Runaways by Beth Szymkowski

Author:Beth Szymkowski [Szymkowski, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781941341452
Publisher: DreamWorks Animation Publishing

“Yes. I was having an affair with the dead man’s wife,” Van de Sant said with resignation, maintaining his best poker face. He vowed to expel that little monstrosity Glinda the first chance he got. If she so much as littered, he’d boot her. “I realize the implication.”

What an implication it was. Of all the people to get murdered, it had to be his mistress’s husband. Van de Sant knew it looked bad, but he told the detectives the truth. “I did not kill William Abernathy. While Olivia and I are involved, you must understand there is no ill will among the parties. Was no ill will. Bill Abernathy was an agreeable cuckold, one might say. Cuckold in that he was being cheated on.”

“Is that what cuckold means? Gee. I didn’t know.” The older detective’s voice dripped sarcasm.

“He knew his wife had outside relationships. Bill and Olivia had what some might call an open marriage. Please, ask Olivia about the specifics of their agreement. I personally preferred not to hear the details. Olivia and I have been discreet, certainly, but not because of fear of discovery by spouses. We were much more concerned with keeping up appearances in the community.”

“Of course.”

The detective was being adversarial and Van de Sant bristled, but he had to make his case. “Why would I provide you with details about what might be the murder weapon if I were the guilty party? Surely you realize how illogical that would be.”

“Where were you last night?” the younger detective asked.

Van de Sant nodded. Finally, a relevant question. “I was with Olivia. At the EconoLodge off I-Ninety-Five.” The older detective’s face was still, but Van de Sant knew he was judging the choice of accommodations. “Olivia likes it there. We, of course, could go to my home, but a hotel provides a certain anonymity that can be freeing.” Olivia liked a lot of things he didn’t feel the need to share. When he told them about the affair, he thought the detectives might have been a bit impressed. Olivia was a fine specimen of womanhood. Just thinking about her taut body sent a pleasing current through him.

He was at her mercy really. The affair had already put him in a compromising position and made him shirk professional responsibility, but he couldn’t bring himself to break it off. Mason Henry should be grateful to Olivia. She’s the only reason he was still a student on campus and not some gangster’s punching bag in a public school. When Mason attacked Jared Slater, Van de Sant was ready to punish him. It would’ve been standard. But Mason’s father had come to him and told him if he kicked Mason out, he would leak the affair between him and Olivia. It was blackmail, pure and simple. Olivia would have been embarrassed by the disclosure, but Van de Sant would have been ruined. The Danbury board of trustees would have fired him. He was good at his job and they respected that, but he was not one of them.

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