“But—”
“It’s the only way,” I say sharply. “I have a chance. You don’t. I… I’ve already been hospitalized for mental health issues. Worse comes to worst…” I take a deep breath. “I’ll go back to the psychiatric hospital.”
Millie frowns, her nose pink. “You were the one who left me the pepper spray, weren’t you?”
I nod.
“You were hoping I would kill him.”
I nod again.
“So why didn’t you just kill him yourself?”
I wish there was an easy answer to that question. I was worried about getting caught. I was worried about going to jail. I was worried about what my daughter would do without me.
But what it really comes down to is that I just couldn’t. I didn’t have it in me to take his life. And I did something terrible: I tried to trick Millie into killing him.
Which she did.
And now she could spend the rest of her life paying for it if I don’t do something to help her.
“Please get out while you can, Millie.” Tears prick at my eyes. “Go. Before I change my mind.”
She doesn’t have to be told again. She scrambles to her feet and hurries out of the room. Her footsteps disappear down the stairs. And then the front door slams shut, leaving me alone in the house—just me and Andy, who is staring up at the ceiling with his dead eyes. It’s over. It’s really over. And there’s only one thing left to do.
I pick up my phone and call the police.
SIXTY
NINA
If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs. I can’t see any other way around it.
I remain on my leather sofa, clutching my knees, wondering if it will be the last time I sit here, while I wait for the detective to come back downstairs. My purse is sitting on the coffee table, and I grab it impulsively. I probably should just be sitting here quietly, like a good little murder suspect, but I can’t help it. I pull out my phone and bring up my list of recent calls. I select the first number on the list.
“Nina? What is going on?” Enzo’s voice is filled with concern. “What is happening over there?”
“The police are still here,” I choke out. “I… it doesn’t look good. For me. They think…”
I don’t want to say the words out loud. They think I killed Andy. And I didn’t kill him outright. He died of dehydration. But they think I am responsible.
I could end this. I could tell them about Millie. But I won’t.
“I’ll testify for you,” he says. “What he did to you. I saw you locked up there.”
He means it. He’ll do anything he can to help me. But how meaningful will testimony be from a man who will almost certainly be painted as my secret lover? And I can’t even deny it. I did sleep with Enzo.
“Is Cece okay?” I ask.
“She’s fine.”
I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. “Is she watching TV?”
“TV? No, no, no. I teach her Italian. She is a natural.”
Despite everything, I laugh. Although it’s a weak sound. “Can I speak to her?”
There’s a pause and Cece comes on the other line. “Ciao, Mama!”
I swallow. “Hello, sweetheart. How are you?”
“Bene. When are you coming to pick me up?”
“Soon,” I lie. “Just keep working on your Italian, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I take a breath. “I… I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom!”
Detective Connors is descending the stairs, his footsteps like gunshots. I shove my phone back into my purse and drop it back down on the coffee table. Apparently, he’s taken a closer look at Andy’s body. And I’m sure he has a whole new set of questions. I can see it all over his face as he sits down again across from me.
“So,” he says. “Do you know anything about the bruising on your husband’s body?”
“Bruising?” I ask, genuinely confused. I know about the missing teeth, but I didn’t press Millie for further details about what happened in that attic room.
“There are deep purple bruises all over his lower belly,” Connors says. “And all over his… genitals. They’re almost black.”
“Oh…”
“How do you think they got there?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Do you think I beat him up?” The idea is laughable. Andy was taller than me by quite a bit, and his body was solid muscle. Mine is not.
“I have no idea what happened up there.” His eyes meet mine, and I try not to look away. “Your story is that your husband must have gotten locked in the attic accidentally, and you somehow didn’t realize he was gone. Is that right?”