Page 35

Heidi Fletcher had large, doe eyes, a petite frame, and a sweet smile when she met me at the door.

“You’re Clark’s wife, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Yes, I am. How do you know Clark?”

“He and I have spoken a few times over the past week. I’m investigating the murder of Noelle Winters.”

“Oh, right. He told me about you.”

“Is he here right now, by chance? I stopped by Royal Palms, and they told me he had the afternoon off.”

“He’s at a doctor’s appointment.”

“Nothing serious, I hope.”

“Oh, no. Just a routine physical.”

“I was wondering, can we talk?”

“I ... I guess so.”

“Give me just one minute, okay? I just need to run back to my car for a second.”

She nodded. “Sure, I’ll leave the door open. We can talk in the living room. It’s straight down the hall.”

I turned, walking back to the car, where Giovanni was waiting.

“What have you found out?” he asked.

“Nothing yet. She’s agreed to let me come in and talk to her, and I think I’d get a lot further if I did it alone.”

“Where’s Clark?”

“She said he’s at a doctor’s appointment.”

“Do you believe her?”

“I don’t know.”

He tapped a thumb to the steering wheel. “Keep your phone in hand, and if you suspect things are about to go sideways, text me. I’ll be right there.”

I nodded and headed inside, stepping into the living room where Heidi was moving a half-knitted blanket off the couch, giving us both a place to sit down.

Her cheery disposition had changed.

Now she looked nervous, her expression laced with concern and worry.

I took a seat, wasting no time in getting to the point of my visit.

“I’ve been investigating Noelle’s murder for several days now, and I believe I know who murdered her and why,” I said.

She bit her lip. “Why are you telling me this?”

“I believe Clark murdered Noelle.”

“I can’t believe ... I don’t ... I don’t understand. Noelle and Clark were friends. How could you say such a thing?”

“Has Clark always been faithful to you?”

“Our marriage has had its ups and downs. He loves me, and I love him.”

It was a polite way of admitting he hadn’t always been faithful.

“Infidelity isn’t love,” I said.

“Every relationship dynamic is different. What does my husband’s fidelity have to do with your accusation?”

She was asking all the right questions, but there was no mistaking the look in her eye or the meaning behind it. Did she know her husband was a murderer?

“A woman named Dawn Salisbury is missing. Before she disappeared, she went to the Ophelia Albrecht Center. It’s a safehouse for battered women. While she was there, Noelle recognized her. She thought she’d seen her somewhere, and she had.”

“Where?”

“In the parking lot of the tennis club, talking, or I imagine it was more like arguing, with your husband.”

Heidi went quiet, staring at the floor as she fiddled with her fingers.

“I believe Noelle saw Dawn arguing with Clark, and not long after, she showed up at the women’s center, bruised and beaten. Noelle took her to the hospital. A doctor ran some tests, and do you know what he discovered? Dawn is pregnant.”

Heidi shook her head, covering her face with her hands as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“When Dawn went missing, Noelle tried to find her, but she was not successful,” I said. “I’m guessing she confronted Clark, accusing him of battery. Before she could go to the police, she was murdered. So, my question to you is ... where was your husband on the night Noelle threw Zoey’s engagement party?”

Heidi rubbed her hands across her face, trying to stop the tears, but they kept on coming.

“I ... he was ... I ...”

She turned, staring down the hall.

“Where’s Clark?” I asked. “It’s all right. You can tell me.”

As she raised a shaky finger, Clark stepped into the room, gun in hand.

“Heidi, go to the bedroom and close the door,” he said.

“But Clark ...”

“Do it— now !”

“No, Clark. It’s time for all this madness to stop.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know about Dawn,” Heidi said. “She came to see me.”

“When?”

“It doesn’t matter. None of it matters anymore.”

“Go ahead, tell her,” he said. “Tell the detective I was with you on the night of Noelle’s murder. Tell her so she can leave, and we can get on with our lives.”

“Leave?” I asked. “The gun in your hand suggests otherwise.”

“The gun is for our protection. You’re in my house, accusing me of things I didn’t do. I have no choice but to protect myself.”

“And I have no choice but to protect myself. But first, why don’t you make things easier on me. Give me a confession and tell me where I can find Dawn.”

“I don’t know where you can find Dawn. How would I?”

“But you do know her?”

“No ... I ... you ... stop putting words in my mouth.” He glanced at Heidi. “Honey, do what I asked, okay? Tell her we were together. She’s got the wrong guy.”

“No, Clark,” Heidi said. “I won’t tell her ... because it would be a lie, and I’m tired of all the lies. You were gone that night. You came home just after midnight. I know because you came up to our room to make sure I was sleeping. You leaned over, gave me a kiss, and then you stripped down, went outside, and ... I ... I watched you burn the clothes you were wearing in the firepit in the backyard. But they didn’t burn, not all the way. If anything happens to me, or the detective, the glove goes straight to the police.”

Clark bent down, scowling as he said, “How could you do this to me ... to us ?!”

“There is no us!” Heidi said. “Not anymore.”

“Then you’ve left me no choice.”

He raised the gun, aiming it in our direction, and I reached out, grabbing her hand and saying, “Trust me, Heidi. It’s going to be okay.”

Clark cackled a laugh. “It’s not going to be okay. Not for you .”

As he steadied his aim, Giovanni stepped into the room, firing his own weapon, the bullet cracking through Clark’s hand. As Clark screamed in pain, he dropped his gun, and I lunged forward, picking it up.

“Oh, I’d say things are going to be just fine for us, but not for you. By the way, I want my handbag back. And one more thing, this conversation we just had? It’s all on tape.”