“You were with Bethany all the time,” Finley pressed, hoping for more. “You were best friends. You had to know him too.”
Cecelia rolled her eyes. “No one—not even Bethany—could ever tell us apart. Can she prove it was me?”
Finley had to give her that one. “Tomorrow Jack and I will sit down with you and Olivia and get some answers. If she did this, we will see that she can’t harm you.”
“No you won’t.”
Finley watched her carefully. “Why do you say that? Have Jack or I promised you something we didn’t deliver? Your mother asked us to represent you and Olivia, and we’ve done all we could and will continue to do so.”
“You don’t know her,” Cecelia cried. She dragged in a big breath and went on. “This is what you have to do. You have to find her. Because if she finds me first, she’ll kill me. I’m sure she has been looking for me all day. She’s probably watching this place right now.”
“Let’s stay calm,” Finley suggested. “The door is locked, and I’m right here with you. I can protect you.”
“The way you protected your husband?”
The jab hit its mark. Finley struggled to breathe. “I should call Jack and let him know you’re here and safe.”
Cecelia grabbed Finley’s hand when she stood. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that awful thing. I’m just scared. That’s all. You don’t know her the way I do.”
Finley patted her hand, then tugged hers free of her iron grip. “You’re going to be fine. I’ll call Jack, and we’ll figure this out, okay?”
She nodded.
“Drink your water. After I talk to Jack, let’s try to eat something. You’ll feel better when you’ve eaten and had some rest.” This was likely a lie, but if it worked, Finley didn’t care.
Cecelia grabbed her bottle and twisted off the top.
“I’ll be in the kitchen talking to Jack.”
Finley had to admit she was a little reluctant to turn her back when she walked away. Cecelia was on some kind of ledge, and she was inching closer and closer to the edge. Olivia’s warning that her sister was dangerous echoed in Finley’s brain. But then, Cecelia insisted that it was Olivia who was dangerous.
Thankfully Jack picked up on the first ring. “I found Cecelia,” she told him instead of bothering with a hello.
“For the love of God, please tell me she’s alive.”
“She is.” Finley glanced beyond the open doorway. Cecelia sat on the sofa clutching her water bottle, her gaze fixed on something only she could see. “She says Olivia killed Sophia.”
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s a toss-up. Either one or both could be working with one of Holmes’s followers. After what the Preacher said about her visit, who the hell knows?”
“Yeah, that’s what worries me. I should call Olivia at the hotel and make sure she’s where she’s supposed to be.”
“That’s probably a good idea. This is getting a little hairy, Jack. We’re missing something here.”
“The something we’re missing could be whatever went down at Riverbend.”
“Cecelia said her mother took money with her and claimed she was going to end this thing.”
Jack blew out a loud breath. “I sure as hell wish she would’ve spoken to me first.”
“Yeah, well, she didn’t.”
“I think it’s time we got these two sisters together and had a come-to-Jesus talk. This whole sister-against-sister thing has gone on too long.”
It was difficult to believe that their first meeting with Sophia and the twins had been only three days ago. It felt like weeks. But Jack was correct—it was past time the twins came clean.
“You’re right. We can have a meeting first thing in the morning. Give the two of them time to calm down and reflect on the idea that all they have left is each other.”
“I’ll set it up with Olivia. We can meet at the office or her hotel.”
“See you then.”
Finley braced herself and walked back into the living room.
The blanket lay on the floor by the door, but Cecelia was gone.
Finley checked her bedroom and bath. No Cecelia. She grabbed her keys and rushed outside. She couldn’t have gotten far.
24
Cecelia
10:30 P.M.
I am going to die.
No one can save me now. My sister will kill me.
She sent me a text saying she knew where I was and would be there soon. I panicked and ran.