by BJ Bourg
She paused to take a breath. When she continued, she explained how she had stashed her phone and revolver in the bathroom earlier in the night. “Before he beat me too bad, I told him I felt sick and had to go to the bathroom. I gagged and he jumped back—he can’t handle vomit—and told me I’d better not throw up on him. He let me go to the bathroom, but said if I didn’t tell him who I screwed when I got back, he was going to kill me.”
“How’d you know he wouldn’t just kill you outright?”
“He wouldn’t even let me pass out before giving him a name, so he wasn’t about to kill me until he found out who I was sleeping with. But I had my backup standing by just in case.”
Dawn nodded, thoughtful. “I’m guessing that’s when you locked the bathroom door and refused to come out?”
“I used to do that when we lived in Kentucky. I quit after the first few times, because he would only break the door down and beat me worse.” She paused and smiled. It was a wicked grin. “I knew that’s all it would take to really set him off. Like clockwork, he started trying to break in, so I shot him through the door.”
“And the axe?”
“We got it out the garage and hit the side of the door with it after I shot him. We dropped it next to his body. That’s when I called you.” She lowered her eyes. “I’m really sorry about deceiving you. You’ve been good to me.”
Dawn only shrugged. “When did y’all plant the wig and the ice pick?”
“Earlier…while Hank was still sleeping. We knew we wouldn’t have time to do it after I woke him up.” She frowned. “I didn’t know anything about the murders until after the fact. I shouldn’t have gone along with murdering and framing Hank, but I was just so tired of the beatings and I figured he deserved it for all he’s done to me. Besides, I thought it was the only way to keep her out of trouble.”
Dawn looked over at me. “Anything?”
I shook my head.
“Okay,” Dawn began, “it’s time—”
“Wait,” Cynthia said. “Can you just tell me how you knew?”
“When we first spoke with your mom, she said she didn’t know you were back in town.” Dawn tapped the file folder with her finger. “According to the records on your throw phone, you two have been in contact almost daily. Oh, and the crime lab was able to lift the serial number on the gun—you look surprised.”
“I didn’t…they can do that?”
Dawn nodded. “We ran the registration on the gun and it came back to your mom.”
“We also knew if you told anyone about the attack,” I said, “it would be your mom, and not Hank. And we all know what happens when a bad guy comes between a momma bear and her cubs.”
“I can’t believe she confessed to it all.”
I nodded, remembering how defiant Cynthia had been when we told her it was over and her mom had confessed to seducing Wilton and Shelton into bed and then murdering them for what they did to her.
Linda said it made her sick to her stomach to seduce the men and have sex with them, but it was the only way she could get close enough to kill them without being detected. Cynthia had described the third kid and mentioned a weird birthmark on his neck, so she figured she would be able to find him at the funerals for his friends.
It was a brilliant plan, I thought, and one that might’ve worked…somewhere else.
Cynthia had refused to believe her mom was the murderer and it wasn’t until we put them in the same room and Linda acknowledged the confession that Cynthia finally broke down.
“We would’ve nabbed your mom sooner or later, thanks to the DNA left on the bodies,” Dawn explained. “Of course, had she not slept with them, it’s anybody’s guess where this case would’ve gone.”
“She was right to think they’d never turn down a good looking woman.” I said.
Cynthia’s shoulders drooped. “What’ll happen to her? Will she spend the rest of her life in jail?”
“With luck and a good jury, she might end up with a manslaughter charge or even walk free.” Dawn grunted. “I think it’ll be next to impossible to find twelve people who’ll feel sorry for two killer rapists.”
“What…um, what about me?” Cynthia asked.
“You’ll be called to testify at your mom’s trial,” I said. “If you want her to have a chance of going free some day, you’d better damn well show up.”
“Um, am I under arrest?”
“For what?” Dawn asked pointedly. “You said you killed Hank in self-defense. Now, get out of here before we change our minds.”
I had mixed feelings as Dawn and I watched Cynthia walk down the hallway toward the exit. She had triggered Hank for the specific purpose of killing him, and then helped frame him for two murders her mom committed. That seemed wrong on so many levels, but I didn’t feel a bit sorry for Hank.
“What’s a bullet drop?” Dawn asked when Cynthia was gone.
I grinned, surprised she even remembered that part of our earlier conversation. “I’ll finish telling you over supper, but only under one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“If Lily can join us.” I didn’t know how Dean’s daughter would feel about having dinner with us, but I remembered wanting to hang out with my dad’s friends after he passed away. It made me feel close to him even though he was gone.
Dawn’s eyes misted over. “I’d love that.”
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About the Author
Click here to visit BJ's website and join his mailing list to get the latest news on upcoming releases, appearances, and more.
BJ Bourg is an award-winning mystery writer and former professional boxer who hails from the swamps of Louisiana. Dubbed the "real deal" by other mystery writers, he has spent his entire adult life solving crimes as a patrol cop, detective sergeant, and chief investigator for a district attorney's office. Not only does he know his way around crime scenes, interrogations, and courtrooms, but he also served as a police sniper commander (earning the title of "Top Shooter" at an FBI sniper school) and a police academy instructor.
BJ is the author of the London Carter mystery series and the Clint Wolf mystery series. When not writing, he can be found exercising, spending time with his beautiful wife and wonderful children, or hanging out with his German shepherd, Kristof.
http://www.bjbourg.com
NOVELS BY BJ BOURG
Clint Wolf Mysteries
But Not Forgotten
But Not Forgiven
But Not Forsaken
But Not Forever
But Not For Naught
But Not Forbidden
But Not Forlorn (Aug/Sep 2018)
Magnolia Parish Mysteries
Hollow Crib
Hollow Bond
London Carter Mysteries
James 516
Proving Grounds
Silent Trigger
Bullet Drop
Elevation
Blood Rise
Stand-Alone YA Mystery
The Seventh Taking
