Aubrey got the kids off to school and went to the yoga studio to take care of some paperwork. She called Tim from the phone on the receptionist’s desk to let him know the meeting was on, and where. Anybody coming into the studio had access to that phone. Using it would give Aubrey plausible deniability about her role in the meeting if the cops ever started asking questions. (It turned out she’d actually learned something from her months of researching how to commit murder.)
Driving down River Road that evening, as the light faded from the November sky, Aubrey felt calm and clearheaded. Her hangover was gone, her pulse was normal, and her palms were dry. The rain had just started, and the headlights illuminated the raindrops so they looked like diamonds falling. The National Weather Service said it would rain all night, which would help with washing away tire tracks and footprints and such. Her assistant Mikayla was picking up the girls from sports and babysitting till Aubrey got home. Logan was going to Jaden’s house for dinner, and getting a ride home from Jaden’s dad. She’d figured out which item would be most useful to frame her husband for his mistress’s death, and she had a plan for getting it. She wore gloves, which did not look out of place on this chilly night, so no fingerprints. Aubrey had thought of everything.
Ten minutes later, Aubrey and Tim were sitting together in Aubrey’s car when Kate pulled into the deserted lot. Aubrey flashed her lights, and Kate parked nearby and got out of the car. Now came the tricky part.
“Wait here,” Aubrey said to Tim. “There’s something I need to tell Kate first. Then I’ll wave to you, and you get out and escort her to the bridge. She’s going to confess everything, and say she’s sorry. She wants to do it there.”
“All right. Thank you for arranging this, Aubrey. It’s very important to me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Aubrey got out, noting with disapproval that Kate wore a dress and cute flats, with some sort of silky evening coat on top. How inappropriate to the occasion. Then she remembered that Kate still thought they were going to dinner afterward. Hahaha, nope. Aubrey had already canceled the reservation, and told Jenny that Kate was sick. No birthday dinner for you.
“Why are we meeting here?” Kate said. “It’s starting to rain, and it’s dark.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be quick.”
“Who’s that in the car? Is it Ethan?” Kate said, and the eagerness in her voice was telling. Ethan was the one who’d ended it, then. Served Kate right. But Aubrey sensed an opportunity, a way to make sure that Kate would follow Tim to the bridge without balking.
“Ethan needs to talk to you, Kate,” Aubrey said. “He’s right down that path.” She pointed to the trailhead.
“Down the path? Why?”
“He wants to speak to you privately about some arrangements. He wouldn’t explain it to me.”
Kate nodded. “I understand. There’s … a complication. We left things up in the air.” She paused. “You’re okay with this, with me and Ethan talking?”
“Not really, but I don’t have much choice, do I? He insists. Do me a favor, though. My phone is dying, and I need to call the kids. Can I borrow your phone?” Aubrey asked.
“Sure.” Kate rummaged in her handbag.
“Give me the bag, I’ll find the phone. It’ll be waiting right here when you get back. You’d better hurry. Tim will show you where Ethan is.”
Aubrey signaled to Tim, who got out of her car.
“Tim? What’s he doing here?”
“Oh, he happened to be here, something to do with the crew team, I think. The path is confusing, so he’ll help you find Ethan. I probably shouldn’t go with you.”
“No.”
“Just follow Tim.”
“All right,” Kate said, frowning, as she turned toward Tim.
It’s amazing what people will fall for when they underestimate you. Kate thought Aubrey was too stupid and spineless to stick up for herself. Aubrey was a pathetic fly buzzing around Kate’s brilliance. It would never in a million years occur to Kate that Aubrey could outsmart her.
Aubrey got back into her nice, warm car, and watched Kate march off to her death. It wasn’t until the day the police came to the yoga studio to interview her that Aubrey discovered Kate had been pregnant that night, with Ethan’s baby. That must have been the “complication” she so delicately referred to. Aubrey had to admit, the thought of the innocent baby made her sad. But with Kate for a mother and Ethan for a father, the poor thing was better off dead.
That part of the plan—the killing-Kate part—went off without a hitch. It was a shame that Aubrey hadn’t been able to figure out a way to get Tim to kill Ethan, too, but of course, he had no motive to do that. She had to settle for framing Ethan for his girlfriend’s murder. That’s where the anonymous call to the tip line came in, and why a detective now stood at the front door, presumably with a search warrant in hand for Ethan’s car. Aubrey would get almost everything she wanted—Kate dead, full custody of the kids, the house, and all the money. Ethan wasn’t dead, but he was about to go to jail for the rest of his life, and that would be satisfying. She’d be sure to send him a Christmas card every year—Aubrey and the kids in matching outfits, with Griff smiling in Ethan’s place. That would feel very good.
Aubrey kissed the top of Lilly’s head. “Finish your homework, honey. I’ll go talk to the lady.”
She opened the front door to find the young detective who’d interviewed her at the yoga studio, along with an older officer she didn’t recognize.
“Detective Charles,” Aubrey said. “What a surprise. Can I help you?”
“Ma’am, apologies if I’m interrupting dinner. My colleague and I have a warrant to search your husband’s car in relation to the death of Katherine Eastman.”
“Oh, my,” Aubrey said, her hand shooting to her throat in feigned shock. “Well, I guess you’d better come in.”
34
“People are gonna think we’re having an affair,” Robbie said, as he got into Jenny’s minivan, making the seat dip with his muscular bulk.
It was nearly seven o’clock, and the town parking garage was empty and echoing. Jenny had waited around until everyone left, because Robbie made a big deal about keeping their meeting secret. He’d shown up to the garage in plain clothes, in the family car instead of his cruiser, when he’d always come to her office before, in broad daylight and in uniform. She found it odd.
Jenny gave him side-eye in the dim light. “The spy stuff was your idea.”
“Kidding, kidding,” Robbie said, tapping her on the arm good-naturedly enough that she relaxed. “How’re the kids?”
“Good. T.J.’s excited for basketball. Reed’s got the robotics tournament next week. Yours?”
“Keeping us on our toes,” Robbie said. “Maddie’s running for seventh-grade president.”
“I heard. That’s wonderful. I told Val, I’m happy to help map out the campaign strategy.”
“Oh, that’ll be a load off her mind. Posters and speeches and stuff are not Val’s thing. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Jenny paused. “So you said you needed to talk in person, that what you had was too sensitive for the telephone. This is about Chief Rizzo, I assume?”