Page 85 of Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele)

Amanda tilted her head toward Leah and said, “She knows what it represents.”

Leah spoke, monotone, devoid of emotion. “Light and dark. Good and evil. Perfect for those girls.”

Goosebumps laced Amanda’s arms. “You really do know the flower.”

“So what?”

There was no evidence of a partnership at the crime scenes, and it would have been tricky to pull off as a team. But it was obvious that Leah was aware of what her husband had done and condoned it—maybe even helped in the planning. “The black orchid was your touch.”

“Smart as you are pretty, Detective,” Leah said.

“Mom!” Stephanie screamed.

“Those girls were evil, Stephanie. You are so good, light. They were taking your future from you. And now they’ll also be exposed for the type of people they really were.”

Why they were posed naked…

“They made me better.” Stephanie folded into herself and sobbed.

“Enough talk. Let’s get this over with.” The professor nudged his head toward Leah, then spoke in Amanda’s ear. “Put your gun down.”

“I will. Nice and slow.” She held up one hand and leaned forward to put the Glock on the table in front of her next to pots of yellow orchids. Her gaze drifted briefly to the red roses climbing up a trellis in the corner. Something clicked at the edge of her consciousness, something just out of reach.

William had given a little space between her and his blade. It was the opening she needed. Making eye contact with Trent, she nodded slightly.

She tucked her gun into her chest and lowered to the ground, placing more distance between her and the professor as she did so. He lunged toward her, and Amanda prepared herself to pull the trigger. But she didn’t need to.

A thundering boom.

William dropped the knife, and it clattered to the ground. He grabbed his chest as red bloomed across the fabric of his shirt. Then he crumpled into a heap.

Amanda kicked the knife out of his reach and turned around.

Trent had his gun back, and it was trained on Leah. In the time Amanda had made her move, he must have made his, regained control of his weapon and taken the shot. Brilliant.

Leah was wailing out her husband’s name.

She tried to get to William, but Trent held her back.

Stephanie was standing in the doorway, shaking, pretty much paralyzed from everything she had just witnessed.

As Amanda placed the call for responders, she took in the carnage around her.

Leah and William would be going to prison—if he survived the bullet to his chest.

And all of this had been for the love of a child—a warped perception of love. And maybe that was the best anyone could settle for. Love was unique to every individual and yet a glue that held societies together. Amanda was prepared to do all she could to fight for Zoe, but at what cost? Maybe the girl’s biological father was the best thing for her. Maybe a fresh start in a new city and state was what Zoe needed. Sometimes true, unconditional love meant letting those you love the most go.