Lies Come True

by Emerald O'Brien

  Fiona stared at her blankly, as Avery wiped the tears off her cheeks.

  “I heard him whistle. He whistled before I saw him, like you said, and then after when…”

  “When you realized you were trapped?”

  “Maybe,” Fiona leaned forward in her chair, “maybe that’s something that could be useful to them?”

  “I’ve already told them about the whistling. Could you just give it a break?” Avery stood from her chair, but her stomach ached worse than it had since she left the hospital, and she sat back down.

  “Listen, I know you’re hurting right now, so am I. We have to be strong. We can’t just be the victims. We got another chance. Those girls he killed, whoever he is— they didn’t get the second chance we have. I’m doing this for them.”

  “You do what you’ve gotta do.” Avery rested her head on her arm, and faced the space where her imaginary window was.

  Fiona was on this crusade, Avery thought, for the girls who were murdered. She wanted to avenge them, and it seemed like she made it her mission to play detective.

  Or she’s deflecting her anger and hurt.

  “He won’t get away with what he did to them.” Fiona said, and Avery didn’t know if she was even talking to her anymore.

  “Did to us.” Avery whispered.

  She imagined it was bright and sunny outside, and that she would get to walk outside and feel the sunshine on her skin, and Charla’s uncle would be trapped inside the gray walls instead.

  Forever.

  Chapter 48

  Noah checked his watch, and waited for a few minutes to pass as they had agreed. When he entered the room, Maggie Henderson was in tears, and her face was red. Charla sat beside her in the same supportive pose he had seen before.

  “You want me to talk to that whore? Try to convince her to change her mind about covering up for him? You’re outta you’re mind.”

  “Maggie, it’s the only way we can catch him in this…” January began and stopped to look at him, “Inspector Cotter.”

  “Inspector Cotter.” Maggie looked up at him with pleading eyes. “They want me to talk to her. How long have you all known she was with my husband?”

  Noah stood tall behind January. Charla rested her hand on Maggie’s arm, but she didn’t seem to notice, and continued staring at him. Ethan cleared his throat, and January spoke.

  “There’s more. I’m so sorry you have to find out now Mrs. Henderson, but your husband,” Maggie made eye contact with January, “he knows you’re the one who gave him up.”

  “What? What do you mean?” She looked to Ethan. “You told him.”

  Ethan looked at Noah.

  “You told my uncle?” Charla stammered. “Why?”

  Noah put his hand on the back of January’s chair. “We didn’t tell him. He already knew.”

  “Oh God. How?” Maggie squeezed her tissue in her fist and whispered, “How could he know that?”

  January was about to speak, but Noah rested his hand on her shoulder, and the room was quiet.

  “It’s because I wasn’t home when he got there.” Maggie looked up at Noah. “That’s gotta be it, right? And I was calling him over and over…” She stopped, her bottom lip quivered. “But he’s locked up now, right?”

  Noah checked his watch. “For a few more hours, and then we have to let him go.”

  “No.” Charla shook her head and made eye contact with Noah. “You can’t.”

  “We don’t have enough to keep him here Maggie.” Ethan spoke up, and his voice was colder than the others. “If you wait a while, you’d be driving back home at the same time.”

  “Now you’re really talking crazy.” Maggie looked back to January. “What do I need to do?”

  “We need you to talk to Jennifer Hornby, and let her know the truth. That Arnold Henderson is a killer.” Ethan said.

  “If you do,” Noah said, “you could help us put him away. Keep him from hurting anyone else. You heard about Avery Hart.”

  Maggie looked up at him with trembling lips and then looked at Charla. “Yes. I did.”

  “If Jennifer Hornby keeps living this lie, if she knows what your husband has done and doesn’t confess,” January shook her head, “there will be no proof.”

  “But…” Maggie’s voice wavered, “what if she’s scared like me?”

  January held her hand out, and Maggie took it. “I know this will be difficult, but we need you to tell her you’re on her side. Let her know that we can help her like we’re helping you. Make her see the real Arnold Henderson. The abuser you’ve known for far too long. The man who you believe is a killer.”

