Chapter 16 - The Wrong House
Police reached Rosa Reyes before Elena did.
The front door was unlocked.
Elena waited in the car until officers cleared the house, then ran inside.
Rosa sat at the kitchen table, alive and furious.
"Why are police in my house?"
Elena dropped beside her. "Why didn't you answer?"
Rosa held up dead hearing-aid batteries. "And someone cut my phone line."
Mud marked the back door. Nothing was stolen.
Someone had entered only to frighten Elena.
Rosa touched her daughter's bruised cheek.
"Who did this?"
"Marcus."
"Then why are you still protecting his family?"
Elena swallowed. "I'm protecting Leo."
"That is not the same thing."
Back at the station, Victoria asked to speak with Elena.
Brooks wanted to refuse.
Elena said, "Wire me. She thinks I'm poor enough to buy."
In the interview room, Victoria leaned forward.
"Five million was generous."
"Was it your money?" Elena asked.
Victoria smiled. "Does it matter?"
"You pushed Leo into the pool."
"I pushed a stroller. You were supposed to be ten feet away."
Elena's pulse jumped. "You expected me to save him?"
"You always do. That's why you were useful."
Behind the glass, Marcus stared.
"Useful for what?" Elena asked.
"To make Marcus afraid of his own judgment. To make a judge afraid of his home."
Elena held her gaze.
"And Amelia?"
Victoria's smile faded.
"Amelia asked too many questions."
"Did you kill her?"
Victoria leaned back.
"Ask Grant what happens to women who refuse to stay in their lane."
May you like
Brooks looked at the recorder.
They finally had Victoria speaking in her own voice.
