‘Can’t believe it.Who would do this?Why?’
Ella leaned back and folded her arms.‘Why don’t you help me out with that?Rumor has it you and her had a turbulent relationship.’
Jared took a minute to compose himself, probably choosing his words carefully.Ella didn’t mind the wait – she still had twenty-three hours and fifty minutes left with him.
‘Who told you that?’
‘Does it matter?’
‘Lily?I’m not surprised.’
‘Is it true?’
Jared slid the crime scene photo back in his direction, perhaps out of some masochistic urge, perhaps a way to admire his handiwork.Both were plausible right now.‘Yeah, our relationship got ugly, but that was only because of Rose.Sheleftme.’
‘You sure about that?We heard differently.’
‘I’m not saying I was perfect, but Rose had her issues too.Manic depressive.Suicidal thoughts.I couldn’t have my kid around that.’
In a weird way, Ella saw his point, but everyone was the hero in their own story.Few people had the self-awareness to realize when they were the villain.‘And you took full custody?’
‘Every weekday.I didn’t want Leo living in that tiny apartment with Rose and her sister.Not when he could live in a decent house, close to his nursery, no chance of him finding a dirty needle on the sidewalk.’
‘And how’d you feel about Rose now?’
Jared looked at the photo and shook his head.Ella could see the pressure building behind his eyes, like one little twist of the handle could unleash the waterworks.
‘This is… I don’t know what to say.I wanted Rose to get better.I wanted her to be a good mom.I didn’t want… this.How am I gonna tell a two-year-old that his mom isn’t around anymore?’
Ella identified the parental anxiety, despite never feeling it herself.One thing Ella couldn’t doubt was Jared’s love for his kid, but even Albert Fish, the world’s most sadistic child murderer, had been a decent dad.
‘I’m really sorry,’ she said as she reached into her pocket.She pulled out the figurine left on Amber Holloway’s body
‘Recognize this snowman?’
Jared squinted at it, then nodded.‘Yeah.That’s from a music box I got for her.Well, I got it for Leo, but Rose liked it.’
‘Any idea what happened to it after you and Rose broke up?’
‘No idea.She took it with her.’
‘Ever seen it since?’
‘No.Why would I have?’
Ella found another picture in the folder and passed it to Jared.It was a full-body shot of the first victim.‘Amber Holloway.Recognize her?’
Jared inspected the photo, and there was none of the earlier grief Ella had seen on his face.‘Holloway?No.I don’t know her.’
‘Take a closer look at her neck.’
Jared did.‘A necklace.’
‘What’s on the necklace?’
‘A… oh Christ.Is that from Rose’s box?’
‘Yes.We found the figurine off that music box around the neck of a dead girl this morning.Any idea how it could have gotten there?’
