Chapter 16 The Handcuffs

The sound of the handcuffs clicking into place was immensely satisfying, and I had to stifle the urge to laugh out loud as I listened to their Miranda rights being read aloud to them.Scott was clearly enraged.He was scowling, jaw clenched, veins popping out on his neck, eyes narrowed as he stared straight ahead.It was a glorious sight.

Vanessa was even better. The poor dear looked so confused about what was happening - she really wasn't very bright.Her gaze kept swinging from Scott to Mike to James and back, as though she were searching for salvation from one of them. Scott refused to look at her, and Mike and James both ignored her questions.

"What's going on?What are you doing? Why are you putting those on me?" She was pale, and her lower lip quivered.Her earlier over-the-top sobs had given way to silent tears as she realized her life was imploding. I snickered as I took a good look at the handcuffs now encircling her wrists.The silver cuffs looked amazing next to my goddamned diamond tennis bracelet.

She glanced my way as James grasped her by the elbow and turned to lead her out of the room.I gave her a gleeful smile and waggled my fingers in a little wave."Buh-bye, Vanessa.It's such a shame that orange isn't your color." I called out to her.She stumbled before James steadied her, and she whipped her head around to glare at me.

Mike flashed me a quick grin and led Scott toward the door."Toodle-loo, Scott.Have fun with your cellmate!" He didn't bother acknowledging me, and I couldn't help the satisfied chuckle that escaped me.

I turned around and took in the stunned faces of family, friends, and acquaintances - most of whom were sitting slack-jawed and wide eyed - clearly trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.The funeral director looked like he was seriously contemplating a career change, and Sherry was doubled over, cackling like a loon.

Chris - who was obviously feeling much more mature than I was at that moment - stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Folks, we are sorry that you had to witness this, especially during what is a very difficult time for some of you.Unfortunately, events have transpired since David's death Saturday that have brought to light a great deal of truly unsettling information about David, Scott, and Vanessa.I'm unable to share the details at this very moment, but believe me, the police investigation over the past several days has turned up a wealth of evidence. Once they are arraigned later today, more details will be available as a matter of public record. Given the circumstances, we will not be traveling to the cemetery for a graveside service.Mr. Flynn, the funeral director, will remain here for the next half-hour for anyone wishing to pay their final respects."

He turned to shake Mr. Flynn's hand, and I was impressed with how swiftly the poor man had pulled himself together after this debacle. Sherry looped her arm through mine as Chris escorted us toward the door. I spotted David's Aunt Jenny, looking completely bewildered by the turn of events.She was being consoled by two of her adult children, who were looking my way.I stopped and told Sherry I needed to speak with them for a moment. I made my way over to them warily, uncertain of my reception but unable to leave without at least acknowledging them.Jenny had always been kind to me when we'd crossed paths over the years, and David's cousins seemed nice enough, although I didn't know them well.

"Is that true?" Jenny asked tearfully."What you said about stealing from you, and blackmail and cheating? There's proof?"

I nodded and said quietly, "I'm afraid so.It's all come out since Sunday, and the police have solid evidence of all of it."

She took a shuddering breath and then exhaled slowly, looking down at the floor."My poor sister did not raise them to do those things.She was a good woman, and she tried her best. I'm glad she's not here to see this. Scott's always a wild one, been in trouble of one kind or another since he was a teenager, but David..." she paused and shook her head before looking up at me. "David always seemed like a good man."

My heart clenched at her words."Yes, he did.I'm not sure where, or when, or why he changed, but I do believe he used to be a good man at one time."I cleared my throat. "Take care, Jenny, and let me know if you need anything, OK?"

She rose to her feet and clasped me in a tight hug, and his cousins patted my back."You've always been such a sweet girl, and here you're worried about me at a time like this.You call us if you need anything.No matter what David and Scott did, you are still family to us."

With a grateful smile, I turned to join Chris and Sherry in the doorway.Mr. Flynn stopped me just before I reached them, and quietly offered his sympathies for everything I'd gone through, then assured me that he and his staff would see to things at the cemetery.I thanked him for his kindness, and quickly walked from the room.I had a sudden need to breathe air that wasn't filled with the overwhelming aroma of flowers.

We were quiet on the drive back to their house, each lost in thought. The rage that had fueled me for most of the day had burned out, leaving me exhausted mentally as well as physically.I just wanted to get back to my temporary home, crawl in bed and sleep, so that's just what I did.

I awoke several hours later, and slipped out of the dress I'd slept in, pulling on my comfy leggings and a sweatshirt. As I started down the stairs, I heard the low drone of the TV, along with the clink of dishes.Sherry and Chris were on the couch, eating dinner while watching a movie.They both looked up as I walked into the room, and Sherry offered to make me a plate."It's just a chicken casserole that I had in the freezer, but there's plenty - or I could make you a sandwich," she said, setting her plate on the coffee table and standing up. I waved her back down.

"Sit, I can get it.You know I love your chicken casserole.Do you guys need anything from the kitchen?" Chris asked if I'd grab him another beer, as Sherry picked up her plate to finish eating. I joined them a few minutes later, handing Chris his beer and sitting down in the recliner with my plate.

We watched the end of the movie, and then Chris found reruns of The Big Bang Theory for us to watch.I was surprised at how normal the evening felt, just hanging out with my best friends.

Seeing Scott and Vanessa led away in cuffs had lifted a weight off me that I hadn't fully been aware of. I felt like I could let my guard down and just breathe, for the first time in a long while.

