CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Geez, kiddo. That woman sounds like a real piece of work. Do you really think she was behind Alfie’s incident?” Uncle Walt asked.
I stabbed a bite of salad from my bowl and nodded. “It’s the only thing that makes sense, Walt. I haven’t figured out how Marsha knew about Alfie and his allergies. But I’m convinced she’s the one who sent those people to the school. I just don’t know how to prove it.”
I shoveled the ranch soaked lettuce into my mouth while Walt chased a mouthful of his BLT with iced tea.
“Is there any chance that PI of yours did any digging into the family’s past?” I asked after I swallowed.
He shook his head. “No. But I’ll have him get started on it asap. Honey, does Ethan know that you think his mother did this?”
“No,” I confessed. “I told him that Marsha and I had gotten into an argument over the wedding, and that’s why she kicked me out. I know he claims not to feel anything for her, but she’s still his mother. I don’t want to make any accusations until I have hard evidence to back them up. Anything less could just put too much stress on our relationship.”
“More stress than keeping the secret?” he pressed.
“Believe me, I’ve weighed all of my options. I want to be wrong, Walt. I love Ethan and in an ideal world, his family would eventually accept me. My gut tells me Marsha is guilty. But if I’m wrong, it would make for unnecessary drama for the rest of my life.”
“I agree with you. I’ll call the investigator as soon as we leave here. Aside from your horrendous night at Montez Manor, how’s life been going?”
“Fantastic. Being back at school feels so good. And everyone there has been so supportive. But everyone’s still a little on edge. We’ll all breathe a lot easier when we’re sure the school is safe again.”
“Have the police kept you up to date with their investigation?”
“Nope. I talked to Frank this morning. He said he’d call Nelson and ask if they’ve made any progress.”
My phone chimed and we both looked down at it expectantly. “Is that him?” Walt asked.
I read the number and shook my head. “I don’t recognize the number. It’s probably another reporter. Since Ethan and I announced our engagement, the phone’s been ringing off the hook.” I silenced the ringer and took another bite of my lunch.
“Speaking of engagements, have you and Ethan set a date?”
“Not yet. I’d like to have the wedding over the summer so I won’t have to juggle planning and work. Ethan’s talking about staying with the Stallions for another season, now that Victor’s stopped throwing threats around.”
“Do you have to invite them to the wedding?” Walt asked with exaggerated horror. “I’m not sure I can stomach them after everything you’d told me.”
“If I’m right about Marsha, that won’t be an issue,” I reminded him.
My phone rang again; this time, it was Frank.
“Maybe he learned something.” I answered the call and activated the speakerphone.
“Hi, Frank. Did you talk to Mr. Nelson?”
“Emily… no, I didn’t. Where are you right now?” he asked, his voice tense and pinched.
“We’re having lunch at Darla’s Café,” Walt answered for me. “What’s going on, Frank. Have the police found something else connecting Emily to the Hollis case?”
“Walt, thank God you’re there. No, this is unrelated to the Hollis case. I don’t want either of you to panic. I’m still not exactly sure what’s going on, but I think you should get down to the North Portland Police Station. I was just there on a pro bono case… Ethan was brought in.”
“Ethan was arrested?” I gasped.
“Yes. I’m not sure why. I’ve put in calls to everyone I know, but no one’s gotten back to me. I’ve thought about it, and I’m turning around and going back to the station. I’ll tell the cops I’m Ethan’s counsel. If his family’s lawyers aren’t there yet, I’ll have some time alone with him before they show up and boot me out.”
“We’re heading there right now,” Walt told him. He laid two twenties on the table, more than enough to cover our salads and teas. We raced out of the café, still on the line with Frank.
“Wait for me on the benches in the south atrium,” Frank instructed. “I’ll meet you there as soon as I’ve learned something.”
“Will do, Frank. Thank you for letting us know,” Walt replied.
