Anguished in his recovery, Ben hadn’t yet revealed to anyone what the woman dying next to him in the ambulance had claimed: that Emma, his wife, was a cold, calculating, remorseless killer.

How could this be?

Ed Tracy had told him Emma hadn’t killed anyone.

What should I believe?

Saying he wanted to thank first responders, Ben managed to speak privately with the paramedic, Lauren Fenton, who had been in the ambulance when he was transported after the crash. Ben asked her what the other patient had said.

“I was on the phone at the time,” Fenton told him. “I never picked up on what she said.”

“Nothing?”

“Not a word. If it helps,” Fenton said, “people say all kinds of things when they’re in a traumatic situation, and often it doesn’t make sense.”

Ben then told police all he could recall, including the claim made by the dying woman.

Kayla had also recounted for police the events leading up to her flight with Emma to the cabin, and the actions and ramblings of the disturbed woman who’d attacked her. Kayla’s attacker had been tentatively—they stressed tentatively—identified as Lucy Isabel Lavenza of New York City.

The deceased driver of the opposing car had also been tentatively identified as Victoria Tullock, a Canadian citizen, from Toronto. San Bernardino County was working with the FBI, and other investigators, to confirm Torrie’s identity and determine her actions prior to the fatalities, including her possession of a firearm and links to tracking devices on Emma Grant’s car and Lucy Lavenza’s rental.

The story drew news headlines around the world, lighting up social media.

Ben declined the mounting interview requests he’d received when he was released and got home with Kayla to Cielo Valle.

Tug was overjoyed to see them but whimpered when he searched the house for Emma.

In the days that followed, they received cards, flowers, calls and messages of condolences from Emma’s friends and colleagues, Kayla’s friends, Ben’s agent, publishers, his readers, along with actors, directors and writers involved in screen adaptations of his books.

Some asked about funeral arrangements. But Ben delayed holding any kind of service for Emma because he was tormented by uncertainty arising from the incident in the ambulance and awaiting results from investigators.

I refuse to believe that I was married—and in love with—a deranged murderous liar who deceived me. Have I been staring too long into the abyss?

To pursue the truth, Ben continued telling investigators every single thing he knew about Emma, his work on the Skull Sisters case, everything. He continued demanding updates from detectives in San Bernardino, Orange County and the FBI, who were looking into Rita Purvis’s homicide, Torrie Tullock and the deaths near the cabin.