Spinnelli’s expression became even grimmer, his bushy mustache bunching as he frowned. „He may have gotten a call from someone saying she was Richardson, but it wasn’t Richardson.“
Kristen closed her eyes. „She’s dead.“
Spinnelli hesitated. „Yes.“
„How?“ Kristen asked.
Spinnelli exchanged a glance with Abe that spoke volumes. This was not something Kristen needed to know. At the prolonged silence Kristen opened her eyes. „Tell me.“
„Conti killed her, Kristen. That’s all you need to know.“
Kristen’s eyes flashed. „How did she die? Dammit, Marc, I have a right to know.“
Spinnelli sighed. „She suffocated.“
Mia frowned. „Suffocated? But – “
„Jack, are you done here?“ Spinnelli interrupted. „Because I need to schedule a press conference and I’ll need a summary of everything you’ve found. Kristen, there was a stack of books on Madden’s nightstand. He stuck a sticky note with your name on the top of the stack. Poetry, I think. Keats and Browning. Mia, will you take Kristen to look through them?“
Kristen regarded him steadily. „It doesn’t matter if you tell me or not, Marc. Sooner or later one of the reporters will find out and all I’ll have to do is watch the ten o’clock news.“ She left the room, Mia at her heels. When they were gone, Spinnelli sighed again.
„When news broke that both Edwards and Conti were dead, we got an anonymous tip that if we stopped them from burying Angelo Conti, we’d find a missing person. Luckily the ground is so soggy from the thaw that they couldn’t get the diggers out to the burial plot.“
Abe grimaced as Spinnelli’s meaning hit home. „No.“
Spinnelli nodded. „Yes. Kristen’s right. This will be all over the news sooner or later. I’ll leave it up to you how you tell her. Now, get her out of here and get back to your family. How is your brother?“
Abe checked his watch. „They should be letting him go home any minute. I’m taking Kristen home.“
„Not to her house,“ Spinnelli cautioned. „We’ll need to get someone to clean up her living room. There’s blood all over the wallpaper.“
Blue stripes. Fighting a shudder Abe visualized the scene Mia and Spinnelli had found, the dead body in her living room, the blood streaking the blue-striped wallpaper. Visualized Kristen shooting the man who’d intruded into her home. Who’d put his hands on her. And even through the horror, was fiercely proud that she’d acted with such precise calm. She hadn’t been able to fight her attacker ten years ago. Today, she’d more than made up for it.
„No,“ Abe said, his voice unsteady. „I won’t take her to her house. I’ll take her to my parents’. Everyone will be there.“ He turned to go when Spinnelli’s hand closed over his shoulder.
„I was proud of you today, Abe. You waited for us at the warehouse instead of charging in to save the day yourself. You did the right thing.“
And how hard it had been to sit there, hearing the seconds tick away in his mind, knowing Conti had Kristen, that he might be killing her at that very moment. But it had been the right thing to do. He never could have saved her alone. „Thank you,“ he whispered.
Spinnelli gave him one of those long hard looks that once again made Abe feel as if the man was looking straight into his soul. „You’re welcome.“
Saturday, February 28,
7:30 p.m.
The noise was such a welcome relief that Kristen felt tears sting her eyes. By unspoken mutual consent, she and Abe had not returned to her house, instead coming to the only place it made sense to come. Abe opened the door to Becca’s kitchen from the laundry room and it was like she’d come home. Sean and Ruth’s kids chased each other across the kitchen, Becca was watching QVC and Annie was peeling potatoes. Rachel sat at the kitchen table, working on what appeared to be algebra. The television in the living room was blaring some sports event, accompanied by the outraged shouts of Reagan men.
With a tearful cry, Rachel leaped from the table and rushed Kristen, nearly knocking her down with the ferocity of her embrace. Kristen hugged her close, rocking her gently. Rachel hadn’t been at the hospital when she and Abe had gone to see Aidan. Kristen understood the girl needed the reassurance that she was indeed unharmed. Perhaps Kristen needed the reassurance as well. She swallowed hard and drew Rachel’s head against her shoulder.
„It’s all right now, honey. I promise. It’s all over.“
„I was so scared,“ Rachel whispered, trembling. „When they said you were missing, I…“
„I was scared, too.“ She could admit that now, now that everything was over. She’d seen four men die this afternoon, one at her own hand. Somehow the reality that she’d killed a man in her own living room hadn’t yet sunk in. She supposed it would in time. For now, she held on tight to Rachel. „But you, honey, you helped save my life. Detective Mitchell told me how you recognized Owen from my office. Without you, they wouldn’t have known who he was. You helped them find Aidan, so they could get him to the hospital.“
Rachel pulled back, her lips curving in a faltering smile even as tears streaked her cheeks. „I did, didn’t I? He owes me big time.“
Kristen cupped Rachel’s cheek, wiping the girl’s tears away with her thumb. „Yes, he does. And so do I. Thank you, Rachel.“
„You’re all right?“ she asked anxiously. „Really all right? You’re not lying or anything?“
Kristen’s lips twitched. „I’m not lying. I’m really okay. Better now that I’m here with you.“
Rachel tilted her head to one side, studying her. „Aidan said you shot some guy and killed him.“
Kristen drew a breath. „Yes, I did.“
Rachel’s eyes narrowed. „Good. He deserved it.“
„Rachel, I don’t think Kristen really wants to talk about that right now,“ Becca said. She put her own arms around Kristen and brought her close. „We were so worried,“ she whispered. „I’m so glad you’re back here where you belong.“ She pressed a kiss to the top of Kristen’s head, men pulled away, briskly moving about her kitchen. „Abe, make yourself useful. Take that pie into your brother. He’s resting on the sofa in the living room.“
Abe frowned. „Aidan gets pie? That’s not fair.“
„He has a concussion. Of course it’s fair.“ She put the plate of pie in Abe’s hands. „And don’t be sneaking any on the way. Go on, now. Those boys,“ she clucked after him. „Kristen, we have a house full of people tonight. If you feel up to it, there’s lettuce and salad makings in the fridge. I could use your help, too.“
„Mother,“ Annie whispered and Becca shot her a frown. And Kristen knew Becca didn’t need any help at all. It was just Becca’s way of making her feel like family.
She was digging cucumbers out of the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator when Ruth appeared in the doorway, the baby on her shoulder. Her eyes assessed Kristen carefully, then she smiled. „I hear you had a bit of excitement today.“
Kristen heard the words, but had eyes only for the infant in Ruth’s arms. Not for one moment had she forgotten that she and Abe still had issues to discuss. She’d anticipated having a reaction to the sight of Ruth’s baby, but she was unprepared for the wave of emotion that nearly cut her at the knees, a rushing combination of yearning and fear. Yearning that she, too, could hold a child in her arms, Abe’s child. And fear that her inability to do so would come between them and she’d lose her place in this incredible family.
„Kristen?“ Ruth approached, tilting Kristen’s chin up with her free hand. „Say something.“
Kristen made her eyes blink, her lungs breathe and her mouth move. „I’m fine. It’s just the day catching up to me.“ She dropped the vegetables on the table. „But I think staying busy is the best thing. The christening was lovely, Ruth. I’m just sorry the party was ruined.“