I ended the call and Uncle Walt opened the passenger door of his black Charger. “Don’t panic, kiddo. I’m sure this is all some sort of misunderstanding.”
He slid behind the steering wheel and navigated the car into traffic.
“I missed eight calls while we were talking to Frank,” I told him, lifting my phone. “Four numbers I don’t recognize and four unknowns. What do you want to bet there are reporters all over the city who know more about what’s happening right now than I do? I’m going to google Ethan and see what the hell’s going on.”
“Don’t do it, Emily,” Walt insisted. “I mean it. I’ll pull this car over and take your phone away. You just had a firsthand lesson in the way the media bends the truth. Anything you find online will be sensationalized versions of the facts. Reading them will just make you feel worse.”
I knew he was right, but I was desperate to know why Ethan had been arrested.
“It feels like the nightmare is starting all over again. Only this time, Ethan and I have reversed roles.”
“Why don’t you call Melissa?” Walt suggested. “She may be able to shed light on things and she won’t add a bunch of hearsay and suppositions.”
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.”
I hit Melissa’s speed dial and she answered halfway through the first ring.
“Emily,” she exhaled my name and I knew she’d been expecting and dreading my call.
“Frank just called and told me Ethan’s been arrested. Walt and I are on the way to the precinct.”
“How much do you know?” she asked, her voice hesitant with caution.
“That’s it. I’ve ignored a bunch of calls that I can only assume were from reporters and I haven’t looked online. How much do you know?”
“Late last week, someone called the league’s commissioner with an anonymous tip that several players on the Stallions have been doping. The league’s medical team showed up at the stadium this morning and surprise tested all of the players. Ethan didn’t pass.”
“He was arrested for doping?” The words felt strange in my mouth.
Uncle Walt was so caught off guard he nearly swerved into oncoming traffic.
“Not exactly. Victor was in the locker room when they confronted Ethan with the results. Ethan got a few punches in and Victor had him arrested for assault.”
I knew it. Ethan got too cocky and thought he was too invaluable to the team for Victor to touch.
“Ethan doesn’t use steroids,” I insisted. “There’s an easy fix for this. As soon as he’s released on bail, we’ll go to an independent lab and he’ll take another test.”
“I’m not sure it will be that easy, Em,” she warned. “The league will want to verify any retests themselves. And the blood test isn’t Ethan’s only problem. The league doctors and half the team just saw him beat the shit out of his stepfather. One of my colleagues has already done an on-camera interview with Victor. He has a busted lip and his right eye is swollen shut. It’s not going to make Ethan look good… Oh shit, Emily. My boss wants me. I’ll talk to you soon. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks for filling me in. I’ll call you when we leave the station.”
“Ethan was arrested for steroids?” Walt asked.
I turned my phone off and slid it into my purse. “No, Ethan was framed for using steroids. When he found out, he beat the crap out of Victor in a locker room full of people.”
Walt winced but kept his eyes on the road. “That wasn’t the best way to react. Though I have to admit, I probably would have done the same in those circumstances. So he was arrested for assault?”
I nodded. “I’m sure he’s also been fired. Victor orchestrated the perfect plot to get rid of him. He’ll probably be lucky to ever set foot on a football field again.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Walt advised. “I know this seems insurmountable right now, kiddo. But people have forgiven much less deserving athletes for a lot more serious offenses.”
“Ethan doesn’t deserve this.”
“You didn’t deserve what happened to you, either. Neither did little Alfie. Neither of us deserved to lose your parents, and they didn’t deserve to die young. Shit happens every day to people who don’t deserve it, Emily. We can sit here and talk about how unfair it is, or we can focus on playing the hands we’ve been dealt. I for one will be choosing the latter. As soon as we get to the station, I’m calling the investigator and putting him to work investigating Victor, Marsha, and Heather Montez. I’m also going to call a few of my Air Marshal friends. One of them might have a friend in Homeland Security who could help us. I know the family is on the government’s radar.”
