Page 17 of Beyond Her Reach (Bree Taggert #10)

Virginia pointed at him. “Bingo. Instead of complaining about her weight and negative attitude, he started bitching because she wasn’t fun .

He gave her a hard time about not drinking.

Like, who does that? I mean, Kelly knew she’d been using alcohol as a crutch and that it would be so easy to slide right back into her old habits.

She told me she wasn’t able to have just one glass.

Not ever. For her, booze was a trigger. His lack of support in improving her health really hurt her, even more than the suspected cheating.

He made her medical issues about himself.

For years, she blamed his lack of sexual attraction on her appearance.

” She exhaled in an angry puff. “Then after she transformed herself, he found other ways to find fault with her. In my opinion, he was abusive, not physically, but emotionally. He put her down continually. In the past, she accepted his criticism and blamed herself, but when she stopped drinking, she realized what was happening. She wanted to leave him at that point, but she didn’t have any income.

She was looking for a job when he left her. ”

“How did she react?” Bree asked.

“Who wants to be left? And even though she saw the end of her marriage coming like a subway train, she was still depressed about it. But , after he was out of the house, she realized how much happier and relaxed she was without him.” Virginia’s eyes misted.

She sniffed and wiped a palm across her face.

“She called me one day. She’d just been to the doctor.

Her blood pressure had dropped like, twenty points.

Even with the emotional turmoil of the breakup and her financial worries, her stress levels were still lower.

She said she used to crave alcohol every night, just before he usually came home from work.

That his impending arrival elevated her stress.

And now, that was gone too. She started talking about house flipping after the current house was done and sold.

She thought she had a knack for it. She was starting to live her best life.

” Virginia’s voice broke. “I’m sorry. It’s just that she’d been through so much, and her life was just getting on a good track. ”

“It’s Ok . We understand.” Bree gave her a few seconds to recover. Once she’d composed herself, Bree resumed her questions. “When did she start dating?”

“She spent the first few months happily alone. Then she got on one of the match apps just for fun. Took her a couple of months to get up the nerve to go on a date.”

“Did she date men other than Troy?” Matt asked.

“No, he was the first and only one that I know of. They haven’t been seeing each other that long.” Muscles rippled as Virginia lifted a shoulder. “She liked him, but she wasn’t enamored, if you know what I mean.”

Bree nodded.

Virginia continued. “He was her rebound relationship. I don’t think it would have lasted.”

Which is what Troy said.

Bree asked, “Did she say anything to you about being pregnant?”

“What?” Virginia’s arms dropped to her sides.

“So, that’s a no?” Bree asked.

“That’s a definite no.” Virginia toyed with a lock of hair.

“But now that you mention it, she was out of sorts over the weekend. She didn’t come to class.

Said she had a headache. I texted her to ask how she was feeling, and she didn’t respond.

That wasn’t like her. I assumed it was because of what Harrison had done earlier in the week and that maybe she just needed a little time to decompress, but I should have checked in with her again.

” Regret filled her eyes. “I had a flat tire on Saturday. It took half the day to get a new one. Threw off my whole weekend.” Tears overflowed her eyes.

“I should have made time for her. I knew something was off. I should have stopped to see her.”

“What did Harrison do earlier in the week?” Bree asked.

“He was waiting for her in the parking lot when she finished class.”

“You saw him?” Matt asked.

Virginia pointed through the glass front of the studio. “Right out there. He’d parked next to Kelly’s minivan.”

“You’re sure it was him?” Matt asked.

“I’m sure. I know that smug face.” She rolled her eyes. “Plus, that midlife crisis on wheels is hard to miss.”

“Did they argue?”

“I don’t know. He looked mad. I opened the door and yelled to Kelly, asked if she needed help.” Virginia shrugged. “She waved me off and said it was Ok . But I stood there at the window where he could see me until he left.”

“How long did they talk?” Bree asked.

“Just a couple of minutes.” Virginia chewed on her lip. “Kelly looked more annoyed than upset, but I should have called the cops. He wasn’t supposed to bother her.”

“We didn’t see a restraining order,” Bree said.

Virginia shook her head. “She didn’t think it was necessary. But I feel like I let her down. It’s my fault she’s dead.” She stifled a sob by pressing a fist to her lips.

“If she didn’t have a restraining order and you had called the police,” Bree said, “they wouldn’t have been about to do anything except tell him to move along. He didn’t break the law.”

Virginia sniffed.

“The only person responsible for Kelly’s death is the person who killed her,” Matt said.

But Virginia didn’t look convinced.

“Do you have surveillance cameras in the parking lot?” Matt asked.

“Yes. Do you want me to copy the video for you?”

“Please.” Bree remembered the neighbor, Jeff, saying he’d seen Kelly and Harrison argue. “Did they have any specific arguments recently?”

“Yes. A little while ago, she changed the locks on the house, and he was so, so mad.” Virginia lifted her chin. “I was proud of Kelly for finally shutting him out. Why should he have the keys to a house he didn’t live in anymore?”

Why indeed?

They went into the back office, where Virginia found the parking lot surveillance video showing Harrison confronting Kelly in the parking lot the previous Tuesday. The video didn’t include sound, but it confirmed her story—and his lie.

Back in the SUV, Bree asked Matt, “What do you think?”

“I think we have two very strong suspects.”

“Same.”