I stare at him for a minute.“It depends on how many people were involved.”I look at the kitchen, or what used to be the kitchen.“This would have taken more than one person.”A gang of people.
“What time did you leave last night?”Finn’s still got his notebook out.
“Ten?”I look over at dad.He nods.
“Your neighbor heard noises over here around three thirty and called it in.”
“How long did it take you to get here?”
He frowns.“Too long.Mona calls about this place so much, I think the guys figured it was you working late.”
I nod.So, because of Mona… and that’s when it hits me.“Mona had something to do with this.”
“Velma…” My dad places a hand on my shoulder.“Let’s not start pointing fingers.”
I whip my head around and glare at my father.“She’s been nothing but a pain in my ass about this house.All because I won the bid, and she wants world domination.”
“Velma Lou….”
“Dad,” I snap back.“She does.”I turn to Finn.“Just the other day she told me”—I use fingers to show I’m quoting here—“‘I’ll get what’s coming to me.’”Or something along those lines.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“And she’s got the money to hire thugs.”
“Thugs?”My dad just isn’t getting this.
“Thugs, Dad.Criminals.Assholes.”I catch my breath and realize I’ve been holding in a whole lot of feelings.The first tear slips out and it’s followed by many, many friends.“Dad.”I choke.“I’ll never be able to fix it now.”
“You’ve got insurance.”
“For some things, but I don’t have the coverage for this.”I raise my hands and point around the entire lower level.“There’s no coming back from this.”
“Honey….”
“I mean it, Dad.I got the cheapest policy.I always do, because who the fuck would do something like this in Zodiac Hills?”I point at Finn.“It’s Mona.She’s the only one who has something to gain from this.”
“Enough,” my dad snaps.“Mona wouldn’t do this.”
“What is it with you and Mona Keres, Dad?She hates my guts,Dad.She says terrible things to me,Dad.She kicks people out of their homes,Dad.And yet, you still take her side.Always.”
“She means well.”
“Dad!”
I’m yelling now and preparing to yell some more when Bella runs into the house.“Lou Lou.”She’s panting so hard I wonder if she ran the two blocks from the bakery.“I just heard.”She looks around the entry hallway then back at me.I’m still crying so she wraps me up in her arms and cries right along with me.“It’s Mona,” I whisper in her ear.“But my dad doesn’t think so.”
Pulling away, Bella looks over at Finn who’s suddenly become a tad dumbstruck.“You need to check out Mona.She’s been a bitch to her ever since Lou won this bid.”
She’s always been a bitch to me.
“I will.”Finn nods.“I’ll talk to her.”
“Good.”
Finn directs us out of the house.I stare as one of the deputies puts up yellow crime scene tape over the front door.Like that would keep anyone out.
It won’t.