“You’re right. This isn’t fair, but focusing on that won’t solve any of our problems. Forget what I said back at the café. As soon as I have a chance, I’m going to tell Ethan that I think his mom set me up at the school. Victor may have set him up, but it was on Marsha’s orders. She’s trying to take us both down and if we have any hope of stopping her, we have to work together.”
“Now that sounds more like the girl I raised,” Walt declared with a proud smile.
“My life is still in upheaval, Walt. I’m not sure the smile is warranted.”
“I’m smiling because it just dawned on me that I won’t have to share holidays with your in-laws. I’ll get back to my grim scowl when my relief wears off,” he teased.
I smiled, despite my determination not to. “Now that you mention it, I’m pretty relieved about that too.”
Walt steered into the parking lot of the police station and we made our way to the south entrance. We stepped through the smudged double glass doors and paced the atrium until Frank finally appeared.
“What’s going on?” Walt demanded. “We’ve been here for nearly two hours. Were you with Ethan the whole time? Did his lawyer finally show up?”
“You’re looking at his lawyer.” Frank sighed. “Ethan called me not thirty seconds after I got off the phone with you. For obvious reasons, the family attorneys can’t represent him. I was so worried about getting the news to you, the conflict issue didn’t even cross my mind. Ethan asked me to represent him, and I agreed.”
“Will he have to stay in custody until Monday?” I asked. I doubted it was a coincidence that Victor set Ethan up to be arrested on a Saturday.
“No. I had to pull some strings, but I got a judge to hear the case and Ethan’s bail was set at fifty grand. He can bond out for five, we just need you to get the cash.”
“Where am I supposed to get that much cash when the banks are closed?” I demanded.
“Ethan’s sock drawer,” Frank replied without missing a beat. “He’d also appreciate a change of clothes and a pair of shoes. He’s still in his football pants and cleats. I’ve arranged for us to go directly to Portland General for another test once Ethan’s released.”
“Melissa said the league would want to verify any retests with their own doctors,” I told him.
“And that will be arranged,” he assured me. “Right now, it’s important to get a negative test documented. We’ll release the results to the public immediately to quell some of the media frenzy. You’ll probably be swarmed with reporters when you get to the house. You’re free to deal with them however you’d like.”
“I’ll talk to anyone who wants to listen. I’ll tell them all that Ethan’s innocent.”
“That’s not exactly the case,” Frank warned. “Ethan may be innocent of the steroid allegations. But he’s guilty of assault. We don’t have a defense, even if we prove Victor falsified his test results. The fact that Victor deserved an ass whooping didn’t make it legal for Ethan to give him one.”
“Is he going to serve time, Frank?” Walt asked.
“Not if I can help it. We’re wasting time. Walt, it’s probably best if you go with Emily. I’m going to wait with Ethan. Call me if you run into any trouble,” he instructed.
“Same to you,” Walt replied.
“Tell Ethan we’ll be back as fast as we can,” I called over my shoulder as Walt and I headed for the door. “And Frank? Will you please tell him that I love him?”
“Will do, Emily.”
***
“Emily, Ethan, I’m so glad you called. I’ve been so worried about you,” Melissa said, stepping into Ethan’s living room. I hugged her and took her coat.
“Thanks for coming over. We have something we want to talk to you about,” I told her.
I joined Ethan on the sofa and Melissa took a seat in the armchair across from us.
“I take it this isn’t a social call?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Not exactly. But for now, it’s all off the record,” Ethan explained.
“I can’t wait to hear it. But first, how are you doing? I’m so sorry for the way you’re getting skewered in the news. It isn’t fair.”
“Life isn’t fair,” I told her, remembering Walt’s words. “But you’re right, the press has been particularly brutal.”
