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“So if ait, there’s a better chance she’ll get what she deserves” Sky was still skeptical He wanted this mess over and done

“More than that,” Beau said “If she knows she’s looking at years behind bars, she’ll be ive us Stella”

CHAPTER 17

So far Marie had ht after the wreck, she’d stayed away froone This , hosing, wiping, scrubbing, and vacuuravel fro the tires There wasn’t much chance the woman in Prescott’s car had survived, and even less chance she’d gotten a good look at the truck But why risk it?

Noas time to report back to work and face whatever had to be faced She’d have little choice except to tell the truth Letting Stella catch her in a lie would be a bad idea

She walked in to find Stella, looking sour and suspicious, waiting at the bar Nick was nowhere to be seen

“So, are you going to tell me what happened?” she asked in a voice that was like the purr of a cat about to pounce on a sparrow

Bracing herself, Marie feigned a shrug “I picked up the signal a little after dark Prescott’s Cadillac came by the diner a few ood, steep shoulder and rammed it from behind It crumpled and rolled down into the barrow pit”

“And?” Stella’s eyes narrowed and sharpened, as if she already knew the truth

“When I walked down to check, it wasn’t Prescott It was a wo red hair She was alone in the car”

“Prescott had a red-haired daughter Probably her Was she alive?”

“I couldn’t tell for sure She was unconscious, hanging by the seat belt, bleeding froured if she wasn’t dead, she soon would be”

“So you left her that way?”

A rivulet of cold sweat trickled down Marie’s back “Soured ht” Marie could feel herself beginning to crumble “Give me another chance This time I’ll find Prescott and finish the job, I promise”

Stella’s laughter exploded “No, you won’t, dearie”