Page 29 of Three Girls Gone (Detective Amanda Steele #14)

TWENTY-FOUR

“Tell me what happened. I want to hear everything.” Malone only lowered his last request a couple of decibels while he stared down Amanda.

The fact the two of them and Trent were in a hospital emergency room did little to douse his temper. It might have had the opposite effect… “We just knocked on her grandmother’s door and?—”

“I have a headache.” Malone rubbed his brow.

Amanda continued. “Anne returned home and immediately took issue with us being there. As soon as we mentioned a murder investigation, she bolted. She got into her car, took off, and crashed into a pole.”

“Then she got out of her car and started running again. This time right into the side of a van,” Trent said, wrapping up the recap.

“Sounds about right.” Amanda winced. Malone didn’t like messy, and this had messy written all over it.

The owner of the van was threatening a lawsuit against the PWCPD for mental trauma.

When Anne had regained consciousness, those were her first words too.

Not that either of those threats would carry weight with any judge, in any courtroom.

Malone grumbled. “And now, we’re waiting for clearance to question this Harrington lady? But she’s going to be all right?”

“I guess we’ll find out.” Amanda straightened her posture as a doctor in a white coat came over to them.

“Detective Steele?” The man regarded her with curiosity from behind the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.

“That’s me. Call me Amanda.” She’d almost stammered, and ignored the looks she was getting from Malone and Trent.

“I’m Carter. Well, Dr.Paulsen.”

An awkward, silent pause felt much, much longer.

He cleared his throat. “I was told that you followed Anne Harrington here and are interested in speaking with her when she’s available.”

“That’s right.” Her mouth became dry.

“Is she ready for us now?” Trent asked, stepping in.

Carter pried his gaze from Amanda to look at Trent.

“She’s suffering from a mild concussion, bruised ribs…

Just to make sure I have this right. She was in a car accident and then got out and ran into the side of a van?

” He pantomimed the situation, smacking the walking fingers of his left hand into the palm of his right.

When he finished speaking, the doctor looked at her again.

“What can I say? It hasn’t been her day,” she offered.

“I’d say not.” Carter smiled at her, and he had such deep-set dimples she could press a fingertip in them.

But just like that, her brain returned. Dimples was one descriptor that Mara Bennett had given them for Wilson M-Something. Though did that even matter anymore? After all, Anne Harrington flagged on paper. Then she ran. Only the guilty ran.

“So the bruised ribs are from the air bags, while the mild concussion and a fractured nose”—Carter winced when he dispensed that information—“came from colliding with the van.”

“Can we talk to her?” Malone asked, his voice laden with irritation.

“You can speak with her, but keep it brief. She’s on painkillers awaiting surgery to reset her nose.” He locked his eyes with Amanda’s until she nodded. “She’s in room one twelve. Down the hall, just before the next corridor branches off.”

“Thanks,” she told him.

“Hard to miss with the PWCPD officer outside her room.” Carter flashed her this smile, like the two of them shared a secret, before turning to walk away.

“What the hell was that all about?” Trent asked.

Malone turned to him and popped his eyes. “You need to ask?”

Amanda shook her head. “Let’s focus on what’s important. Sarge, we need to make sure that Harrington’s car gets brought in and processed. Investigators could find a trace of Hailey Tanner.”

“I’ll make sure that happens,” Malone said.

“And a search warrant for the grandmother’s house.” It was unlikely Anne Harrington had anywhere else to hold Hailey. And with her grandmother going in and out of lucidity, Anne could have made up any story she wanted about the child.

Malone grumbled and walked away. Amanda took that as agreement and led the way to room 112 with Trent at her heels.

She and the doctor romantically involved?

Such a ridiculous notion. She had better things to occupy her mind than some fantasy over taking up with him.

As if she had time for that hot sordid mess.

And he was— She stubbed the thought out right there.

No point entertaining just how handsome he was .

Officer Wyatt was positioned outside the room. He dipped his head in greeting.

Anne Harrington was lying on the bed at a slight incline with her eyes shut. Her face was a tapestry of blues and purples.

“Anne Harrington,” she whispered, but the woman’s eyes sprung open and jolted into action. “If you’re trying to leave…” Amanda pointed at her right wrist cuffed to the frame. “And running didn’t work out so well for you the last time.”