  “What if…” Maggie started to stare off.

  “Maggie.” January spoke in a soft tone and she looked back at her. “He says he was with her the night of one of the murders, and I know that hurts Maggie, but two girls are dead. He killed her husband too. You’ve got to help us put him away Maggie. Can you do that?”

  Maggie squeezed her hand back and then let go. “I don’t know.”

  “You came to us for a reason.” January leaned in toward her, “You told them what you believed to be true about your husband. You’re doing the right thing.”

  “You can try Aunt Maggie. You can at least try.” Charla and Maggie exchanged a glance, and Noah saw the pain they shared.

  “Will you do it Maggie?” January asked.

  “I don’t have a choice.”

  “Good.” Ethan nodded, and stood. “January, please prepare her, and get her whatever she needs.”

  January nodded, and they left the room.

  “Can you believe she’s going to do it?” Noah asked.

  “We’ve got a real chance. I’m going to contact Owen. Can you see if Jennifer Hornby’s here yet?”

  Noah nodded, and they parted ways. Nothing they found at Jennifer Hornby’s could be used as evidence, but it could lead them to something real, and Noah hoped Owen would find something to point them in the right direction.

  He knew that if January was right, and Maggie could have potentially decided to return home with her husband out of fear, they did the right thing.

  Lying to her.

  The fact that she wouldn’t survive going back with him should have been enough, but he was glad they didn’t take that chance. The women would be protected, and the chance of putting Arnold Henderson away felt closer than ever.

  Chapter 49

  Noah found Jennifer Hornby with the officer at the front desk.

  “Inspector Cotter.” Her face lit up, and just as quickly, the smiled faded as he spoke.

  “Could you bring Mrs. Hornby to the room?”

  The officer nodded, and Noah followed behind them until they went into the room.

  Ethan hurried down the hallway. “She here?”

  Noah nodded. “Any word from Owen?”

  “He just got there. Nothing so far.”

  They entered the room and the officer left.

  “Mrs. Hornby.” Noah nodded. “Nice to see you again. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances though. This is Inspector Ascott.”

  She nodded. “I’m just waiting for my lawyer.”

  “Alright,” Noah sat down. “You aren’t being arrested though. Just so you know.”

  “Okay.”

  “Have you spoken to Darrel?”

  She looked at him blankly. “No.”

  “Mrs. Hornby,” Ethan started, “You know why you’re here, don’t you?”

  She looked from Noah to Ethan. “I should really wait for my lawyer before I answer any questions.”

  “I’m sorry for the loss of your husband.” Ethan nodded. “Out of respect for him, I can’t wait that long. Mrs. Hornby, we have Arnold Henderson in custody for the murder of your husband, and of two other women.”

  Noah watched her eyes well up. “Mrs. Hornby, we have someone who wants to talk to you.”

  She looked at him, her brows furrowed. “Arnold?”

  “His wife, Maggie.” Noah watched h
er eyes widen, as she pushed her chair back.

  “No, no, I can’t see her.”

  “Arnold already told us about your affair. His wife knows, and she wants to talk to you, not about the affair, but about this case.” She shook her head. “She’s afraid for you.”

  “Ha.” Mrs. Hornby let out a burst of air, and tears fell down her cheeks. “She’s concerned for me?”

  “For you, and for all the other women out there who could be hurt or killed if Arnold is set free today, and he will be if you don’t listen to her.” Ethan nodded to the door, and Noah opened it.

  Maggie stood behind January and peered out from behind her.

  “Mrs. Hornby, I’m January. Thank you for letting us speak with you.” Noah watched Maggie approach the table, slowly coming out of January’s shadow.

  She offered her the seat next to Noah.

  The room was quiet for a while, and when Ethan began to speak, January shook her head.

  “I’m sorry Maggie.” Mrs. Hornby spoke first, and hung her head.

  “I know you know my husband in ways no other woman should.” Maggie cleared her throat. “But do you know what he does to me?”

