Read Online Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Erica Spindler
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down Memory Lane’s been real, Kat, but it’s time for you to go.”
She wasn’t going anywhere, not yet. “You know what was really idiotic, Ryan? I was so madly in love, it never even occurred to me that you might have done it. What we talked about. That last time we were together.” She paused. “You suggested we kill her.”
Something dangerous crept into his eyes. He leaned toward her. “You’re mistaken.”
He spoke through clenched teeth, his tone low, menacing. That move might have worked back then, but no more. She held her ground, meeting his gaze evenly. “I thought you were joking, remember? I suggested we push her in front of a bus.”
“You were stoned. So was I.”
“You said you had a plan for us to be together. That I should trust you. What was that plan, Ryan?”
“I had no plan. I just said that so I could keep banging you and keep you from shooting your mouth off. Jail wasn’t an option.” He walked to the door. “Time for you to go.”
She didn’t move. “You talked about killing her. And then she was dead.”
For a split second, as his smoldering gaze landed on hers, she was reminded of the boy he had been all those years ago. And of the dangerous hold he’d had over her.
“Did you kill her, Ryan?”
He didn’t look shocked, or even surprised. But she sensed his panic, the way one animal did another’s. Only this time he was the one in a corner.
And a cornered animal would fight for its survival.
He took a step toward her. “Do not fuck with me, Katherine. You understand? I have a lot to lose and you won’t like what happens.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Hell no, Kat. I didn’t kill her.”
“Luke Tanner’s reopening the case. Expect a visit from him.”
She started for the door, he blocked her exit. “Why would I kill her? Yes, we talked about it that night. We were stupid kids. It was just stupid talk.”
“And then she ended up dead. That’s a crazy coincidence, don’t you think?”
“If this gets out, it’ll incriminate you, too.”
“Double jeopardy, babe. Law says I can’t be tried for the same crime twice.”
This time he didn’t try to stop her exit. Kat stepped out of his office. The receptionist glanced her way.
The petite dark-haired woman she was talking with followed her gaze. “Katherine McCall?” she said. “Oh, my gosh, it is true! You are back!”
Kat stopped. “Bitsy?”
Her old friend closed the distance between them to give her a big hug. “I’m so glad to see you! It’s been too, too long.”
Kat smiled and hugged her back. “Other than Jeremy, you’re the first person to say that to me.”
“Well, maybe I just better say it again, then. It’s good to see you.”
The elfin girl had turned into an exotic-looking woman. Short black hair styled into a mass of soft, fat curls; large gray eyes, dramatically outlined in kohl; a mouth that was too big for her face. Funny how those same features on a child could be awkward to the point of homely.
“I hear you’re an interior designer. Famous, even. You got to use your artistic talent, after all.”
“And you’re a successful entrepreneur.”
Kat laughed and shook her head. “A baker,” she corrected. “That’s the way I think of myself.”
Bitsy’s smile faded. “I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch.”
“I didn’t expect you to.” Kat became aware of the way they had drawn attention, including from Ryan, who had appeared at his office door. “I should go.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
Bitsy linked their arms. “It’s like the old days.”
Kat laughed again. “Well, not just like— Oh my gosh, is that Merlin?”
Her father’s 1960 Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet. They’d named it Merlin the Magic Car because seeing it always put Bitsy’s dad in a good mood.
“It is. They passed, you know.”
“I didn’t. When?”
“Dad five years ago. Just as I was starting my business. Mom last year.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It was
She wasn’t going anywhere, not yet. “You know what was really idiotic, Ryan? I was so madly in love, it never even occurred to me that you might have done it. What we talked about. That last time we were together.” She paused. “You suggested we kill her.”
Something dangerous crept into his eyes. He leaned toward her. “You’re mistaken.”
He spoke through clenched teeth, his tone low, menacing. That move might have worked back then, but no more. She held her ground, meeting his gaze evenly. “I thought you were joking, remember? I suggested we push her in front of a bus.”
“You were stoned. So was I.”
“You said you had a plan for us to be together. That I should trust you. What was that plan, Ryan?”
“I had no plan. I just said that so I could keep banging you and keep you from shooting your mouth off. Jail wasn’t an option.” He walked to the door. “Time for you to go.”
She didn’t move. “You talked about killing her. And then she was dead.”
For a split second, as his smoldering gaze landed on hers, she was reminded of the boy he had been all those years ago. And of the dangerous hold he’d had over her.
“Did you kill her, Ryan?”
He didn’t look shocked, or even surprised. But she sensed his panic, the way one animal did another’s. Only this time he was the one in a corner.
And a cornered animal would fight for its survival.
He took a step toward her. “Do not fuck with me, Katherine. You understand? I have a lot to lose and you won’t like what happens.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Hell no, Kat. I didn’t kill her.”
“Luke Tanner’s reopening the case. Expect a visit from him.”
She started for the door, he blocked her exit. “Why would I kill her? Yes, we talked about it that night. We were stupid kids. It was just stupid talk.”
“And then she ended up dead. That’s a crazy coincidence, don’t you think?”
“If this gets out, it’ll incriminate you, too.”
“Double jeopardy, babe. Law says I can’t be tried for the same crime twice.”
This time he didn’t try to stop her exit. Kat stepped out of his office. The receptionist glanced her way.
The petite dark-haired woman she was talking with followed her gaze. “Katherine McCall?” she said. “Oh, my gosh, it is true! You are back!”
Kat stopped. “Bitsy?”
Her old friend closed the distance between them to give her a big hug. “I’m so glad to see you! It’s been too, too long.”
Kat smiled and hugged her back. “Other than Jeremy, you’re the first person to say that to me.”
“Well, maybe I just better say it again, then. It’s good to see you.”
The elfin girl had turned into an exotic-looking woman. Short black hair styled into a mass of soft, fat curls; large gray eyes, dramatically outlined in kohl; a mouth that was too big for her face. Funny how those same features on a child could be awkward to the point of homely.
“I hear you’re an interior designer. Famous, even. You got to use your artistic talent, after all.”
“And you’re a successful entrepreneur.”
Kat laughed and shook her head. “A baker,” she corrected. “That’s the way I think of myself.”
Bitsy’s smile faded. “I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch.”
“I didn’t expect you to.” Kat became aware of the way they had drawn attention, including from Ryan, who had appeared at his office door. “I should go.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
Bitsy linked their arms. “It’s like the old days.”
Kat laughed again. “Well, not just like— Oh my gosh, is that Merlin?”
Her father’s 1960 Mercedes 220SE Cabriolet. They’d named it Merlin the Magic Car because seeing it always put Bitsy’s dad in a good mood.
“It is. They passed, you know.”
“I didn’t. When?”
“Dad five years ago. Just as I was starting my business. Mom last year.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It was
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