“Why yes, that was exactly what we had been fighting about. He pressed rape charges on behalf of Aria without talking to us first. We’re close friends with that family. I just didn’t understand why he would do that.”

“Dad did what?” Aria’s attention swung to me.

“Your father went to the police about what happened between you and Ryan. He formally filed rape charges. I wanted to tell you yesterday when I found out, but everything happened so fast.”

“Why didn’t he ask me what happened? Or if I wanted to press charges? Shouldn’t that be my decision?”

The detective stepped in. “In many cases parents file on behalf of their child, especially in a case where we’re dealing with an adult and a minor, even if it’s consensual. It’s illegal, which is why your father came forward.”

“But we go to school together. Ryan’s not even much older than me.”

“Yes, but he’s eighteen, an adult in the eyes of the law, which makes it statutory rape. Your father was right to report it.” The detective turned back to me. “How did you come to find out what your husband did, Mrs. Fischer? Did he tell you?”

“No, Ryan’s mom—a friend of mine since college—showed up at our house yesterday yelling at Owen about it. I overheard.”

“So that gives her motive to kill him, doesn’t it? Her son facing jail time. His whole life ruined before he’s even out of high school. It’s a pretty strong reason to hate Owen Fischer. To want him dead.”

Oh God, I didn’t like where this was heading.

“No, absolutely not. Robin wouldn’t hurt a fly. She was upset, but not enough to kill him.”

“What about Ryan? Certainly he must be pretty angry to be looking at a possible jail sentence, thanks to your husband.”

I couldn’t let Detective Rossi pin two innocent people to his list of suspects. I would rather take the blame than let that happen. “No, I don’t think so. They’re well off, and it was clearly a robbery. Stuff was missing, the police said—cash, my husband’s car, jewelry. Why would they steal stuff if they only wanted to kill him?”

“To stage it. Make it look like a robbery when in fact it was a murder all along.”

“No, I really don’t think so. If you knew the family, you’d know it’s not possible.”

“That’s what they said about Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy,” Detective Rossi said with a deadpan expression. “You really never know someone until you slip into their skin.”