When I returned to Ethan’s house for the bond money, I gave a statement to the reporters gathered outside. I assured them that Ethan was innocent of the doping charges and assured them the full story would soon come to light. Four hours later, Portland General released the results of Ethan’s retest: he tested negative for everything.
I’d hoped that would subdue Ethan’s critics, but it didn’t. The public trusted the league’s doctors and assumed Ethan had paid for his negative results. And as Victor pointed out to anyone who’d listen, Ethan had already proven he couldn’t control his violent temper. Wasn’t that one of the classic signs of steroid abuse? His plan worked perfectly and the country applauded him for firing such an uncontrollable monster.
It took me three days to convince Ethan to even talk to Melissa about going public with our side of the story. He kept insisting that he didn’t want to air his family drama for the world to see, assuring me that the truth would eventually come out. But that morning, one of the tabloids had run an old picture of me with a black eye. The picture was from my sophomore year of college, when I’d taken an elbow to the face during a particularly difficult volleyball match. But the paper didn’t explain that I’d been a victim of university mandated PE class. Their headline announced that Ethan McAlister was beating his fiancé. The moment Ethan saw it, he called Melissa himself.
“The press isn’t our problem,” Ethan insisted. “My mother and Victor are the problem. What we’re about to tell you doesn’t leave this room, Melissa. Not until we have evidence to back it up.”
“And when you have the evidence?” she asked.
“The story is yours, if you want it,” he assured her.
“Of course I want it. I assume this has to do with the threats Victor made before Christmas?”
Ethan nodded. “That and so much more. Emily told you what Victor said when he demanded I break up with her. After the bowl game, I got cocky. I thought there was no way he’d actually follow through with any of it. I was wrong. But my mother’s the one who’s pulling all the strings.”
“And we do mean all the strings,” I added. “I’m pretty sure Marsha sent the thug to my school.”
As Melissa worked to pick her jaw up off the floor, I explained Marsha’s desperate determination to keep as much of Victor’s money as possible. I also filled her in on Heather and her visit to my school.
“This is your cousin?” Melissa asked Ethan.
He nodded. “Step-cousin. She has everything in common with Victor except his bank balance. Victor’s a self-made man and hasn’t been particularly generous to his extended family. But Heather would be more than happy to do a little dirty work for a nice paycheck.”
“But we still have no idea who the guy that broke into your classroom is?” she continued.
“Not yet. But Walt’s investigator is hoping he’ll turn up among Heather’s friends,” I explained.
“So at this point, we’re just waiting for the investigators to find something?” she asked.
“Pretty much,” Ethan agreed. “Emily wants to give an interview now in an attempt to quite some of the rumors. I feel if we speak out before we have proof, we’ll just make things worse.”
“I agree with you,” Melissa told him without hesitating. “I’m sorry Emily, but he’s right. That headline today was awful. But if you start talking now, without any evidence to back it up, it’s just going to look like a lame attempt to turn the blame away from Ethan. Without evidence, Victor and Marsha can twist your words however they want. You have to hit them with something they can’t deny.”
“That’s exactly what Ethan said,” I told her with a frown. “But we have to do something. This is getting out of control.”
“Then you need to find proof faster,” she advised. “Has your investigator checked with the airlines to see if Heather flew into town around the time Ben saw her at the school?”
“I’m not sure,” I confessed.
“Have you shown Heather’s picture to Ben to make sure she’s really the woman he spoke with?”
“No.”
“You think there’s a chance someone was impersonating my cousin?” Ethan asked.
Melissa shrugged. “I think getting a positive ID from Ben is the fastest and easiest way to make sure you’re on the right track.”
I turned to Ethan. “Do you have a picture of her?”
“No, but I can pull one off the internet. Heather’s the epitome of a social media whore.” Ethan pulled out his phone and a few moments later, he texted a picture of Heather to mine. I forwarded it to Ben and asked if that was the cousin he’d met at school. I checked the time after sending the text.
“If he’s still on his usual schedule, he’ll be at the club until nine tonight. We may have to wait a while for a response.”
