Page 25 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“Oh, God,” Frannie said, and Simon realized that he’d pulledher close. No longer just holding her hand, but holding her.

“Then he made her turn the gun on herself and fire againinto her face. After that, he ran, probably assuming she’d die. She almost did.She lost an eye and some motor function. But she survived.”

“And she was convicted,” Frannie said, her voice thin. “Shedidn’t do it, but she was convicted.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“I should go see her. All these years…” She trailed off witha shudder. “I should go see her.”

“You can’t,” Burnet said. “She’s dead.”

“Oh.” Frannie closed her eyes, then drew a deep breath.“From her injuries?”

“Suicide. Got her hands on something. Sleeping pills, Iguess. Drowned in her bathtub. She had a small unit at the facility.”

“I’m so, so sorry to hear that. I was close to Carolyn, butnot her mom. I mean, I knew her, but only a little, but this is horrible.”

Simon put his arm around her waist and pulled her close,relishing the easy way she leaned into him, letting him comfort her.

“What exactly is it you need, Mr. Burnet?” Simon asked.

“Corroboration of Leslie’s story. About whoreally killed Carolyn. And who really shot Pruitt and Leslie.”

Frannie shook her head as she met Simon’s eyes. He saw theconfusion there. “I don’t understand. I don’t know anything.”

“Leslie said you might.”

“What?” Frannie pulled away fromhim, then took a step forward. “What are you talking about?”

“Leslie said you were there, too. She saw you walk past herwindow. She said you did it all the time. You would govisit Carolyn at night. The two of you would hang out in her room. She neverclosed the curtains all the way because she liked to look at the hills. Andevery night that you came over, she’d see you.”

Frannie dropped Simon’s hand. “I need you to go,” she saidto Burnet.

“Please. I need corroboration. If you were there, then youmust have seen the other person. The one who framed Carolyn’s mom. Who slammedCarolyn’s head against the wall the second time, killing her? I’m only lookingfor corroboration. I know who it is. Leslie told me. All you haveto do is tell me that you know, too. Give me a name, and I will publishthis story and take down the killer who murdered your best friend. Tell me. Letme help put this man away.”

“It’s okay, Frannie,” Simon said. “I think you should tellhim. It was an asshole move to threaten you, but ifyou can get justice for Carolyn and Leslie….”

But Frannie was shaking her head, her eyes wide andfrightened. “I don’t know who it was. I was there. You’re right about that. ButI didn’t see anybody else. No one came in while I was there. It was just me inthe shadows. And I was terrified.”

Burnet stared at her, looking dejected. Looking as if all hewanted to do was take her by the throat and force the truth out of her. ButSimon knew better. Simon believed her. There was nobody else.

Leslie had played a Hail Mary.She’d lost it and screwed up and tried to put the blame on someone else. Tomake her husband not be an abusive murderer. To make herself not be a killer.But wishing wouldn’t change the truth.

“You need to go,” Simon said. “She’s told you she didn’t seeanyone else. That’s the end of it. You walk right now,we’ll forget about your note. But if we hear another word out of you, we’llarrest you in a heartbeat. And I assure you, even though you may not realizeit, that threat you sent is actionable. She’ll press charges, and you willserve time. Do you understand me?”

Burnet nodded. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Of course you did,” she snapped. “And it worked. But Idon’t know anything. So you did it for nothing, you son of a bitch.You dredged it all up for nothing.”

“I’m sorry,” Burnet said, sounding genuinely contrite. Notthat it mattered.

“Just get the hell out of here,” Simon said, and thereporter turned and scurried away, pushing out of the stairwell door and backinto the hubbub of the con.

Frannie looked at Simon, her eyes burning with tears. “Getme to the car,” she said, and he took her by the arm and led her down the twolevels to the lobby, then into the parking structure until finally they reachedhis Honda.

As soon as they were inside with the doors closed, her tearsstarted to flow.

“I’m sorry,” she said when her body had stopped shaking, andshe looked at him through red-rimmed eyes and a face splotchy from crying.“That was the most horrible night of my life,” she said.