Chapter 26 - The Confession

It was just like Billy described. Sheila had arrived at the agency that Thursday morning originally asking for Lee. When the steno girls told her that he was still out on medical leave, they asked her what she was doing there. Without missing a beat, she said that she had been hired back. Claire gasped and said "Really? I hadn't heard anything about this."

"Shut up Claire, no one asked you. I'm here to work so don't get in my way." Sheila took a seat at a typewriter that had been vacated by Lucy as she ran errands for Mr. Melrose and began typing what was on the desk. She was so engrossed in what she was typing that she didn't see Billy and Francine stand and watch her for a few minutes. She just knew that no one had better challenge her as she was back and no one could make her stay away. She was going to claim Lee Stetson as her own and they would get married in a few weeks. She had it all planned now that she had gotten that Mrs. King out of the way. Lee would soon realize that they were meant for each other. He had just been dazzled by that stupid woman's beauty. That was the problem with men; they only looked at how beautiful a woman was instead of how special they were inside. Well he would notice her now. She would make sure he did.

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

"Does she have anything that should be kept away from her?" Billy asked Francine as they stood observing her typing.

"No, Lucy said she was just doing minutes for the last budget meeting. She will have some accounting facts but nothing that will really interest her."

"Okay, please get a security officer down here to keep her here and out of trouble, then come back to my office so we can lay out a plan. It is time to get this woman to tell us what happened to Amanda."

"On it Billy!" Francine said as she rushed to a phone to call in a Security officer. After making sure he showed up and was in place, Francine hurried to Billy's office.

"Sit down Francine" Billy said as soon as she entered. "How the hell can we make her talk."

"I have an idea. What if I come off as someone who is understanding of her position and let her believe that I hate Amanda as much as she does? Maybe I can win her over and get her to talk to me. She might decide to start bragging about getting her out of the picture."

"Well you certainly have a reputation for not being very nice to Mrs. King. If anyone could pull this off, it would be you. Okay, when do we do it?"

"How about if you detain her at quitting time and send her into an interrogation room? After we let her stew for a little while in there, I'll walk in and come off as the Hero who demanded to get her case."

"That's good. It just might work." Billy said as he nodded his head. "Okay, well Lee should be calling soon. I'll tell him in case he has anything to add and I'll let you know."

"Great!

Francine stayed busy the rest of the day and waited for the Security Officer to bring Sheila into Interrogation room 3C. At 5pm, he was able to stop her from leaving the building and detained her as planned. Francine and Billy stood in the adjoining room and watched Sheila through the 2 way mirror.

"You can't keep me here against my will you know! I know you are watching me. I don't know what you think you know but you haven't got anything on me. I demand to see a lawyer." Sheila picked up a chair and threw it at the mirror. Since it was break proof, the chair just bounced off it. She sat down at the table and began banging her fists on it. I demand that you release me unless you have something to charge me with. This is against the law to hold me for no reason. I know my rights."

"Oh Boy" Billy said as they watched. "I don't know if this is going to work."

"Let me try Billy. It is better than any other chance we have, okay?"

"Okay, be careful."

Francine left the room and went to the interrogation room door and knocked. "Sheila, it's Francine Desmond. I want to talk to you. Can I come in?"

"Francine? Sure why not."

Francine walked in and looked behind her like she was trying to sneak in without anyone seeing her.

"Hi, I heard that they had you in here. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"Can you get me out of here?"

"Not at the moment. I'm sorry, I wish I could. I want to try to help you though"

"Francine, why do they have me in here?"

"There is some crazy talk that you killed Amanda King."

"What? Why would anyone say that?"

"I don't know but if you did, it would be a huge burden off my plate."

"What do you mean?" Sheila asked.

"Well you must know that I am not fond of Mrs. King. She waltzed in here like she owned the place and took over my spot being Lee's partner. She's just a Suburban housewife but every since she showed up, Billy Melrose gives her more attention than he does ME! I have been here for years and I have worked hard to move up in the agency and this woman came in and suddenly was all hot stuff in a matter of weeks. Well if she was suddenly gone and not returning than I would get my place back being Lee's Partner and get the respect that I earned."

"Wow, you have it bad against her huh?"

"You could say that. I don't think it has ever been a secret. Amanda King has to be one of the most annoying people I have ever met. Do you know she gave me perfume for Christmas that probably cost her less than $20? What an insult. Plus she knows that I watch my figure but she purposely brings in chocolate desserts to entice me to eat them. I think deep down she wants me to become fat!" Francine couldn't believe how stupid she was sounding but she could see that Sheila was so far gone that she was eating every word up.

