The Other Mothers: An absolutely gripping thriller with a shocking twist by M.M. Chouinard

Author:M.M. Chouinard [Chouinard, M.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800191235
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2021-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

“First things first.” Jo dialed Lopez as they continued to the car.

“Jo.” Lopez’s voice was tight and heavy over the speakerphone. “What’s the news?”

Jo gave her a quick recap. “So we need to hunt down the watch, and we need to get hold of Layla’s phone records. You got Gia’s and Anthony’s records from right before Nicole was killed, right?”

“Correct. I’m guessing you want me to take another dip in that pool?”

“Yep. And I’m thinking we broaden the search,” Arnett said. “Karnegi, for sure. I don’t like that he’s been on both scenes, and he’s the one who found Madani.”

“On it.”

Jo hung up and turned to Arnett. “Talk it through?”

Arnett nodded. “In terms of suspects, both Karnegi and Phelps were alone for long enough that they could have gone up the pyramid, pushed Layla off, and come back down.”

“But it could have been someone else, too. You can walk all the way through to the pyramid without registering on any of the gallery cameras if you beeline it. Or, sneak in that back entry as someone’s going out.”

“But you’d risk being seen by one of the chaperones or kids.”

“A parent could just claim their child had forgotten something.”

“Still risky that you’d get Madani alone.”

Jo shook her head. “A parent would very likely know the field trip protocol.”

Jo’s phone rang, and she swore under her breath when she saw her sister’s name. Harristown was small, but how in the hell had her sister heard about this already? The school, she realized—they must be contacting all the parents who had children on the field trip, and Isabelle would have been with the third graders.

Wincing, she tapped the phone. “Sophie. I guess you heard.”

Sophie paused. “Heard what?”

Jo dropped her head into her hand, and gritted her teeth against the torrent of profanity bounding through her head. She hadn’t made a mistake that stupid since she was a rookie.

She took a deep breath and kept her tone steady. “I need you to stay calm, Soph.”

“Are the girls okay?” Sophie’s voice rose.

“Yes, they’re fine. But Ms. Madani isn’t. She fell off the side of the museum’s pyramid. The fall killed her.”

There was another pause as Sophie processed the news. “Something’s happening, Jo. I don’t know what it is, but something’s happening.” The panic edging Sophie’s voice had hardened into steel.

“I agree. We’re processing the scene now.” Jo found herself again impressed at Sophie’s reaction. “But hang on. If you didn’t know about it, why did you call?”

“I found out something I think you’ll want to know. I sent out a few tendrils and two different sources told me they’re certain Karen Phelps is having an affair with a married man. Anthony Marchand.”

“Two sources. Impressive. Have you ever thought of being a journalist?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Josette,” she said, but with a trace of pride in her voice.

“Okay, let’s back up. First, why do they think she’s having an affair?”

“She’s made a few mysterious comments about dates, but won’t say who they’re with, and that isn’t like her.

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