But it felt like a hell of a lot more.
19
Olivia
9:00 p.m.
Legard Residence
Lealand Lane
Nashville
I pound on the door again.
My heart is bursting in my chest. What’s going on? Why is no one answering?
“Cecelia!” I shout my sister’s name. “Mom!”
No answer.
The house is dark.
I no longer have a key, so I can’t just unlock the door and walk in. I should have told Finley more. I should have told her the whole truth.
But I couldn’t.
Not yet. Not yet.
“What do you want?”
The voice is so muffled I scarcely hear it.
“Cecelia?”
“Go away!”
“Please. Please, open the door and talk to me.”
“You know I can’t.”
Renewed fear rushes through me. “Why can’t you?” This agoraphobia stuff is bullshit. I should have told Finley that too.
“You’ve been talking to Finley. Now we’re all in trouble.”
I am so afraid. I knew this would happen. The finite control we’ve somehow managed these past five years is gone. Oh God. Oh God.
“I didn’t tell her anything. I promise,” I insist.
“Yes, you did. I know you did, because she came to see me today.”
“I was worried,” I argue. “You and Mom are avoiding my calls. I was afraid something had happened.”
When my sister says nothing, I press my head against the door and wish it all away. But it will not go away unless I make it.
I was a victim last time, but I must not allow my emotions to make me a victim again.
“Open the door, Cecelia, and let me see what you’ve done.”
“You’re such a hypocrite,” Cecelia snarls. “You’re so certain I’m the evil one. We all knew who the bad twin was, and it wasn’t me. You might fool other people, but you can’t fool me or Mother. We know what you are.”
My heart hurts, my stomach twists. We loved each other so much when we were small. Why did everything change?
“Cece, please. Just let me in so we can talk. I need to see you.”
“No. I don’t want to see you. Go away. Never come back.”
I give up and walk back to my rental car. There is nothing more I can do. Whatever Cecelia has done is not my fault. I tried to stop her before and failed.
Why did I believe this time would be different?
I pull out of the driveway, thankful I remembered the code to the gate. They should have changed it long ago. Sheer arrogance kept them from it.
Driving back to my hotel, I change my mind and make a turn. I thread my way through the streets. I don’t drive a direct route. I have no idea what sort of cameras the city has in place.
Eventually I reach my destination. I park at the curb on the opposite side of the street and watch.
Finley O’Sullivan is still up. The lights are on, and after I watch for a while I see her shadow move across a window.
She intrigues me. So smart and perceptive. Very perceptive. I’m certain she sees through Cecelia. Certainly she has my mother figured out. She was only ever out for herself. She had no time for my sister and me. It was Daddy who treated us like princesses.
I wish she had been the one to die.
I wouldn’t have missed her much. I miss Daddy so, so much.
But the choice was not mine.
I smile. This time is different.
This time I’m going to have the final say.
I watch the house where Finley lives. She stays because she feels a duty to do so. He died and she didn’t. I’ve read a great deal about her. She’s so very interesting.
It’s funny how life puts people in one’s path. I would never have met Finley if my father hadn’t been murdered and the monster sitting in prison hadn’t decided to play his games.
I’m so glad we met. I like her very much. I like watching her. I wonder what she thinks of me. Maybe I’ll ask her.
For now I’ll be content knowing she’s not far away. Only a few yards.
If I close my eyes, I can smell her skin.
I want to know her better.
I’ll have to find a way.
20
Sunday, July 10
8:35 a.m.
The Murder House
Shelby Avenue
Nashville
Finley awoke that morning determined to hunt down Olivia and her mother or Cecelia—whomever she could find with the name Legard. After the chat with the supposed roommate late yesterday, she’d called all three women. No answer. No return calls came. Frustrated beyond reason, Finley had gone to the Legard home. No response at the gate. At seven a.m. this morning she had repeated that process, to no avail. Then she’d called Jack.