Part 38 (2/2)
”I forgive-”
But Whitney had noticed the nonverbal exchange between Wade and Lucy, and she reddened, shaking with her rage. ”You lied to me! You told me you didn't know her!”
”I don't. I met her today.”
Whitney hit Dennis. ”Who is she? How do you know her?”
”Lucy,” Dennis squeaked.
”I'm okay,” she told him, sitting up and leaning against the desk.
”Tell me!”
”My name is Lucy Kincaid, I-”
”I didn't ask you!”
Dennis said, ”S-she's a p-p-p-”
”Spit it out, you idiot.”
”I'm a private investigator,” Lucy said.
Whitney was confused and curious. Lucy hoped the police had a plan, because she was running out of ideas. She explained. ”I came to New York looking for a runaway.”
She willed Wade to keep his mouth shut.
Whitney asked, ”How do you know her, Dennis?”
Lucy shook her head slightly when Dennis looked at her. ”I-I-I-forget.”
”You are such a r.e.t.a.r.d! You're the problem. Wade can't commit to me because of you. His stupid brother. His can't-do-s.h.i.+t idiot brother!” She hit him with the gun.
Wade took two steps and Whitney waved the gun at him. ”Don't come any closer.”
”Don't hurt my brother!”
”Tell him to answer the question. Dennis, how do you know her?”
Dennis didn't answer, and Lucy knew it was to protect her. She said, ”I'm not a cop, but I've been helping the police.”
Whitney stared at her. ”How?”
”I'm working with a private investigator, but I don't have a license. I'm a criminal psychologist, helping the police.”
Whitney shook her head. ”A shrink? You think you could a.n.a.lyze me? You think you know me?”
”Yes, I do.”
Whitney seemed intrigued as well as angry. Lucy hoped SWAT was in place, because she only saw this turning bad.
”Then tell me why I killed those girls.”
Whitney was issuing a challenge. Lucy said, ”They had Wade's attention so you killed them.”
”So simplistic. You don't know me at all!”
Lucy continued quickly. ”Because Wade went to bed with you after you killed Alanna, you thought he'd come back to you after you killed the others, too.”
Whitney turned to Wade. ”You told her about that? You said you didn't know her!”
”He didn't tell me,” Lucy said, ”I figured it out.”
”I don't believe you!”
”You took the shoes, I think-” She didn't know. Lucy didn't understand why Whitney took the one shoe.
Whitney laughed. ”You want to know why?”
”Yes, I do,” Lucy said.
”Because Alanna ran and lost her shoe. I didn't notice, but when she was dead I had to get out of there. I found her shoe on the stairs and I didn't want anyone looking for her. So I grabbed it and left. And then ...” Her voice trailed off.
”You took the other shoes for what? Luck?”
”Yes, that's right. No one even thought I killed Alanna. Wade made love to me. It was glorious. Heaven. So the next time I made sure to do it exactly the same way.”
”You killed your own cousin?” Wade said.
”She was a cheap, ugly, f.u.c.king s.l.u.t.”
With a growl, Wade rushed her.
Whitney jerked toward him, surprised, and her finger clenched the trigger.
The bullet hit Wade in the stomach. Blood seeped through his s.h.i.+rt. He staggered back several steps.
Dennis cried out. He dove toward Whitney. She backhanded him and he fell, bleeding.
Whitney turned to Wade, eyes wide and wild. ”No no no!” Whitney screamed. ”I love you, Wade!”
”I hate you,” Wade said through clenched lips. ”Go f.u.c.k yourself!”
She screamed and turned the gun on Dennis. ”It's your fault!”
Sean kicked in the door, gun out, drawing her attention-and her gun-away from everyone else in the room.
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