Anne grumbled, and it sounded like a swear word or two.

Maybe my reminder was a low blow…

“What do you want from me? I can’t even…” Anne hissed, and Amanda imagined with the injuries to her face and nose that talking would hurt even pumped full of medication. But Amanda did well to keep in mind that the woman in front of her could be a killer.

“Did you have an affair with Evan Gilbert?” Amanda started with a simple question. Her response would allow her to gauge Anne’s honesty.

“Sure. Why would that matter to you?”

“You were sleeping with him, even though he was a married man,” she put out.

“I’m not the only mistress in the world.”

Amanda didn’t care how that painted things despite it being true. “How long were you seeing each other?”

“Have we ever stopped? I know he still loves me.” She winced with discomfort, but tried to hide it behind a smile.

Twelve years later? Anne was delusional. “Did you ever stalk him and his family?” Amanda wanted to build a foundation before diving right into Julie and Hailey.

“There’s no RO against me.”

Evan Gilbert had been dealing with enough after losing his daughter. Reporting Anne would have fallen down the list of importance. “That means nothing. ”

“It means that he loves me but just can’t admit to it.”

Her misguided confidence sent chills down Amanda’s spine. It revealed a controlling, manipulative personality. A trait that would serve her well in seducing children into trusting her. “Are you still in touch with him?”

“Not in a while, but when I go back home, I’m going to reach out.”

“You think he’s going to want to see you?” Trent asked.

“It’s been a while, but he will. Yes. I’ll make him see my side.”

Again, Amanda saw that Anne Harrington ticked off most of the FBI profile’s boxes, and they were just getting started. “When was the last time you saw him?”

“I saw him at least once a week when I was back in New York. Does he see me? You’d have to ask him.”

“Are you admitting to stalking him?” Trent asked.

“I can’t help it if he’s where I am.”

They could get lost in this battle of words all day, but that wouldn’t move the investigation along. “Did you know his daughter, Julie?”

Anne’s eyes became dark, then lit almost immediately. “She was a beautiful girl. She could have been ours if Evan hadn’t been so easily manipulated by his stupid wife. Stupid man.”

Witnessing Anne’s fluctuation between admiration and disgust was unsettling. Almost like two personalities lived inside her and battled for dominance.

“What do you mean ‘easily manipulated’?” Trent asked.

“He could have had a family with me. I could have given him a baby. His own DNA, but he broke things off, telling me he didn’t want children.”

“But then you found out about Julie.” Amanda wagered a guess that would fill in the picture some more.

“Yes.” One word and it was cold and mechanical.

“But you do like little girls,” Amanda said, tossing in a tight smile despite it churning her stomach. “The way you can dress them up like princesses, how they move and dance on a stage.”

“Like little stars,” she said, her eyes misting. “Julie was that.”

There would be no advantage to cutting right to the question Amanda wanted to ask. Had she extinguished her light? She needed Anne to keep talking. “You might have heard about Hailey Tanner in the news.”

“She was a beautiful girl too. A performer like Julie? She was in a ballerina costume.”

Amanda’s breath froze in her lungs. How Hailey Tanner was found was withheld from the public. “How do you know that?”

“There was a picture in the paper, provided by her family when she went missing.”

Could Amanda trust that’s all it was? Anne lived in a fantasy world where every man adored her. “But you know Hailey has since been found?”

“No. That’s good though. Right?”

It was hard to tell if Anne was putting on a performance or being genuine. “She’s dead. Discovered in a local park.”

“Her too? Monsters.”

But her reaction fell flat, like she was saying the words she deemed appropriate but didn’t feel. “Why are you in Woodbridge?”

“To visit with my grandmother, and I need to get her set up in a nursing facility. Oh, Grandma.” She shifted again, as if she were going to get up, and tugged on the handcuff.

“Yeah, you’re not going anywhere, but I’ll make sure that someone goes by to check on her.

” Amanda turned to Trent, who nodded and stepped into the hallway.

Being a good cop didn’t follow a strict guidebook.

The primary rule was protecting and taking care of people, and the grandmother shouldn’t suffer the consequences of their interest in Anne.

“How long have you been in town?” She needed to verify what Katherine had found out.

“Since the start of December.”

With that, the timing was confirmed. She was here before The Nutcracker . “Then it seems like you’ve had a long time to set something up.”

