Page 23 of Ghost of You (Haunted Souls #24)

“Why did he want Frankie dead?” Ronan asked, sitting forward in his chair, as if to hear Angie better.

“He didn’t want to be a father!” Angie shouted.

“Then or now ?” Cope asked.

“What?” Angie and Oliver shouted together.

“You didn’t tell Oliver you have his bun in your oven?” Jude asked.

“You’re pregnant? You stupid bitch.” Oliver wore a disgusted look.

“With Oliver not wanting to be a father and you six weeks pregnant with his son, I’d say that puts you and your baby in grave danger.” Fitz sounded worried on Angie’s behalf.

Cope knew that was just what Angie needed to turn this fight nuclear.

“Is that true, Angie? Are you pregnant?” Oliver asked, his voice full of rage.

Angie wrapped her arms around her stomach and nodded. “You said things would be different. You said we’d get married and have a family. You promised you’d make all of my wildest dreams come true.” Tears streaked down her cheeks.

“Are you fucking stupid?” Oliver shouted. “I fed you that bullshit so you’d kill Frankie!”

Oliver’s pronouncement hung in the air. Cope was stunned. He’d thought Oliver was hiding the fact that he’d killed his wife. It was a shock to hear Oliver had merely been the spark that lit the flame.

“I killed Frankie, my best friend in the world, for a cheating, lying asshole.” Angie’s mouth hung open in obvious shock. She sank her head into her hands.

Cope couldn’t believe his ears. Angie had killed Frankie? He turned to Jude who looked just as surprised as Cope felt.

“Tell us what happened that day.” Fitzgibbon’s pen was at the ready.

Angie lifted her head. Her cheeks were streaked with tears.

“I called Frankie to ask if she wanted to go to lunch. Told her I wanted to hear about her trip to Italy.” Angie’s voice was almost robotic.

Gone was any trace of emotion. “She agreed. I picked her up. We had lunch at Lobster Charlie’s.

Then I drove her out to the Salem Towne Forest. Gave her some bullshit line about a rare orchid blooming.

Frankie loved wild orchids. When we got out of the car, we walked for a mile or so.

I pistol whipped her, knocking Frankie to the ground.

While she was dazed I slapped tape over her mouth and wrapped her wrists in duct tape.

I marched her deeper into the forest, past the walking trails, so deep into the woods that the sunlight barely made it through the trees.

I shouted at her the whole time. I was so angry.

So fucking angry that she had this wonderful life with Oliver and I was all alone.

Frankie was walking ahead of me and I shot her in the back of the head.

I left her where she fell and walked back to my car. ”

“Where’s the gun, Angie?” Ronan asked.

“I drove to Marblehead and threw it into the ocean.” Angie turned to Oliver. “I trusted you.”

“That was your first mistake,” Oliver said, an evil grin spread over his face.

“Angela Melton,” Fitzgibbon began. “You’re under arrest for the kidnapping and murder of Francesca Adams.” He pulled out his handcuffs and slapped them on Angie’s wrists. Fitz read Angie her rights as he marched her out the front door.

Oliver laughed as Angie was being led out of the house.

“What the hell could possibly be so funny?” Jude asked.

“Angie just confessed to murdering my wife. That frees up Frankie’s insurance money. I’ll finally be able to live the kind of life I want. Free and easy. With ten million dollars in my pocket.” Oliver laughed again.

“I know the perfect thing you can spend that money on.” Jude’s face was blank, but Cope knew it was just an act.

“Oh, yeah? What’s that? A new boat? A swinging bachelor pad in Florida?” Oliver smiled from ear to ear.

“Your lawyer.” Jude stood up and unclipped his handcuffs.

“Oliver Adams, you’re under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, first degree murder, and for accessory after the fact in the murder of Francesca Adams.” He grinned as Ronan yanked Oliver out of his chair and held him while Jude cuffed him. “You have the right to remain silent…”

Cope stayed in his seat as a screaming Oliver was taken out of his house.

He didn’t need to see Angie and Oliver put into police cars, there was more important business to attend to.

While Angie and Oliver told their twisted stories, Frankie had watched it all from a spot near the stove. “Are you okay?”

“I am,” Frankie agreed. “What’s going to happen to them?”

Cope had seen it all, courtesy of his gift.

“Angie will plead guilty to your murder and testify against Oliver on the condition she remains free until her child is born. The baby, a daughter she’ll name Verity, will be raised by her sister in South Carolina.

Angie will serve a life sentence. Oliver will go through a splashy trial and will be found guilty on all three charges.

He’ll spend ten years in jail and will be murdered by his cellmate. A man named Gideon Wells.”

“Oh, Gideon,” Frankie whispered, sounding heartbroken. “He used to come into Sea Witches with his mother and would carry her shopping basket. I’d heard rumors that he sold drugs, but he was so kind to his mother.”

Cope nodded. “Gideon loved seeing you at the food pantry. You never once judged him or his mother. Killing Oliver is his way of avenging you.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that.” Frankie paused. “No, that’s not true. I’m Italian, I want Oliver to rot in hell for hurting me and our daughter.” As Frankie spoke, the white light appeared.

Cope felt the warm glow on his face. A small girl stepped forward wearing a purple flowered dress. She wore her blonde hair in pigtails and was the spitting image of Frankie. “Come on, Mommy, heaven’s waiting for us.”

“Amelia?” Frankie’s smile lit up her entire face. She rushed toward her daughter and scooped her up. “My sweet girl.” Frankie set her daughter down and turned to Cope. “Promise me you’ll tell my parents we’re okay.”

Cope, too overcome with emotion to speak, placed his hand over his heart and nodded.

With a laugh, Frankie grabbed Amelia’s hand and ran into the light.

Cope felt tears dripping down his face. A hand on his shoulder startled him. He looked up to see Jude standing beside him. “How much of that did you see?” Cope reached for a clean napkin and dabbed at his teary eyes.

“I heard laughing and saw the light fade. Then there was this feeling of peace. I can still feel it.” Jude wore an awed look.

“That’s always my favorite part.” Cope stood from his seat and wrapped his arms around Jude. “Thank you for letting me work on this case.”

“I’m so proud of you.” Jude held his husband tight.

“Let’s go see Dante and Sofia Conti. Then we’re going home to our kids. I’m gonna hug the stuffing out of them!”

“Me too!” Jude agreed, leading Cope out of the house.

Walking outside, Cope saw two Salem Police cruisers pull away from the house. One carried Oliver Adams, the other Angie Melton. Other officers stood in the driveway with Fitz and Ronan. Several more police cars lined the street.

Oliver and Angie were going to spend the rest of their lives behind bars, while Frankie spent eternity with her daughter. Justice had finally been served.