“It had to be Heather,” Ethan insisted.
Melissa shrugged. “You could be right. Or your mother could have had someone pretend to be your cousin. They had to have known the visit would eventually get back to Emily. They could be distracting you, drawing your attention to Kansas City.”
“That’s an excellent point,” he agreed, running a hand through his hair.
“I’ve been known to make them. Now, let’s focus on your situation. Obviously, I know you’ve been fired.”
Ethan nodded. “The league’s anti-doping commission is reviewing the results of my second blood draw. They may want to retest me themselves. But I’ll eventually be cleared of the doping charges. I’m not sure that will help me get another football contract.”
“How do we prove that Victor set you up?”
Ethan shrugged. “I’m not sure that we can. He apparently bribed one of the league doctors. But Victor’s good at covering his tracks. And I’m sure the doctor is highly motivated to keep his mouth shut.”
“The league won’t ban you for a simple assault charge,” she assured him.
“True. But how many teams will want to hire me knowing I punched out my last boss?”
Melissa rolled her eyes. “I think most people who’ve met Victor have had the urge to knock him out. Some people might even offer you a signing bonus to do it again on your way out of town.”
Ethan let out a light laugh. “Let’s hope so.”
My phone rang, drawing our attention. “Is it Ben?” Melissa asked.
“It’s Frank… hello?”
“Hey, Emily. I’m sorry to bother you this late, but there’s been a development in the Hollis case.”
“A development with our investigation or the police’s?”
Ethan and Melissa sat up a little straighter, listening in to my side of the conversation.
“The police’s. They’ve identified the man who broke into your classroom. His name is Kelvin Rhoads. He’s a minor league thug who lives in Dallas, Texas.”
“Dallas?”
“Yes. They now think that whoever set you up is someone connected to Ethan. They’d like to talk to both of you down at the station. I explained that you didn’t want to miss any more class, so the lead detectives agreed to meet with you tonight.”
“We’re on our way.”
“Emily, what’s going on?” Ethan asked patiently as I started rushing around the room, gathering my things.
“The cops identified the jackass who broke into my classroom. His name is Kelvin Rhoads and he lives in Dallas. Does the name ring any bells?” I slung my purse over my shoulder and turned to the door.
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Well, they want to talk to both of us. Looks like you may have been right, Melissa.”
She stood and retrieved her coat. “I’ll go to the station and start researching Rhoads. Let me know if Ben gets back with you about the picture. And call me when you leave the station.”
“Thank you, Melissa.”
She pulled me into a hug and held me a few moments longer than usual. “This is a good thing, Emily. I know getting called to the station is stressful. But this is the beginning of the end of this nightmare,” she whispered.
“Please let us know if you find anything,” Ethan said. He held open the door and we filed out into the night.
“I will,” she promised. “Good luck.”
Melissa climbed behind the wheel of her Focus and Ethan and I continued on to my car. I tossed him the keys and settled into the passenger’s seat.
“The cops think I’m involved with this because of the Dallas connection, right?” he asked, firing the engine.
I reached across the console and put a comforting hand on his thigh. “They don’t think you sent the guy. But they think you may know him. They probably just want to show you his picture and ask a few questions about your time in Dallas.”
Ethan nodded, his eyes fixed on the road. The past few months had taken a toll on both of us, and the past few days had been the worst. We were exhausted, frustrated, and furious at our circumstances. But they also brought us closer. I had no idea what the future would hold, but I had no doubt that we’d face it together.
After a few silent miles, Ethan cleared his throat. “We need to tell the police our theory about my mother.”
I was shocked by his words. Ethan had been adamantly against sharing our suspicions with anyone until we had solid proof.
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “We could be completely off base. But if we’re not, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my mother brought her henchman in from Dallas. That throws the suspicion right back to me. At this point, I completely believe that Marsha is capable of this type of evil. And that alone is reason enough to talk to the police.”
