"So you were an accomplice."

"Yes," she said. "The robbery went off without a hitch, but Frank had a big mouth, and he started talking about all the money he was going to get when Dale sold the diamonds. Dale had hid the uncut stones, and we had all agreed to wait at least six months before fencing them."

"But things went wrong, didn't they?"

"Oh, yes. An informant told the police about Frank's bragging. They picked him up for questioning, and he ended up making a

deal with them. He gave them Larry's name, but he didn't give them Dale's or my name until later. He was holding out for a

better deal, I guess. Larry called us and warned us in time, and we were able to get out of town. Larry didn't make it, though. There was a shootout, and Larry killed a policeman before he was killed."

Jilly started crying again. "I didn't care about the diamonds. Dale promised me that he'd help me get my daughter back. That

was going to be my cut for helping him with the robbery. We drove back to Sheldon Beach, and he went to Mama's house to get Avery. I didn't look at it as kidnapping. I was simply taking back what my sister had stolen from me. I didn't know Carrie had made Mama go to court to have Carrie named Avery's legal guardian. The court took away all my rights as a mother and gave them to my sister. She stole my baby from me, Monk. She stole her…"

"I know your heart's breaking, my love."

"Avery was just a little girl when Dale went to get her, but Carrie had already turned her against me. Dale told me he tried to calm Avery down by telling her how much I loved her and that she would be happy with me. Avery became hysterical. God only knows what horrid lies Carrie had told her. She fought him like a tigress, kicking and trying to scratch his eyes out. He said he took off his belt to tie her hands together and that he gave her a couple of swats to get her to stop her tantrum."

Monk handed her another Kleenex so she could wipe her tears away. "Go on. You'll feel better after you get all that poison out."

She nodded. "Yes, you're right. Avery's screams woke Mama. She came running out with a gun in her hand. The chief of police had given it to her for protection. She tried to kill Dale. He told me he was backing away with Avery when she fired the gun. She shot my daughter by mistake." She shuddered. "Dale didn't tell me about that for a long time, so I didn't go to the hospital to see her."

"What happened with your mother?"

"When she saw what she had done, Dale said she screamed, then suddenly clutched her chest and fell down. She was dead before she hit the floor… according to Dale."

"Heart attack?"

"Yes, but I didn't cry about her dying. She had turned against me, and I pretty much did the same to her. I didn't shed a single tear," she said proudly.

"I understand."

"Dale tried to keep his promise to me. He followed Avery when she went to live with my sister in California. He watched her school, thinking he could grab her when she came outside. She had a bodyguard, though, an FBI agent looking out for her. Carrie obviously convinced them that Dale would come after Avery. My sister is very clever," she added with a sneer. "She must have alerted the principal because he told the security guards that Dale was dangerous. There was always someone watching her. Dale tried to grab her as she was crossing the campus, but the FBI agent spotted him and tackled him to the ground. Dale wasn't armed," she added. "He was arrested and sent back to Florida to stand trial for my mother's death."

"And he was convicted."

"Yes. The autopsy report proved Mama had a heart attack, but the jury still believed Dale was responsible."

"And you don't?"

"I really don't care if he was responsible or not, but Mama did have a bad heart. I have something to confess now, darling.

Please don't be angry. Let me explain before you react."

"I could never become angry with you. I promise," he said.

"Do you remember the money you gave me to pay off all my debts?"

"The thirty thousand?"

"Yes," she whispered. Her hand slid under his robe, and she began to caress his chest. "I gave most of the money to an attorney as a retainer."

"Why?" he asked. "Why did you need an attorney?"

"I hired him to help Dale. I want to get him out of prison, and now it looks like that might happen. When the attorney was going through the boxes of evidence, he found a bill from a cardiologist in Savannah. He went to see him," she continued. "And the doctor told him my mother's condition was fatal. More important, he said that he had come forward and told the prosecutor that

he had treated Mama, but the prosecutors withheld that information from the public defender who had been assigned to represent Dale."

Monk was suddenly feeling insecure and angry, but he contained his emotions.

"Go on," he said.

"The attorney I hired did it," she said. "Dale's getting a new trial, and it's going to be soon. The judge was outraged when he heard that the prosecutor had suppressed evidence to help him win. It seems there's bad blood between the two men, and this was the last straw. Dale's attorney told me another case was postponed, and the judge gave Dale that opening. Carrie and Avery can't testify. Dale will stay in prison if they do."

"What about the parole hearing? Is that still scheduled?"

"Yes, but the trial should be over by then. If Dale doesn't get out of prison, I'll never get those diamonds. After all I've been through, I think I deserve them. Of course, whatever I get belongs to you too. Am I being too greedy?"

"No, I don't think so," he said. "But you must be honest with me now. Do you have feelings for Dale?"

"Oh, God, no," she cried. "I've always hated him, and I know how I can prove it to you."

"How?" he asked, intrigued by the sly smile of hers he found so titillating.

"As soon as Dale leads us to the diamonds, I'll let you watch me kill him."

All of his insecurities faded with that promise. She kissed him then and whispered, "I love you with all my heart. I would die

rather than hurt you. Killing Dale will prove my love, but I want proof from you as well."

"What can I do?" he asked. He wasn't a man given to poetry, but he tried to be romantic as he vowed, "If you wish me to walk

on water, I swear I'll find a way to do it. I'll do anything for you, dearest Jilly. Anything at all."

She snuggled up against him. "My sister and Avery both spoke at the last parole hearing," she said. "They're the reason he didn't get out then."

"And you want me to find a way to keep your sister and your daughter away from the trial and the parole hearing this time?

Is that what you want?"

"Darling, I don't want you to just keep them away. I want you to make it impossible for them to testify. I want you to kill them."