18f44de3c41a3c8943c05e9ff1c1336f

I nodded quietly. I did have a brainwave. Or at least something had clicked, though I still didnÆt fully understand what, or whyùor even who. But KingmanÆs words had definitely brought back a vague memory ofà something. But what was it, exactly?

And as I settled down next to my friends, and Kingman and Dooley continued chatting amiably, suddenly the truth hit me.

ôOf course,ö I murmured. ôWhy didnÆt I see it sooner!ö

Chapter 29

I have to say it wasnÆt exactly my finest hour, or at least it didnÆt feel that way. It should have been, of course, for IÆd finally cracked the caseùfigured out who had killed two people in cold blood. But instead of feeling the exhilaration when the arrest of a killer is finally within reach, I felt a little sad. For this time the killer was a person I liked.

Odelia and Chase leaned against the hood of the car, with Dooley and myself at their feet. Odelia had asked me more than once already how I thought this would go, and frankly I had no idea. I didnÆt think there would be a lot of resistance, though, or even any trickery needed to force a confession.

And I was right.

Emma Kulhanek walked out of the school entrance, spotted us and seemed to collapse into herself. And when Chase approached her and told her she was under arrest for the murders of Valina Fawn and Norwell Kulhanek, she simply bowed her head and nodded.

ôIÆm glad itÆs all over,ö she said quietly as she held out her hands.

ôIÆm not going to cuff you in front of your students, Emma,ö said Chase.

ôThank you,ö said the teacher. ôThatÆs very kind of you, detective.ö She paused and glanced back to the school. ôWhatÆs going to happen to my kids now?ö

ôWe spoke to your parents,ö said Odelia. ôAsked them to pick them up.ö

Emma nodded and quite willingly got into the car.

At the police station she didnÆt sit in an interview room, but simply in ChaseÆs office, which was a lot nicer than the formal interview rooms, and as she held a cup of tea between both hands, started to talk without even being prompted. It really was as if she wanted to get it off her chest, which I could absolutely understand. Committing murder creates a burden on oneÆs soul, especially for a, essentially kindhearted person like Emma.

ôI never wanted to come to Hampton Cove in the first place,ö she said. ôIt was NorwellÆs idea. He had heard about ValinaÆs new site and thought if he could get in at the beginning, it might be a way for him to generate a lot of money, really launch his career, you know. He knew, of course, that Valina and I had been in school together, and badgered me into making the necessary introductions. He then used the fact that my family was still here, and that our kids could go to the same school IÆd gone to to pressure me into agreeing to the big move back east. I finally relented, figuring that maybe he was right.ö

ôBut he wasnÆt,ö said Odelia softly. ôBecause you hadnÆt told him about Valina.ö

Emma took a deep breath.ôValina wasnÆt the sweet person everyone thought she was. She was a bully, and terrorized me mercilessly all through high school. Every single day she used to be on my case, and I hated her for it. She made my life a living hell, for six long years. So when I finally met her again, I somehow expected her to apologize. But she wouldnÆt even acknowledge what sheÆd done to me, much less show the least regret.ö

ôAnd then your husband started an affair with her.ö

ôI met a boy in the sixth grade. He was my first boyfriend. He was kind and warm and funny, and he defended me against Valina and her friends. I was in love with him, and thought things were finally going to change. So Valina, when she saw how happy I suddenly was, decided to steal him away from me. And she did. And then once sheÆd got her claws in him she made him dump me in front of the whole school, humiliating me even further. And so when she had the opportunity to go after Norwell, she didnÆt hesitate. She even had the gall to rub my face in it. When the list leaked she called to tell me about NorwellÆs affair. Said it didnÆt mean anything. Just a fling. For her it probably was, but not for Norwell. He was absolutely smitten. She had that effect on people. She could be very charming if she wanted to, but also completely ruthless. So when Norwell kept sending her messages and begging her to get back together, she found it amusing. Said he followed her around like a lapdog. Asked if it didnÆt bring back memories. Of course it did. Bullies never change. Not really. Unless you put them in their place. Only I should have done it twenty years ago, then things wouldnÆtbe such a mess now.ö

ôIÆm sorry,ö said Odelia. ôI didnÆt know.ö

ôNobody knew, except me and Valina, and of course the clique she used to hang out with back then. Her executioners. I hadnÆt even told Norwell, or my parents.ö She bowed her head. ôShe shouldnÆt have gone after Norwell. That was probably what drove me toà well, you know.ö

ôYou took his key card?ö asked Chase.