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Delta wasn’t following. Her mind was still filled by the image of Amanda’s dead body hanging from her window. She had to get away. Now. While Harry was off doing his deed.
“Then . . . inspiration. We would take Zora’s car to Amanda’s. I had the keys . . . a little gift from her husband, who I’ve known for years. He’s a cheater too. Just like Tanner.”
Keep her talking. Buy time.
“You killed Zora and Brian,” Delta said, tensing. Could she jump forward? Could she survive a shot?
No! You have Owen to think of.
But I can’t stay here!
“Brian was becoming a problem. He was stupid in love, starting to tell Zora about me. We were waiting for him at Anne’s. Just him. But then Zora showed up too, and we had to improvise. Put ’em in the car and over the cliff.” She smiled thinly. “You Five Firsts . . . Clarice thought you were ridiculous.”
“You’re not Clarice?” asked Delta carefully.
“I just told you. Clarice is a construct. I’m not crazy. No multiple personalities or any of that shit,” she added. “Clarice is my given name, but I’m not her. She’s just the angel I play.”
“Why are you doing this?” The question was ripped from her soul.
“Men are easy to control, but women are relentless.” She shook her head. “I’ve had to do things I really didn’t want to. It started a long time ago. Your class . . . I made mistakes. I can admit that. I was far more reckless in those days. Didn’t think enough about self-preservation. I’ve been having to do a lot of cleanup.”
“You killed Tanner.”
“He was going to out me. After all these years. I was shocked. Really shocked. That chapter at West Knoll High was long over. This guy, this cheating, arrogant bastard was having a crisis of conscience? He had a son. He needed to be ‘a better man.’ That was what he said. I could’ve laughed, but he was going to tell you about all the women he’d cheated with and beg your forgiveness. I doubt he would’ve gone through with it. He couldn’t ever keep his dick in his pants. I’m sure you know that, too. But I couldn’t take the chance. I watched the clinic, and the night came when he stayed after everyone else had left. I confronted him, warned him that it would ruin him too, but he wouldn’t listen. And the knife was there, on his desk. Just like it was supposed to be. I picked it up when he wasn’t looking, followed him out, and . . .” She sighed. “I gave him one last chance, but he was stubborn. He sealed his own fate. I didn’t know how perfect it would be with you showing up right afterward and picking up the knife!”
Delta heard a hard thunk outside and felt ill. Amanda’s body hitting the ground.
“Don’t move,” Clarice ordered, sensing Delta’s panic, sighting down the pistol.
Crash!
The noise from outside caused both Delta and Clarice to jump. Then Clarice cocked an ear, moved closer to Delta, and doubled down on her terrorism as she leveled the barrel of the pistol at her forehead.
Have to keep her talking. Lower the tension. Keep yourself alive . . .
“How . . . did you know that I picked up the knife? That wasn’t public information,” Delta asked, licking dry lips.
“Hal Brennan isn’t my only powerful friend.”
Someone in the police department? Not McCrae, never McCrae, she prayed, knowing he was too honorable, but scared anyway. And not Quin. He was a justice seeker. More so after Bailey’s death.
“The special investigator,” Delta realized.
“You’re very good. Surprising really, given what you were in high school. Beauty, no brains. Clarice always had both, and it’s served her well.”
Footsteps. Harry was returning. Delta tensed, testing her bonds.
Now or never!
BANG.
Clarice’s shot zinged past Delta’s ear. She screamed and froze.
“Stay put,” Clarice warned her coldly.
“What the fuck?” Harry demanded, running into the garage.
Only it wasn’t Harry. It was another man who bore a resemblance to him. Hulking and scraggly.
