Poisonous: A Novel (43 page)

Max went over to the desk sergeant. Before she could even ask him to watch the boys, he nodded.

She went outside and returned David’s call.

“I was in the police station. Did you talk to Madison?”

“Did Grace Martin ever interview Amanda about the night Ivy died?”

Max wasn’t expecting that question. She thought back. “No, her name wasn’t on any of the lists.”

“It’s a long story, but ultimately, Amanda stalked Madison Cross after she moved away. Calls, texts, e-mails. The weekend before Ivy died, Amanda showed up at their house for a sleepover. Stephen Cross had a talk with Jenny and told her that the plans for the sleepover were all in Amanda’s head, that they hadn’t made this arrangement, then showed her thousands of text messages and e-mails that Amanda had been sending over the months since Madison moved. According to Stephen, Jenny talked to Amanda and he said she hasn’t contacted Madison again.”

“Maybe I haven’t had enough coffee, but how does this relate to Ivy?”

“Amanda blamed Ivy for her friend Madison moving away. Amanda had an unhealthy relationship with Madison. Madison realized it after she moved and tried to cut ties, to the point of changing her phone number and e-mail. I have a copy of everything Amanda sent. I haven’t read it all, but some texts are disturbing. And one thing is clear: she thinks her father traded her and Tommy for Ivy and Austin.”

“Why on earth—” Max’s stomach fell. “Because of what her mother told her?”

“I think Jenny Wallace’s rage and sorrow over the affair and divorce impacted Amanda in an unpredictable way. I’m no psychiatrist, but Ullman would probably be able to read through these messages and see that Amanda has a warped view of her family and her place in it.”

“Travis Whitman was killed with Bill Wallace’s gun,” Max said. “What does Travis have to do with this?”

“Travis was dating Ivy at the time she exposed Madison’s cutting—which was the impetus for the Cross family to move. Maybe Amanda blamed him as well as Ivy. You said that Travis was holding back—maybe he knows something about Amanda. Maybe they conspired to kill Ivy together.”

Max could see it. The details were still elusive, but she could see two people working together to lure Ivy to the preserve and push her off the cliff. The tweet that came after one in the morning would give Travis an alibi. And when Max came to town and started asking questions, Travis panicked. But why would he run to Bailey? Was Bailey also part of this conspiracy?

“Max, are you listening to me?”

“Yes, sorry.”

“I said, Amanda Wallace is dangerous. Especially if she shot Travis Whitman—she has to know that it’ll come back to her.”

“She’s trying to frame Austin.”

“How?”

“She knows he sneaks out all the time. Like her, he would have access to Bill’s gun. The new time of death for Ivy—Austin wasn’t on his computer. Remember, he didn’t log in until closer to eleven thirty. He has no real alibi, he was the last person who saw Ivy. And before six in the morning on Thursday? Would Paula be able to prove he was home that morning? His house is only a couple of miles from where Travis was killed.”

“Amanda Wallace is volatile. Something happened and she snapped.”

Max thought. “Travis thought all along that he was talking to Bailey Fairstein.”

“You lost me.”

“Travis accused Bailey of putting a phone in his locker. Grace said that Travis had communicated with someone via a ChatMe app, and they’re working on tracing those communications. But why did he think his friend Brian wanted to run Thursday morning?”

“They go to the same school. Amanda could have known he ran with the guy. She could have texted him saying that she was Brian.”

David cleared his throat. “The police will need to get a warrant for her computer and phone.”

“With Ivy’s death unsolved, she wasn’t concerned. Then I come to town, stir things up, Travis panics—what if Travis really thought Ivy’s death was an accident, but thought he’d get in trouble because he played some part in getting Ivy up to the preserve? Maybe he thought he was planning with Bailey—he didn’t normally talk to her, wouldn’t know she was out of town. Neither would Amanda.”

“And when the truth came out about the time of death, he got suspicious.”

“It made him a suspect, and he didn’t have an alibi. Him or Austin. Except, he was killed before the TOD was narrowed down.”

“It was a good frame job … but has holes.”

“Amanda’s sixteen,” Max said. “She’s in self-preservation mode. I don’t know what she might do.”

Amanda thought her father traded her and Tommy for Austin and Ivy …

Bella. Where was the little girl?

