Page 128 of Skeletons in the Closet

“Mr. Krause.” She held out a manicured hand to shake. “I was so happy to hear from you.”

If I were a different person, I’d have complimented her spirited looks, but since I wasn’t, I shook the offered hand and motioned for her to sit.

She lowered herself to the edge of the chair, a creaky molded plastic orange one in poor repair that I’d pulled from my waiting area by the door.

Worry creased her brow, and she wrung her hands. “I suppose you have news.” She blew out her cheeks. “I told myself I wouldn’t cry. I’m ready.”

I toyed with the edge of a file folder. “You can relax, Mrs. Willard. It’s good news.”

Murder aside, but again, it wasn’t my job to share that part. Doyle could shatter the pretty picture I was about to paint and unearth the skeletons in Noah’s closet.

The ridges along Faye’s forehead grew more pronounced. “Good news?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m confident in saying I don’t believe your husband was having extramarital affairs. I’ve done extensive surveillance and research over the past few weeks, and I discovered Olivia, the woman who visited your house, was an old university friend. They—”

“What do you mean hewasn’thaving an affair? Yes, he was. You said so.”

“No, ma’am. I mentioned the discovery of emails that alluded to the possibility he was involved with—”

“A woman named Beth. Yes, I remember distinctly. You said she’s Olivia’s friend. Beth Rowell. I looked her up.”

“Correct, and Noah was involved with Beth—”

She slapped a hand on the desk. “See? Noah was involved with Beth.”

“Ma’am—”

“You just said it.”

“No, I didn’t. He was involved with Bethin university.” I spoke louder to prevent her from interrupting me again. “They dated when they were in their early twenties, long before you were involved with him. I found no proof that he was recently with either woman in the manner you suggest.”

Faye shook her head. “No. You’re mistaken. He was. My husbandwassleeping around. First with Olivia. You can say what you want, but I saw them together. The chemistry was undeniable. I have no doubt about her. When you mentioned that Beth woman, I looked her up, and she wasn’t familiar, but I realized it didn’t matter. You were right.”

“But I never said—”

“After that, you told me about that slutty bitch at the university, asking if Noah might have known her.” Faye huffed. “I didn’t have a clue who you were talking about. I knew Noah went to York, but when I looked her up. Wowsers. Yeah. I had no doubt. None at all. He probably wanted to fuck her back when he was a student and couldn’t, so when the opportunity arose, he jumped all over it. I hope I look that good when I’m her age.”

I’d been about to cut in again, but the words died on my lips, and my blood ran cold. I stared at Faye as she continued to rant, the gears in my brain stalling on what she’d said. Natalia. When had I mentioned Natalia? I hadn’t.

Shit.I’d asked if Professor Shore ever taught Noah while at York. There weretwoProfessor Shores.

“Let me tell you, Mr. Krause. A wife knows when her husband is unfaithful, and Noah’s eye always wandered to the beauty queens. I noticed. When I pointed it out, he always denied it. Told me I was delusional. But I was right. He had more than a wandering eye. More like a wandering cock.”

She brushed invisible dirt off her blouse sleeve as she sniffled, then glanced at her painted nails. “I used to be beautiful. Not likethat blonde Barbie bimbo Olivia, but I had my day. I’m much prettier than Beth. She wasn’t much to look at.”

My phone rang, and I briefly flashed my attention to the screen and saw Tallus’s name.

Faye stopped talking as it continued, and she too stared at the device, her eyes hardening to granite.

When I slid my hand toward the device, she snapped, “Don’t answer that.”

Our gazes locked.

She knew I knew, but what could she do about it? I was more than twice her size.

The question answered itself when I reached for the phone, and she raised a pearl-handled revolver from within her handbag and aimed it at my face. The same revolver she claimed to have found among Noah’s stash of weaponry after he died.

“I said, don’t answer it.”

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