Spontaneous - Brenda Jackson [53]
“What kind of proof is needed?”
“Finding their bodies would be nice.”
Kim’s hands flew to her mouth and Duan knew she was remembering the two women. “Oh, my God, Duan, something has to be done. My heart goes out to their families.”
“And something will be done to the fullest extent of the law. But we don’t have enough to uphold a conviction. Right now, all we have is a criminal’s word. Until we have evidence to substantiate his claim, there’s nothing we can do. But rest assured, we’re getting that evidence.”
“How?”
“From Villarosas’s old bank accounts, we can show that large amounts of money were withdrawn during the times Green claims he was paid.”
“That’s not enough proof?”
“No. We’ve also obtained old phone call records between Green and Villarosas, but again, that doesn’t prove anything since there are no recorded conversations. It will be Green’s word against Villarosas’s, and who do you think a jury would believe? A man already in jail for life or a man who appears to be a model citizen? Those incidents with Villarosas’s girlfriend over twenty years ago would not be admissible.”
“So what’s going to be done?”
“As we speak, a team of both local and federal officers are searching a wooded area near Orlando and another in Atlanta where Green said the remains are. Regardless, Villarosas will be picked up and brought in for questioning today. Detectives from the Atlanta police department are already on their way here for that. If those remains are located, Villarosas will be charged immediately and extradited back to Georgia.”
Duan sighed deeply and rubbed a hand over the top of his head. “What we need to do now is talk to your mother. Villarosas is going to be questioned and it’s best she finds out from us. I will also need to come clean with her and tell her my role in all of this.”
Kim nodded. “I agree, and we should tell her in person. She isn’t expecting Edward to come over until later since this is the day he plays golf. So hopefully we can talk to her alone. Mom is going to be crushed.”
“Yes, but when the evidence is laid out before her, I’m sure she’ll agree that these are serious charges and those allegations being made are—”
Duan’s cell phone went off. “Excuse me.” He flipped it on. “Yes, Landon?” He nodded a few times. “Yes, okay, and thanks for letting us know.”
He flipped off the phone and met Kim’s gaze. “That was Landon. He wanted to let me know remains were found exactly where Green said they would be, and the authorities are working to obtain positive IDs. If they are Villarosas’s missing wives, then it’s safe to say he’ll be booked and extradited back to Atlanta to face murder charges.”
Kim was already grabbing her purse off the bed. “I need to get to Mom and tell her.”
Duan was already moving toward the door. “Come on, let’s go.”
“I STILL CAN’T REACH Mom,” Kim said, putting her cell phone back in her purse. She glanced over at Duan as he drove the rental car out of the hotel parking lot. “I want to at least let her know we’re on our way over there so she won’t go anywhere. She visits Aunt Gert on occasion.”
“It’s a nice day so she might be out in the yard.”
“Yes,” Kim said, smiling. “She loves her flower garden.”
She was trying to think of positive things, but it was hard to do so knowing how close her mother had come to marrying Edward. The thought that the man had arranged for his two wives to be killed sent chills down her body. She dreaded telling her mother, but at least all this was coming to an end before her mom could become his next victim.
“Thanks for all the hard work you and your friends did. Just think of how long Villarosas has gotten away with this. With Green already in jail for an unrelated crime, he probably thought he was home free.”
“That’s a good assumption to make. The man evidently has mental issues, and I won’t be satisfied until he’s behind bars where he belongs.”
Kim nodded. “I’m surprised Stein Green decided to talk.”
“He had nothing to lose since he’s already doing life with