Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 120230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
My mouth fell open.
“That’s what I thought.” He finished off his coffee with a grimace.
“Where did that money come from?” The Shepherds hadn’t been poor in the least, but they hadn’t had millions lying around, either. At least that explained how Darcie had been able to easily pay the private hospital fees year after year.
“Life insurance,” Ratene said. “Parents’ wills were structured in a way that meant that should a payout ever occur, it’d go into a trust until Darceline and Beatrice were of a certain age. To be released early only if the rest of the estate wasn’t enough to support their daughters.”
“Beatrice didn’t know.” It was a certainty inside me. “She was still in high school when they died. A minor. Darcie handled all the paperwork.”
Crunching his empty cup in one hand, he threw it at a nearby trash can with pinpoint accuracy. “Knowing about the money, you still think this is about Ash Wakefield?”
I sipped the last bit of my sugary drink. “Yes. But only because he was Bea’s, not because he was Ash. Do you see?”
A slow nod. “They always compete?”
“No. That was the problem. Bea just shone brighter—she never had to compete, didn’t even understand that Darcie saw her as a threat.”
“Ah.”
I handed him my cup. “Can you make it two for two?”
He winked, lined up the shot and—“Boom.” Rising in the aftermath, he held my gaze with his own. “Being numb might feel good now, but don’t allow it to consume you. Numbness leads to a kind of quiet death.”
Poor Ratene.
He’d believed me.
Truth was, I wasn’t in shock.
I was at peace.
55
After Ratene left, I considered whether to go lie down in the spare bed the nurses had found for me. My other options were to doze in the armchair in Kaea’s room, or the one in Bea’s.
Then Aaron exited Grace’s room.
Back to me as he headed in the direction of the toilets meant for visitors, he didn’t see me. The police officer on duty inside Grace’s room came out at the same moment, stretching his stiff shoulders as he ambled to the coffee machine.
I got to my feet. “Is it okay if I go in to see her?” My heart thudded, my mouth dry.
“She’s asleep, so it should be okay.” His face was round, his smile kind. “And I checked the handcuff before I left. Any issues, just holler. I’m not going any farther than this machine and a cup of joe while I stretch out my legs.”
“Thanks.” I closed the distance to Grace’s room before he could change his mind. “Grace,” I hissed the instant I entered. “Grace.”
She startled awake, her eyelashes flickering and her eyes dazed. “Nae-nae,” she said sleepily several seconds later, a soft smile on her face. “Can I call you that even though it’s only for you and Beatrice? She gave me permission, but I want yours, too.”
I nodded, because even though she was a very dangerous individual, one with a gift for murderous obsession, she’d also been there for Bea at the most awful time in Bea’s life. Grace was also the only reason we knew the horror of what Darcie had done; I could never dislike her.
I told her that point-blank. “I’ll consider you a friend for the rest of my life.”
Big green eyes searching my face. “Even after what I’ve done?”
“I’ve always loved Bea best.” Quiet words. “More than I’ve ever loved anyone else.”
A smile that lit up her face. “I wouldn’t have hurt you. Just like I wouldn’t have hurt my Aaron. If it had gone according to plan, I’d have taken care of Darcie, then run up to find you both. I would’ve kept you warm, safe.”
Brushing back the soft silk of her curls, I nodded. “I know.” I also knew she’d planned to pin the blame for everything on Darcie, and that if her plan had failed, with her unable to best Darcie, Aaron and I would’ve frozen to death.
“But, Gracie?” Taking the hand that wasn’t locked to the rail, I wound my fingers through hers. “I need to know about Nix for my own peace of mind. It’ll haunt me forever otherwise.”
Grace went motionless, her gaze swimming around the room.
“No one is here and I’m not wired.”
Grace held my gaze, then moved her mouth . . . but made no sound. I missed the words she shaped the first time around, had to bend down with my ear right by her lips so she could whisper them to me. I had no fear that she’d bite or otherwise attack me. Grace and I, we had a bond unbreakable.
“He remembered me from a time when I wasn’t Grace.”
“When did you meet?”
“Before the institution. Before I knew Bea. In Zurich. Just one night at a party thrown by the son of a family friend. He met them on a hike. So long ago. I forgot all about it, about them.”