  Mrs. Hornby looked up at her with wide eyes.

  “He beats me Jen. He has since we got married.”

  Mrs. Hornby shook her head, but Maggie went on.

  “He abuses me in every way, mentally, emotionally…” She rolled up her sleeves, to show a bruise in the shape of fingers. “Physically.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “I’m not trying to make you feel sorry for me. If you did, you wouldn’t have done what you did with him. I want you to know he’s dangerous. I believe he killed those women, and probably your husband too.”

  Mrs. Hornby started to cry, and Maggie waited. “I…”

  “If Grant found out about the affair,” Maggie said the word affair like it was a swear word, “or about what my husband was doing with those girls…that’s why he killed him. He killed your husband, Jen. You loved him once, didn’t you? Are you going to let Arnold use you like this?”

  Mrs. Hornby took a deep breath. “My husband knew.”

  All eyes in the room focused on Mrs. Hornby.

  Noah lowered his voice. “He knew about the affair with Arnold?”

  “I told him more than a week before he passed and he didn’t even seem surprised. I decided to end it with Arnold a week before,” she looked at Maggie, “at the barbeque. I wrote him a letter telling him it was over. After that, I had to tell my husband, but you know what? He forgave me.”

  Noah had a feeling Darrel had interpreted the letter correctly, and the way Grant had kissed her when he came back out of the house at the barbeque indicated he was happy with her, regardless of what Darrel told him.

  This confirms the trigger, he thought, and nodded to Ethan.

  The tears streamed down Mrs. Hornby’s cheeks, and dripped off her chin. “I didn’t deserve it, but he forgave me. Told me he thought it was his fault, that he’d try harder. We were happy…in his last week. We were…”

  “Mrs. Hornby,” January stepped toward the table. “If you’re not with Arnold Henderson anymore, will you please tell us where you were on the twentieth and twenty-first of this past week?”

  Mrs. Hornby dried her eyes with a tissue January gave her and cleared her throat.

  “I was with Arnold Henderson.” She looked at January, but her eyes flickered back to Maggie.

  “After your husband’s death, you must have suspected something. Was Arnold mad that you broke up with him?” January asked. “Did he threaten you?”

  She stared past them to the door. “I don’t want to…”

  Maggie reached out across the table, and before Noah could react, she grabbed her hand.

  “If you don’t tell them the truth, he’ll go free. He’ll kill me. He might kill you. He’ll kill again. You can stop this. You have to stop this.” Maggie hissed at her.

  They looked at each other for another moment, before the door opened, and Briggs stepped through with another man in a suit.

  “You will not speak to my client without my presence ever again.” The taller man reached out for Mrs. Hornby.

  Mrs. Hornby stood, and Noah watched her shake as she walked to the door, but Maggie grabbed her hand again.

  “Please. Please tell them. God, you have to tell them.”

  Mrs. Hornby shook her head, and tried to pull away from Maggie.

  January pulled Maggie off of her, and they watched Mrs. Hornby leave with the men.

  Charla rushed in after the room began to clear, and held her aunt in a tight embrace, while she whispered to her.

  “Maggie, we’ll have an officer escort you and Charla back to your sister’s. A police car will be stationed there for your protection and we’ll be in touch.”

  January led Maggie and Charla out the door, and Noah heard Maggie’s cries fade further down the hall.

  “Arnold got to her. He’s got to have something big on her. Something bad.” Ethan walked to the door. “It’s onto plan B. We’ve got to do it soon. We can’t have Mrs. Hornby telling Briggs anything he could tell Arnold. You call Owen again, and I’ll meet you in Arnold’s room. I’ll make sure no one talks to him.”

  Noah looked across the hall, to the door the girls were behind, and dialed Owen’s number. Avery’s head rested on her arm, and he wondered if she was sleeping.

  “Hey man, you got anything?”

