Whether she was thinking of running away or killing Greg, it all came down to the same thing.
But now, with no pregnancy, what was it all for? Everything she’d done suddenly seemed pointless.
Brandon didn’t even blink at the pain on her face. He just kept going. “You said you didn’t know Greg, but the photos prove you two met a long time ago.”
“You claimed Greg raped you and you lost the baby, but Ms. Phipps, you were never pregnant.”
“Your whole story is full of holes. We have every reason to believe this was premeditated murder.”
“I have the medical reports to prove it,” Kelly shot back, voice trembling with desperation.
“You can have your family bring them in,” Brandon answered, all business.
“And how do you explain the photos?” he pushed.
Three
years they’d known each other, with plenty of contact. Pretending she didn’t know Greg was just covering something up.
“Where did those photos come from?” Kelly refused to let it go.
“Someone posted them on your college forum. Probably a student of yours.” Brandon pulled up the post and handed her his phone.
Kelly stared at the screen. Her face went completely blank.
A student claiming to know her was airing all her dirty laundry online, accusing her of unfair treatment, attaching photo after photo. Maybe they’d snapped the pictures just to vent with friends, but now those photos had turned into damning evidence.
“No matter what, he raped me. That’s the truth,” she said, her voice raw and thin.
The detective leaned back in his chair, sipping tea. “Ms. Phipps, you know there’s no such thing as ‘no
evidence‘ in our world.”
“Forensics always finds a way to make the dead speak.”
Kelly sat in heavy silence.
“What are you looking at? You’re smiling so hard your face might split.”
On the way back to Cloud Peak, Patricia couldn’t put her phone down. There was no way to hide her grin.
Oliver noticed and held out his hand. She passed him the phone.
Kelly’s name was all over the trending news, bright red, right next to the word “murder.”
Oliver laughed, eyes dancing. “So it’s finally over. Does that mean you’ll have some time for me now?”
“That’s your only reaction?”
She’d spent three years planning for this–three years of keeping track of every detail, making sure no one slipped through the cracks.
Mr. Padilla looked lost. “How else am I supposed to react?”
Patricia pressed her lips together. Some victories just didn’t feel as sweet when you couldn’t share
them.
She was barely settled in her seat before Oliver swept her right onto his lap.
His fingers traced lazy patterns along her back, pulling her close. A low laugh rumbled in his chest. “Pattie, you really don’t like to share, do you?”
Patricia just gave a little smile and let it go.
“Take me to the police station.”
“Right now?” Mr. Padilla looked surprised.
She nodded.
Oliver might be a control freak, but when it came to Patricia, he’d always give her what she wanted.
The car rolled to a stop outside the station.
Patricia came up with a quick excuse and went inside to check things out.
As she passed by the interrogation room, she slowed down on purpose.
Just then, a female officer brought Kelly a glass of water.
Kelly glanced up–and saw Patricia standing outside, her face calm and lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.
In that split second, Kelly’s anger exploded.
She jumped to her feet, trying to rush the door.
Someone grabbed her before she could get anywhere. “Ms. Phipps, what do you think you’re doing?”