***
“Good evening, Emily, Ethan. Thanks for coming down,” Detective Dickson greeted us.
“We’re happy to help.” I was relieved to see his cranky partner wasn’t able to make it to the meeting.
“Absolutely,” Ethan agreed. “Detective, I’ve never met anyone named Kelvin Rhoads. And Frank showed me the picture from the surveillance footage. I didn’t recognize him.”
“I just have a few questions,” the cop explained. “Miss Kinkaid, I’m sorry for the trouble you went through at the beginning of the case. I hope you understand that I was just doing my job. And all of the evidence—”
“Pointed at me. I understand,” I assured him. “And I sincerely hope you’re five times harder on Rhoads once you have him in custody.”
“Any idea when that will be?” Ethan asked.
Detective Dickson shook his head. “Dallas PD is looking for him, but his last known address leads to a condemned apartment complex. But trust me, he’ll get what’s coming to him once he’s back here.”
He cleared his throat and turned to Ethan. “I’m afraid I have some uncomfortable questions. It’s probably best if we speak privately.”
“Emily’s not going anywhere,” Ethan insisted. “We don’t have any secrets. Ask me whatever you’d like.”
Detective Dickson nodded. “You’re facing assault charges at the moment. How often would you say you lose your temper like that?”
Ethan’s face flushed red. “I’ve defended myself when other guys started shit. But that’s the first time I’ve ever thrown the first punch.”
“How many altercations would you say you were in during your time in Dallas?”
“Two, both with teammates. Alcohol was responsible for both, and no one held any hard feelings.”
Dickson slid Ethan a yellow legal pad and a blue pen. “Please write down their names.” Ethan scribbled on the paper while Dickson continued. “How many women were you involved with while you lived in Dallas?”
Here it comes. This is the part he thought I shouldn’t be here for.
“That depends on your definition of involved,” Ethan replied, his voice easy. I was thankful we’d already had this awkward conversation and I wouldn’t be learning anything new. But I didn’t relish the idea of going over it again with an audience.
“All definitions of the word,” Dickson answered.
“Well, we had three female trainers, I had a housekeeper—”
“Personally involved, not professionally,” Dickson interrupted impatiently.
“I was friends with most of the cheerleaders. Friends only, nothing physical. I casually dated about a dozen women while I lived there.”
A blend of awe and disgust crossed the detective’s face. “At the same time?”
“No. And not all of the relationships were sexual.”
Dickson pointed at the legal pad. “Names,” he grunted.
“Did any of these women get a little too attached to you?” he asked. “Any bad breakups? Did any of the women threaten to hurt you or themselves after you ended things?”
“Why do you assume I was always the one to end things?” Ethan countered.
It was Dickson’s turn to blush. “My apologies. But I still need you to answer the question.”
“No, Detective. None of the women I was involved with acted crazy when we ended because there was never anything to end in the first place. I wasn’t ready to settle down. I spent time with women who shared that opinion. There was never any drama.”
“You think that one of Ethan’s ex’s hired Rhoads?” I realized out loud.
“We’re investigating all possible angles. This is just one of them.”
The blonde at the school… maybe she really wasn’t Ethan’s cousin. Or maybe Ethan’s right and Marsha hired Rhoads to throw suspicion toward him. I can’t believe the woman would rather send us both to jail than part with the extra inheritance.
I cleared my throat. “There’s something we should tell you, Detective.”
“No, there isn’t,” Frank interrupted. He locked eyes with the detective.
“Would you like a few minutes of privacy with your clients?” he asked.
“Yes,” Frank replied, his voice scolding.
What the hell have I done wrong now?
Dickson pushed his folding chair away from the table and moved to the door. “Would anyone else like coffee or danish?”
“No, thank you,” we replied in unison.
“What was that about?” I asked Frank the moment the door closed behind the detective.
