you in the interrogation room.”
Chase sat slumped in a chair with his hands cuffed to the leg of the bolted-down table. He looked up as Skye took a seat, and whined, “I didn’t mean to do it.”
“Sounds like she made you.” Skye looked at Wally, who was leaning against the wall behind Chase, and he gestured for her to go on. “Everything was perfect until her film got that award.”
“That’s right.” Chase nodded eagerly.
“Because when she won, she decided to leave you.”
“Yes.” Chase gazed zealously at Skye. “But then she found out she was pregnant. She wasn’t able to take the Pill, and for the past few months, I’d been poking holes in the condoms I used.”
“You figured if she had a baby, she’d have to stay with you and could never change her mind?”
“Yes, and it worked.” Chase beamed. “She was giving up her silly idea to make it big in movies.”
“So what happened?”
“Saturday, after closing time, I went to the bookstore to show her the cool stroller I’d bought. It cost almost five hundred dollars and even had cup holders.” Chase frowned, then looked confused. “But she started crying and told me she’d lost the baby and she wasn’t marrying me and she was leaving for Hollywood as soon as she finished school.”
“That must have been hard to hear.” Skye hoped she wouldn’t gag on the words she was forcing out of her mouth. “So, you just had to do something to stop her from going.”
“Exactly.” He nodded. “I told her I still loved her, even if she killed our baby, and we could have other kids. And you know what she said to me?”
Skye shook her head.
“She said that while she would always love me, she wasn’t
Skye shrugged. He was on a roll, and she didn’t want to interrupt him by speaking.
“She kissed me on the cheek, and I grabbed her. I begged her not to go away, but she told me to leave her alone and started to walk away.” Chase was silent, tears dripping off his chin.
“Then what happened?”
“I was so mad. I was still holding the stroller, and I just swung it at her. She stumbled and turned to look at me, then keeled over.” He sobbed, “It was an accident.”
“You bitch!” He lurched toward her, but the handcuffs pulled him up short.
Skye stood up and backed away.
“Calm down, man.” Wally stepped between her and the table, blocking her from Chase’s sight. “Women always stick together. I understand. Just tell me what happened after you hit Kayla with the stroller.”
“I couldn’t stand to see her like that.” Chase heaved a sigh. “All bloody and everything. So I just sort of covered her up.”
“With the cabinet?” Wally confirmed.
“Yeah. There was nothing else around.” Chase hung his head. “I loved her. I really loved her. How could she do that to me?”
“You’re pathetic. You killed Kayla, ended the life of someone worth a thousand of you, and you think you’re the victim.” Skye dodged around Wally, put both hands on the table, and looked Chase in the eye. “That’s not love. That’s evil. Pure evil.”
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EPILOGUE
Wind in the Willows
“I’m so glad you were able to come with me.” Skye leaned her head against the seat of the Thunderbird as Wally drove them from the police station to Tales and Treats, where Skye’s family was gathering per Vince’s instructions. “I was afraid you’d be tied up all night processing Chase.”
“There isn’t much more for me to do until the Stanley County state’s attorney gets back tomorrow from his vacation.” Wally pulled out of the PD’s parking lot. “The ME confirmed Kayla had a recent miscarriage, the crime techs are matching the stroller to the blue plastic pieces found in her hair, and Xenia provided us with the voice mail proving he lied about what time he started calling her, so we have physical evidence.”
“Not to mention the confession.” Skye was proud of how she had maneuvered Chase into admitting his crime. “It’s hard to believe he watched the store all night so he could pretend to arrive and act surprised when Kayla’s body was discovered.”
“Yep. One minute he’s crying and moaning about losing the love of his life and the next he’s planning his alibi.” Wally parked the car a block away. “Good thing this was such a good bust, because he’ll definitely try and play on the jury’s sympathy.”
“Is Quirk bringing Chase to the county jail?”
“As we speak.” Wally opened Skye’s door. “Except for testifying at the trial, my part is pretty much done.”
“Thank goodness for small favors.” Skye snuggled up to him. “I wish I knew what Vince is up to. I have a feeling whatever it is, he’ll end up smelling like a rose and I’ll be the one shoveling the fertilizer.”
“No doubt.” Wally squeezed Skye’s hand. “But it will be good practice for you. You said you’re trying to stand up to your mom more.”
“True.” Skye gestured to the parked vehicles. “I see Hugo still hasn’t moved his inventory.”
“No.” Wally grinned. “But did you notice what’s on the windshields?”
Skye squinted, then snickered when she saw the telltale neon yellow rectangles tucked under the wiper blades. “Uncle Dante will have a fit when Hugo comes crying to him about all these parking tickets.”
“Maybe.” Wally paused at the bookstore’s entrance, allowing Skye to go in first. “But I pointed out to the mayor that if he wants to encourage new businesses in Scumble River, the town has to have a reputation for cooperating with them and making sure their needs are met.”
“I hope you’re right.” Skye couldn’t see her uncle taking sides against his only son.
As soon as they walked into the store, Rise rushed up to them and hugged Skye. “Thank you for calling this afternoon to let me know that Kayla’s killer is under arrest.”
“You’re welcome.” Skye patted the older woman’s shoulder. “I phoned as soon as Wally gave me the go- ahead. I wanted you to know you were safe.”
“It was a relief to hear that no one is gunning for me,” Rise admitted. “It’s such a shame that Kayla’s young man thought he could change her into what he wanted, instead of loving her for who she was.”
“Yes, it is,” Skye said. “What he didn’t realize is that any relationship is under the control of the person who cares the least, not the most.”
Wally arched a brow at Skye, then said, “It’s ten after six. We’d better find out what Vince has up his sleeve before your folks get here.”
The first thing Skye saw as she walked through the cafe’s door was a small wedding cake. Next to it was an envelope with her name scrawled in Vince’s distinctive half-printing, half-cursive handwriting. She hurried over, snatched the long white rectangle from the table, and tore it open.
Skye handed the paper to Wally, who turned pale. “Maybe I am needed at the station after all.”
“No way.” Skye grabbed his arm. “You want me for better or worse, remember?”
Before Wally could respond, Skye’s parents arrived. As usual, May was in the lead, with Jed trailing a few steps behind her.
