Page 91 of So Right
Kelsey felt as if the floor beneath her was disintegrating and she was about to tumble into an abyss.
“Miss McDade, we still have some investigation to do, but it looks like Mr. Putnam was perhaps hit with a rock,” Talbot said.
She started to shake her head. Everything went fuzzy, like she was submerged in water. Even the sounds around her were muffled.
Until Luke spoke.
“I hit him at the pub because he’d grabbed Kelsey. He must’ve gotten her bracelet then,” Luke said, his voice deep and clear. “After Kelsey got back to my house, I went to the park to confront him. We argued and things got physical. I hit him with the rock in self-defense. You’ll find my fingerprints on it.”
Kelsey turned her head in shock. Hehadleft last night? What had he hoped to accomplish?
Talbot frowned as he exchanged looks with Hendricks. “You’re saying you killed him?”
“I’m saying I hit him with the rock. And I left. Not my finest moment.” He didn’t look at Kelsey despite her silently begging him to do so. What was happening?
“Excuse me,” a feminine voice said from the counter. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to go, and we wanted to check out these Bad Kitty books.”
Kelsey stared at her for a moment before pulling herself from the nightmare unfolding before her. She looked at the officers. “Give me a minute.”
“Why don’t we go to the station,” Luke said, his voice flat. “I’ll answer your questions there.”
“Okay,” Hendricks said. He turned to Kelsey. “Can you join us there as soon as possible?”
She nodded. “I’ll close up as soon as I can.” Luke started for the door with the officers following behind him. “Wait,” Kelsey said. “Is he under arrest?”
Officer Talbot sent her a grim look. “Not yet.”
Yet. Which meant it was possible.
“Luke, I’ll bring Aubrey Archer,” she called after him, but Luke didn’t turn.
As she watched them leave, she felt the distinct fracture of her already battered heart.
