michel of being The Woods Strangler.

They heard the side door open and, momentarily, Marvin entered the room. He had a basketball in his hand, a towel flung over his tee shirt, and was dripping with perspiration.

“Yuck, hurry up and take a shower,” Elisa ordered him, wrinkling her nose.

“Don’t go on my account,” Selene half-joked.

Marvin grinned. “Actually I’m gonna shoot some more hoops out back for a little while longer. Just came in to see if you told Selene our news, honey?”

Selene looked at Elisa. “What news?”

Elisa flushed. “I hadn’t gotten around to it yet,” she said evasively. “We were busy talking about some other stuff.”

“So what’s the big secret?” Selene asked impatiently.

“We’re going to have a baby!” Marvin blurted out.

“What—?”

Elisa grinned. “Yeah, you heard right. I’m pregnant.”

“That’s wonderful,” Selene said. “Congratulations to both of you.”

Selene thought about the biological clock ticking inside her body. She wondered if the time would soon come when she and Quinn would have a little one to bless with love and goodness. The idea sent waves of joy through Selene.

* * *

That night the thought of motherhood was still with Selene as she and Quinn made love. She squeezed his buttocks, bringing them closer together. Her nipples hardened against Quinn’s chest and she moaned from the sensation. She wrapped her legs around his back, making him her prisoner. Selene felt this was as good a time as any to bring up what was on her mind.

“How do you feel about having a baby?”

Quinn pulled back and stared into Selene’s face. They had talked about having a child, but only in the future. Selene had wanted to wait, fearful that her work at the shelter would make it difficult to be a good mother. He wondered what had changed her mind.

“We’d make great parents and I’d love to bring a child into this world,” Quinn said. “How do you feel about it?”

A blissful smile played on Selene’s lips. “I want that more than anything.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. It seems like the right time now to start our family. I can delegate authority at the shelter to others and take the time I need to be a mother.”

Quinn’s eyes danced with delight. “I agree.”

Selene kissed him. “So, no more birth control for a while?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” She pushed him up and over, climbing on top, before lowering herself onto him. “The next time, we could be creating your son or daughter.” Selene leaned over and licked his lips, followed by a deep kiss.

Quinn savored the taste of his wife. He had always wanted to be a father, but it seemed like destiny was against that. Now maybe patience would pay off and he would be justly rewarded.

Selene closed her eyes. She wondered if she would get pregnant right away or if it would take longer.

Either way, she intended to enjoy the pleasures of intimacy with her husband.