"No." Frank took another deep breath. "That is, she's thinking of it, planning to do it."
"I see." Detective Granger managed to tamp down the irritation that was rising inside him. He had a full caseload and a serial killer on the loose; he did not have time for domestic affairs. "What has your wife done, or what is she about to do?"
"She's planning on stealing some babies," Frank blurted out.
That got the detective's attention. Sitting up, he started writing again. "Whose babies?"
"Some celebrity couple. They recently had quadruplets. You see..." Frank leaned forward earnestly. "My Maxy has had several miscarriages, and it's destroyed her mind. She's a good Christian woman..."
"Back all the way up." The detective held up a hand. "You said a celebrity couple who recently had quads?"
Frank nodded.
"How do you know what your wife is planning?"
Frank had come prepared. Before he left the house, he had searched their bedroom and found tons of clippings about the actress, as well as several copies of handwritten letters that had set his blood curdling. He had secretly made copies and had them with him.
"I have proof." He handed over the thick file and waited while the detective snapped on gloves and waded through the papers.
"Good Christ!" Detective Granger looked over at the disheveled-looking man who was seated nervously on the edge of the chair. "Are you in league with her?"
"What? No! If I were, would I be here now, handing you all of this?"
"Why are you doing it?" The detective stared at him with narrowed eyes. "Hoping for some sort of reward?"
"No. Is there one?"
"There might be."
Frank shook his head. "She's a good woman, and I don't want to see her land in jail. She needs help." He twirled his finger at his temple. "She's gone off the deep end. She's planning on killing that actress and taking those babies. She has all these plans. I know she does, and you need to do something about it. I want her to get the help she needs."
The man stared at him for a moment and then made a decision. "I need to make a phone call. Stay put."
As if he could go anywhere, Frank thought sourly, still wondering if he was doing the right thing.
*****
"You have someone in custody?" Samuel asked after a moment's silence that stretched throughout the room.
"Not yet."
"Then what are you saying?" Eliza gripped her husband's hand tightly in hers, her breathing shallow. She did not dare to believethat this was ending. That they could go back to life as they knew it.
Angelo had contacted them thirty minutes ago, saying he had some news and asking if he could come over. Now he was here, ensconced in their living room, drinking a cup of coffee. The babies were with their nannies inside the playroom, having their mid-morning nap.
"The strangest thing happened." He proceeded to tell them about Frank Bell's visit to the local precinct and how a Detective Granger had called him.
"I interviewed the man myself, interrogated the hell out of him to make certain he wasn't some kook looking for his time in the limelight." He started to pick up the cup again and realized it was empty. As if on cue, Lyka-Mae glided in with another full pot, earning herself a grateful smile. "He was nervous as hell and insisting that he wanted to do what was best for his very unhinged wife."
"Who the hell is she?" Samuel demanded.
"A church-going, seemingly normal woman who had several miscarriages and remained childless." Angelo poured coffee and took a sip. "We have men posted in the neighborhood to monitor her movements and have been doing a run on her. She hasworked at the local Wal-Mart for close to sixteen years and is a member of the local Baptist church." He took another fortifying sip of the coffee.
"So what now?"
"Now, we move in for the kill. We have enough evidence to take her in, but we need proof of what she plans to do."
"And that plan is?"
