Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“So you and Steven were friends?”
Colin eyes Molly and clears his throat. “Yeah.”
I nod thoughtfully. “That must be it. I saw your name somewhere. Steven loved doodling things. Pictures … names … dates …” I shrug. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Colin. Take good care of this one.” I stroke the length of Molly’s ponytail, and goosebumps erupt along her skin while she holds her breath. “Steven adored her.”
Molly’s lips quiver. I’m unsure if she’s on the verge of crying or passing out.
“Let’s get together before I leave.” I pluck Molly’s phone from her hand, hold it to her face to unlock it, and add myself to her contacts … as a Favorite. “Bye, kids.” I keep my composure until I get to my car and pull onto the street, where angry tears spring from my burning eyes. “FUCK!!!!”
She tied the goddamn noose around his neck and kicked the ladder out from beneath his feet. And now she’s jerking off his friend in public. It’s not okay. It will never be okay.
When I return to the house, I head up the stairs to change my clothes to finish chopping the wood into manageable pieces for Eloise. Stepping into the bathroom, I notice the towel I had on the floor by the toilet is now hanging over the edge of the tub, and the floor is dry.
I flush the toilet and wait.
No leak.
After changing into my old shorts, a tee, and boots, I trudge toward the pile of wood by the garage just as Jack jogs up the drive, covered in sweat from his run. Who runs in long pants and a long-sleeved tee this time of year?
He eyes me for two seconds before opening the access door to the garage.
“Hey, did you fix my toilet?”
“Depends,” he says with his back to me while he removes his shirt and uses it to wipe the sweat from his torso.
He’s ripped. Shredded. Tattooed. And a bunch of other distracting things. I clear my throat. “On what?” I manage two words despite being sidetracked by his striptease.
“Is it leaking?”
“No.”
“Then I fixed it.”
Click.
The door closes behind him.
I shake my head. He’s a hard one to crack.
“Dear, if you don’t hydrate, I fear you’ll pass out.” Eloise holds up a glass of lemonade.
“Thanks,” I grunt, striking the wood. “I’m about done.”
She eases into a metal glider with chipping blue paint. “I’m not complaining, but I’m surprised you’re still here. Do you still have many things to go through?”
I toss the last log onto the pile and prop the ax against the garage. “No,” I pant before gulping half of the lemonade. “It’s Molly.”
“The girlfriend?”
I nod.
“Oh, Frankie, I should have destroyed that letter. I knew nothing good would come from showing it to you. We can’t get him back.”
“I know. But I feel like there should be justice. What if I took it to the police?”
Eloise returns a slow headshake. “Molly’s family is well-connected. Her mom had an accident years ago and didn’t see a day of jail time. Three weeks of community service. And not the kind where you’re picking up trash from the ditch. She watered the flowers at the parks every other morning.”
“What accident?”
Eloise frowns, holding her hand over her heart. “She killed a man. She was drunk, but there was a ‘mix-up’ at the lab, and they didn’t get accurate confirmation of her blood alcohol level. The only reason she saw community service was because there were witnesses. It never even went to trial. The Sanfords are untouchable.”
“No one’s untouchable.” I scoff.
“If you go after them, they will ruin your life. Don’t you think you’ve suffered enough? Nothing good will come of going after that girl. She’ll get what’s coming to her eventually. I believe we all pay our dues at some point.”
“It’s not right, Eloise. It’s not just Steven. Molly Sanford is responsible for Lynn’s death too. Justice matters.” I’m knotted inside. And it’s making me angry. “My dad’s favorite line is ‘life’s not fair’. He’s right. But that doesn’t mean you let people literally get away with murder.”
“Maybe you need a break. You’ve been staying in their house, going through their things. Take some time before you make any decisions that can’t be undone. Don’t poke the bear unless you know you can survive.”
I give her a nod to appease her and ease the concern along her face. When I speak, Jack plays the same piano piece he was playing the last time. I’ve never heard it.
“I don’t know why he’s living in my garage, but I’ll miss hearing him play when he’s gone,” Eloise says, swaying to the dark notes.
“Have you asked him why he wants to live in your garage?”
She opens her eyes. “Yes and no. He generously paid me to rent it with ‘no questions asked.’ But I’ve nudged him for information.”