The Housewife(83)

“After he stalked my sister?”

“Yes.”

I nod. “So he would have done it again.”

“Most likely.”

“I did the world a favor. You know that.”

He looks at me sharply. “You killed someone, Jodie. We live in a civilized society. We don’t take matters into our own hands.”

God. Now he tells me.

“So everyone will know?”

He shrugs. “It’s possible.”

And all I can think is, Dolores and Mikey. They’re the only friends I’ve ever had. No, they’re more than that. They’re my family. They love me. I’m a normal person to them. What will they think of me now ?

“Have you told anyone?” I ask.

“Not yet.”

I slap my hands on my thighs. “I need some cake,” I say. “Will you have some cake with me?”

“I don’t want any cake,” he says, although not unkindly.

“Please, Detective. Have some cake with me. I need to explain some things.”

“It won’t change anything.”

“Please. It’s important to me. And it’s a really good cake.”

He nods wearily.

I go into the kitchen, cut two slices of cake and put them on two plates. Then I reach into the cupboard above the sink and retrieve a champagne flute. It’s the thinnest, most fragile glass I have.

I wrap it twice inside a tea towel and smash it against the sink. Then I retrieve the sharpest shards and push them inside his slice.

No.

Deb is trying to say something. I ignore her. I just push in more shards.

Don’t, Jo.

I want to put my hands over my ears, but I know it won’t make any difference. I must remain focused. I push in a few more shards, to be on the safe side.

Don’t do it.

I stare at the cake to make sure it looks innocent enough. I stare at it for so long, the world goes blurry. Then, before I know it, I’ve flipped the trash can open and shoved the cake into it.

I can’t do it .

I let out a sigh. What will be will be, I guess. I brush my hands together, smooth down my apron and walk back into the living room. “The custard curdled. It’s never happened bef—what are you doing?”

Detective Bates is standing, his chin jutting forward, his jaw tight. His big hands are tearing up a sheet of paper into shreds.

It takes me a moment to understand that it’s the photograph.

He balls the pieces together and throws them into the fireplace.

“You’re right,” he says. “He was a terrible person. You did the world a favor.” He pulls out a lighter and lights up the scraps, then looks at me over his shoulder.

“You sure you don’t have any more cake?”





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS




Proving, yet again, that writing is not the solitary pursuit you might believe, I’d like to thank the many people who have graciously helped me put this book together.

I will start my roll call of thank yous with Mark Freyberg. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve thanked Mark in these pages, but I’m delighted that I get to do it again. Thank you, Mark, for your invaluable legal advice, your attention to detail, and your patience in answering my many questions.

Thank you to my editors, Jenn a Jankowski and Rachel Gilmer, for your brilliant suggestions in shaping this story. I really feel like this one was a team effort.

A million thank yous to Mandy Chahal for her incredible work in getting The Housewife out there and everywhere.

Thank you also to everyone working behind the curtain at Sourcebooks for helping bring this book to life, with special shoutouts to Diane Dannenfeldt and Annabelle Harsch for their eagle eyes, and Pete Garceau for the fabulous cover.

Thank you, as always, to Traci Finlay for reading my messy drafts (twice!) and for your brilliant feedback. You always bring out the best in my stories.

Thank you to my agents Logan Harper and Christina Hogrebe. I really appreciate everything you’ve already done in getting The Housewife out there, all over the world, in fact! And thank you to Freida McFadden for her truly effective powers of persuasion in getting Christina and me to chat in the first place.

Thank you once again to Lynnette Novak for finding a home for The Housewife at Sourcebooks.

Thank you to my husband, who not only reads everything I put in front of him but also has a lot to say about the characters. Your suggestions are always spot on.

And thank you, dear reader, for picking up this book. It means the world. I hope you enjoy it.

Natalie





A NOTE FROM NATALIE




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