“They both live in California,” he said, getting the words out as fast as he could.“Allyson Rhodes—she goes by Ally—is in Fresno.I’ve been with her for just over a year.We celebrated our ‘anniversary’ a few weeks ago.Nicole Thorington lives in Santa Cruz.We tied the knot—or she thought we did—about five months ago.”
Jessie needed a few moments to figure out how best to respond to this stunning news.Beside her, Webb was slack-jawed.When she spoke, she tried to keep the judgement out of her voice.
“And none of these women knew anything about each other?”she asked, before adding, “Is it possible that one of them discovered the others and decided to eliminate them?”
He shook his head vehemently.“I was incredibly careful about that.Obviously, if any of them found out, my whole world—and theirs—would come crumbling down.I met all of them once I had this job, so the idea that I was away a ton and often unreachable wasn’t anything unusual or suspicious to them.And I had a burner phone for everyone but Lauren.”
That answered one question that Jessie and Karen had raised before Webb had unceremoniously dumped the detective.Mannix did have a burner, apparently several.
“Why not Lauren?”the agent asked.
“Because she was the first one I got together with.So, there was no reason to have an extra phone.And with the others, it was easy to justify the burner.I told them that I got my main phone through work and didn’t like using it for my personal life.None of them questioned that.”
“You really don’t think any of them suspected?”Jessie pressed.“You never made a mistake with someone’s birthday or called one of them by the wrong name?”
“Never,” Mannix said, looking offended by the suggestion.“Why would that happen?I loved each of them.All the particulars of their lives—from birthdays to hometowns to allergies—are locked in my head.”
“You sound awfully confident,” Webb replied, clearly unconvinced.
Jessie said nothing but she tended to believe the guy.He struck her as the type who would consider all those specifics to be precious.Webb was obviously oblivious to Mannix’s considerable charms, but she wasn’t, even if that fact was unsettling to her.
Part of the man’s appeal was his almost painful good looks.But equally powerful was the sense that he really was devoted to these women.Maybe she was a sucker.Or maybe she could see more clearly than the bulldozer of a special agent next to her.
“When you love a person, or people, those details come easy,” Mannix said as if the agent should be embarrassed that this wasn’t obvious.“Actually, my biggest ongoing issue was each woman’s hope that I’d eventually stop travelling and settle down.Even though they knew my work situation, they’d still bring it up.It was increasingly a topic for Lauren and to a lesser extent, for Sarah.Ally has mentioned it once.So far, Nicole hasn’t brought it up.”
Hearing those last two names again reminded Jessie that they needed to reach out to them.But she had one last question for Mannix before that.Fixing him with a stare, she asked, “You’re being completely forthright, correct?We’re not going to learn about any other fake wives, are we?”
“That’s everyone,” Mannix swore.
“Okay.Any luck on locating the remaining two women, you guys?”she asked Jamil and Beth.
“Yes, Ms.Hunt,” Jamil said.“We were just waiting for you to finish.We’ve located contact details for both women, as well as police liaisons in each city if you want resources sent to protect them.We’re ready when you are.”
Jessie looked over at Webb, remembering that he was still in charge of the case.
“It’s fine to send officers to meet them,” he said, “But I want us to reach out first to give these women context.”
“Can I be on the calls too?”“Mannix pleaded, his eyes welling up.“If I’m the reason they’re in this situation, I want try to help make their new reality less painful.”
“Absolutely not,” Webb scoffed.“You’re far from off the hook.As a person of interest, you won’t be speaking to ether woman unless and until your real alibis for the last two nights are validated.”
“But I’m the one who told you about their existence and I’m here in L.A.with you,” Mannix objected.“How could you possibly view me as a threat to them at this point?”
“That doesn’t clear you, Mr.Mannix,” Webb told him, his voice dripping with condescension.“It would be a perfect alibi for you to be here with us and meanwhile, hire someone to do your dirty work for you.”
This was one of the few things Webb had said that Jessie agreed with.Her loved ones had nearly been the victim of a hitwoman hired by someone in prison.Right now, she thought it was unlikely, but just because Mannix was here with them, that didn’t mean he wasn’t involved.His presence would be a clever way to throw off suspicion.
“What do I have to do to prove my innocence?”Mannix balked.“I’ve lost two women I love in the last two days and I’ve just given you information that will likely destroy my relationships with two others.Would I do that if I wasn’t sincere?”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” Webb snarled.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“How do I know this isn’t a prank?”Ally Rhodes demanded.
“I wish it was,” the man on the other end of the line said.“But this is very real.”
“You’re saying that my husband isn’t really my husband?That I’m one of four women he pretended to marry?And that two of them are dead?That sounds like a prank to me.”
