Midnight in Delta County by J. L. Hyde

Author:J. L. Hyde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: suspense, thriller, Michigan authors, Oklahoma authors, small town, Upper Peninsula, northern Michigan, murder mystery
Publisher: J. L. Hyde
Published: 2022-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

VICKI IS TWIRLING HER pen between her fingers like a baton and Quinn finds it not only distracting but inappropriate. She follows Quinn’s eyes, and with a slight look of embarrassment, sets the pen down.

“So, is it your belief that there is a crazed maniac on the loose, reenacting scenes from your book, or just a few coincidences that have people grasping at straws to liken your book to the tragedies that happened in Escanaba?”

Quinn considers this for a moment. Either option is enough to make her lose sleep at night.

“Well, for example, you know the scene in Midnight when Jackie is walking at Van Cleve Park?”

Vicki doesn’t break eye contact often, but she does as soon as the question is out of Quinn’s mouth. Quinn gasps, while also barely managing to hold back a smile.

“Vicki! You haven’t read the book!”

Vicki opens her mouth to explain, but Quinn interrupts.

“Wait, have you read any of my books?”

“Of course, I have,” Vicki says quickly.

“Oh really, which one was your favorite?” Quinn tests her.

“Quinn, we aren’t here to talk about me and my reading habits. You are paying good money for a one-hour session where we discuss your life and your feelings.”

Quinn can’t explain why, but this pleases her to no end. Any lingering doubts about Vicki’s intentions are erased. She made a small fortune off Quinn during the years she was afraid to leave her house; a $100 surcharge was added to every visit made to her home. All those years of counseling and Vicki has not once been curious about Quinn’s writing? She could have made Vicki the murderer in her last novel, and she’d never even know about it. She’s delighted at this news and the fact that it’s making Vicki uncomfortable is just a bonus. Nothing makes Vicki uncomfortable.

“Now, tell me why you think Heather is upset with you,” Vicki changes the subject.

“Well, much like yourself, I don’t think Heather had read the book before the murders happened.”

Quinn can’t help but smile while saying this. Vicki ignores it.

“Okay, so what is the issue?”

“There was a night and day change in her voice when I called her yesterday. She asked me a few details about the book for the first time, so I think she just read it. My guess is that she heard people discussing the similarities and her curiosity got the best of her.”

Vicki writes this down. Quinn hates when Vicki writes things down, it drives her absolutely insane not to know the reason why. Of all the things she says in the span of an hour, what determines the bits of information that are worthy of being recorded in her little leather-bound notebook?

“Why would this make her upset with you?” Vicki asks.

“Well, the main character has some similarities to Heather. Her name is Malorie, and spoiler alert here, she ends up being the killer...hiding in plain sight the entire novel.”

“The main character ends up being the villain. Now, that’s a twist. I see why it’s been so popular.

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