The Prey Bites Back: A Jesse Watson Mystery Book #8 Read Online Free PDF Page A

all
about her husband and how much she loved him. They had a great life together
until Dakota Stone killed him. “If she didn’t kill him, she had someone do it
just as sure as I’m sitting here drinking coffee with you.”
    “Explain.”
    “Look at me,”
she started. “I’m short and fat, my hair is a disaster, my complexion sucks,
and I’m black. Black people don’t usually get into snazzy joints like The
Body Shop . But… I have a lot of money, and money will open a lot of doors.”
    “I hate to
admit it, but you’re right about that. Money is power.”
    “Dakota Stone welcomed
me with opened arms and acted like we’d been best friends for years. I don’t
trust people like that. Something didn’t seem right about her, but I dismissed
the feeling, thinking maybe I was just being too judgmental. Then one day something
happened, and that’s when I realized there was a devious side to Dakota Stone
and everyone working at The Body Shop .”
    “And that would
be what?”
    “Don’t get me
wrong. The Body Shop is a fancy joint. The place is gorgeous. They have a
fabulous spa and gym, a masseuse, a nutritionist, and even a psychologist on
staff. I was impressed with how nice the place was. They really know how to
pamper a woman. I felt revived after my first visit. And then, on my third
visit, I had a session with Olivia Swales, the psychologist. Everyone talks to
the psychologist by their third visit. It’s part of the program. They not only
want to fix your body, but they also want to fix your mind, so they claim.
Well, they are pretty good at the body aspect, but the part about your mind,
that’s another story. I didn’t like her sticking her nose in my private life.”
    “Isn’t that
what they’re supposed to do? How can they help you if you don’t let them get to
know you?”
    “That’s just
it. I didn’t need help. I was happy with myself and my life. After only a few
sessions with her, I felt worse about everything… and I couldn’t shake that eerie
feeling I had. I knew something wasn’t right. It was like she wanted me to have
problems with my husband or kids, or anyone for that matter.”
    “What was the
event you mentioned?”
    “I remember the
day as vividly as if it were yesterday. I had just had a massage when Dakota
approached me and asked me why I hadn’t had a session with Olivia lately. I
told her that I didn’t need one. I was fine. She said I didn’t look fine. She
said I looked sad, and she was worried about me. She wanted me to see Olivia
right away, so I did, just to get her off my back. Olivia wanted to know how it
was going in my marriage. Did my husband treat me badly? She said I had all the
signs—withdrawn, unhappy, scared, and a bunch of other malarkey. At first, I
was shocked, and then I got angry. My husband was the kindest person you’d ever
meet. Nathaniel wouldn’t hurt a fly. So, I decided to fix her wagon. I lied. I
told her that my husband had a bad temper and was so mean to me that I’d have
him killed if I could. I was flabbergasted when Olivia said there were ways to
get rid of a bad husband and then asked me if I wanted to know more. I kept my
cool and said yes just to see what she’d say. She told me she knew someone who
could dispose of my husband—for a price—and the incident would never
lead back to me. I told her that I’d think about it. I wasn’t ever going back
there, so what did it matter? A week later, my husband was dead. I’m not proud
of what I did. I want you to know that upfront. My lies probably got my husband
killed.”
    “I know you’re
not a bad person, Mae. I can see that. Did you give her money to kill your
husband?”
    “No way!” Mae
said, shocked at my question. “I didn’t want my husband dead, so why would I
pay someone to kill him? You have to believe me! I want Nathanial back, but
that’s not going to happen. They killed him, and now he’s gone forever! They
have to pay.”
    “You’re not
responsible for