41
“What did he say?” Alicia demands.
She and Helen rushed into the house as soon as Rick drove away.
“I need my phone.” I have the sudden urge to check on Olivia. Before Rick’s arrival, we all agreed that cell phones would be left in the kitchen. Not that I don’t trust these two . . . Well, yeah, because I don’t trust them at all.
Phillip’s phone goes to voicemail. My heart aches to hear Olivia’s voice.
I steel myself and return to the living room, where Helen and Alicia are gathered around Julia.
I pass Alicia’s and Julia’s phones to them and go to the fireplace.
I study the framed photographs there and manage a smile.
Olivia and I walking along Old Mill Beach.
The three of us gathered around the Christmas tree last year.
Eleanor took that photo. I miss her so much.
I turn around and watch Alicia. I want so much for her to pay. The boyfriend too.
“You gave him the file?” Alicia asks.
Julia nods. “And we told him everything as planned. He will call the agent assigned to this area to get things moving. He also promised to call the chief of police to see about getting a security detail assigned to keep an eye on things here until the FBI gets organized.”
I clench my teeth rather than say Don’t hold your breath.
Whatever is about to happen here, I don’t think the police or the FBI will be involved.
I manage a deep breath. On some level I hope Rick is not lying, or that, if he is, he has a good reason that doesn’t include him being a very bad guy. But my instincts are buzzing.
I turn back to the photo of Olivia in her ballet outfit outside the studio. Please keep her safe. God may have plenty of reasons to have given up on me, but I know He wouldn’t give up on my child.
As for security detail, I could call Phillip, and he would have a private one in place within a couple of hours.
But I can’t risk any unnecessary outside involvement.
I need certain things to play out. Any preemptive measures could stall the end of this.
Not to mention the reporters would surely hear about a move like that.
“I thought you didn’t trust Rick.”
I turn to face Alicia. She stands right beside me. Sneaked up while I was sort of praying—more pleading than praying. I glance at the others, but no one is looking at us. She spoke far too softly for anyone to notice.
“I don’t, but he’s a base Julia insisted we cover.” I glance at Helen, who carries that rifle like a professional hunter. Maybe I have enough backup to handle the situation, between my gun and Helen. “I just hope it wasn’t a mistake.”
Except for the boyfriend, Rick is the one variable out of my control.
Alicia nods. “All I can say is, she better not try double-crossing me.” She looks from Julia to me. “I could ask Helen to help me prepare something for dinner. I don’t think any of us have eaten today.”
I have no appetite, but I understand that I should eat. “Sure. Keep it simple.” On second thought, I add, “Thank you.”
She smiles, but it falls a bit short. If I’ve accomplished nothing else, perhaps I have her doubting the woman who started this. Just maybe, that will work in my favor.
I watch her hurry over to talk to Helen. Since I don’t trust Alicia, I snag Helen as she passes, heading to the kitchen. “Watch her,” I whisper. “With the food too.”
Helen nods without a hint of surprise. She realizes there is something more at play here. I knew I liked the woman from the moment we met.
I turn my attention back to Julia, who is studying the photos on the mantel. I suddenly think of Phillip. Poor guy. He has no idea about any of this. The truth is, he barely knows me at all.
The biggest mystery in front of me just now is why Julia was so willing to go along with this plan. The most startling is that she just allowed Rick Howard to believe she is Wendy Neely. How is that going to look when she changes her story?
It doesn’t add up. My guess is, she is buying time. When the bank opens, it will all change.
The sound of locks turning at the front door echoes along the entry hall, snapping me from the troubling thoughts. For a moment I freeze.
“Someone’s at the door.” Julia is suddenly next to me.
I nod. “Stay out of sight. I’ll see who it is.” Thankfully, I set the security system once Helen and Alicia were back in the house.
As I move into the entry hall and start toward the door, my hand going beneath my sweater, Helen appears at my side. She has the barrel of her rifle leveled at the front door. The knob turns, and the door moves.
The security system’s computerized voice begins its programmed announcement.
Helen closes one eye and takes aim. I hold my breath. See all of this happening in a sort of slow motion as the door opens fully.
“I’ve got it!” Phillip calls out as he reaches for the keypad.
“Mommy!”
Olivia is suddenly running at me, and Helen has backed away, weapon hidden behind her. “I’ll get back to the kitchen,” she says quietly.
My legs go weak, and it is all I can do to remain standing. “Oh, sweetie.” I lower into a crouch and hug my precious girl. “I missed you so much.”
Phillip locks the door and rearms the security system before joining us in a big hug. After Olivia wiggles free to rush off to the kitchen, he pulls me to my feet and searches my face. “Are you all right?”
I somehow manage a nod. “But what’re you two doing here?”
As tremendously grateful as I am to see them, I am also horrified that they are here with all that’s going on. I didn’t want my child anywhere near what is happening. I need to send them back to the city. Now.
He laughs, his face showing worry rather than humor. “What do you mean? You sent me a text asking us to come. Olivia was so glad. She had started moping around as soon as we left the birthday party.”
I can only stare at him in confusion. I did not send any such text message. In the kitchen, I hear Olivia and Alicia start the silly squealing thing they do when they’ve been away from each other.
He pulls out his phone and taps the screen. “See.” He chuckles. “Unless you were inviting someone else to please come.”
Please come back. I need you.
Shock rocks through me. “I . . . I tried to call you.”
Phillip makes a face. “I must have been in a dead zone.” The worry in his eyes deepens. “Are you all right, Jules? You’re scaring me just a little.”
He might be scared a little, but I am fucking terrified. The one surefire way to retake full control over me in this evolving situation was to bring my daughter back.
I see the ending now.
The only way Julia gets her life back is if everyone dies. My laptop is upstairs—access to the banks and basically everything else in my life is on that damned thing. All the passwords . . . everything. A good hacker could get beyond the passcode.
And maybe that’s why the boyfriend isn’t here yet.
He’ll take care of Catherine before coming to join the fun.
Phillip has no siblings or other close family.
With everyone dead, Julia could disappear with full remote access to everything from wherever she lands.
No one would think a thing about it—especially if there’s a fire and all the bodies are unidentifiable.
The poor grieving widow lost not just her husband but her only child. She’s gone into seclusion.
We’re sitting ducks. Terror ignites like a match to gasoline vapors inside me.
I smile for my husband and reassure him. “I’m fine.”
I just need to make a call to Catherine and then have a moment alone with Helen.