Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #10)(92)

Then the tone of the voices changed, and the words became distinct. The woman, Hannah was almost certain it was Patsy, sounded angry.

“I don’t understand!” her voice floated over the water. “What difference does it make if the police know you went for a walk? They can’t arrest you for murdering Gus if you didn’t do it!”

Mac gave a mirthless chuckle. “Oh, but I did,” he said.

“You…did?” Patsy sounded horrified.

“That’s right. I told you I wanted to get that money back, and I went over to the pavilion to get it. Gus said you gave it to him. And since it was your money in the first place, he didn’t have to pay me back.”

“He was right. It wasn’t your money.”

“Sure it was. You’re my wife. I earned it by being married to you all these years.”

Patsy didn’t say anything. Hannah could imagine how hurt and frightened she was.

“When I told him he had to pay it back, he laughed at me. And he wouldn’t quit laughing, so I stabbed him to shut him up.”

“You…killed him,” Patsy said, and Hannah could tell she was close to a state of shock.

“That’s right, and I’m not sorry I did. The only problem I’ve got now is you.”

“But I won’t tell anybody you killed him! I promise, Mac!”

Mac laughed, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “Oh, sure. You won’t tell anyone until I take you back to shore and you can run for help. Don’t try to lie to a liar, Patsy. I’m a lot better at it than you are.”

“But I love you, Mac!” Hannah could tell by the tone in Patsy’s voice that she was desperate.

“Well, that’s nice. Too bad I don’t love you, huh?”

There was a moment of silence while Hannah and Michelle paddled hard. Mac was going to kill Patsy. Hannah was convinced of it. She just hoped that they could make it to the water lily garden in time!

We’re on the way. Just keep him talking until we get there! Hannah urged her silently. And that was when Patsy spoke again.

“I can’t testify against you, Mac.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”

“Why not?” Mac sounded suspicious.

“Because a wife can’t testify against her husband. And I’m your wife, Mac. Even if I tell somebody what you said, they can’t use it against you. That would be hearsay. And hearsay’s not admissible in court.”

“You’re sure about that?” Mac sounded as if he were considering her argument, but Hannah had her doubts. It was more likely he was playing with Patsy like Moishe played with a mouse.

“Of course I’m sure,” Patsy said, and to Hannah’s ears she sounded desperate again. “I’ve been a legal secretary for almost thirty years.”

“Well that is interesting. I’ve got to admit that. You’re positive you’re right then?”

Hannah motioned for Michelle to hurry. The water lily garden was just ahead. They’d be on the scene in less than a minute.

“I’d stake my…” Patsy stopped suddenly and gave a little sob. “It’s all true, Mac. There’s no way I can say anything in court to hurt you.”

Mac gave a little chuckle and the hair stood up at the back of Hannah’s neck. She could tell a crisis was coming with the force of a speeding freight train.

“Patsy, Patsy, Patsy,” Mac mock chided her. “You’re talking about a trial here. But there’s not going to be any trial. There’s not even going to be an arrest.”

Hannah could hear Patsy crying. They were very close now.

“We’re all alone out here, and this canoe is going to flip right over.” Mac chuckled again. “And you can’t swim, can you, Patsy girl?”

“Stop!” Hannah shouted out, giving a mighty lunge on her paddle to hurtle them forward. “Stop or I’ll shoot!”

Michelle gave her a startled glance, but she leaned on her paddle and the canoe leaped forward into the clearing that contained the water lily garden.

Mac didn’t wait to see who it was. He just flipped the canoe and Patsy hit the water with a cry. Michelle and Hannah arrived just in time to see her go down into the watery depths.

“I’ll get her,” Michelle shouted.

“Take her to the point.” Hannah gestured toward Sandy Point, which was only a half mile away. “I’ll get him.”

Hannah watched as Michelle grabbed Patsy and started to swim to shore with her. Patsy didn’t panic the way most non swimmers do. Instead she let Michelle support her in the water and kicked with her feet to help them move. Once Hannah was sure they were going to make it, she turned to locate Mac. But before she could do more than glance at the overturned canoe, her own canoe began to tip.

Hannah used an expression she would not have considered around her two nieces, but half of it came out underwater. She was being dragged down to the bottom by Jordan High’s champion swimmer.

If you get dumped in the water with all your clothes on, the first thing to do is get rid of your shoes. The words of Hannah’s first swimming teacher came back to her in a rush. It was good advice. Hannah hated to lose her favorite sneakers at the bottom of Eden Lake, but it was better than losing her life at the bottom of Eden Lake.