  “I might have something. Ken told me phone records show that Jennifer Hornby and Arnold haven’t spoken on the phone for two weeks. They texted each other a few times since though. Arnold asked her to meet him. There was no reply. Then, after her husband’s death, one message. It’s too bad about your husband. Very sorry I’ll have to miss the funeral. I’ll be by to pay my respects very soon.”

  “You think that sounds threatening?”

  “Knowing what we know, maybe, but as far as evidence, it’s a stretch. Mrs. Hornby couldn’t help us?”

  “Wouldn’t,” Noah corrected.

  “That’s all I’ve got.”

  “We need something else. Now.”

  “I know, I’m trying alright?” Noah heard some rustling on the other end. “I’ve gone through almost everything. Ken accessed her computer remotely. Nothing on there.”

  “Keep trying. Without anything concrete…”

  “I know, Noah.” Owen’s voice sounded rough, “I’m getting another call. Listen, I’m trying my best.”

  “At least Ken found the texts. It might be helpful. If you get something, call me directly.”

  “Got it.”

  Chapter 50

  “I’ll ask you to direct your questions to me now.” Briggs checked his watch, and sighed.

  Noah leaned back in his chair as Briggs straightened his glasses.

  “We have just gotten confirmation…” Ethan began but Noah interrupted.

  “We have the phone records Arnold.” He looked directly at him, and Arnold stared back. “Jennifer Hornby.”

  Arnold continued to stare, but when Briggs set his hand down on the table, Arnold lost focus.

  “If there is any such evidence, I…”

  “We have proof of your texts to Jennifer Hornby after her husband was found dead. We have every word of those texts shared between Arnold Henderson and Jennifer Hornby.”

  Briggs squinted at him and then shook his head.

  “Shame,” Arnold pressed his lips together and his face appeared lighter, “that’s what it was. I had to send my condolences.”

  Briggs turned to Noah. “Unless you have the evidence with you, Mr. Henderson is finished entertaining your…”

  “We do have the phone records Mr. Briggs. Of course, it wasn’t just your condolences, as you claim. You also said you’d be seeing her.” Noah saw the clock in his peripheral, and realized their time was up. “You told her you’d come to see her. What was the nature of your visit?”

  Before Arnold opened his mouth, Brigg
s held his watch up to Arnold.

  “Time’s up. We’re done here. Mr. Henderson’s free to go. Don’t bother trying to speak with him without me again.”

  They stood and started for the door.

  “Mr. Henderson.” Ethan stood eye to eye with him. “I don’t have to tell you to stay close.”

  Briggs opened the door. “Mr. Henderson has no plans to leave the country.”

  Ethan shook his head and smiled. “I don’t have to tell you, because we’ll be the ones staying close. Know what I mean?”

  Noah couldn’t tell for sure, but he thought he saw Ethan wink at Arnold before they left the room. When the door closed, Ethan turned to him.

  “Why didn’t you let me say the girls turned on him?”

  “It wouldn’t have been enough. He wasn’t going to confess.”

  “It was all we had left while we still had him. You can’t pull that shit with me.”

  “I couldn’t put those women’s lives in danger Ethan. Come on, could you really have done it?”

  “I meant what I said Noah. I’m keeping eyes on him.” He shook his head. “You knew there were risks. You also know we are protection those women. If you had doubts, you should have asked me first.”

  “I did. I told you my doubts, but you wouldn’t take no for an answer. What do you want me to say?”

  “Nothing to me. You can tell those girls he walked.” Ethan stalked out of the room, and Noah let the door shut behind him.

  He made the choice he could live with, and he wouldn’t apologize. If it cost him his position, or his place on the case, so be it.

  When he left the room he saw Arnold at the far end of the hall, as he waited behind Briggs at the reception desk. Arnold noticed Noah, and waved to him. Noah stared him down until Briggs tapped his arm, and he turned to leave.

  Chapter 51

  “He just gets to leave?” Fiona stared up at Noah.

  Her eyes burned through him, but Avery’s threatened to make him second guess the decision to use the women in Arnold’s life as bait. Both expressions made him feel worse than Ethan’s words had.