Page 178 of Forever Dead

Selena lowered her hand and glanced toward the pistol on the worktable.

“You left that where I could reach it.”

Foss followed her glance.

“Eventually, perhaps.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to see you try. You see, I like to see the struggle.”

He stood between her and the table, close to the cane she needed to get up. He had arranged the room so she could see a way out and believe she might reach it.

Selena rested both hands on the floor.

Keep him talking.

Every minute gave the room more stability. The ringing in her ears had begun to fade. The knee remained bad, but she could move her foot.

“You killed Eleanor Marsh,” she said.

“Yes.”

“Patricia Vanes.”

“Yes.”

“Nora Ellison.”

Foss tilted his head. “You already know that.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to understand why you chose them.”

Foss smiled faintly. “You’re still investigating.”

“Occupational habit.”

Selena pressed the heel of her good foot against the floor again. The room had almost stopped moving.

“Eleanor and Patricia were killed at properties that once belonged to the Cutler family,” she said. “That sent us after Ray Cutler. Was that a coincidence?”

“No.”

The answer came too easily.

Selena kept her expression still. “Then explain it.”

“I had already chosen Eleanor. She lived alone, well outside town, and her routines were remarkably predictable. I spent some time learning about her before I visited.”

“And afterward you called from the bus depot in Linwood.”

Foss tilted his head. “You found the telephone.”

“Why wait until morning?”