Brian cleared his throat and jerked his head at Nick.
Reluctantly, Nick left Riley and crossed to his cousin.
“Results confirmed. Legit lab. Legit staff. Legit results,” Brian said quietly, showing him his screen. “Sesame Hemsworth is Beth Weber.”
“Told you so,” Sesame chirped.
Kellen let out a sound like a creaky door.
“Holy shit.” Nick blew out a breath that was straight bourbon and stared hard at the New and Maybe Not So Improved Beth. “I think I need to sit down.”
11
1:22 p.m., Friday, October 25
“You buying that dog and pony show?” Josie asked, nudging Riley’s foot with her combat boot.
Riley opened her eyes and was relieved when her head didn’t try to somersault off her shoulders. They were alone in the living room. Nick was making her a snack to tide her over until the pizza he ordered arrived. Sesame was stocking the refrigerator with champagne and introducing her brother to her limo driver. Brian had hustled out of the room at top speed, presumably to start confirming Sesame’s story.
“Not a word,” she admitted.
Josie released a sigh. “Thank god I’m not the only tit-immune person in this house.”
Riley grimaced. “Gross. I really don’t think Kellen was checking out his sister’s rack.”
“He didn’t know she was his sister right away, did he?” Josie pointed out, leaning against the fireplace surround.
She was the kind of person who preferred to be on her feet facing the exits, ready for any threat.
“I know Nicky’s happy she’s alive, but that woman just paraphrased the plot ofOverboardas an explanation for why she’s been missing for six years.”
“Great movie,” Riley said, rubbing her head. “I thought it was just me who kept picturing Kurt Russell while she was talking.”
“She might be the real Beth, but she’s really lying about what she’s been up to for the last six years. I mean, are they seriously buying the whole ‘my fake husband forced me to get a bunch of plastic surgery’ and ‘I can afford a limo driver on a small-town drug store sales associate salary’ song and dance?”
“They’re happy,” Riley said. “They’re not thinking straight.”
Josie thumped the back of her head against the marble. “You need to tell Nick.”
“Me? You saw how he reacted to the whole ‘your obsession is going to put us out of business’ conversation. Now you want me to say, what? ‘Gee, Nick, it’s great to have Beth back and all, but I think she’s lying about everything, and you and Kellen just aren’t seeing it.’”
“I mean, I would throw in a few mentions of him being a gullible idiot, but your way is fine too.”
Riley groaned. “Why don’tyoutell him?”
“Because he’s not going to listen to me. He probably won’t even listen to you. But you’re his girlfriend. You don’t get to chicken out on this. It’s your duty as his partner to call out his dumbassery.”
“Have you ever considered writing greeting cards?” Riley asked, wearily rubbing her hands over her face. She felt a little steadier but a lot more tired. If she and Josie were right and Beth…er, Sesame was lying, the shit hadn’t even begun to hit the fan.
“I hate greeting cards,” Josie said.
“I’ll add them to the list right under the elderly and knickknacks,” Riley promised.
“What do those spirit guides of yours say about Ms. Pants on Fire?”
Riley looked at the doorway to make sure no one was eavesdropping in the foyer. “I don’t know. Every time I try to get in her head, the world starts spinning like some possessed carnival ride. I can’t see anything for longer than a split second. And by the time I focus on it, it’s changing into something else. I passed out in the middle of the street when I met her.”
Josie’s dark purple lips pursed tightly. “You don’t think she’s a witch or some kind of evil psychic, do you?”
