Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
MIA
“Alex is … gone?” Chris stared at Mia, his expression confused, disheartened.
“Gone where?” Jason asked. “What are you talking about?”
“Alex left the island,” Mia said, walking to the refrigerator, removing the items she needed to make herself a Bloody Mary.
“He left the island?” Sarah asked.
“When?” Jason asked. “Why?”
Taking a quick breath, Mia looked away from the stares of suspicion and skepticism. Alex had warned her that the others would be doubtful of her story, but she would have to sell it. She’d have to make them believe she was telling the truth. “You’ll have to be persuasive,” Alex had said. “You’ll have to be just as convincing as you were with Sarah all those years ago.”
Fifteen years ago, Mia had been nervous and uncertain, worried that her shaky voice and darting glances would betray her dishonesty.
But she’d since learned a thing or two about deception. Being married to a man who repeatedly betrayed her, ignoring their marriage vows, sleeping with other women, had taught her how to pretend that infidelity didn’t bother her. Didn’t crush her spirit. Didn’t make her damn near homicidal.
Mia was certain she could fool her friends with a straight face. “Last night, Alex and Phil had a long conversation, and they worked things out.”
“They worked things out?” Jason asked. “How?”
Chris said, “Last night, Phil threatened to destroy us.”
Mia said, “Phil was just upset about those notes. He was never going to destroy anyone.”
Sarah asked, “What did Alex say to Phil?
Grabbing a bottle of vodka from the liquor cabinet beneath the island, Mia said, “I don’t know any details. Their conversation was private.”
Jason scowled at Mia. “You didn’t ask?”
“Alex didn’t want to get into it,” Mia said, opening the bottle of vodka. “And I respected his decision. But he assured me that he and Phil made amends, and Phil was no longer upset with any of us.”
Jason scoffed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Mia pursed her lips as she poured tomato juice into a glass. “Anyway, Phil was called away on business early this morning, so Alex took him to the mainland in the speedboat.”
“You expect us to believe that?” Jason asked.
Adding a generous amount of vodka to the tomato juice, Mia glared at Jason. “Why wouldn’t you?”
Sarah said, “Because it sounds even more ridiculous than Grace’s claim that vultures ate Alex’s face.”
“I know what I saw … “
Exhaling, Mia said, “Listen, I know it seems unbelievable, considering how angry Phil was, and how serious his threat sounded, but Alex took care of the situation. You know he always does. He’s an excellent negotiator.”
“More like an excellent manipulator,” said Sarah, voice lowered.
Mia still heard the insult, but she ignored it.
Jason said, “I’m sorry but none of what you’re saying makes any sense. Before we left the library, Alex was floating the idea of Phil having an unfortunate accident. And then, all of a sudden, they talk it out and everything is great. No hard feelings. Then Phil needs to leave so Alex takes him to the mainland.”
Chris said, “It does seem kind of …”
“Kind of what, Chris?” Mia took a sip of her drink, determined to keep up the ruse, despite their doubts. Alex had given her the story to tell, and she would sell it as best she could. Didn’t matter if they didn’t buy it, Mia was sticking to it.
“Unbelievable,” Sarah said, a challenge in her gaze.
Mia took another sip of the Bloody Mary, then set the glass on the island. “I get the skepticism. Believe me, I do. But the only thing I can tell you is that when Alex returns, he’ll explain everything.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Grace said, her voice defeated, her hysteria fading. “Alex is dead. He’s not coming back.”