Spontaneous - Brenda Jackson [54]
“In that case, why didn’t he speak up sooner?”
“Green probably figured no one was going to take him seriously, but since Chevis came around asking, he was more than ready to spill his guts. According to Chevis, the man was full of information and didn’t hesitate in telling them where the women’s bodies were.”
“And he admitted to killing them?”
“Yes, after beating them up first. He claimed those were Villarosas’s instructions to teach his cheating wives a lesson.”
Kim shuddered at the thought and was glad when Duan pulled into her mother’s driveway. She had unsnapped her seat belt and was out of the car as soon as it came to a complete stop. She began racing toward the front door.
“She’s not at home, Sunshine.”
Kim stopped walking so fast that she almost missed the step to the door. Duan’s arm reached out to steady her.
She glanced across the yard at Mr. Bennie, who was working in his flower garden. “She’s not here? Do you know if she went to visit Aunt Gert?”
He shook his head as he took off his work gloves. “No, she left early this morning with Edward Villarosas. She had an overnight bag so I assume they’ve gone out of town.”
“What! Oh, my God, I hope you’re wrong about that, Mr. Bennie.” Kim frantically fished through her purse for her mother’s door key, spilling most of the contents on the ground.
“I’ll get the door,” Duan said, bending down to retrieve the items that had fallen from her purse, including the keys. With his arms planted firmly around Kim’s waist, he slid the key in the door and pushed it open. She rushed past him and was inside before he could draw his next breath.
A piece of paper was sitting on the dining-room table and she quickly raced over to pick it up. When she finished reading it, she turned to Duan, her eyes filled with anger. “The bastard talked Mom into eloping to Vegas,” she said heatedly, letting the paper fall from her hand onto the floor. “She can’t marry him! She can’t!”
Duan crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. “No, she can’t, and if we have to contact every wedding chapel in Vegas to make sure that she doesn’t then—”
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude, but is everything all right?”
Duan and Kim glanced over to see Mr. Bennie standing in the doorway. Kim pulled out of Duan’s arms and rushed over to him. “Mr. Bennie, when you saw Mom this morning, did she look okay? Did it appear as if she was being forced to leave or anything like that?”
The man’s eyebrows shot up, as if surprised by Kim’s line of questioning. “No, she seemed to be leaving of her own free will and was in a good mood, as always. She smiled and waved when she saw me. I was putting out the garbage. That was around seven this morning.”
Kim nodded. She found some comfort in knowing Edward hadn’t killed the other two women himself, which meant her mother was probably not in any immediate danger. But still, the thought of Wynona traveling alone with the man was unsettling.
“What is it, Sunshine? What’s wrong?”
Duan walked over to them. “If you don’t mind coming inside, Mr. Bennie, we can explain things.”
All right.”
Duan closed the door behind the man and pulled Kim close to his side. She was shivering in both fear and anger.
“Mr. Jeffries, I know you might think it’s none of my business, but if there’s something wrong, please tell me. Nona and I are very good friends. I care about her deeply.”
“I know you do, Mr. Bennie,” he said truthfully. “And she’s going to need you a lot when this is all over.”
The man glanced over at Kim in concern. “I’ll always be there for her. Now please tell me what’s going on.”
Duan inhaled deeply. “Edward Villarosas is wanted for questioning by the police.”
Mr. Bennie looked surprised. “The police? What for?”
Duan’s arms tightened around Kim’s waist. “For arranging the deaths of his two wives.”
16
KIM WAS PACING the floor and so was Mr. Bennie. They both had worried looks