“You’re going to want to stick around for this.” Ronan led her to a plush sofa and held her arm while she sat down. He moved toward Simon with his hand outstretched. “Detective Ronan O’Mara. We spoke yesterday.”
Simon took his hand, pumped it once, and dropped it like it was hot. “Who are these other men? My wife said they’re interns, but since when do interns wear badges and a golden captain’s shield?” He shot his wife an angry look.
Amanda’s hands came up in front of her bump, as if to shield her child. “They weren’t wearing badges when they walked into the office. I swear.”
Simon wore a look that said he didn’t believe his wife and that she’d pay for her mistake later.
“Let me introduce Detective Jude Byrne and Captain Kevin Fitzgibbon. We’re with Salem’s cold case unit. Let’s chat, shall we?” Ronan motioned Simon to sit on the sofa with his wife while Jude took up a position at the door.
“What can I do for you,Detective.” Simon wore a sour look.
“Well, it’s funny you should ask.” Ronan offered the man a cold smile. “You could save us all a lot of trouble and confess to killing Sebastian Stark.”
“You’re out of your mind if you think I hurt that kid. He drank too much and fell down the stairs. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.” Simon stood but found himself face to chest with Fitzgibbon, who, at six and a half feet tall, was an imposing figure.
“Sit down, Mr. Westlake,” Fitzgibbon ordered.
“See, here’s the problem with your story. The facts don’t back up what you’re saying.” Ronan paused, smirking at Westlake, who, instead of looking annoyed like he had moments ago, looked worried. “I get that a history major might not know a lot about anatomy, so let me give you a little crash course.” Ronan stood up and motioned Ten to join him. “When we fall forward,” Ronan began, shoving Ten forward while holding on to his belt. Ten’s arms flew out, and his hands were up to break his fall, “our hands shoot out to protect us. It’s like our lizard brain knows we’re in danger and acts accordingly. This reflex is still active when we’re drunk off our asses.” Ronan paused, letting his words sink in. He motioned for Ten to sit down. “Here’s the interesting part. Sebastian Stark had no injuries to his arms, his wrists, his palms, or his fingers. If he’d actually fallen down a flight of stairs, he would have had several injuries, scrapes to his skin, broken wrists and fingers, skinned palms, but here’s the surprise: Bash didn’t have so much as a scratch. It’s almost as if four people placed him in that position on the stairs. You know, people like Brent Jones, Andy Britton, David Kellog, and you.”
It warmed Ronan’s heart to see the look of utter shock on Westlake’s face. Turning his attention to Mrs. Westlake, he saw that the woman looked as if she were about to hurl. He hadn’tseen another person turn that shade of green since the time a few years back when Jude ate gas station sushi. “Of course, that was after you had a secret meeting with Bash in your room, under the guise of giving him one last chance to win your approval to join the frat.”
“You stupid bitch!” Simon shouted as his wife. “You fucking ratted me out. I knew you were nothing but a dumb whore! Did you tell them that I wasn’t the only one who suffocated that annoying motherfucker, huh? Did you tell them thatyouwere in on it too? Come to think of it, killing Bash that way wasyouridea. This wasallyour idea. I’ll just plead temporary insanity. I lost my head when I found out my future wife was fucking prospective members of Sigma Chi. You were nothing but the frat bicycle.Everyonegot a free ride! You probably fucked the detectives too, you stupid piece of trash.”
Amanda sat on the edge of the sofa with her mouth hanging open. Her arms wrapped protectively around her unborn child as if she could somehow protect him or her from the sins of her past.
“Yoo-hoo, Simon?” Ronan waved his hand at the crazed man, getting his attention off his wife and back to Ronan, who stood up and reached behind his back. He held up his cuffs for Westlake to see. “I hate to break it to you, pal, but your wife didn’t tell us what happened the night Sebastian died.” He offered Simon a cat-who-ate-the-canary smile. “And for the record, none of us slept with your wife. She’s not our type, if you catch my drift.” Ronan moved behind the stunned man and wrapped the cuffs around his wrists.
Simon Westlake stood there, unmoving, looking shell-shocked. He gave his head a shake and looked at his wife, who was cryingsilent tears. “Ifshedidn’t tell you what happened that night,whodid?”
“Sebastian Stark,” Ronan said simply.
Simon Westlake started to laugh. He sounded completely unhinged. “Sebastian is dead, dumbass!”
Ronan didn’t laugh along with Westlake. He turned to Ten. “Oh, did I forget to introduce my husband? Meet Tennyson Grimm. He’s a psychic medium. He spoke to Bash last night, and he was more than happy to tell us what happened that night. How you and Amanda suffocated him and how you grabbed three of your pals to help move the body.”
“You’ll never be able to prove that!” Westlake shouted. “No one will rat me out.”
“Oh, yes I will.” Amanda got unsteadily to her feet. “I’ve put up with your lies, abuse, and bullshit for five years longer than I should have. All I have is this child, and you can damn well better believe I’ll do everything in my power to protect him.”
“If you talk, I promise I’ll have that baby ripped from your arms and sent to live with my parents, who always thought you were trash from day one!” Simon threatened.
“Why would your parents getmybaby, Simon?” Amanda asked, sounding innocent.
“Because they’re our son’s grandparents, you dumb bitch. You’re too fucking stupid to realize that you can’t raise a baby in prison, which is exactly where you’re headed.” Simon began to laugh again.
Amanda looked at her husband with loathing in her eyes. “I may be headed to prison, but my child will never see your parents. I guaran-fucking-tee it.”
Simon stilled. He stopped laughing and focused his attention on his wife. “Who’s going to raise our son? Your trashy sister? Your wife-beating father? Your alcoholic mother?”
“No, Simon, hisfatherwill raise him.” Amanda shot her husband a triumphant smile.
“You dirty fucking whore!” Simon shouted.
“Shut the fuck up,” Fitzgibbon ordered, leading Westlake toward the door. Jude followed along behind him. “Simon Westlake, you’re under arrest for the murder of Sebastian Stark. You have the right to remain silent.” His voice carried down the hall as Fitz continued to read Westlake his rights while Simon howled in outrage.
When the shouting died down, Amanda turned her attention to Ronan. “What are you going to do with me?”
“We’re going to have to arrest you for murder as well. I won’t cuff you if you promise to come without a fight,” Ronan offered.
