“You are under arrest for the murder of Dottie Davis and the attempted murder of Kiersten Cleaver.”
Richard’s mouth dropped open. Chip recovered the ability to speak first. “You can’t do this.”
“Actually, I can,” she said. And it was true. She was a law enforcement officer, and it felt so good to arrest bad people again.
Behind her a voice called out. Brendan’s voice. “Keep your hands in the air.”
Police officers swarmed the area, slapping handcuffs on Trey, Chip, and Richard.
Aspen’s gaze flitted from one officer to the next, her beautiful mouth a perfect O of horror and surprise.
Then she leaped from her chair and lunged toward the young woman with the phone, who stood frozen, broadcasting the Insta-worthy arrest of the extended Happy House Life family.
“Turn it off, you idiot. Turn itoff.”
Chapter One Hundred Seven
Kiersten
June
Kiersten, Rosamund, and Piper sat on Kiersten’s front porch, celebrating the first day of summer vacation.
Rosamund flipped through the print edition ofThe Washington Post. “Did you see the latest?”
“About the investigations into the death of Chip’s wife and the murder of Richard’s first wife?” Kiersten shook her head in amazement. Each morningThe Washington Postdelivered fresh revelations about her former neighbors.
“That wasyesterday,” Piper corrected. “Today they have a story about Bruno Orlov making large ‘donations’ to the school, and in exchange, Mr. Vex agreed to look the other way when Alex Orlov bullied kids in order to drive their parents into selling their homes at a loss and leaving the school district.”
“Isn’t his sentencing hearing coming up?” Kiersten asked.
“It is, and based on the sentences Chip and Trey got, he’ll be in prison for a very long time,” Piper said with a satisfied smirk.
“It says here that Evil Dickie is trying to claim he’s too senile to stand trial?” Rosamund said, flipping to page A12.
“While simultaneously attempting to tamper with the jury from his jail cell.” Piper snorted. “I know the prosecuting attorney, and she’s a badass. Good luck to Dickie withthat.”
“Maybe he’ll end up in the cell next to Hawkeye Slaughter?” He’d finally been arrested three weeks ago, attempting to smuggle a bomb into a data center in Loudoun County.
Piper grinned. “They deserve each other.”
Kiersten gestured toward theFor Salesign in Aspen’s front yard with her glass of iced tea. “Looks like Aspen’s house is on the market.”
Piper nodded. “She closed down all her social media accounts too.”
Inadvertently streaming the arrest of her entire family live on Instagram made Aspen go viral, for all the wrong reasons. She’d filed for divorce from Trey and moved to Florida two weeks ago with Peggy and her girls. In her last text, she’d told Kiersten she planned to become a certified energy healer with a side practice as a life coach.
Rosamund folded the newspaper and turned to Piper. “How did your interview go today?”
Piper smiled. “They made me an offer, and I accepted.”
“Congratulations!” Kiersten pulled her into a hug. “Iknewthey’d hire you.”
Piper gave her a tolerant smile before disentangling herself from Kiersten’s embrace. “It’s noble work, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
“What is it again?” Rosamund asked. “Some kind of shelter?”
“It’s a home for runaway teenage girls, providing education, counseling, and a safe place to live. Everything they need to put the past behind them and move toward a better future.”
