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"I drove Robert’s car He sat next to er seat He called ive him money for Merodie and his other projects until he fell into a nontoxic cohtwould not be discovered in his body, I was deterive his syste East River Road until I found a likely spot near the park, and when I was sure there was no traffic about, I drove the car off the road I realized later there was a certain aer to me--I could have been injured--but I didn’t consider it at the tiet hi wheel I locked the doors After firstsure the exhaust pipe was buried, I cli through the blizzard back to my own car It was only a few miles, but the journey took nearly two hours in the storm My feet and hands et and numb from cold--I was afraid I’d succumb to frostbite Fortunately, I survived the ordeal, drove home, and climbed into a hot tub"
"What about Robert?" I asked
"They discovered his car a couple of days later Once again the autopsy found a great deal of alcohol, but not a trace of , and his death was dismissed as an accident"
My head spun at the admission I held it with both hands
"You killed him!" I shouted
"I most certainly did not," Cilia insisted "I merely allowed him to die, just like Father There’s a difference"
"No, there isn’t"
I was on my feet now I stepped toward the unlit fireplace, then pivoted to face her "Do you realize what you’re telling me?"
"Yes," Cilia replied
When I continued to stare at her, Cilia added, "Do you wish to hear the rest of the story?"
I didn’t say if I did or didn’t, but when Cilia motioned me back to the chair, I sat She took another sip of her drink, stared at me for a moment, then slowly took one ofin the world
"Check," she said
I wasn’t surprised by theand simply slid a pawn forward two ranks to block the attack Cilia pulled her queen back into the first rank next to her king I slidCilia’s knight She studied the er
"Tell me about Brian Becker," I said
Cilia’s head jerked up She held aze for a moment, then leaned back in her chair She watched me over the chess pieces
"Brian Becker abused Merodie, and I have no doubt whatsoever that in time he would have abused Silk That, I could not allow"
"So you killed him"
"It was easy," Cilia said
"Did Merodie know you were going to kill him?"