Page 105 of The Girls in the Snow

“Why did you kill Madison and Kaylee, Bobby? I know you cared about Maddie,” Nikki said. “It was obvious every time we talked about her.”

“That was before I knew her dad killed mine.” His voice dripped with anger.

“I thought your father died by suicide.”

“How’d you know that?”

She hadn’t been sure, but she’d started to wonder after Mindy said the life insurance refused to pay out. A company like Roan Pharmaceuticals had good insurance, but if an employee hadn’t been on the policy long enough, a lot of companies fought paying out if the cause of death had been ruled a suicide. “That’s my job. Why did he do it?”

Nikki heard a click, and then light filtered through the door. “Because John Banks made him keep his secret about what happened at the party the night your parents were murdered.”

“Listen to me,” Nikki said. “I know now that John killed my parents. I also know he’s harmed other women. That’s what he did to me that night.”

“And Mark Todd went to prison. My dad drank because of his guilt and then finally killed himself. John Banks is still a free man.”

“I promise you he’s not going to be a free man much longer,” Nikki said. “I can find him, but you’ve got to let me out of here.”

“Can’t do it.” His voiced cracked.

“What about Kaylee? Why did you kill her?”

“I really liked her.” Some of the venom drained from his voice. “That was an accident.”

“I believe you,” Nikki said. “I could tell you were a good kid as soon as I met you. Sometimes things get out of our control, and we get caught up in other people’s problems. Is that what happened?” She had to wonder if Bobby was Mindy’s puppet in her desperate need for revenge against John.

“It was still my fault.”

“What happened?” Nikki could tell that he was desperate to tell someone. It was why Bobby had spent so much time opening up to her—each time they’d spoken about the case, he seemed relieved. As if his conscience was eating him from the inside out. “Bobby, I think deep down, you know you can trust me.” Nikki wished she could make eye contact with him. Eyes were the easiest to read.

“I know you know what it’s like,” he said. “For one moment to change everything. I didn’t kill your parents. I wasn’t even born. But what John did that night ruined my life. Kaylee understood,” Bobby said. Nikki could tell the girl meant a lot to him. She knew herself how hard it was to make friends. “Kaylee wanted to see me because I was home for the weekend. They decided to ditch their friend if I picked them up. She was a good person.”

“You picked them up and brought them over here?”

He grunted.

“I didn’t rape her, before you accuse me of it. I would never. She wanted me to be her first. She’d asked me once before, but I told her no. When she asked again, I figured, what do I have to lose? And then she told me that John had flirted with her and I lost it. I couldn’t control my anger. She told me to calm down, it was no big deal. Almost defending him. The next thing I knew, I was strangling her. I just wanted her to shut up. I didn’t realize I was squeezing that hard.”

Nikki knew she didn’t need to say anything else. Bobby was so full of guilt, and he’d reached his breaking point. Now he’d started talking, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

“I was panicked, and Madison came in from the living room and started knocking on the door and she started freaking out, threatening to call John if I didn’t open up.” Bobby laughed bitterly. “I told her it was an accident, but she started calling me a murderer. Her dad ruined my family, and she’s calling me a murderer.” He drew in a shuddering breath. “I hit her, hard. And after that, I couldn’t stop. I was so angry.”

John Banks had started a domino effect. His cowardice had taken his friend’s life, along with Madison and Kaylee.

“Was Madison still alive when your mom came home?” Nikki asked.

“Don’t talk about my mom.” She’d hit a nerve.

“I understand that she’s trying to protect you,” Nikki went on. “But your mother could have saved Madison’s life. That means she can be charged with her murder, not just as an accessory.”

“She was too late,” Bobby said. “She came home, and I told her, and then she went into my room. I’d tied Madison up in the hall. Kaylee was in my bed. Mom freaked out. She tried to save Maddie, but she was dead.”

Nikki’s heart raced. “That’s not true, Bobby. Madison was alive when she went into the freezer.”

“You’re lying.”

“The medical examiner’s certain. She had frostbite and likely died of hypothermia before her head injury killed her. She had a chance, and your mom knew it, right? Did you check Madison’s pulse or try to see if she was breathing after your mom came home?”

He kicked the doors. “Shut up.”

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