“You do not look well, Rosalie.” She purses her lips. “Are you sure it’s not the baby? Should I fetch Nick?”
“No, I…” But before I can protest, I feel this strange popping sensation inside me. I look down at the growing stain on my skirt. “Greta…”
“Your water broke!” She claps her hands together. “How exciting! I’ll go get Nick.”
I watch her run off to the restaurant to get my husband. My head is spinning. I’m about to have a baby. I’m in labor.
But I’ve got to call the police. I’ve got to tell them that Greta killed Christina Marsh. I can’t let her get away with murder, even if she did it for me.
Where is my phone? Where did I put it?
It seems like less than a minute later, Nick is dashing into the motel. His face is pale, but he’s grinning. “Greta said you’re in labor. She said your water broke. Are you okay?”
“I’m okay, but…” I take a breath. “Nick, my phone…”
“Don’t worry about your phone. I’ve got mine. Come on, the hospital bag is in my trunk.”
“But I need to—”
“Rosie, we have to go!” His eyes are shining. “Come on—let’s get you to the hospital and have this baby!” He reaches over and wraps his arms around me. “I can’t wait. I love you so much, Rosie.”
“Where’s Greta?” I say.
“She said she had to go. She ended up getting a flight late tonight and had to run, but she said to tell you that you’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
I’ll look up at him, my head throbbing. Another cramp seizes my lower abdomen. I’ve got to get to the hospital—he’s right. There’s no time to call the police now. And by the time I do, Greta will be out of the country.
She planned it this way. She knew that if she told me, I would feel compelled to report her. She didn’t tell me until the last second for that reason. But she wanted me to know. She wanted me to know that everything I have is because of her. She’s right—Nick very well might have left me for Christina. If she hadn’t done what she did, I wouldn’t have him anymore. I wouldn’t be on my way to the hospital, about to have my first child. I might not even be alive.
It was wrong that she murdered that woman. She should never have done it. But I can’t say I’m sorry. And at that moment, I decide.
If we have a girl, we will name her Greta.
THE END
Did you enjoy reading Do Not Disturb? Click here to check out other unputdownable psychological thrillers by Freida McFadden, now available on Amazon!
Acknowledgments
I have to be honest—I often don’t read the acknowledgments in books. Since I started writing, I have learned that I’m in the minority on this. A lot of people read the acknowledgments. In fact, I can think of at least three people who will buy a copy of this book, and go straight to the acknowledgments without reading even one other word first. （Hi, Dad!） So it’s a lot of pressure to make this entertaining in some way. Especially since I’m kind of just thanking the same people each time. Harper Lee only had to write like one acknowledgment every 60 years or so. I’m jealous of Harper Lee.
First, thank you to my mother and her amazing tendency toward hyperbole. （“This is the greatest book I’ve ever read! I can’t stop crying!”） Thank you to Kate, for the positive supportive feedback. Thanks to Rebecca, for your great advice （and good luck!）。 Thanks to Nelle, for your thorough and thoughtful advice （and also, did you know you have the same first name as Harper Lee?）。 Thanks to Rhona, for always being ready to look at another cover. Thanks to Mel, for not wanting to look at another cover but doing it anyway. Thanks to my amazing writing group.
And thank you to my husband. You may not read my books, but I’m glad you know the proper perspective for the words “Do Not Disturb” on a slightly oblique doorknob.
Did you enjoy reading Do Not Disturb?
If so, please send me an email at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you. Or consider leaving a review on Amazon!
Check out my website at: http://www.freidamcfadden.com/
Also, even though I have my books combed for typos multiple times by multiple people, there are some superhuman strains of mutant typos that always seem to survive. If you find any typos and point them out to me via email so I can fix them, I would eternal grateful.
（The above typo was supposed to be amusing.） Also, please enjoy a short excerpt of my new book, The Locked Door…