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chasing me and broke the strap. It fell on the ground and spilled—right over there.” She pointed to a bare patch of dirt closer to the back of the house. “What did you do with it?”
    â€œI didn’t do anything with it. You must’ve lost it somewhere else, or had it stolen from your car, because you didn’t leave it here.” He appealed to the uniformed policemen who were waiting to see what would happen next. “Did anyone see a purse lying around?”
    Muttering and shaking their heads, they came to a consensus. No one had seen it. Francesca suspected Butch had collected her stuff before the police arrived. He’d hidden it, and now he was punishing her for defying him.
    She turned to his wife. “You came home before he had a chance to gather it all up. You must’ve seen it. My iPhone was on the ground, too.”
    Butch’s wife had her lips pressed so tightly together she could barely speak. “I didn’t see anything.”
    The old lady—Elaine—chimed in, too. “Why are you doing this to us?”
    They had no idea that the man they were trying so hard to protect had very likely killed a woman. They didn’t want to believe he was capable of it.
    â€œThere will come a day when you’ll be sorry you protected him,” she said.
    â€œNow she’s threatening my family!” Butch complained, and this time when Finch took hold of her arm, she could feel his fingers digging into her flesh. “We’re leaving. Now. ”
    Again, she resisted his tug. “Not without my purse, my car keys and my phone.”
    â€œYou’re sure you don’t have her things?” It was Jonah who stepped in. “Because that could cause you some real problems down the road. And I, for one, would hate to see that happen. You being such a nice guy and all.”
    Butch offered him a taunting smile. “The consultant speaks. How much are they paying you for this visit, anyway?”
    â€œThat’s none of your business,” Jonah replied. “Just answer the question.”
    â€œI don’t have her purse or anything else that belongs to her.”
    Francesca jerked away from Finch. “He’s lying!”
    Obviously deliberating, Jonah stared Butch down. But Francesca didn’t like the decision he reached. “Forget it. For now,” he added, but she couldn’t. She was afraid she’d never get that stuff back. And the thought of Butchhaving her address book, her wallet and her credit cards sent chills down her spine.
    â€œNo! It was here. He’s got it. I won’t leave without my purse and phone.”
    â€œHe said he doesn’t have it.” Grabbing her again, Finch began dragging her away and, when she fought him, Jonah took her other arm.
    â€œYou’re a crazy bitch, you know that?” Butch yelled after her.
    Fighting tears of frustration, Francesca twisted to get in one parting shot. “And you’re a monster!” she yelled over the barking of the dog, which was suddenly frantic. “What happened to April Bonner? What did you do with her, huh? And if you’re married, why were you submitting a profile to a dating service?”
    â€œIt was a joke,” he said. “My wife knows about it. And, last I heard, that wasn’t illegal.”
    â€œDamn it, Francesca, don’t make things worse.”
    Jonah’s mouth moved close to her ear so only she could hear. “Live to fight another day,” he breathed. Then he and Finch shoved her into the car and slammed the door so she couldn’t say anything else.

4
    B utch stood at the corner of his property, watching as the police drove away. He was in big trouble now, and he knew it. Maybe this time there’d be no way out.
    Paris came up beside him. Fortunately, Elaine and Warren had taken their son inside. Although he lived with his in-laws, they usually minded their own business. It was Paris’s