Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The warm glow of Marnie Wilson’s living room spilled faintly onto the cul-de-sac as Sam parked the cruiser at the curb.
The modest colonial looked almost too picture-perfect—tidy flower beds, a pristine porch, and curtains drawn tight.
Kevin adjusted his seat belt as Lucy shifted restlessly in the back.
“You ready?” Sam asked, his tone low.
Kevin nodded. “Let’s see what she’s hiding.”
Sam stepped out. Lucy hopped out, too, her ears pricked as if sensing the tension. Sam glanced back at her. “Stay sharp, girl.”
The doorbell chimed, its cheerful sound at odds with the gravity of their visit. Inside, the sound of hurried footsteps approached then hesitated. The door creaked open, revealing Marnie’s cautious face.
“Chief Mason?” Her brows furrowed as she spotted Kevin and Lucy. “What’s going on? It’s late.”
“Evening, Marnie,” Sam said, his tone firm but polite. “We need to talk. It’s important.”
Marnie frowned, gripping the doorframe. “Can’t this wait until morning? I have early meetings—”
“No, it can’t,” Sam interrupted, stepping forward enough to signal this wasn’t a request. “This is serious.”
Marnie hesitated then sighed, opening the door wider. “Fine. Come in.”
The inside of the house was tidy, almost sterile, as if Marnie lived more for appearances than comfort. She motioned them toward the living room but remained standing herself, arms crossed defensively.
“What’s this about?” she asked, her voice sharp.
Sam kept his tone measured. “We’ve been looking into Garvin McDaniels’s murder, and your name keeps coming up.”
Marnie laughed. “My name? That’s ridiculous. Why would I have anything to do with that?”
“No idea. Beryl Thorne thinks you did,” Sam said.
Marnie’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Sam kept his gaze steady. “She said you’ve been interested in Garvin’s property and that you’re the one who made things happen.”
Marnie stared at him, disbelief flickering across her face. “No,” she said finally, her voice trembling. “No, Beryl wouldn’t—” She stopped herself, her expression shifting as if the weight of something unspoken was pressing down on her. “She wouldn’t say that.”
“She did,” Sam pressed, his voice calm but firm. “And she claims she has proof.”
Marnie looked skeptical.
Kevin crossed his arms, his tone laced with skepticism. “She’s protecting herself, Ms. Wilson. She doesn’t care about you. If throwing you under the bus keeps her out of trouble, she’ll do it in a heartbeat.”
Marnie’s eyes darted to Kevin then back to Sam.
“She’s blaming you for this, Marnie. If you know something that can clear your name, you better speak up,” Sam said.
Marnie hesitated, her breathing uneven. She looked away, her gaze fixed on some distant point on the floor. “I thought we were on the same side,” she said quietly. “Beryl and I. She’s been helping my campaign, supporting me. I thought...”
Sam stepped closer, his voice softening enough to edge past her walls. “You thought she had your back. But she doesn’t, Marnie. Not when it comes to saving herself. She’ll pin it all on you and walk away clean.”
Marnie swallowed hard, shaking her head. “She wouldn’t do that. Not to me.”
“She already has,” Sam said. “She pointed the finger at you. Said you were the one pulling the strings.”
Marnie’s head snapped up, her face pale. “She said I was pulling the strings? That’s not true. I’m not—” She cut herself off again, her eyes narrowing. “You’re lying. Trying to get me to confess to something I had no part of.”
“Blue paint, Marnie,” Kevin said, his voice cutting through her excuses. “Same shade as your campaign posters. Found at Garvin’s cabin. Care to explain that?”
Marnie’s composure wavered. She opened her mouth, closed it again, then shook her head. “Anyone could’ve tracked that paint there. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Sam leaned in slightly, his voice quiet but firm. “We can tie it directly to you. You were there, Marnie. And if you keep denying it, you’ll only make it worse.”
Her breath hitched, and she stepped back, clutching the back of a chair for support. “This is insane. You’re trying to railroad me—”
“No, we’re trying to get the truth,” Sam said, his voice rising enough to cut through her protests. “And here’s the truth. If we take this to a jury, they’ll see the evidence and convict you. When you’re sitting in prison for murder, who’s going to take care of your mother?”
The words hit like a hammer. Marnie froze, her face paling. Her hands trembled as she gripped the chair, her breath shallow. “What do you know about my mother?”
“I know about Parker Studies,” Sam said.
“I didn’t kill him,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Sam didn’t let up. “Then tell us who did.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she sank into the chair, shaking her head. “You don’t understand. Beryl… She made me do it.”
Kevin crouched slightly, his tone calm but insistent. “What did she make you do, Marnie?”
Marnie’s chest rose and fell with uneven breaths.
“Beryl wanted the property. She gave me money. I needed it for my mother. She told me to make sure Garvin sold the property to one of her shell companies. I just wanted to scare Garvin. To push him into selling. I didn’t know—” Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands.
Kevin took a step forward, his tone steady but firm. “You didn’t know what?”
“That it would go that far!” Marnie’s head shot up, her eyes wet with tears. “I hired Desmond Griggs. He’s... He’s dangerous, but I didn’t think he’d actually kill Garvin. I thought he’d pressure him, make him give up the property. That’s all.”
Sam exchanged a glance with Kevin, his mind racing. “When was this? Did you know Garvin was changing his will?”
Marnie shook her head vehemently. “No, I didn’t even know about the will. I just... Beryl said we needed the property. She said it was important.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “Important how?”
“I don’t know,” Marnie admitted, her voice small. “She never told me why. Just that it had to be done.”
Kevin crouched down slightly, leveling his gaze with hers. “What about Griggs? Has he contacted you since?”
“No,” Marnie said, shaking her head. “I haven’t heard from him. I don’t know where he is.”
Sam straightened, pulling his phone from his pocket. He sent a quick message to Wyatt, who was tailing Griggs, then turned his attention back to Marnie.
“Stay put,” he said, his tone hard. “If Griggs contacts you, call me immediately. And don’t think about skipping town, Marnie. We’re watching.”
Marnie nodded weakly, her shoulders slumped in defeat. As Sam turned to leave, Lucy let out a soft growl, her ears flattening slightly. Sam reached down to scratch behind her ears, his jaw tight.
“You ready?” Kevin asked as they stepped back into the night air.
“More than ready,” Sam replied. “Time to finish this.”