Page 78 of Trust No One

“I never said that.”

“But . . .”

He sighed. “Amy is easier to be around. I might have considered it for a second.”

“Maybe Amy thought about it longer than a second. Maybe she saw herself setting up house with you and Molly.”

“No.” He shook his head. “She understood the ground rules.”

Did she? I wasn’t so sure. “Okay.”

“I’m not a bad guy,” he insisted.

The silence lingered between us. And as it grew, Gabe became angrier. He glared at me. “Maria wasn’t an angel, either.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Maria was having an affair, too,” he said.

I raised my gaze. “With who?”

“I don’t know. But I smelled a man’s scent on her after her morning runs.”

“Did you ask her?”

“I did. She laughed. She’s always been able to fool me.”

I thought of Ken—his secret texts, the ones I’d buried until they’d burned holes in me. I’d confronted him on our anniversary in April. He’d clutched a cluster of sunflowers in his hand. Looked so pleased with himself until his gaze met mine. He’d moved out that day. And I’d filed for divorce.

I refocused. “How did the cyanide end up in your toolbox?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before. Hell, I haven’t opened the toolbox in weeks.”

“The cops will test the packet for fingerprints and DNA. If they match the substance found in Maria’s body, they’re coming after you with both barrels.”

His eyes pleaded. “Why would I kill my wife? I love her. She’s the mother of my child.”

I’d seen killers panic when the reality of their situation had sunk in. Rage could burn hot, but when it cooled, regret settled.

“You must have resented Maria,” I said. “She could be a challenge. She suspects an affair. She pushed your buttons . . .”

He flinched. “I didn’t hurt my wife.”

“Maybe you snapped,” I continued. “Bought the pills. Hid them. Maybe you were a little horrified. And when the next fight came, you crushed them and put them in her wine.”

“Not true,” he whispered.

I touched his arm. He’d better get used to hard questions. “If you’re hiding something from me, it will kill us in court.”

His eyes were red rimmed. “I didn’t poison my wife.”

“Did Amy do it for you? Maybe she was more than willing to take care of the competition for you.”

He shook his head. “Amy wouldn’t do that.”

“The police will ask her. They’re tracking her down now.”

“Do they have to?”