“Not really. Homes have long waiting lists. But you don’t believe me. Why should I be surprised? Why are you interested in me anyhow?”

“You seem to enjoy watching people, even when they don’t know they’re being watched.”

“So?”

“It must make you feel untouchable, powerful. Do you like watching little girls like Julie Gilbert?” Amanda asked.

“I saw her with Evan and that bitch of a mother, but what are you implying?” Her voice turned menacing.

“And you saw Julie backstage in NYC for her last pageant?”

“I did.”

Amanda was shocked that she admitted as much. “That must have been thrilling to mingle with Evan’s wife, all the while knowing what it was like to have sex with her husband.”

“Not going to lie.”

“Then, tell me, were you at the party the Gilberts held afterward?”

“I wasn’t exactly on the guest list.”

Not that there was one… Amanda stiffened. “That wasn’t my question.”

“Yes, I was there.”

Trent returned to the room. “An officer is going over to be with your grandmother,” he told her.

Anne didn’t acknowledge he’d spoken and kept her gaze locked on Amanda. “You were at the Gilberts’ party,” Amanda repeated for Trent’s benefit. “Julie was killed that night. ”

“I heard.”

Spoken devoid of emotion, and chills ran through Amanda. “Where were you last Friday night?” Amanda asked her.

“Home with Grandma. I’d tell you to ask her, but you know… Her mind.” She circled her left index finger next to her head.

“Then you’re sure you didn’t pick up Hailey Tanner from her dance lesson?” Amanda asked.

“I did no such thing.”

“Did you take her home, hide her from your grandmother, hold her for three days, assault then kill her?” Amanda asked.

“No.”

“You saw the little girl you wanted in Julie. Maybe that urge never left, and when you saw Hailey, you just had to have her.” The words were pouring out of Amanda like a torrent. Trent touched her briefly on her shoulder, but she kept her gaze fixed on Anne.

“That’s not true. Oh my God, you think I touched Julie and this Hailey girl? And killed them too?”

“Did you?” Amanda tossed back. “Little girls would be easier to control than men.”

“I would never! I’m not a monster!”

“I’m not so sure I believe you.”

“Lawyer.” She dragged out the word and hit the button to call the nurse.

“We were leaving anyhow,” Amanda said, “but you won’t be going anywhere. Even if you figure a way out of the cuffs, there’s a uniformed officer outside your room.”

A nurse came into the room and halted her steps at the sight of Amanda and Trent. “Is everything all right here, Ms.Harrington?”

“Get them out of here.” She jabbed her eyes at Amanda and Trent.

Amanda swept past the nurse. Before talking to Anne, she had her reservations about her guilt. But after speaking with her, they were melting away. Anne’s shifting moods made her unpredictable, borderline unhinged. She could be the killer they were after.

Amanda turned to Officer Wyatt in the hallway. “Don’t leave for one minute and call us the second her lawyer gets here.”

Wyatt bobbed his head. “I can do that.”

“Thanks.” She and Trent almost made it to the doors when footsteps rushed toward them. She turned around and came face to face with Dr.Paulsen.

“Amanda? Ah, Detective Steele,” he corrected.

Hearing him say her given name caused more sensations in her body than she cared to admit.

“I’m glad I caught you,” he said, breathing easily despite hustling to get to her.

Healthy heart… check . She stiffened and cleared her throat. “Why’s that?”

“Anne Harrington is scheduled for reconstructive surgery on her nose at ten PM. I thought you’d like to know when she comes out of surgery. If I could get your number, I’ll make sure that you’re contacted as soon as she’s ready to have visitors again.”

“Ah, sure.” She handed over her card.

“Great. I’ll call you then.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled and dipped his head before walking away. Trent was shaking his head and started moving again. She was flattered by the doctor’s interest. He had confidence but was unassuming, and she found that refreshing.

She joined Trent outside.

“You know that line he gave you was entire BS? He wanted your number for himself.”

“I’m hoping he does.” She smiled at Trent, but he wasn’t smiling.

“And if he does… Why should that bother you?” She hated how her walls came up, but he had Kelsey.

Didn’t she deserve someone too? When she dared to look at him again, his lips were in a straight line, his brow was set, and a slight hue colored his cheeks. He said nothing.