AllFreeNovel Stories worth discovering

Daddy’s Fortitude

Page 201

by Laylah Roberts

Gone was the false sweet look from before, the fake tears.

She attempted to launch herself at Aimee, but Webb stepped up, intercepting her. He didn’t touch her, but he did keep stepping into her path to stop her getting to Aimee.

Ammo had had enough of this. It was time to go.

“Get out of my way,” Kelly-Anne screeched, leaping toward Webb with her nails outstretched. “I’m going to kill that bitch. She stole my life. She stole my man. It should have been me living there with Charlie, not her.”

“Come on, Aimee. We’re going.” Ammo placed an arm around her.

“Is there any truth in what this woman is saying? Did you deliberately set fire to the house?” the reporter called out to Aimee.

Ammo turned toward the reporter. Was she for real?

“Do you honestly think that I would set fire to my own house while I’m inside it?” Aimee asked the reporter. “And Kelly-Anne wasn’t left the entire house in the will. Half of that house was mine. Although to be honest with you, the bank owns most of it. I don’t know what she thought she was going to get, but there isn’t much there.”

Ammo squeezed her gently, not wanting her to reveal too much about her finances and her relationship with Charlie. She seemed to understand what that squeeze meant as she pressed her lips together.

“You did it. I know you did it,” Kelly-Anne screamed.

“How do you know that?” Ammo said. “How do we know that you didn’t do it?”

Something that looked a hell of a lot like guilt passed over her face. Oh, she had done it, hadn’t she? He hadn’t been certain in that moment. He was just throwing out an accusation, like she seemed to enjoy doing.

But that was definitely a strange look on her face, and she took a step back.

“Why would I set fire to the house? What would I have to gain?”

“Well, you might have wanted to get rid of Aimee,” Ammo said. “Since you seem to think that the entire house should be yours, and she was standing in your way, wasn’t she? Was that it, Kelly-Anne? Were you trying to kill Aimee in the fire?”

Branson had moved closer while attempting to keep out of Kelly-Anne’s sight. He was definitely listening in, though.

“Of course I wasn’t trying to kill Aimee,” Kelly-Anne said. “I thought she was back working at Danny’s Bar. I wouldn’t have set . . . I mean, I have to go.”

Kelly-Anne stumbled back further and turned, but suddenly Yvonne stepped into her way. Yvonne was pale and shaking slightly as she stared at Kelly-Anne in shock.

“You did do it. You set fire to Aimee’s house. She was inside the house, Kelly-Anne. How could you do that? You could have killed her.”

“You don’t know anything, Yvonne. Shut your mouth,” Kelly-Anne snarled.

“I know what I saw,” Yvonne stated. “And I saw you hanging around Aimee’s house the night of the fire. Right before it went up in flames.”

“I was never here.”

“No, I know what I saw.” She glanced around wildly at everyone. “And I saw you there, Kelly-Anne. You set fire to the house. You could have killed Aimee!”

“I didn’t mean to nearly kill her,” Kelly-Anne said. “I just wanted the insurance money. After seeing the state of the house, I knew there was no way it was worth anything. And I wasn’t going to live in it. I thought the house was empty. I saw him go for a run.” She pointed to Ammo. “I thought Aimee was working at Danny’s Bar so I just did what was necessary. I wouldn’t have set it on fire if I’d known she was in it.”

God, this woman didn’t even sound like she regretted what she did or felt in the least bit guilty. She was just annoyed that Aimee had been inside the house at the time she’d lit it.

“Kelly-Anne McComb,” Branson said, taking a step forward and pulling out handcuffs. “I’m arresting you on suspicion of arson and attempted murder.” He started to read her her rights while Kelly-Anne just stared at him in bewilderment. He turned her around and cuffed her, just as an Arkansas State Police vehicle pulled up.

“Oh my God,” Aimee said, leaning heavily against him. “I can’t believe this was all Kelly-Anne.”

Kelly-Anne started yelling and screaming, trying to fight off Branson and the officer who were attempting to get her into the car.

They finally got her in and closed the door, and she plastered her face against the window, still screaming. She looked crazed, out of her mind.

“Oh my God, please tell me you got that all on camera,” the reporter said.