Page 26 of So Deadly
Faith looked closely at her.She didn’t appear to be lying, and Turk wasn’t reacting to her, though hewasreturning Roxy’s attentions a little more eagerly now.
That didn’t mean she was definitely innocent, though.She was connected to both victims, had actually assaulted one, and was clearly passionate about combating fake service animals.
“So, we have one victim who you actively assaulted two—”
“It was self-defense.”
"Who you engaged in physical violence with two years ago, and another whom you attempted to defame."
“For God’s sake, why are you protectinghisrights?”Amanda snapped.“I mean, rest in peace and all, but the guy waslying.Is it… I mean…”
She looked expectantly at the agents, as though waiting for them to fill in the blank.
“Is it?”Faith prompted.
Amanda scoffed.“I mean… Is it any great loss?”
“So, it’s fine that he died,” Jessica paraphrased.“Is that what you’re saying?”
Amanda rolled her eyes again.“I’m saying that it’s typical of law enforcement to show up in force the moment some asshole gets what’s coming to them, but innocent people with legitimate complaints about being defrauded and attacked by untrained animals don’t rate attention.”
“So, we’ve gone from horror at their deaths to suggesting it’s no great loss to insisting that they got what was coming to them,” Jessica summarized.
“And defending YouTube videos where she proclaimed they deserved to die,” Faith added.“Don’t forget that part.”
“I didn’t kill them!”Amanda snapped.“Excuse me for not being upset that they died!”
"Where were you this morning?"Faith asked."We'll throw in last night, too."
Amanda’s eyes popped open.“This morning?Really?”
“Really?”
Amanda clapped her hands."Yes!"
Faith and Jessica shared a look.“I suppose that means you have an alibi?”Jessica asked drily.
“Yep!I was out of state!”
Faith prevented her shoulders from slumping.It wasn’t nice to show disappointment when you found out someone wasn’t a murderer.“Can you prove that?”
"Yep!I can show you my boarding pass, and you can verify with the airline and the airports.I was out of state for the past eighteen days, visiting my parents in Montana.I'll get them for you."
She bounced back into the house.Roxy nuzzled Turk and started licking him behind his ear.He looked up at Faith, a little embarrassed but clearly enjoying the attention.
Glad someone’s having a good night.
A moment later, Amanda returned with the paperwork.“See?I landed at twelve-oh-five this afternoon.That clears me, right?”
“Pending verification with the airline, yes,” Faith agreed.
Amanda clapped her hands again.“See?I told you guys.And you know what?I hope you don’t find the killer.Those two deserved to die, and I’m glad they did.People need to follow the rules when breaking them gets other people hurt.”Seeing the looks on their faces, she lifted her chin and shrugged.“You can feel whatever way you want about me.I’m not sorry.”
Faith declined to rise to the bait.Amanda Prowse was revealing her true colors now that she knew she wasn’t in danger, but Faith wasn’t here to investigate her attitude.
The three agents left Amanda on her porch.Roxy groaned when Turk separated himself from her, but she remained by her owner, loyal to a fault like all good dogs.
Meanwhile, someone out there was looking for another wrong to make right with the shedding of blood.
