Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

evening to get ready for his party. When the killer arrived, she may still have been there."
    "But why wouldn't she have, called the police?" Holly asked. "Or at least come forward afterward?"
    "It's hard to say," Quick replied. "Panic can cause people to do strange things. Then again, what if the woman was there to do harm to Ziegler herself and someone beat her to it? She might be afraid of getting blamed for the deed. Or, there's the possibility that the woman recognized the killer, and is keeping quiet out of loyalty or for purposes of blackmail."
    Quick let them all consider that much, then added, "Of all the women you told us were involved in the Little Sister Society, one has never had her fingerprints put on file anywhere—Cheryl Wallace. And now, I have a question for you, Holly. Describe April MacLeash."
    Holly was reeling from the suggestion that Cheryl might have been in the room when Ziegler was killed, but she forced herself to answer Quick. "April is, um, petite, smaller than I am, very attractive."
    "What about her hair?"
    "Blond-on-blond frosting, a little lighter than mine. She wears it very short." Holly used her hands to demonstrate as best she could. "Why?"
    "After analyzing every hair and lint sample and particle of dust gathered at the three murder sites, the technicians have finally come up with a common denominator. A light-blond, chemically treated hair, about three inches long, was found in two batches of evidence. DNA testing has been ordered to confirm that the hairs came from the same person and whether that person is a female."
    "Dear god," Holly muttered. "It has to be an incredible coincidence. I can't believe April would be capable of butchering a man."
    Quick turned to Diane. "Call Thackery. Tell him to get that search warrant for the MacLeash house and a warrant to obtain a hair sample from April MacLeash."
    "Maybe I can help," Holly injected. "Let me call April and ask if I can come talk to her." She noted the reluctant glances that passed between the agents. "One thing about April that I'm absolutely certain of, she'd never turn her back on someone who needed help. Wherever she is, I think she'll take my call and agree to meet me."
    "It could save us some time," Diane said to Quick.
    "It could also spook her into taking off," Quick countered.
    "But consider this," David said. "If April is the killer or she or Cheryl witnessed the first murder, isn't it possible that Cheryl's stay in the attic might not be by choice? In which case, wouldn't April also love to get her hands on Holly about now?"
    Quick sighed. "You're suggesting I send her in as bait, aren't you?"
    "I could go with her," David said. "The killer was obviously trying to make a statement. Maybe she'd like to make it to a reporter. Between Holly and me, we might be able to get a confession out of her."
    "We'd have to wire Holly," Diane offered. "But it could work."
    Quick shook his head. "I can't afford to put another civilian on the line. In case you've all forgotten, the last one got shot."
    "I'm already on the line," Holly said. "Rachel and Bobbi each threatened me before then Rachel accused me of murder. If April really is a killer, isn't it possible that she could try to get back at me for talking? I'd rather make the first move—with you all right behind me of course—than sit around worrying about when she might come after me. However, I want to go on record as saying the only reason I'm doing this is because I don't believe April is guilty. The woman I got to know would never commit such a violent act. She was extracting revenge by using her brain."
    Quick massaged his jaw and paced a few more yards, but he knew when he was outnumbered. "Okay. Call her."
    Holly smiled and got her cell phone out of her bag. She decided to try April's house first and concentrated on sounding desperate and depressed. It didn't take much effort.
    Theodore answered and, after a gentle hint, he remembered Holly. A few seconds later, April came on the line. Her voice lacked the friendly welcome Holly was accustomed to hearing.
    "Holly? Are you all right? I wasn't sure I would hear from you again."
    "Oh, April, please don't hate me for talking. I was so scared and now so much has happened. Did you hear about Rachel?"
    "That she was questioned? Yes, I—"
    "No, no. She killed herself."
    "What?" April exclaimed.
    "In the letter she left, she confessed to the first two murders, but the third—April, she blamed me! I didn't do it, I