Page 54 of Three Girls Gone (Detective Amanda Steele #14)

“My old lady was a demon. She never wanted me and blamed me for everything!” Marshall roared.

“I was worthless because I had a penis, and she made me feel inferior until her last breath. I couldn’t do anything right, and to punish me she’d tie me up and do things to me.

Is that what you want to hear?” Marshall tossed this out with such vehemence, Amanda pulled back.

“You wanted to know about my scar? Yeah, it was her. She sliced me with a knife one day. Just for fun, to see how much I’d bleed. I hope she’s burning in hell!”

Time passed in silence before the lawyer spoke. “I’d like a few minutes with my client.”

“He’s all yours.” Amanda walked to the door and turned around. She made eye contact with Marshall. “Are there other girls we don’t know about?”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Amanda walked out with Trent and slammed the door behind them. She told the officer at the door to take him to the cells and went to the room next door. Malone was there with Katherine and Detective McGee.

Katherine came over to Amanda and hugged her. “I can’t believe this is finally over, that the man who killed Julie is finally going away.”

“If there’s justice, for the rest of his natural life. We couldn’t have gotten him without your help.” Amanda touched her friend’s arm.

“I like to think I contributed, and while he deserves a heavy sentence, there is a small part of me that wonders where his justice is. It sounds like his mother put him through hell as a kid and messed up his mind. ”

“Emasculated him at every turn from the sound of it,” Trent said.

“As tragic as that is,” Amanda began, “in the end we all must make our own choices. He made his.”

“True. If you would allow me”—Katherine turned to Malone—“I’d love to notify the Gilberts that we caught Julie’s killer.”

Malone glanced at Amanda and nodded at Katherine. “That’s fine.”

Amanda regarded her friend and hoped the closure would bring her some peace. “If there’s anything you need, call me.”

“I will. After I deliver the news to the Gilberts, I’ll be spending some time with my aunt May. I told her about Julie, but nothing about all this.” Katherine turned to Amanda. “And I suggest that as soon as you can, you get home to your beautiful daughter.”

“You can bet I will.” Before that could happen, she and Trent would have the pleasure of letting the Tanners know they’d captured their daughter’s killer.

Malone left the room with Katherine, leaving Amanda with Trent and McGee. She faced the detective. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I told you I care too much.”

Amanda caught a flicker in his eyes. “This happen to someone you loved?”

“ Love. Well, not a child. But my wife went missing seven years ago. It’s why I got transferred to Missing Persons.”

“Sorry to hear that. Any idea what might have happened to her?” Amanda tiptoed.

“Nothing but dead ends so far, but I won’t give up.”

“I hope you find her,” Trent told him.

“Thanks. I was wondering if it’s not too much to ask if I can accompany you to the Tanners’.”

“That’s fine with me,” Trent said and looked at Amanda.

“That works for me. How about we go right now and deliver some good news for a change?”

She, Trent, and McGee did just that, bringing the Tanners some comfort in knowing their daughter’s killer would be brought to justice.

About an hour later, they returned to Central, and McGee went his way.

“The paperwork can wait until Monday. I’m heading home. You?” Amanda asked Trent.

“You bet. I’m going to make the most of this weekend.”

“Oh yeah? Big plans?”

“If that’s what you call sitting on the couch with Kelsey binging movies and drinking wine?”

Amanda laughed. “That sounds glorious. Have fun.” She got into her car and called Libby to stitch up a loose end.

“Amanda?” Libby answered. “I heard about what happened. You were already out of the hospital at that point but?—”

“Not to worry. I’m fine. I’d like to know if you’re engaged or not. So…?”

“She said yes,” Libby burst out.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“You know the family is having a gathering tonight at my mother’s. You and Penny are welcome to join.”

“I’d love that. Let me talk to her.”

“Sure. Six, if you can make it. There will be food and drink, so there’s no need to bring anything. I’ll text you the address.”

“Thanks.” Libby hung up, and Amanda started pecking out the message to her when her phone rang.

She took a deep breath upon seeing the name Carter Paulsen and answered, “Dr.Paulsen.”

“Huh. I thought I was Dr.Paulsen,” he said, a smile lighting the line .

“A smart-ass, I see.”

“Just to confirm, this is Detective Steele?”

“Amanda,” she clarified.

“I see. Well, that correction makes my question easier to ask. I was wondering if you’d like to go out for a coffee sometime?”

She could think of a million reasons to turn him down, including her job and Zoe.

But Carter was a doctor. He’d understand unpredictable working hours.

But she may be getting carried away. Friends went out for coffee.

No big deal. And even though there was the promise of a new beginning, she’d take life one day at a time. “Sure. Why not?”