Page 35 of Little Dark Deeds (Georgiana Germaine #12)

I ’d wanted nothing more than to shoot him dead when I fired my gun.

I didn’t just want justice for Tiffany. I wanted his life to end like he’d ended hers.

But killing him would have been a far easier way for him to go than the life he’d have in prison, and I wanted him to live long enough to experience every excruciating moment of it.

I’d shot him in the shoulder, the impact just enough to stop him in his tracks. Lila rushed in, screaming when she realized what I’d done. I told her to call the police, and it wasn’t long before they arrived, and Jordan was taken into custody.

After his gunshot wound was treated, Foley invited me to accompany them to the station where Jordan would be questioned.

It was where we were now—Foley, Whitlock, and me, sitting in the interrogation room across from Jordan.

We’d shown him the lighter and the smear of blood, which we were sure was his.

When it became clear to him that there was no way out, Jordan said, “You know something? I’ve been a disaster ever since this all started. It’s strange to say, but I’m relieved it’s over.”

“You’re relieved ,” I said. “Three people are dead, including one of my dearest friends. And for what?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Save it. Sorry won’t change anything. I want to know why you did it.”

“Thinking back on the last week, it’s all a blur.”

“You better find clarity, because I want answers.”

Foley gave me a look that indicated I should tone it down, but if I did what I wanted to do to Jordan, things would have been a lot worse.

“You can start by telling us why you killed Tiffany,” Foley said.

Jordan went quiet for a time, and I waited.

Then he blurted out something I didn’t expect.

“I’m having an affair with Jana,” he said.

“It’s been going on for a while. One night, not long after Jana confronted Tiffany, I was over at Jana’s house.

We’d always been cautious when we met up, but we knew Tyler was out of town that night, and we didn’t think much of it.

As you know, Jana’s house sits way back from the road, so we assumed no one would see us.

We were in the living room, on the couch, kissing and stuff, and I look over, and there’s Tiffany, outside, staring right at us through the window. ”

“What was she doing there?” I asked.

“She had a box of Tyler’s things in her hands.

She dropped the box and started running to her car.

Jana went after her. Tiffany said she was there because she’d wanted to get Tyler’s things out of her house.

But she didn’t want to see him, so she thought she could give it all to Jana.

I think Tiffany also thought giving Jana the box was a way to assure her things were over with Tyler. ”

“Then what happened?”

“Jana asked Tiffany if she was going to tell Tyler what she saw, and Tiffany said she wouldn’t if Jana agreed to tell him herself. Problem is, Tyler had Jana sign a prenup when they got married.”

“Why?”

“Tyler’s grandfather was going to leave him a large sum of money when he died, and he didn’t care much for Jana. His one condition was that Tyler get a prenup to protect himself, just in case.”

“Let me guess,” I said. “It included an infidelity clause.”

“It did. If Tyler ever found out Jana was stepping out on him, she’d get nothing.”

“So, Tiffany was murdered over money?” I asked.

“It was Jana’s idea. I didn’t want to do it. I swear.”

“But you did.”

“I regret it, now. Believe me.”

“You regretted it so much, you killed again.”

“You were right about me cleaning off in the sink after the murder. I didn’t know there’d be so much blood, and when I saw it all over my skin, all I could think about was getting it off.

I realized the next day I must have dropped the lighter in Tiffany’s house, but I had no idea there was blood on it until I met Queenie. ”

“And Tyler? What’s the real story there?”

Jordan shrugged and said, “I don’t know. You’ll have to talk to Jana.”

But he did know.

And now I knew the story she’d told me was full of holes.

She’d put on a good show, an impressive one—tears, drama, the whole nine yards. I doubted any of it was real.

“Knowing how cunning Jana is, you should give some thought to what she’s going to say when we talk to her,” Foley said. “I think she’ll turn on you. This might be your one shot at telling us the truth—all of it.”

We all went quiet, letting his words sink in.

I hoped it had.

“How did it start, with Jana?” I asked.

“She hasn’t been happy in the marriage in a long time,” Jordan said.

“It started out with her confiding in me, and I tried to help her to find ways to work things out. One night, after they got in a big fight, she showed up at my house. She started saying all these things about how different I am than Tyler. The next thing I know, she kisses me, and then we ... well, we took it from there.”

“When did you find out about the prenup?”

“As soon as we started seeing each other on the regular. Tyler’s grandfather was in the hospital at the time, and he wasn’t expected to live much longer.

She was going to file for divorce after his death, get her share of the money, and then, after it was all over, we were going to move from here and get a place together. ”

“But Tiffany spotted the two of you together.”

“Jana lost her mind when she saw Tiffany,” Jordan said.

“I didn’t view it as a bad thing, though.

I figured all she’d lose was money that wasn’t hers in the first place.

She could still get a divorce, and we could be together.

I thought I made enough for the both of us, but she was used to a certain kind of lifestyle, a much more expensive one than I can provide.

She told me she loved me and wanted nothing more than to be with me, but I needed to take care of Tiffany, or it was over between us. ”

“How did you think you’d get away with it?” Foley asked.

“I would have, if it wasn’t for that stupid lighter.”

“No, you wouldn’t have,” I said.

“Jana thought if we gave you the photos that were left on her car, you’d assume they were left by the killer, and we’d look innocent, given no one knew we were dating.”

“That’s the thing about assumptions. They’re not always right. Earlier you told me you talked to Tyler yesterday. You said he was detached, angry, and on edge. Is any of that even true?”

He was quiet for a time, and then he said, “No, I’m sorry to say it’s not.

And as for Jana, I can’t say whether she’s being honest about what happened earlier today.

I never thought she had it in her to kill him.

I never would have agreed to it. She’s not the woman I thought I knew, and I wish I’d never met her. ”