“David, I need to give Grace this information. When will you be back?”

“Ten minutes or less.”

“I’m still at the police station. But I’ll call you if that changes.” Max hung up.

*   *   *

After Max went outside, Austin glanced over at Tommy. He didn’t know what was going to happen to any of them. He just wanted his brother back.

Sitting straight up, his hands clasped tightly in his lap, Tommy stared straight ahead. His face was damp and flushed. He’d been crying, but he hadn’t looked at Austin since Max left. Austin’s lip trembled.

They may not be related by blood, but Austin had thought of Tommy as his brother from the first day they’d met. Austin had been five, Tommy ten. He was bigger than most ten-year-olds, but so much friendlier. He played with Austin for hours. Whatever Austin wanted to do. Ride bikes? Tommy was game. Play cards? Anytime. Play with little green army men? Tommy loved it. Austin had more fun creating elaborate military campaigns in the backyard with Tommy than anything else in his childhood. They’d played for hours, until dark, and sometimes in the summer even after dark. They brought flashlights outside and set them up like spotlights. Or pretended the flashlights were helicopters flying overhead trying to find the sniper. When Austin played baseball for a couple years, Tommy was the one who played catch with him, watched his practice, and came to almost every game. Tommy didn’t catch too good, but he never said no, he didn’t want to do something. Austin didn’t know that before they were brothers, Tommy wanted to play baseball. He tried for one year, but the kids weren’t nice and the coach yelled at Tommy when he missed a fly ball during a game. Tommy’s sister told him that.

“Tommy wants to be normal, but he’s not,” Amanda said. “I hate those kids who were mean to him. He loves baseball but he won’t play again, no matter what I say to him. And Mom just let him quit. She doesn’t like people teasing him, but she thinks that ice cream solves all problems.”

“It’s going to be okay, Tommy,” Austin said.

Tommy didn’t move from his spot on the bench. He would not look at Austin. His frown made his entire face sag.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so, so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“You lied to me. That night Ivy died, you promised you wouldn’t re-re-re—” he stuttered, unable to think of the word.

“Retaliate.”

“You promised. But you did. Then she died.”

“What I did had nothing to do with what happened to Ivy.”

“You broke your promise.”

“She was mean to you!”

“And you were mean to Ivy. You’re just the same.”

“I’m not!”

“You’re worse.” Tears fell from Tommy’s face. “You pretend to be my friend. You tell me we’re brothers.”

“We are brothers. I love you, Tommy.”

Tommy got up and walked away.

Austin called after him, but Tommy wouldn’t look back.

Tommy was never going to forgive him.

Austin jumped up and ran out of the station, ignoring the desk sergeant who was shouting after him. He pushed Max as she came in through the doors.

Why did he think he could fix anything? He was just a dumb kid. He picked up speed and ran as fast and as long as he could.

In his pocket, Austin’s phone was vibrating. As soon as he was clear of the police station, he read the text message. The number wasn’t familiar.

I know who killed Ivy.

Who’s this?

I know who killed her and can prove it. But I can’t go to the police, I don’t want to get in trouble. I’ll leave the evidence on your dad’s boat.

My dad? You mean Bill?

But there was no reply.

Chapter Thirty-four

Austin didn’t stop or slow down as Max called after him. She ran into the station and nearly collided with the desk sergeant.

“Officer, I need to talk to Grace Martin right now. It’s a matter of life and death.”

He looked at her, skeptical.

“I don’t say that lightly. I’m a reporter. My partner learned something that has a direct bearing on the murders of both Ivy Lake and Travis Whitman. Austin Lake is in danger right now.”

Whether he believed her or knew that she and Grace had been working together, Max didn’t know, but he said, “She’s upstairs in the main conference room. I’ll call and tell her you’re coming.”

Looking around, Max didn’t see Tommy on the bench.

“He’s with his mother,” the desk sergeant said as he picked up the phone. He motioned to the bullpen. Tommy stood stiffly behind his mother while she spoke to the officer taking her statement.

Max walked briskly down the hall and up the stairs. She didn’t know which was the main conference room, but found it on the second try. Sitting at a table with Detective Jimenez and the Wallaces, Grace was just hanging up the phone. She looked angry, but Max didn’t care if it was directed at her.

