Chapter 7
Dahlia
The house was quiet. Alex left for work, and today was my day off from the gallery.
I brewed a cup of coffee and walked into the living room, pulling the blinds open to let the sun filter in.
A silver SUV slowly pulled into Kris’s driveway.
I was sure it was another friend dropping by to check on her.
I watched closely as the woman stepped out.
“No. It can’t be,” I whispered as the coffee cup slipped from my hands and hit the wood floor, shattering into a dozen pieces.
Detective Paige Walker. Shit. News about Kevin’s murder must have reached New York.
The detective wasn’t here for a social visit.
She came to ask questions. My stomach twisted.
As far as she was concerned, Katherine vanished without a trace.
There was nothing connecting Katherine and me.
Different hair. Different eye color. Different name. Different life.
I watched as she knocked on the door. Kris opened it. They spoke for a moment, and the detective stepped inside. Shit. The safe little life I’d built in Key West had just developed its first crack.
I needed to get out of here. I couldn’t risk the detective seeing me.
Although I looked different from Katherine, we had the same facial features.
She would recognize me in an instant. I ran up the stairs and quickly got dressed.
Grabbing my purse and keys, I climbed into my car and drove to Marathon.
My hands gripped the steering wheel as I pulled into one of the beaches and parked.
How long would she be here? Maybe I should have only stabbed Kevin ten times.
Maybe fifteen. Twenty-two was stupid on my part because it was too close to the murders in New York.
I wasn’t thinking at the time. My only thought was how Kevin had to be punished for his sins.
I closed my eyes for an unsettling feeling swept over me.
“I know you’re here,” I said.
“I’m always here. You know that. You seem troubled, Dahlia.”
I laughed. “Troubled?”
“I suppose that wasn’t the correct word.”
“My past just pulled up next door and is talking to Kris about Kevin’s death.”
She walked over to the bookshelf, running her fingers along the book spines.
“You’ve forgotten something.”
“I haven’t forgotten anything.”
“You’ve forgotten about Detective Paige Walker.”
“Maybe for a moment,” I said. “But I do remember that woman almost arresting me.”
“Incorrect. She almost arrested Katherine. Detective Walker has never met Dahlia. She’s seen and met Katherine.”
“She suspected Katherine,” I said.
“But she has never seen you.”
“I look like Katherine but with different-colored hair and eyes,” I gritted my teeth.
“You inhabit the same body. That is not the same thing. You’re allowing fear to replace reason. You’ve never been afraid of anything. You’re always in control.”
“Detective Walker was the first to ever get so close. I have every reason to be afraid right now.”
“You have every reason to be cautious,” she said.
“What if I run into her and she recognizes me?” I asked.
“She won’t.”
“You don’t know that,” I sighed.
“Stay in control, Dahlia. Fear doesn’t look good on you.” She turned and walked down the hallway with her book clutched to her chest.
I opened my eyes and inhaled a sharp breath. Suddenly, I developed a headache. My phone rang. Glancing at it, Alex’s picture flashed on the screen.
“Hello.”
“Hi, beautiful. How’s your day going so far?”
“Not bad,” I lied.
“Good. Remember when I told you that I was going to create an evening discussion group for students who want to dive deeper into literature beyond the classroom?”
“I remember.”
“Well, tonight is our first discussion group meeting.”
“How many students signed up?” I asked.
“Fifteen. Isn’t that great?” I could hear the excitement in his voice.
“It really is, Alex.”
“The group should end around ten o’clock.”
“Okay. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“Are you okay? You sound different,” he asked.
“I’m great. I’m in Marathon right now.”
“For?”
“Doing a little browsing since it’s my day off.”
“Well, enjoy yourself. I have to run. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Good. With Alex gone tonight, it’ll give me time to figure out what to do about Detective Walker.