Killjoy

Chapter 41

The detective led Avery and John Paul down a long hallway to what he called their screening room.

"You'll be able to see her through the glass, but she won't be able to see you," he explained before he opened the door

and stepped back.

Avery didn't move.

"She's in the interrogation room now with two detectives," he explained.

And still she didn't budge.

The detective glanced at John Paul. "I'll just let you take your time," he said before he turned and walked away.

"You don't have to do this," John Paul said.

"Yes, I do."

She stood on the threshold another long minute, and then she straightened her shoulders and walked in. The room was the

size of a closet. She turned to the mirrored window, her hands fisted at her sides, and looked at the woman who had given

her life and then had so desperately tried to take it away.

John Paul slipped his hand in hers and asked, "Do you remember her?"

"No. I was only five when she came to the house," she whispered. "So long ago."

Jilly sat on one side of the square metal table facing two detectives. Her back was straight, one leg crossed over the other,

her hands folded on the table. The top three buttons of her eyelet blouse were undone, and the neckline opened a little wider

each time she moved ever so slightly. She suddenly turned and looked directly at the mirror. Avery inhaled sharply and drew

back as she felt the bile rising in her throat.

"Look," Avery whispered.

"I see her," John Paul said.

Avery shook her head. "Not her. Look at the detectives. Look how they're reacting to her."

Both detectives were leaning forward, as though they were unconsciously trying to get closer to her. One said something and

then reached out and touched her hand.

"She's working them," Avery said.

A policeman opened the door to the interrogation room. Jilly looked up at him, then, like a languorous Persian cat, she stretched her lithe body and stood. As she followed him out the door, she paused to glance back over her shoulder and smile at the two men. Both detectives eagerly returned the smile. They watched her every movement until the door closed behind her.

Avery looked into John Paul's eyes. "I'm ready to move on now."

She led the way out of the police station. She didn't look back.