“Grace, David just learned some disturbing information about Amanda Wallace, and we need to find her.”

Bill Wallace jumped up. “I’ve had enough of this attack on my family!”

“Sit down!” Max and Grace ordered simultaneously. Grace shot Max an irritated glance.

Bill was stunned into silence but didn’t sit.

Max said to Grace, “David’s returning with evidence, but did you interview Amanda after Ivy died?”

“No. I didn’t have a need to. Her mother said she and Tommy were home all night.”

“But we now know that Jenny found the alarm off and thought Tommy was sleepwalking. Want to bet that Amanda turned it off so she could get back in undetected?”

“I need something more, Max.”

“David has thousands of e-mails and text messages sent to her childhood friend Madison Cross.”

“Maddie?” Bill said. “Maddie and Amanda have been best friends since kindergarten.”

“She moved before Ivy was killed,” Max told Grace. “Ivy had exposed her as a cutter, then humiliated her by revealing she was on antidepressants and seeing a shrink. Her father relocated the family so his daughter could start fresh. Amanda had developed an obsessive relationship with her, until Madison’s father put an end to it—the weekend before Ivy was killed.”

Grace nodded. “You have my interest.”

Bill said, “I don’t believe this nonsense. You’re talking about my daughter—she’s sixteen years old. She’s not a killer! She’s a straight A student.”

Grace pointed out, “She had access to your gun.”

“My gun is locked in a box.”

“Your gun is in police evidence,” Jimenez said. Max had almost forgotten he was in the room.

“We need to find Amanda,” said Max. “If she shot Travis Whitman, she knows we’ll be able to connect the gun to her father.”

Grace nodded. “Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, go home. We’ll find Amanda and figure this out.”

Bill shook his head. “I’m going to help. I’m certain this is another exaggeration by the media, which has exaggerated and lied about everything since this woman came to town.”

Max didn’t inform him that all the fabrications came from homegrown reporter Lance Lorenzo.

Max said, “Austin ran out of the station. I don’t know why, but he wouldn’t stop when I called after him.”

Paula sucked in her breath. “My son? What happened? What did you say to him?”

“We’ll find him,” Grace said. “Go home.”

They all went down the stairs. The police station was far busier now than an hour ago when Max first came in. Grace ordered two uniforms to go to Jenny Wallace’s house and bring Amanda to the station.

Jenny heard Amanda’s name. “What’s going on?” She stood.

Grace approached. “We need to talk to Amanda about her father’s gun.”

“What?” Jenny said, still confused.

“It’s your kids,” Paula said to Jenny with a sneer. “They’re to blame. We should never have moved here. Bill, we have to find Austin. He’s in trouble.”

“They’re my kids, too,” Bill said to his wife. “Go home, Paula. I’ll fix this.”

Paula looked like she’d been slapped. Her mouth opened, closed, then tears fell. She turned and ran out of the police station.

“It’s about time you realized you had two other children,” Jenny said.

“I’ve never forgotten. You turned Amanda against me with your lies.”

“I never lied about what an asshole you are.”

“Enough!” Grace said. “Where would Amanda go if she were in trouble?”

Neither Jenny nor Bill had any idea.

“I have two officers going to your house, Jenny. And two more on their way to your house, Bill. Where else? Friends, family?”

“Tanya,” Jenny said. “Tanya Donnelly. I have her number and address on my phone.” She pulled her phone out with trembling fingers.

“She has a car,” Bill said. “I bought it for her sixteenth birthday.”

“I need the plates, make, and model.” She handed Bill a notepad.

Max liked Grace’s focus and efficiency.

“Anyone else?”

“My parents,” Bill said. “They live in Larkspur. Not even a mile from here.”

“Call them,” Grace said. “Ask if Amanda has come by or if they know where she is.”

Max looked around. “Where’s Tommy?” she asked.

“The bathroom,” Jenny said. “This whole thing has been so upsetting to him.”

“How long ago?”

Before Jenny answered, Grace ordered a male officer to check the restrooms. He came back a minute later. “He’s not there.”

“Search the station. Find out if he left and if he left on foot or a vehicle.”

“His bike,” Jenny said. “He has his bike.”

Max ran out to the front where the bike rack was located. There were four bikes locked up.