Chosen by a Killer by Laurie Nave (read e book txt) 📗

“True. I went back to the bedroom. I lay there seething for a while and then dozed off. When I woke up, Amelia was crying.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t say anything and neither did she. We had a late breakfast, and then I went home. I never got invited over again.”

“Do you think she knew? Could she have woken up and seen something?”

“Her letter implies she knew somehow. I didn’t care to go back, so it never bothered me when she avoided me.”

Celia stood and walked to the small barred window. “And then you killed him.”

“Even though I never visited, he was still at shoots and events. He’d corner me to remind me of his threats or try to touch me somehow. I knew he would be a thorn in my side. So I started to plan and wait to get him alone.”

“And no one suspected?”

“I guess not. They questioned all of us, but I told them I was home with my father. They believed it.”

“He was bigger than you,” Celia said. “How did you overpower him?”

“I knew if I waited long enough, I could let him catch me alone. And when he did, I would trick him.”

“But what about other people?”

Natasha shrugged. “I was young but not stupid. And I was patient. Sure enough, he came after hours to a site. I was there to escape my father. By then I was driving, though I was underage. He came to pick up something Amelia had left, or so he said.”

“But still...no one else was there?”

“It was just us. He tried to flirt, and I let him. He tried to kiss me, and I let him. He pulled me close—“

“And you let him?”

“Yes. It was easy to stab him in the neck while he was distracted.”

“Damn,” Celia whispered.

“I ran off after taking off my shoes and smearing my footprints with socks. I snuck into my house and bathed, washed the clothes. I went to bed.”

“What if your father had heard you?”

Natasha finished writing and put down the pen. “I hoped he wouldn’t. He drank every night. Even if he wasn’t asleep, I didn’t think he would betray me. He knew I would be successful. And his ego wouldn’t let him shame himself.”

“So no one ever knew.” Celia sat down again. “How old were you?”

“I was sixteen.”

“You kept a murder quiet for almost 20 years. Then you confessed because of a letter.”

Natasha smiled and shrugged again. “Amelia was a sincere person. She didn’t even ask in the letter. I knew she wouldn’t press for a trial, and I didn’t think the state would go through all of that when I was already here. Now she knows the truth.”

“It was very kind of you.”

“Anyone can learn to be kind, Celia. You should know that.”

Keith and Celia walked down the hallway in silence. Celia was still pondering the unexpected kindness Natasha had shown someone she hadn’t seen for 20 years. Experts had proclaimed Natasha a sociopath, someone without empathy. So what made her confess to something she could have kept hidden forever? Was it truly just kindness without agenda? Then again, was anyone ever truly kind without an agenda. Celia had to admit, there were times when her interviews with Natasha left her unsettled, questioning herself.

“Must have been a deep interview,” Keith remarked as he swiped his badge and input the code.

“It was a bit. I heard some things I didn’t expect.”

“Yeah, she can take you by surprise like that. Want me to walk you to your car?”

Celia was about to protest, but she thought about all the extra turns and stops she’d made on her trip to the prison. “Sure, thanks.”

Keith walked with her across the lot. “So has this Bart guy done anything threatening?”

“Not really. Just a pest. He’s the reason I was late today.”

“What do you mean?”

“I noticed he was following me, and I didn’t want him to know what I was doing, so I led him around until he gave up following.”

Keith stopped and grabbed her arm to stop her as well. “He followed you?”

“I lost him. He’s just trying to intimidate me.”

“Celia, that’s not normal. I’d consider that threatening.”

“Come on, he’s harmless.”

Keith sighed. “You need to watch things. If he’s following you, that means he’s at least a little obsessed. Trust me, normal guys don’t follow a woman around town just because she dumped them.”

“I didn’t dump him.” Celia was defensive. “We only went out a few times.”

“I could tell at the gala he was really into you. He didn’t like us talking at all.”

Celia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s part of what turned me off. We were just talking.”

“I know that. I’m just saying don’t dismiss the idea that he could be trouble.”

“I won’t. I’m not. But I’m not going to hide. He doesn’t get to bully me.”

Keith smiled and shook his head. “I can see why Natasha likes you.”

“She likes you too.”

“I’m not sure how to feel about that. But hey, two good-looking women like me.”

Celia laughed. “Here’s my car. Thanks for walking me.”

“No problem. Take care. I’ll be glad to walk you every time if you’ll make me more of that cake.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Celia got into her car and locked the doors. She noticed as she drove away that Keith was watching her from the curb, making sure she made it out of the lot without any problem. He was a good guy. She could use a friend who could take Bart in a fight, she thought, chuckling.

Celia checked her rear-view mirror regularly on her way home, but there was no Bart following her this time. She’d lost him before she left the city, so he couldn’t possibly know where she went. Still, she was glad when she returned to her office without a tail. Keith was right about one thing; it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

The deadbolt was unlocked. Celia always locked both the knob and the deadbolt. Part of her wanted to call someone before entering her house,