Drayton #2
“I just want you to tell Drayton that I wasn’t myself that night.
” Marian tried to hold herself together as she continued, but all I could see was her distress.
I could barely even focus on what they were saying.
For some reason, it didn’t matter when compared to her behavior.
“I did not say the horrible things on my own. My mother, she gave me a shot before she took me over there.”
“A shot?”
“Yes.” Her voice broke as tears pooled. “My mother and I argued for hours. I told her I wouldn’t lie about what happened, but then I woke up with a sting in my arm. Everything is either a blur or missing after that.”
“I see. And what Drayton wanted from the attic, would this be the proof you’re looking for? To prove your innocence?”
“You know my mother. She kept notes and files on everything. She even had video inside our guest house and in the main rooms of our estate, including my bedroom. If you found that footage, Drayton could see our argument. He could see her give me the shot. If the footage is gone,” she paused.
“It can’t be. It just can’t. But… a doctor came to see me early that morning.
I think my mother gave me too much. I was sick for days afterward.
I need your help. I need him to know that girl who said all those horrible things wasn’t me.
I swear I don’t even remember most of that night. ”
Tears were streaming down Marian’s face.
To suddenly see her crying with so much emotion left me questioning everything.
I felt… pissed at the world… protective.
Fucking guilty. I had done nothing but obsess over Marian since this happen, and now she was my chosen.
She was the woman I planned to marry. The one I had dreamed to marry. And this was what I was doing to her?
Chosen.
Chosen.
Mine.
“I’m curious.” The taps of what I knew were Elec’s shoes slowed.
Still, Marian shifted uncomfortably. Should I go to her?
Hold her? No. I couldn’t do that. I… couldn’t.
Not yet. Not until I knew beyond a doubt that she wasn’t lying.
She’d already lied so much. But I believed her this time, and that was killing me.
It was fucking with my head. “Have you ever played around with these words you fear so greatly? Don’t lie to me either.
My help solely depends on your honesty. And that’s important here. I see everything. I know everything.”
Marian’s eyes shot to me, only to lower.
“Yes. Once. Just for coffee from my secretary.”
A laugh came through the phone. “And it worked?”
“I think it did. I got coffee when I wanted. I didn’t have to ask for it.”
“Interesting.” A long pause. “What was the trigger word you used?”
She shifted. “Tired. I would just say, I’m getting tired, or I’m so tired, and within minutes she was bringing me coffee. Maybe it was coincidence. Maybe she was just a good secretary, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I at least tried.”
“Thank you for being honest, Marian. Drayton.”
“I’m here.”
“You wanted to know about this proof Marian claims is in her parent’s attic.
I’ll tell you what. I’ll personally volunteer to help them go through the tapes and files that were taken into evidence.
With an extra person, it should speed up the process.
Why don’t you both head this way. I’m not far.
We’ll find them, and then we’ll watch them together. How about that?”
The anger returned, surging back through, mixing and battling with who she was to me now. Chosen. Chosen. Revenge. The back and forth was leaving me exhausted. I couldn’t think. I didn’t want to.
“She’s not ready to leave. Marian’s not finished with her tasks.”
“How much is left?”
Marian surged to her feet. “Brain. And…whatever is on the third row of the cart.”
“I’m sorry, did she say brain?”
I looked towards the monitor at Bastian still passed out.
My eyes were so heavy, and my damn head was starting to lightly throb again.
I had to get sleep tonight. I had to. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Warden.
It had been here, not twenty feet away from where I was standing now.
I couldn’t risk that with Marian. Sleep. Fuck, I needed it.
“That’s right. Marian is piecing me back together.”
“Really? Oh, I like the sound of this. What pieces has she taken from Bastian?”
Marian’s lids closed, and I tried not to smile at the pleasure that gave me.
“His hand and half of his right leg. Gigli saw.”
“Yours?”
I did smile, then.
“That’s right. And she did great. But she’s not done.
She has to take his brain and his heart.
If she manages that, we’ll marry. If she fails, she can marry me in that room, and she’ll never leave it.
” My throat tightened. My chest cramped.
My words were wrong, but I couldn’t say that.
I wouldn’t. Chosen. Chosen. Revenge. “I won’t bend.
If she can’t prove herself to me, there’s nothing she can prove to the circle. It’ll be pointless to let her leave.”
“You’re right. As much as I want the two of you to work, I couldn’t agree more. Your wife must be strong. Brave. If she can’t step up and be that now, it makes her proof pointless.”
“But he has to know.” Marian’s eyes were pleading as she looked between me and the phone. Elec’s voice was smooth but demanding.
“Then I guess you have work to do. Only I can put matters to rest. If you want irrefutable proof on what happened with your mother, I’ll find it. But it’ll come at a cost. To both of you. Now, leave, Marian. Drayton and I need to talk.”