Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
I thought I’d plugged in the wrong address at first. It led to the parking lot of a hole-in-the-wall bar in the two-streetlight town of Ember Falls.
I could see through the window into the dining room.
At just past eight o’clock in the evening, the bar looked mostly empty.
And then I saw Corrine serving the few tables in the place.
I watched her for an hour. She seemed distracted, doubling back several times between the bar and her tables. I almost left. In the back of my mind, I knew this wasn’t the smartest choice I could make. Roy Dennison may have dismissed me, but I knew in my soul this woman was trying to ruin my life.
At nine on the dot, Corrine Egan emerged from a side entrance. She counted dollar bills and flung an apron over her right shoulder. No new customers had come in for over half an hour and the two Corrine waited on had already cashed out.
I started to duck down, scared she’d see me. But Corrine didn’t walk to the parking lot. Instead, she made a right turn into the alley. From there, she started climbing up an outside stairwell. I watched her walk through the door above the bar.
With adrenaline racing through me, I pulled out of the parking lot and drove around to the other side of the building. Sure enough, I saw another doorway with a window cut out, leading to an interior stairwell. Gold lettering next to the door showed the address I’d originally punched into my GPS.
I parked across the street and walked over to that door. There was no buzzer or bell. I opened the door and walked right in.
There was only one way to go. The interior stairwell led to a landing and a wooden six-paneled door painted red.
I could barely breathe as I climbed the stairs and paused outside.
I could still turn around and leave. What did I expect her to say to me?
Before I could change my mind, I pounded on her door.
Silence. I knocked again. A full minute went by before Corrine cracked the door open, leaving the chain lock engaged.
“We need to talk,” I said.
Corrine smiled at me through the sliver in the door. She closed it and I heard her fiddle with the chain. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.
“Mina,” she said brightly. “Is everything okay? Detective Dennison told me he didn’t think I’d have to do anything else for him. He said my case was probably going to stay closed. I know it was a long shot. I was just trying to help.”
I stared at her. She acted so calmly. So polite. She was a good actress. I wasn’t.
“Mina? What is it? You’re starting to freak me out.”
“You want to pretend you don’t know why I’m here?” I said.
Her face fell. “I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“You’ve been in my house. You vandalized my car. Are you the one who sent those pictures to me at the Bayview? How did you know I was going to be staying there?”
Her eyes went wide. “Wow. Mina… are you okay? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. I don’t know what your game is. But it ends now. You stay away from me.”
“What? I’ve never done anything to you.”
“Stop lying. You were with Lock. He’s the one you met on WhisprMatch, wasn’t he? This whole thing was some sick game to you. Do you think he’s in love with you?”
Her mask slipped off. Her expression went from confusion to a flash of ugly rage. She curled her lip and took a step toward me. We were well matched, standing nose to nose. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think I do. I think you had some fling with my husband years ago. You know things about him. I think you’re trying to drive me away.”
“I think you need help. You’re not making any sense.”
“Drop the act. I don’t know why you’re trying to hurt me, but I’m on to you. Are you trying to punish me? Or Lock? Or is it both of us?”
She was calm. There was no shock in her eyes, only raw hatred. I’d hit upon it. I just didn’t understand her motive.
“For somebody who claims they’re on to me,” she spat, “you sure came here with a lot of questions. I’m not afraid of you. You’re nothing. You’re a distraction. It’s not my fault if you can’t keep your husband.”
“You came into my house!” I shouted. “You stole my underwear. What did you think would happen? That they’d find my DNA on it? Lock’s?”
“You’re sick,” she said. “They should take your law license away. I want you to leave. You’re trespassing. You’re a crazy freak. No wonder everybody in your life leaves you.”
I saw nothing but the white light of rage. Corrine took a step forward. She tried to push me, then raised her fist. I grabbed her shoulders and shoved her. She reacted violently, staggering backward, bouncing off the corner of the wall. She held a hand to her cheek as if I’d slapped her there.
“If you don’t leave, I’m calling the cops,” she said. “How do you think they’ll feel about a prosecuting attorney assaulting a crime victim?”
“What?”
“Go,” she shouted. I took a step back. She was still covering her cheek with her hand. With the other, she reached back and opened her door. She went back inside and slammed the door in my face.
“Corrine,” I shouted, pounding on the door again. But it was no use. She engaged the lock.
“You need to leave, Mina,” she shouted through the door. “Or I’m calling the police.”
I believed she would. I couldn’t get Roy to believe me. What hope did I have of convincing a Kalamazoo County deputy?
But this wasn’t over. I’d find the proof that Corrine Egan was tormenting me. And I knew she had help. Whether Lock or someone else, I was determined to find the answer.