I See You (Criminal Profiler, #2)(104)

“That’s a nice story,” Skylar said. “But I loved my mom. I never would have hurt her.”

“I don’t think you planned it. But I think you snapped when she said she was leaving, and your temper got the better of you.”

“No,” Skylar said.

“When you stab someone, your hand gets slick with blood.” Zoe held up her left hand and slowly flexed the fingers. “And if you aren’t careful, the blade can slip. It’s not uncommon for the attacker to cut themselves and leave their own blood on the knife or, in this case, in the handle’s crevices.”

“I use that knife at home all the time,” Skylar said. “I’ve cut my hand on it before. And my dad confessed. He left a note and everything.”

“Mark did it to protect you. Jason might have tried to convince you otherwise, but in Mark Foster’s mind, you were his little girl. I wonder if he knew all along that the baby Hadley was carrying wasn’t his. I think that’s why they moved out west. He would have kept you both in Oregon if not for the trouble you got into. The only reason he came back here was because of the job. Maybe he thought the past was over and done, and you three could live a happy life here now.”

Tears welled in the young girl’s eyes. “No.”

“And then you test your DNA and show up at Jason’s garage. He knew from the moment he met you he would use you to get back at Hadley. Maybe he didn’t know how, but he figured sooner or later, he could turn you against your mother.”

Her shoulders drew back as she inhaled. “No. Jason wouldn’t do that. And I did love my mom.”

“We now have DNA evidence that proves Jason stabbed to death Veronica Manchester and Galina Grant. Both the women look very much like your mother, and we think he was using them as surrogates.”

For the first time, the defiance burning in the girl’s gaze cooled. “Jason wouldn’t do that.”

“He did do that. I can’t prove it, but I also think he killed your mother’s sister, Marsha. Cops didn’t take a hard look at him because he’d quit his job at Prince Paving and moved away.”

“You are lying,” Skylar whispered.

“Jason knew Mark was having an affair with Veronica. I’m not sure why he killed her. Maybe because he knew her death would eventually cast suspicion on Mark, or maybe she just looked so much like Hadley he couldn’t resist. And Galina Grant was just an easy target who had the misfortune to be Jason’s type.”

“Jason isn’t a monster. I’m not a monster. I loved my mother.”

“I have no doubt you loved your mother,” Zoe said. “And I bet if you could take back those few moments when you stabbed her, you would.”

Skylar looked as if she would say something, but then her face hardened in a way that reminded Zoe of Jason. “No, you’re wrong. I wouldn’t take it back.”

The girl was still very young and had suffered multiple traumas. She could live to regret those words. And then Zoe reminded herself that Jason hadn’t been much older than Skylar when he’d killed Marsha.

Vaughan rose. “Skylar Foster, you have the right to remain silent.”





EPILOGUE

Monday, September 16, 3:00 p.m.

The house had a lighter feel, as if for the first time in a decade, it had taken a deep breath. Zoe stood in the living room, arranging the furniture she had had reupholstered while a crew had stripped the old wallpaper, painted the walls a soft gray, and buffed the wood floors. Remodeling the living room and her bedroom certainly was not a complete renovation, but she could tackle the rooms bit by bit.

Her front doorbell rang, and she glanced out the window to see Vaughan. She smiled. It had been a week since they had seen each other, and she realized how much she had missed him.

She opened the door, and he leaned in and gave her a kiss with the kind of familiarity shared by close couples. “This is a nice surprise,” she said.

“I had DNA results I wanted to share with you.”

“How romantic.” She laughed.

“I thought you’d be impressed.” He stepped into the room and kissed her again.

Smiling, she stepped back. “What do you think of the room?”

He nodded with approval. “This looks great.”

“Crews just left yesterday, and the furniture was returned this morning. Now I just have to figure out what to do with it all.”

“I can help.”

“I could use the extra muscle.”

“How’s the arm?”

“Still sore. But better.” She flexed her fingers. “It’s getting better each day. How was parents’ weekend?”

“Nate is doing really well. I also think he has a girlfriend.”

She removed two cold sodas and handed one to him. “Good for him.”

“As long as his grades don’t suffer.” He popped the top of the soda.

“Spoken like a dad.” Vaughan’s dedication to his son was one of his qualities she admired most.

“I’d like you to meet him.”

“That would be nice.”

“He’ll be home the week of Thanksgiving.”

She crossed her fingers. “Barring a case, so will I.”

“Nate’s used to holiday dinners being delayed for a case. If you can be flexible that week, we’ll make it work.”