Dead of Winter (Cold Case Psychic #15) - Pandora Pine Page 0,84

coming,” Lisa began, motioning to the crowd for silence. “I’ve served on the advisory board for Jennifer’s Place from day one. I can’t tell you what a pleasure it’s been, all of these years, watching my lifelong friend turn her dreams into reality. Thanks to fundraising efforts, Jennifer’s Place will be able to donate nearly a million dollars to Massachusetts-area women’s shelters.”

The crowd began to applaud.

“But our work isn’t done. I’d love to see the amount donated top the million dollar mark for Jennifer!” Lisa yelled over the applause. “Let’s keep her dream alive!”

“Christ, you’d think she was running for mayor.” Fitzgibbon rolled his eyes.

Ronan nodded before turning to Ten. “When this speech is over, we’re going home. I’ve had enough of this monkey suit for one night.”

“That goes for us too,” Truman whispered. “I’m not the biggest fan of Christmas parties.”

“You’re not? I was the one who caught a bullet at the last Christmas party we went to.” Carson shot Truman a dirty look.

“Yeah, but I ended up with your blood on my shoes and an eternal guilt trip.” Truman rubbed Carson’s left shoulder. “Remember the time I took a bullet for you, Truman,” he said in a near perfect imitation of Carson.

“That’s it! I want a divorce.” Carson laughed while the rest of the room broke into applause.

Ten had been half-listening to his friends and Lisa. She’d just vowed that Jennifer’s Place would continue in her friend’s name.

“Before we all get back to eating, drinking, and being merry, I’d like to give a shout out to the members of the Salem Police Department here with us tonight. Former Boston police captains, Ronan O’Mara and Kevin Fitzgibbon, are leading a renewed effort to solve the thirty-five-year-old murder of another of my and Jennifer’s best friends, Skye Washington. I’d like to thank them for their efforts.” Lisa began to applaud.

“Don’t you dare say her name!” a male voice shouted from the back of the ballroom.

Lisa jumped back from the microphone as if it bit her. A hand fluttered to her shocked face.

Ronan couldn’t see who had shouted, but he’d guess from the look on Lisa’s face that it was Kyle Danner. He was on the guest list for tonight, but so far, Ronan hadn’t been able to find him. “Kevin, you and Jude work your way to the back of the room, Ten and I will try to get to the front.”

Both men nodded and began to push their way through the crowd.

“Security!” Lisa shouted. Her frantic eyes scanned the room for someone to help her.

“Security! Now that’s a laugh!” Kyle Danner shouted. Partygoers scattered out of his way as he approached the stage.

Ronan grabbed Tennyson’s hand and moved swiftly through the crowd. Some people were trying to scatter while others stood stone still, like deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck.

“Wouldn’t it have been nice if Skye had some security with her the night she died?” Kyle laughed. There was no warmth or humor in it, only decades of bitterness and hate.

“You should know!” Lisa shot back. “You’re the one who killed her!”

“Me?” Kyle roared, sending the crystals of the large chandelier above his head clinking against each other. “You’re the one who killed her!” Pulling out a handgun, Kyle leveled it at Lisa. His hand was steady.

Lisa froze on the stage. Her eyes darted around the room in an obvious attempt to find something or someone. “Detective O’Mara! Are you just going to stand there and let this nutjob pull a gun on me?” Lisa shrieked.

“You know what? I am.” Ronan had reached Kyle’s side. He hadn’t known what was going to come out of his mouth until he saw Kyle’s demeanor up close. The man was calm, wasn’t sweating, and didn’t appear to be intoxicated. “Why do you think Lisa killed Skye?” Ronan asked calmly, never taking his eyes off the gun. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fitzgibbon and Jude, both with their weapons drawn but pointing to the floor.

“Because I didn’t, Detective O’Mara. I loved Skye. We were going to run away together. Our hearts were set on San Francisco. We planned to dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean and figure things out as we went. Our parents thought we were just dreamers, but Lisa knew we were serious. They all knew.”

“You mean Jennifer and Heidi too?” Ronan didn’t like where this conversation was heading.

“The three of them hated that Skye had someone who loved her as much as