Vera was surprised that a rich guy like him was just throwing it all away.
“Did anyone provide details about the occupants of the cabin or their plans to you?”
“No. My aunt—”
“Would you identify your aunt,” Bent interrupted.
“Helen Carter, my aunt, wouldn’t tell me anything that was happening on the property because she had figured out I intended to do Thomas Wilton harm.” He shrugged. “I ran into Valeri Erwin on Thursday. She complained about having to shop for the big party at the cabin that weekend. So I went to the cabin and planted a few bugs. I basically knew what was going on inside from the moment the two couples arrived on Friday evening. While I was there, I selected my weapon. Took it with me for when I came back.”
“Why did you want to harm Mr. Wilton?” Vera asked.
“Because he killed the woman I loved. Lena Wilton. She was pregnant with my child, and we were planning a life together.”
Bent glanced at Vera, and she asked, “I realize we talked about this before, but for the purpose of the recording, can you tell me again how you knew she was carrying your child and not Thomas Wilton’s?”
“The obstetrician helped us narrow down the conception date to a period when her husband was out of town for an extended time.” His jaw pulsed with anger now, even knowing what he was facing by telling this story. “I restrained myself for two long years. Thomas Wilton killed Lena, and I wanted more than my next breath to make him feel what I felt. I wanted him to recognize that he was about to lose everything, and there was nothing he could do. But to do that, I had to wait until he married again, and his new wife was pregnant. That was the only way he would ever know the agony I suffered.”
“How did you know she was pregnant?” Bent asked. “Alicia didn’t tell anyone.”
Vera wouldn’t put it past Erwin having told the guy. She loved causing chaos.
“I monitored her credit and debit cards,” Jamison explained. “I knew when she bought her first pregnancy test and then when she visited an obstetrician.”
Clever man. But then it was easy to be clever when he had every imaginable resource. Vera wondered if he had a clue what prison life was going to be like. Then again, those with the money could often make the situation more tolerable.
From there, he explained how he’d slaughtered Seth Parson and Sandy Owens, no matter that they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He carefully cut their clothes from their bodies so the cops would assume exactly what they did. He took great pleasure in recounting how he killed Wilton, stripped him and dumped him in the hot tub. The latter had been necessary since they struggled, and he didn’t want any of his DNA left on the guy. He carefully cleaned up his tracks and removed the bugs he had planted and the clothes he’d cut off the victims. To hinder the police investigation, he took Sandy’s personal belongings.
But he failed to recognize his one mistake until later, when he was back home in the shower and felt the injury on his neck where Owens had grabbed at his mask. Owens had scratched him. But it was too late to rectify the oversight.
“I was in such a frenzy after killing Wilton,” he went on with the telling of his murder spree, “it took me a moment to realize I still had one more player to take out.” He shook his head. “It was like playing a video game. Winning was my singular focus. I was just about to go back inside, looking for Alicia, when she rushed out onto the deck. In a moment of inspiration, I decided she would be my scapegoat. I made it appear as if she’d been leaving the scene and fell, hitting her head. I put the knife I’d used under her and then I left.”
He made a sound, not quite a laugh but something on that order. “It all went almost exactly as I’d planned. A few glitches notwithstanding.” He exhaled a big breath, looked to Vera. “Even so, you didn’t have my DNA and no way to get it without a court order based on evidence,which you didn’t have.” His face tightened with anger. “I shouldn’t have underestimated Valeri Erwin’s need for her own revenge. She left me that fucking note, and I foolishly reacted. Then you showed up.” He shook his head. “I was so close to walking away unscathed.”
Vera opted not to mention that close only counted in a game of horseshoes. But there was one little part she was unclear on.
“You mentioned a note from Erwin. When did you receive this note?”
“She left a note at my gate early this morning.I know it was you.” He shook his head. “Not exactly original, but it got the point across. She didn’t sign it, but apparently she didn’t care that I knew she was the one who left it, since she smiled for the camera at the gate.”
Why was Vera not surprised? The woman truly was a piece of work.
A couple minutes later Jamison was escorted away in handcuffs. Vera and Bent stood in the corridor outside the interview room and watched him be led away. She stretched her neck and rolled her left shoulder. Her back and shoulder were killing her from hitting the ground with the bastard. She hadn’t pulled a move like the one she’d used to take Jamison down in years. God, she was out of shape.
“You just wait,” Bent said, “when all that cockiness vanishes after a few nights in a cell, he’ll be trying to plead an insanity defense.”
Vera turned to Bent. “Until then, I guess that closes your case. Well except for Larry Parson’s murder.”
He removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I have this top-notch crime analyst.” He smiled at her as he replaced that beloved hat. “I was hoping she’d help me figure that one out.”
Vera laughed. “I think I may already have a lead on it.”
“You want a final shot at Erwin?” Bent grinned, understanding exactly what she meant. “She’s in the lobby, waiting for word on how this is going to shake down.”
Vera gave him a nod. “I would love it.”
“Give me a minute to settle her in my office. You can talk to her there.”
“Works for me.” This was going to be epic. She could feel it.
