Page 89 of Little Hidden Fears

“It doesn’t matter. None of it matters anymore.”

“Go ahead, tell her,” he said. “Tell the detective I was with you on the night of Noelle’s murder. Tell her so she can leave, and we can get on with our lives.”

“Leave?” I asked. “The gun in your hand suggests otherwise.”

“The gun is forourprotection. You’re in my house, accusing me of things I didn’t do. I have no choice but to protect myself.”

“And I have no choice but to protect myself. But first, why don’t you make things easier on me. Give me a confession and tell me where I can find Dawn.”

“I don’t know where you can find Dawn. How would I?”

“But you do know her?”

“No ... I ... you ... stop putting words in my mouth.” He glanced at Heidi. “Honey, do what I asked, okay? Tell her we were together. She’s got the wrong guy.”

“No, Clark,” Heidi said. “I won’t tell her ... because it would be a lie, and I’m tired of all the lies. You were gone that night. You came home just after midnight. I know because you came up to our room to make sure I was sleeping. You leaned over, gave me a kiss, and then you stripped down, went outside, and ... I ... I watched you burn the clothes you were wearing in the firepit in the backyard. But they didn’t burn, not all the way. If anything happens to me, or the detective, the glove goes straight to the police.”

Clark bent down, scowling as he said, “How could you do this to me ... tous?!”

“There is no us!” Heidi said. “Not anymore.”

“Then you’ve left me no choice.”

He raised the gun, aiming it in our direction, and I reached out, grabbing her hand and saying, “Trust me, Heidi. It’s going to be okay.”

Clark cackled a laugh. “It’s not going to be okay. Not foryou.”

As he steadied his aim, Giovanni stepped into the room, firing his own weapon, the bullet cracking through Clark’s hand. As Clark screamed in pain, he dropped his gun, and I lunged forward, picking it up.

“Oh, I’d say things are going to be just fine for us, but not for you. By the way, I want my handbag back. And one more thing, this conversation we just had? It’s all on tape.”

CHAPTER 36

Giovanni slung an arm around me, and the two of us watched as Whitlock stuffed a handcuffed Clark into the back of a squad car. The detective turned, offering me a thumbs-up as he smacked the top of the car, giving the officers the green light to head out. Inside the house, Heidi had been talking to Foley for some time.

When Foley emerged, he walked over and patted me on the shoulder. “You should speak with Heidi. There’s something she needs to tell you.”

I nodded and headed back into the house. She was on the couch, wiping a few tears from her eyes. I sat beside her. “Hey, are you doing all right?”

“I doubt I’ll ever be all right. He was the love of my life, you know? That’s why I protected him. And I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have. I know it was wrong.”

“We do crazy things for love sometimes.”

“Yeah, but allowing Clark to get away with murder shouldn’t have been one of them.”

“Chief Foley said you wanted to tell me something?” I asked.

“Yes, and I want to give you something.”

She handed me a slip of paper, which was folded in half. I opened it, finding an address inside.

“What’s this?”

“It’s where you’ll find Dawn Salisbury.”

Of all the things I might have expected her to say, this wasn’t it.

“I don’t understand,” I said.

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