Chapter 18

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Erica was brought into the interrogation room. Sheriff Hayward and detective Fredo once again reminded her of her constitutional rights.

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Anna: I should remind you once again that you have a constitutional right to remain silent.

Erica: I realize that, and my husband has advised me against this, but I want to do this.

Anna: I should also remind you that Pennsylvania still has the death penalty. Four murders, one of whom was a cop, you would be eligible.

Erica: This state hasn't performed an execution in over 20 years, I'll take my chances.

Fredo: Very well, who exactly have you murdered?

Erica: Michael Cambias, Ryan Lavery, Greenlee Smythe, and JR Chandler. These people killed my daughter Sarah. Michael also raped my daughter Bianca, and the others covered it up. They all deserved to die.

Anna: You seemed pretty drunk the night Greenlee was killed.

Erica: I needed some liquid courage. I also needed this the night I killed Michael. So much so I needed to call a designated driver.

Fredo: Your daughter Kendall?

Erica: Kendall is not my daughter, she's just a grifter. Sarah was my daughter, and she's dead.

Anna: Did you and JR conspire to kidnap Zack?

Erica: Yes. I wanted to torment JR, let him think he was going to get away with the money. I wanted him to be in shock that he was about to die.

Fredo: But you left all that money just sitting there. Actually, how much was it?

Erica: JR was the one who forced Zack to make the call to his people. JR told me he was demanding an even million dollars. If there was more, than JR was planning to betray me as well.

Fredo: The night you murdered Ryan, was there someone else in the house?

Erica: I heard some noise, I thought it might just be my imagination. I never saw anyone else.

Anna: Where is the gun you used to commit the murders?

Erica: I threw it in the river.

Anna: Where did you get the gun?

Erica: I'd rather not say. I know I am going to prison because I murdered the people who murdered one daughter and raped another daughter. I doubt anyone in prison will judge me for that. But I don't want to go to prison as a snitch.

Fredo: Why'd you dispose of the gun if you were planning to turn yourself in?

Erica: I wasn't sure what I was going to do. But, it's become clear that you consider my daughter Bianca a suspect. I have not always been the best mother, but I won't let you arrest my daughter for something that I did.

Fredo: I spoke to Reggie earlier, he admits he was forced to keep quiet about the fire, and that poor girl's death. Did you plan to murder him as well?

Erica: No, I suspected he might know something, but I can't blame him. I'm sure they would have murdered him if he tried to come forward.

Fredo: Do you remember Babe?

Erica: She was Krystal's daughter, I heard she ran away from home.

Fredo: She's dead. Reggie is certain that Babe was the girl killed in the fire.

Erica: Perhaps he's mistaken, or he still fears I might come for him if it was my daughter who died. But I know that my daughter was murdered by those monsters, and I avenged her. I'll resign from the Druid Council of course, our laws are not superior to outside laws. And I am willing to take whatever consequences the law deems fit.

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Anna and Gary discussed Erica's statement in private.

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Gary: Do you believe her statement?

Anna: It does seem to add up. She didn't know how much the ransom was for, but JR could have been trying to shortchange his partner in crime.

Gary: True, but why do she and Reggie seem to have different versions of who died in the fire at the Sunrise Club?

Anna: If Sarah left town around the time of the fire, Erica might just be assuming that the dead girl was Sarah. But consider what else she's saying. She's saying that Kendall is not her daughter, which would mean Kendall has no reason to commit these murders. Erica and Kendall don't get along, but Erica still wants to protect Kendall. Honestly, it kind of makes me respect her more. But we do have our duty to perform.

Gary: I realize that a prosecutor could prove motive without breaking a sweat, but I get the feeling there's something I'm missing.

Anna: We could make the case for Erica being the killer, we could make the case for it being someone else. But, Erica does have one thing that makes her a better suspect.

Gary: The fact that she confessed. You're right, we do have to perform out duty to the law.

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Erica was processed and charged with the murders of four people. Detective Fredo still suspected that Erica was taking the fall for someone, most likely Bianca and/or Kendall. Even Anna respected Erica for that. And as ons as Erica maintained her story, and noone else confessed, there was nothing he could do about that. Gary Fredo was preparing to leave town and return to Sanctuary Virginia. But before he could leave Pine Valley father Clarence came to see him.

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Fredo: Can I help you father?

Clarence: Yes, someone sent me another package.

Fredo: Is it another tape?

Clarence: Yes. The night Ryan Lavery was murdered, he knew someone was coming for me. He wanted to make amends, and apologize. So I helped him make this tape. And now, someone has sent the tape back to you. You need to watch this.

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Ryan Lavery was on the tape, and he was clearly drunk.

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Ryan: I, Ryan Lavery, do hereby confess to the murder of Babe Carey. Michael said we were just burning down the Sunrise Club for the insurance money. After I realized that someone had died, Michael offered me more money, JR threatened me, and Greenlee seduced me. That trifecta convinced me to keep my damn mouth shut. We murdered a young innocent girl, and her unborn child. After that, I tried to drink away my memories of what I had done, it never worked. So when they asked me to help give Michael and alibi for the night Bianca was raped, I had nothing to lose. But now Michael's dead, and I'm probably next. I know it's you Krystal, or maybe it's Marissa. Maybe the killer is Bianca, you deserve revenge after what we did to you. Hell, we already murdered one pregnant girl, if you got pregnant maybe you're protecting your child. Or maybe it's Reggie, we forced you into this, maybe you're trying to make things right. Can't eliminate Zack as a suspect. Babe's unborn child would have been your niece or nephew. It's one of you, probably. Whoever you are, I'm sending you this tape to try and apologize. Anyway, I figure I'll be dead by your hand by the time you watch this tape. I deserve it, and I'm sorry.

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Fredo: Who did you send the tape too?

Clarence: Ryan was drunk, he wrote the address. But I forgot that night, Carlos picked it up.

Fredo: I know, and he said he just mailed it without looking at the address. And Ryan was drunk, just making his best guess as to the killer's identity. I could be wrong, but I think one of the people he named is the killer. And if I'm right, and Erica wasn't mentioned at all, that means she's innocent. Not only is the wrong person in jail, but the killer is still on the loose. And I don't think they're done yet.

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Detective Fredo was correct. In his drunken state Ryan Lavery had gotten close to the killer's identity. One of the five people he mentioned was the killer, and they still had one more person to murder before their work was done.