Around midnight, we all decided to call it a night.I got ready for bed with a determination that my new life would begin tomorrow. I settled in and got comfortable, then ran through a mental list of what I wanted to accomplish tomorrow.Making a solid plan helped calm my thoughts, as it always did, and before long I had drifted off to sleep.

I awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. I hadn't had any strange dreams - none that I could recall anyway.There were no jail cells or singing detectives, and no spectral visions of husbands past. Just refreshing, rejuvenating rest.

I got up and showered, then dressed in my last clean outfit - a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. I gathered up a basket full of my dirty laundry, and carried it down to the laundry room, loading and starting the washer before I headed into the kitchen.I seemed to be the first one up, so I put on a pot of coffee and got eggs, cheese, and vegetables out to make omelets for everyone. Chris appeared as I was chopping a bell pepper and told me that Sherry would be right down.By the time she came downstairs, I was sliding the last omelet onto a plate, and Chris was buttering the toast for us.

I insisted on cleaning up."You guys have done so much to help me this week. This is literally the least I can do."

Sherry asked about my plans for the day. I went over the mental list that I had made last night.

"Well, my first order of business is to call Rachel, my realtor. I want to make sure she was able to secure the lease on that condo.Then, I need to go home and decide what furniture I want to take with me.I think I'm only going to take a few of the pieces that have sentimental value and donate the rest of it.There are just too many bad memories associated with everything. I can start packing up my clothes and personal items though, so everything is ready for the movers."

"I'll come help," Sherry said, but I put my foot down.

"I appreciate the offer, but there's no need.You enjoy a Saturday alone with your husband, and I'll see you both later tonight.Don't worry about including me for dinner.Chris, take your lovely wife out somewhere nice," I ordered with a smile.

He grinned and gave me a mock-salute. "Yes ma'am!" he said, before grabbing Sherry around the waist. "Where would you like to dine this evening, my love?" he asked, with exaggerated politeness.She giggled and whispered something in his ear, and I rolled my eyes and left them to their cuteness.I made a quick stop in the laundry room to transfer my clothes to the dryer, then headed back upstairs to make some calls.

Rachel had indeed secured the lease on the condo, and we made an appointment for me to sign the papers and collect the keys on Monday morning.I called a moving company that she recommended and was pleased that their office was open on a Saturday.They had a small opening on Tuesday afternoon that they could fit me in, after I explained that it would be mostly boxes and only a few pieces of furniture. I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my purse, before heading back downstairs to let Sherry know I was heading out for the day.I found her snuggled on her husband's lap on the couch.

"I'm off...enjoy yourselves today!" I said with a waggle of my eyebrows.

"We will," Chris assured me with a wink, squeezing Sherry's thigh and making her giggle like a schoolgirl.

I made a quick stop to purchase some moving boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape and plastic totes, then ran through a McDonald's drive-thru to get a large Diet Pepsi since I had no idea if I had any at my place.I suspected I was going to need the caffeine boost in a bit.

My spirits plunged as I pulled into the driveway and caught sight of the lake behind the house.I looked away, determined to clear my mind of any negative thoughts, and focus on the job at hand.

I carried the packing supplies and plastic totes inside and decided to work on my bedroom first.I grabbed the luggage that was stored at the back of the closet and started emptying out my dresser drawers and my closet, packing everything neatly in the suitcases, with shoes filling two of the large totes.

I emptied my jewelry box into the smallest of the carry-on cases I had, deciding to sort through it all later and get rid of anything that David had given me.

I made another mental note to figure out what to do with his watch collection.Maybe I could donate it to be auctioned off?I knew of several local organizations which had charity auctions, so that might be a good place to start. His ill-gotten gains should be put to some kind of good use.

I used plastic totes in the bathroom to pack all of the toiletries and essentials that I hadn't taken to Sherry's and made sure to leave my robe - which Vanessa had worn in the video - hanging on the hook behind the door. I decided not to take any of the towels or bedding, since I didn't want anything that David or Vanessa had touched to follow me into my new home.

I stacked the suitcases, boxes and totes in the hallway, so the movers would have easy access, then closed the bedroom door behind me.There was nothing left there that I wanted, including the memories.

I walked through the other rooms upstairs, looking for anything else that I wanted to take.In the guest room that my mother had always used when she visited, I packed several framed photographs that I'd had sitting out on the dresser, as well as the picture of my father that was on the nightstand.There was a small writing desk in the corner that had belonged to my mother as a young girl and had been passed down to me as a teenager. I had taken it with me when I had moved out on my own, and I wanted to be sure it wasn't left behind. I pulled it out to the hallway with the boxes from my bedroom, along with the chair that went with it.Nothing else caught my eye in any of the other rooms.They were just generic guest rooms, with one turned into a work-out room for David.

The kitchen was my next stop.There were a few things that had been passed down from my paternal grandmother, so I pulled them from the cabinets and set them on the countertop.

I had just started to carefully wrap a vintage serving platter in the bubble wrap I'd purchased when my phone rang. I was surprised to see Det. Horton's name on the caller ID.

"James?" I questioned as I answered the call.

"Hi Lila, I'm sorry to bother you, but something new has come up and I need to go over it with you.Are you still staying with the Decker's?"

"Yes, but I'm actually at my house packing up at the moment.What's wrong?"

It sounded like he covered the phone, and I heard muffled voices for several moments."Lila, I'm on my way with Mike and the evidence techs.Have you had anything to eat or drink since you've been there?" His tone was filled with urgency, and I could tell he was rattled.

"Uh, just a Diet Pepsi that I bought at the drive-thru on my way here.Why?"

"I think we need to explain in person.We'll be there in twenty minutes.Just don't eat or drink anything from your house.It may be nothing, but we need to check it out."