Part 31 (2/2)

Tess turned to Rusty Bosworth, who had moved to the open door of the cruiser. ”Chief,” she said.

”We'll need to talk to you some more at the station,” Rusty said grimly. ”You'd better get some dry clothes on first.”

There was a slight scuffle as Chan resisted being shoved down into the backseat of the waiting police cruiser.

”Can I speak to him for a minute before you take him?” Tess asked.

”That's up to him,” said Rusty Bosworth.

Tess looked closely at Chan. At this moment of ultimate defeat, his gray eyes looked indifferent and distant. His gaze flickered slightly when he saw Tess.

”I'm still alive,” she said to Chan.

Chan shrugged. ”Too bad,” he said.

”She wants to talk to you,” said Rusty Bosworth.

”I have nothing to say to her,” said Chan.

”I want to ask him something,” said Tess.

”I guess you'll have to visit him in jail,” said Rusty.

Tess looked Chan in the eye. ”Please.”

Chan looked at her and shook his head. ”Why?”

”Please. Give me one minute,” said Tess.

Chan shrugged. ”Fine.”

The officers looked to their chief. Rusty Bosworth held up his index finger. ”One minute,” he said.

”I want you guys out of earshot,” said Chan.

Rusty put his hand on the gun in his holster. ”Don't try anything.”

The officers stepped back and Chan, still handcuffed, inclined his head so he could hear what Tess was saying.

Tess licked her lips. She didn't want to alienate him with her question. He would turn away and never answer her. And she knew already that he would plead innocent and refuse to answer questions at his trial. But she needed to know. She spoke carefully. ”You said you killed my sister out of revenge. But you didn't even know us. How could it have been revenge?” she asked.

Chan laughed scornfully. ”Why should I tell you that? So you can get up on the witness stand and testify against me?”

Tess shook her head. ”We both know I'm going to testify against you. But nothing I say will matter. The DNA will speak louder than I ever could.”

Chan shrugged again. ”You're honest,” he said. ”I like that.”

”Then tell me why,” Tess pleaded. ”Please.”

A white van came tearing down the driveway and screeched to a halt in the midst of the crowd of onlookers. Jake and Julie had arrived. Jake rushed over to his mother and Erny. He picked up Erny in his arms, holding him close. Julie followed right behind him, her round face beaming. Chan's disdainful gaze seemed to be fixed on the newcomers.

”I don't remember saying that,” said Chan.

”You said you were angry when you saw my sister tied up in that shed,” Tess prompted him. ”That you wanted revenge.”

Chan looked over at Julie, bulky and sensibly coiffed, and shook his head. ”It's unbelievable. I didn't even recognize her when I saw her the other day.”

”Saw who?” said Tess, confused. ”What are you talking about?”

Chan snorted with disgust. ”She was pretty then. And had a great body. And she was mine. Until your brother showed up that day at the lake.”

”Julie?” Tess asked.

Chan's face was a blank, his eyes faraway, remembering. ”When I saw Lazarus coming and going from the gardener's shed, and I found your sister locked up there, I considered letting her go. And then I thought, Forget that. It's payback time.”

”Payback,” Tess whispered.

”I probably shouldn't have taken it out on Phoebe. I know that now. But you're stupid when you're young. You think your heart will be broken forever.” Chan shook his head. ”What a waste. Now I wouldn't give that cow the time of day.”

Chan turned his head and looked at Tess. ”I'm warning you. If you say this at my trial, I will deny it.”

Everything inside of Tess shrank from his cruel words. She looked over at her family. Dawn, standing close to Kenneth, was talking on her cell phone, spreading the good news that Tess was safe. Jake looked on indulgently as Julie took her turn tearfully embracing her nephew. Tess looked back at Phoebe's killer. ”No. No one will ever hear that from me.”

CHAPTER 37.

Tess tapped at the wood frame of the screen door. Ben, who was sitting on the porch in a rocker, his feet up on the inner railing, looked over at her, smiled, and gestured for her to come in. He used his good arm, the one that was not taped to his chest.

Tess opened the door and s.h.i.+vered. ”How can you sit out here in this weather? It's turned so cold,” she said.

Ben got up from the rocker. ”You're right. I was just about to go in,” he said.

”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you,” said Tess.

Ben leaned down and gave her a lingering kiss. ”You could never disturb me,” he said. He reached for the k.n.o.b on the front door. ”Come on. Let's go in.”

”Thanks,” said Tess. She followed him inside and put the bag she was carrying down on the dining table in the great room. ”I raided the gourmet deli and brought us some dinner,” she said. ”And Dawn sent along some apple cake.”

”Between your mother's cake and the doc forbidding me to run,” said Ben, ”I'm gonna be a blimp.”

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