“That’s exactly what I want to know. What do you need to tell Dickson?”
I took a deep breath and filled him in on our theory.
“When did you find out about this Heather woman?” he demanded.
“Last week. I’m sorry, I assumed Walt told you,” I replied.
“Walt knows about this?” he exclaimed.
“Yes,” I confessed, twisting my fingers together.
“I’m sorry, Frank. I’m the one who wanted to keep this theory quiet. I’m in an impossible situation and I didn’t want to make accusations about my family without proof.”
Frank shook his head. “You should have talked to me as soon as you found out that woman was at your school. You two could get in real trouble for withholding evidence in an ongoing investigation.”
I felt my phone vibrate against my leg and retrieved it from my purse. Ben had finally responded to my text. Ethan’s cousin wasn’t the woman he met at the school. I gave Frank and Ethan the news.
“What do we tell Dickson?” Ethan asked.
“We tell him the truth… mostly. You have to tell him that you talked to Ben last week. Then Ethan was arrested, and you forgot about the conversation. Today, you mentioned the visit to Ethan. You started talking, got suspicious, and sent Heather’s picture to Ben.”
“Sounds good to me,” Ethan agreed.
The door opened and Dickson peeked his head in. “Do you need a few more minutes?”
“No, we’re ready for you,” Frank answered.
The detective sat back down and took a long sip from a small Styrofoam cup. “What did you need to tell me, Emily?”
I repeated exactly what Frank suggested, with a few added embellishments. “We were going to call you as soon as Ben got back with us. But as you can see, that just happened.”
“This is fantastic,” Dickson announced. “I’ll speak with Mr. Simmons tomorrow. Once I get him to narrow down the timeline, I’ll have my guys review the security footage again. If we can ID the female subject, we’ll double our odds of tracking these people down.”
I exchanged a glance with Ethan and he cleared his throat.
“Detective, there’s another angle you might want to look into.”
“What’s that?” Dickson looked up from the notepad he was writing on.
Ethan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I think my parents are involved,” he confessed. “My mother, mostly.”
“Interesting… what makes you think that?”
“After Emily was arrested, my parents tried to blackmail me into breaking up with her. We pretended to stay apart to keep them pacified. When Emily’s name was cleared, I expected them to relax. Instead, Victor made it clear he would tank my career if I didn’t do as my mother said. I believe you’ve seen the rest play out in the news.”
“You think your parents sent our suspects to the school?”
“I think it’s possible. I think my mother is capable of anything,” Ethan agreed with a cringe. I knew that as much as he hated what his parents were doing, it pained him to give them up to the police.
“If your parents were this determined to get rid of Emily, and you believe they’re capable of anything, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to go after Emily directly? Why involve the Hollis boy at all?” the detective countered.
Ethan shrugged. “She must have trusted someone would notice Alfie collapse, and he’d get his Epi-pen in time. Emily’s ruined and sent to prison, but Marsha has no actual blood on her hands.”
Detective Dickson shook his head. “For what it’s worth, I believe your stepfather set you up on the doping. But I’m not buying your theory that your mother is involved with the Hollis case. To be honest, this interview was just a box I had to check off the list for the sake of being thorough. We have to investigate all connections, and Dallas connected our guy to you. But I think the Hollis family was the intended target. I expect our mystery woman will be linked to them, somehow. Is there anything else I need to know before we wrap this up?”
Ethan and I both shook our heads.
“We’ve told you everything, Detective. Like I told you the first time I was in this room, we want to do everything we can to help,” I replied.
“Do you happen to know Mr. Simmons’s schedule? I’d rather not interrupt any of his classes if I can help it.”
“His planning period is from two to three. If you want, I’ll tell him to expect you.”
“That will be perfect,” he agreed. He got back on his feet and ushered us out of the room.
“Just hold tight, kids. I know this has been rough. But now that we have pictures of two suspects, it’s only a matter of time before they’re in custody.”