Page 49 of The Girls in the Snow

“The killer used your dad’s gun. The chamber was empty. He had to subdue Mark,” Rory said. “Mark was hit on the back of the head—that’s a documented injury.”

“From John kicking his ass earlier in the night.”

“His skull was cracked. The X-rays were taken two days after the murder, so the prosecutor got them ruled inadmissible. You’ll see them when you look at the case file.” Rory was leaning against the table again, his hands close enough to touch.

Nikki set back against the booth. “Then he smacked his head hard during the fight. It’s easier to crack a skull than you might think.”

“Was he bleeding from the back of the head when he left the party?”

Nikki didn’t reply; she couldn’t remember if she’d been inside the house or standing in the front yard when Mark ran off.

“He refused to go to the hospital and get stitches because he knew the cops were already looking for him,” Rory said. “He has the scar to prove it.”

“Then it must have been bleeding when he left.”

“There was no blood on the side of your house where he supposedly climbed into the window. None on the windowsill. They did find his blood in your parents’ room, several feet from the bed. He was knocked out, his skull cracked and bled on the floor. He came to and went downstairs looking for a phone. You came home. He panicked and almost ran. But he didn’t know if the killer was still inside, so he went upstairs to get you.”

So now Mark was actually her knight in shining armor. “His memory’s awfully good for someone hit hard enough for the skull to crack.”

“He didn’t remember all the details right away, but it didn’t matter because Hardin made up his mind the minute you told your story. Getting even with Mark fell right into his lap.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Mark was having a relationship with Hardin’s wife.”

Bitter stomach acid rose in Nikki’s throat; she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What?”

“She was only a few years older than him. He worked for them during the summer, cutting their grass and doing odds and ends. She was lonely, I guess. Mark said she invited him in to cool off, and one day, things went too far. It went on for months, but Hardin caught them after a while.”

“That is—” She couldn’t get the words out.

“Relevant,” Rory said. “Hardin busted Mark for possession of weed two days later—weed that Mark had never seen. Mark spent two weeks in jail. Few months later, he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time and Hardin’s the officer in charge. You honestly think he’s going to be impartial?”

“Hardin wasn’t the only cop…” Nikki’s voice faltered. Someone else had collected the evidence, which meant Hardin hadn’t worked the case alone. “Of course Mark’s going to say all of this, but it doesn’t mean you should believe him,” Nikki said.

“Hardin and Marie got divorced six years ago. She confirmed everything. If you read the case file, you’ll see why Patsy Moran believes Mark.”

Nikki’s head spun. She was able to tell herself the new evidence was a mistake, that she was drug tested, that her own testimony was reliable. But she’d never considered any of these motivations before. Had Hardin really railroaded Mark Todd for revenge? “Mark was there. No one else had motive.”

“Hardin never looked for anyone. And that’s not all—”

“I’ve heard enough.” Nikki needed space to think and she needed to focus on Kaylee and Madison. This wasn’t why she’d come back to Stillwater, and she wasn’t going to let anyone else be killed because she couldn’t handle her emotions. She put a ten-dollar bill on the table and stood. “I need to get some rest. I have the double homicide of two teenaged girls to focus on. I can’t be distracted, I’m sorry.” She hurried out of the bar, fighting tears.

“Nicole, wait.”

She didn’t stop walking, but Rory’s long legs easily surpassed her stride and blocked her path.

“Why are you telling me all of this, Rory? If you believe Mark’s innocent, then you should hate me, and it doesn’t matter if I’m aware of all of this or not. I can handle you hating me.” Much better than she could handle his kindness.

“Maybe I’m weak. That’s what Newport said when I refused her interview about your being back in town.” Rory stepped into her space, close enough that she could smell the sweet scent of his laundry powder. “You were a traumatized kid. When it comes out that the DNA doesn’t match Mark, you’ll be the scapegoat. You aren’t the bad guy. You lost your parents. Hardin and anyone who helped him screw my brother are the ones who need to be held accountable. And they will be. And you forgot your coat.”

“Thank you.” Nikki looked up into his green eyes. He was taller than she’d realized. She pulled her coat on and walked to her jeep.

“Drive safe,” Rory said.

She waved her hand without looking back. The jeep’s cold engine sputtered to life. Nikki didn’t wait for it to warm up, driving too fast out of the parking lot, finally letting the tears fall.

Seventeen

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