The Couple Next Door(82)

“They’re in the kitchen,” she says. But before she can say any more, Detective Rasbach joins them in the living room.

“Congratulations,” the detective says.

“Thank you,” Marco replies. As usual, he can’t read the detective, can’t tell what’s going on behind those sharp, discerning eyes.

“I’m so glad your baby has been returned to you alive and well,” Rasbach says. He looks directly at Marco. “I didn’t like to say so before, but the odds were against it.”

Marco sits nervously by Anne’s side, gazing down at Cora, wondering if this happy moment is about to be snatched away from him, wondering if Rasbach is going to tell him he knows all about it. Marco wants to put that off, preferably forever, but he has to know. The tension is unbearable. “What happened?” he asks again.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Anne tells him. “From my bedroom window, I saw Dad going out to the ravine. He was carrying a gym bag. I thought he was going to meet the kidnappers again. I followed him into the ravine, and by the time I caught up with him, he had her. The kidnappers had called again and arranged another exchange. This time a man showed up, with Cora.” She turns to the detective. “He was gone by the time I caught up with my father.”

Marco waits silently. So this is how they’re going to play it. He tries to work out the ramifications. Richard is to be the hero. He and Alice have paid, again, to get Cora back. Anne has just told the police this. Marco doesn’t know whether she actually believes it or not.

Marco has no idea what the detective believes.

“What happens now?” Marco asks.

Rasbach looks at him. “Now, Marco, we tell the truth.”

Marco feels suddenly light-headed, almost dizzy. He sees Anne look up from the baby to the detective, alert to disaster.

“What?” Marco says. He can feel the perspiration starting to prickle his skin.

Rasbach sits down in the chair across from them. Leans forward intently. “I know what you did, Marco. I know you took your baby from her crib and put her in the back of Derek Honig’s car just after twelve thirty that night. I know Derek drove her to his cabin in the Catskills, where he was brutally murdered a few days later.”

Marco says nothing. He knows this is what Rasbach has believed all along, but what proof does he have? Has Richard told them about the phone? Is that what he’s been doing in the kitchen? Has Anne told them about the video? Suddenly Marco can’t bear to look at his wife.

“Here’s what I think, Marco,” Rasbach says, speaking rather slowly, as if he understands that Marco is in so much distress that he may have trouble following. “I think you needed money. I think you set this kidnapping up with Derek Honig to get money from your wife’s parents. I don’t think your wife knew anything about it.”

Marco shakes his head no. He must deny everything.

“After that,” Rasbach says, “I’m not clear. Maybe you can help me. Did you kill Derek Honig, Marco?”

Marco starts violently. “No! Why would you think that?” He’s very agitated. He wipes his sweaty hands on his pants.

“Derek betrayed you,” Rasbach says calmly. “He didn’t bring the baby to the exchange as planned. He took the money for himself. You knew where he was with the baby. You knew about the cabin in the woods.”

“No!” Marco shouts. “I didn’t know where the cabin was! He never told me!”

It is perfectly silent in the room, except for the tick of a clock on the mantelpiece.

With a sob, Marco buries his face in his hands.

Rasbach waits, lets the damning silence fill the room. Then he says, more gently, “Marco, I don’t think you meant for it to happen this way. I don’t think you killed Derek Honig. I think your father-in-law, Richard Dries, killed Derek Honig.”

Marco lifts his head.

“If you come clean with us, if you tell us everything you know to help us in our case against your father-in-law, we might be able to talk about a deal.”

“What kind of a deal?” Marco asks. His mind is racing.

“If you help us, we might be able to offer you immunity from prosecution on the conspiracy-to-kidnap charge. I can speak to the prosecutor—I think he’ll agree, under the circumstances.”

Marco suddenly sees hope where there was none before. His mouth has gone dry. He can’t speak. He nods instead. It seems to be good enough.

“You’ll have to come down to the station,” Rasbach says, “after we wrap up here.” He stands up and goes back to the kitchen.

Anne remains in the living room, cradling her sleeping baby, but Marco gets up and follows Rasbach into the kitchen. He’s surprised his legs work well enough to carry him there. Richard is sitting in one of the kitchen chairs, stubbornly silent. Their eyes meet; Richard’s slide away. A uniformed officer nudges Richard to stand up and puts handcuffs on him. Alice watches from the background, saying nothing, her face blank.

“Richard Adam Dries,” Detective Rasbach says, “you are under arrest for the murder of Derek Honig and conspiracy to kidnap Cora Conti. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. . . .”

Marco watches, astonished at his luck. His baby is back, safe. Richard has been found out and will get what he deserves. He, Marco, will not be prosecuted. Cynthia has nothing to hold over him now. He can feel himself breathe for the first time since this nightmare began. It’s over. It’s finally over.