The Girls in the Snow (Nikki Hunt #1) - Stacy Green Page 0,106
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.”
Nikki flattened herself against the back of the closet, holding the bar tightly. She could get out of the closet if she pushed Bobby far enough. “A good prosecutor’s going to paint your mother as the mastermind behind this. I just can’t figure out where Janelle comes in.”
“I said shut the fuck up.” Bobby used both feet this time, and the door buckled, its cheaply made hinges snapping off the wall.
Nikki jammed the wood rod between the hinge and door, forcing it away from the frame.
Bobby’s frightened blue eyes appeared in the gap she’d created.
Nikki shoved the rod into his face as hard as she could, and then reared back and nailed him a second time.
He screamed and stumbled back. Nikki used the rod like a crowbar, snapping the top hinge. She kicked the door far enough away from the frame for her to squeeze out.
Blood poured from Bobby’s nose.
Nikki dug her knee into his chest and pressed the bar across his throat. “Give me your phone.”
“It’s in my back pocket.”
“Get it out and dial 9-1-1.”
“You’ll have to kill me first.”
Nikki pressed down on the bar with all her strength. “You terrified my daughter.”
“Not me.” He gagged.
“Another charge for your mom, then.”
Bobby wriggled the phone from his back pocket.
“9-1-1, now.”
Tears welled in his eyes. “I’m not going to jail.”
“Cooperate, and the prosecution will work with you. But kidnapping an FBI agent won’t help your case. Make the call, and I’ll talk to the DA on your behalf.”
Bobby closed his eyes. “My mom’s gonna kill me.”
“No, honey. I’m going to kill her.” Mindy stood in the open doorway with a pistol pointed straight at Nikki. “Leave my little boy alone.”
Nikki stood, holding the wooden bar like a baseball bat. Bobby rolled onto his knees, sobbing. “Your little boy’s a murderer. So are you.”