The Heart Has Reasons by Martine Marchand

Author:Martine Marchand [Marchand, Martine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Amazon: B009GW2MEA
Published: 2012-09-24T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

After finally calling the police, Larissa grabbed the garbage bag containing her dirty clothes and blow dryer, limped to the speaker panel next to the front door, and remotely opened the front gate. Livid bruises stood out starkly on her arms. Her split lower lip and one eye felt hugely swollen. Her entire body ached from the roots of her hair to the great toe on her right foot, which she’d stubbed on the pool steps. Both her right knee and left hip throbbed.

Less than ten minutes later, the police arrived in four separate vehicles, lights flashing but sirens silent in deference to the neighborhood’s wealthy residents. Gold shields hanging from breast pockets, the two homicide detectives alighted from the one unmarked vehicle, their eyes opening wide in shock as they took in her appearance. Damn. How bad did she look?

“I’m Detective Fahey. This is Detective Ramos.”

With gray streaking his sandy-blond hair, Fahey looked to be in his early fifties. His long, narrow, homely face reminded Larissa of a camel’s, and his down-angled eyes made him appear perpetually sad. His rumpled, brown suit hung loose from his shoulders, as if he’d recently lost weight.

Ramos was stocky, a good six inches shorter than Fahey, and at least ten years younger. Gel slicked back his jet-black hair, and startlingly white teeth flashed in his swarthy, movie-star-handsome face.

Neither detective bothered to introduce the uniformed officers.

Larissa introduced herself, explained briefly how she’d been kidnapped and brought there, and how she’d killed Sparrow.

Fahey’s first question was, “Where’s the weapon?”

She aimed a thumb over her shoulder at the main house. “On the table just inside the front door.”

“And the body?”

She turned pointed toward Sparrow’s playroom. “Back there in the guesthouse.”

“Is there anyone else here?” asked Ramos.

She shrugged one shoulder. “Not that I’ve seen.”

Ramos’ canny, dark gaze regarded her speculatively. “Why are you wet?”

“I knocked Sparrow into the swimming pool, and he pulled me in with him.”

He eyed the garbage bag she clutched. “What’s in the bag?”

“My clothes and blow dryer.”

“Mind if I have a look.”

Fighting an urge to roll her eyes, she handed it over.

While Ramos rummaged through her dirty clothes, Fahey radioed for additional backup to help search and secure the house and grounds. Moving mechanically as she led them toward the guesthouse, she recounted how Sparrow had broken into her apartment two years ago, how she’d shot him, and how he’d then fled and forced the unfortunate doctor to treat his wounds before he’d murdered him. “Sparrow looked much different back then,” she added, “but it’s definitely him.”

The uniformed officers preceded them into the guesthouse with weapons drawn. Fahey and Ramos exchanged startled glances as, from within, one of the uniforms exclaimed, “Holy shit!”

Once the uniforms had cleared the building, Larissa followed the detectives inside and stood by the open door as Fahey quickly checked the body for a nonexistent pulse. All five men then stood about in varying attitudes of paralyzed astonishment as they took in the wooden crucifix with its attached ropes and the assorted instruments of torture.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.