If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [161]
Lucy retrieved the handcuffs and handed them to Patrick. He cuffed Grace and sat her up. “It’s over for you, too, Grace.”
“It’s all conjecture. There’s no proof of anything.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Lucy said. “The orange juice you drugged. It’s still in the refrigerator. Steve himself is evidence—the next stop is a hospital for a blood sample.”
“But there’s no proof I did anything. What you might have seen in my house? Well, I doubt anyone will ever find it again.”
“I’ll testify.”
“There’s no evidence.”
“There’s Vanessa Russell-Marsh’s body.”
“Nothing connects me to her.”
“Phoenix.”
“A lot of people live in Phoenix.”
“Nelson Russell.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Grace said, though her confidence faltered. “You can’t prove I did anything to anyone.”
Lucy suspected she was correct. She said, “You’re a con artist. You conned Nelson Russell and he sent his sister to collect what you stole. She sent a postcard to her brother that said, ‘You were right. We win.’ Did Vanessa demand repayment or she’d tell Beth and Steve what you did to her brother? Perhaps that would make them suspicious about Leo’s missing money. Did she threaten to turn you over to the police?”
“Vanessa was a fucking bitch!” Grace exclaimed. “They hired a private investigator to find me, and she thought she was so smart coming up here and surprising me. But the joke’s on her.”
“You killed her and planned to leave, but you got greedy,” Lucy said. “You wanted Steve to sell, so you pushed him harder. Told him his father had squandered all his money. Increased the blood pressure meds you were giving him so that he’d get sicker. Maybe get himself killed, because he was working double time to keep the lodge running. You had Beth on your side because you made her feel sorry for you. Poor Grace, you were barely holding on, you were suffering because you were trying to save Leo’s dream for his son—while all along you had been sabotaging it.”
A four-wheel-drive sheriff’s truck came into sight. Grace squirmed.
“You’re going to jail,” Patrick said. “Once we talk to Beth and Vanessa’s brother, you’ll be begging for a plea agreement.”
The sheriff put on the lights and over the speaker came, “Put down your weapons.”
Lucy put her gun on the hood of Patrick’s truck, and Patrick walked over and did the same thing. The deputy got out of the car. “Who’s Kincaid?”
Patrick introduced himself and handed the deputy his private investigator’s license and business card. “I had the lodge call you about Mrs. Marsh’s murder, and we have reason to believe that Grace Delarosa killed her. We also have reason to believe that she killed her husband and attempted to kill her stepson.”
“Frankly, you’re going to have to get in line.” The deputy walked over to where Grace knelt in the snow, head low. “Grace Marie Holbrook, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.”
As the deputy read Grace her rights, he walked her to the back of the truck and locked her inside. Then he returned to the three.
“What did you mean, deputy?” Patrick asked.
“Well, we ran the names you sent us, and one of the aliases, Grace Ann Summers from Virginia, popped up with an active warrant for murder.”
“How long ago?” Patrick asked.
“Nearly six years.”
Steve said, “She came here looking for a job six years ago this June. My dad hired her and they married a year later.”
“She was probably hiding out,” Patrick said. “Taking another name, living in another state, she could have stayed here forever.”
“Probably,” the deputy concurred. “I’m going to take her in, but two deputies are on their way to the lodge to take down statements. Do you need help with your truck?” he asked.
Patrick surveyed the damage. “It looks like we can dig it out.”
“Don’t wait too long. The storm will pass tomorrow, but it’ll only get worse tonight.”
He tipped his hat and left.
TEN
The sheriff’s deputies arrived Saturday evening and took everyone’s statement. They stayed the night because they couldn’t get off the mountain, but by dawn the snow had stopped and pockets of blue could be seen above.