“Jerry wasn’t as smart as he thought. The police found him.” Liam grinned. “He thinks he got caught because our neighbor snooped, but that wasn’t it.”
I knew Jerry had gone to prison for killing three women.
“It was time for Jerry to move on.” Liam scowled. “I’d had enough and told the neighbor his missing chain saw might be in Jerry’s barn. I hinted that Jerry had stolen a few things. The neighbor went snooping and then decided to see if the nice car in the barn had been stolen too. It belonged to one of those women.”
“Jerry didn’t know you did it?”
“Nope.” A frown crossed his face. “Although I felt a little bad when I saw how well he protected me from prison. He’ll never speak about what we did all the way to his grave.” He looked at me until I met his gaze. “That’s how it works. You protect me, and I’ll protect you.”
He’s talking about the bodies we buried.
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Exactly. Jerry was very strict about that. Your family always comes first. No matter what.”
Yet he betrayed Jerry.
He must have done something horrible together with Jerry.
Instantly I knew that Liam had helped kill the first three women.
At the very least, Jerry had made Liam an accessory as Liam had done to me.
I rubbed my face with one hand, overwhelmed. Each generation in this family was involved in murder. Jerry, Liam, and me.
And now he wanted to bring in another person.
“Anyway, it’s important to leave a legacy behind.”
A legacy of murder?
“And to have someone to pass on our values and knowledge.”
Knowledge? Values?
I’ve gained most of my knowledge from sneaking his library books. And I don’t think punishing someone by putting them in a box reflects good values.
“People who go against the family will pay.”
I didn’t like his voice’s sudden change in tone, and I glanced at him as a shadow crossed his face. I suspected someone had paid with their life for their betrayal.
“A little insurance helps remind everyone that family comes first. I know you’ll toe the line because if you don’t, our new third might get hurt.”
I stared at him, unable to speak, confused about who this new person was.
“This one will be the perfect age to train.”
Looking back, I realized that was exactly what Liam and Jerry did to me. Trained me.
With years of emotional and physical abuse, they trained me to be so docile and frightened that I did everything they said. They needed full control. That power was what drove them.
How did I not question that before?
It had to be the pills. They’d kept me numb, emotionless. Helpless. I don’t know what kind he fed me for years, but now that I no longer take them, my mind feels unnaturally clear and focused. Anger boils inside me. I was a zombie before. Very pliable. Obedient. Spineless.
How dare they do that to me?
But now I see it perfectly; I’m aware.
I won’t let Liam hurt another child. Not like he did to me and the other boy.
The one we buried.
33
The next morning Evan leaned against the wall in the hospital room, listening to Noelle interview Adam Thornton. Noelle could be intimidating but would turn on the charm when needed. She didn’t tolerate bullshit, and anyone who didn’t take her seriously soon regretted it.
Ivy’s ex-husband knew he’d screwed up and was currently putting an incredible amount of energy—and bullshit—into convincing Noelle that what he’d done was no big deal.
Breaking his son’s bedroom window and terrorizing his ex-wife.
No big deal.
Adam’s leg wasn’t broken—just banged up—and the doctor had said his head should be okay in a few days. He had a concussion, a giant bruise on his forehead, and a broken nose. He’d been officially discharged but was still in the hospital, because Evan and Noelle had shown up at the same time as the deputy who was to transport Adam to the county jail. The deputy had agreed to wait until they had questioned Adam.
Evan was already annoyed and impatient with Adam’s question dodging and obvious lies. The sound of his voice was grating, and Evan wondered how Ivy had ever fallen for him.
Evan squinted, studied the man, and acknowledged there was probably something attractive about Adam that would catch a young woman’s attention. And maybe seven years ago it’d been even stronger. Ivy and Adam had only been married for two months, so she had quickly come to her senses. Evan observed something . . . slick about the man. He never quite told the truth and tried hard to convince them how wonderful he was.