Page 68 of Forever Gone

Selena leaned forward.

“Mrs. Cutler,” she said gently. “Your husband isn’t coming home tonight. Boyd’s here with you, and you’re safe.”

The woman turned toward her.

Selena kept her voice warm. “You’re in your own living room. Your program’s still on. Nothing bad is happening.”

Mrs. Cutler studied her for several seconds. “You’re Robert Raven’s girl.”

A smile reached Selena. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I know you.” The older woman relaxed against the chair. “You were always a good one.”

“Thank you.”

“I wish my Boyd had married a girl like you.”

Boyd closed his eyes briefly. “Mom.”

Mrs. Cutler patted his arm. “You need somebody sensible.”

The distress faded as quickly as it had arrived. Her attention returned to the television. Within a minute, her breathing deepened, and her head settled against the chair.

Kelly watched Selena ease back without disturbing her.

At the station, Selena’s impatience could fill a room. Here, she had lowered the temperature of the interview without surrendering control. Boyd had responded to it, too. His shoulders no longer crowded his neck, and the hand covering his mother’s remained still.

Selena waited until the older woman appeared asleep.

“Boyd,” she said, “where were you on the night Karen was killed?”

His expression closed again. “Home.”

“All night?”

“Most of it.”

“Who can confirm that?”

“Nobody.”

Kelly studied him. The answer did not match the hesitation that came before it.

Selena heard the same thing. “Your truck was here?”

“Yeah.”

“Did anyone visit?”

“No.”

“What time did you go to bed?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Did you leave the property at any point?”

Boyd glanced toward his mother. “No.”