"That doesn't surprise me at all Francine. She is an awful person."

"She really is! What did she do to you?" Francine asked.

"She tried to steal Lee from me. He had agreed to date me and we were enjoying our time together and then he met her at the Train Station. The next thing I knew, he was breaking up with me and telling me that he met someone else. Well I know damn well that if it wasn't for her, that he would never have done that. What we have is special. Very Special. He just doesn't realize it yet because he is too busy looking at how beautiful Amanda King is. So I tried to warn him. I really did. I told him to get away from her; that accidents could happen. He didn't listen though. I kept hoping he would but then he took her out on New Year's Eve. I had asked him about New Year's a few months ago and he told me that he never takes anyone out on that day because he doesn't want any commitments. Imagine my shock when I followed him and saw him pick up Amanda. He didn't even meet her at her door; he waited for her down the block. It's like everything was a big secret. I snuck into the party and saw him dancing with her. She kept pulling him closer and rubbing against him so he would be affected by her. It was all so disgusting to watch."

Francine knew that this didn't sound like Amanda at all so it showed just how mental this woman was. She decided it was best to not say anything while she kept talking because it was almost like she had forgotten that Francine was there.

"She put her hands in his hair and even tried to get him to kiss her but he refused. As soon as the dance was over, you could tell that he was happy to finally go sit back down. She continued trying to tease him though and used her foot to rub parts of his body. I don't know who the two people they were sitting with were but they seemed so uncomfortable by it all too. At midnight she tried to lure him in some more but he wouldn't even kiss her. She used her hand to touch him in hopes of leading him on. Then suddenly everyone got up and went to their cars. I followed them to Amanda's house. I saw her try to kiss him some more in the car. I knew watching them that he didn't really want her. He was drawn to her beauty. Women use their beauty to attract men when they really don't care about them. I knew that if she was out of his life, he would forget her in no time. I had planned her demise previously and went to her house to take care of her but her stupid Mother came downstairs and reminded me that she wasn't alone. I decided it was not the right time.

This time I would wait. She had been allowed to continue this mockery for too long. I sat outside her house all New Year's Day and was starting to make plans for doing something as soon as her family left for the day on Monday. Imagine my surprise when she got into her car on Monday with suitcases and supplies and began driving. I followed her. In a diner, she ordered food and I heard her tell the waitress that she was going to Lincoln NH. I have family in MA and we used to hike up in the White Mountains. I knew it was the perfect place to get rid of her once and for all. Those areas up there are isolated, very few cars are usually on the road unless it is rush hour. The best part is that it is wintertime so there is tons of snow. It took all my patience to wait until I was up past Concord NH but then as we entered some of the snowier, isolated areas, I knew I had to do it. It took a little effort but I finally managed to slam her car off the road and down over a huge embankment where it almost hit the river if only the stupid tree hadn't stopped it. If the car had hit the river, Amanda would have probably died on impact but I wasn't that lucky. I waited to see if there was any movement in the car and there wasn't. It doesn't matter though because she is down so far off the road that it will be spring before anyone finds her and even if she is alive, there is no way she will be able to climb that huge hill with all that snow bogging her down in those freezing Temperatures. The great thing about the White Mountains is that the wind chill factor takes little to be below freezing. Without any way to create heat, a human couldn't last long up there. Then the fact that the car is so far off the road will make it nearly impossible for anyone to spot her by accident. By the time a search party finally finds Amanda King; she will be long dead and I will be Lee's wife and you can be his partner again."

Francine was staring in horror at this woman as she gloated about what she had done. She tried to shut off her emotions but it was too late and Sheila had noticed them.

"Wait? Was this a con? I don't have a lawyer. You can't use any of that against me."

Billy walked in at that moment and said "I'm afraid we can. You were simply having a discussion with Francine. No one told you that you were under arrest or anything and I'm sure Miss Desmond will gladly testify against you, won't you Francine?"

"Yes, yes I will."

"How could you? I know you hate her too. I got rid of her for both of us. You should be thanking me."

"Murder is never the answer and Mrs. King may be annoying at times but she's a courageous, determined lady. The woman you described sounded more like what you perceive yourself." Francine said.

Sheila tried to fight the Security men but they soon had her handcuffed and were heading out with her.

"Check her for a lock pick" Francine called out. "Lee mentioned that she carries one." After Sheila was gone, Francine turned to Billy. "Do you think she is still alive? If Sheila is right and it gets that cold there, how could she survive even if she made it through the accident?"

"You mean the attempted murder? I don't know; but I have to call Lee and let him know. He is going to want to double and triple their searches along that road. She has to be right there and they aren't seeing her."

TBC