“He never hated me!” Greer was defensive.
“That scar on your leg?”
“Mother said I fell on some rocks.”
“He pushed you. The scars on your feet from stepping on glass? Reid did that. You had vomiting attacks often. I don’t know what he fed you.”
Greer’s face seemed to fall. “Our parents?”
Alish took a breath. “The mechanic said the brakes had been cut, but the police could find no motive for anyone to do such a thing. You see, I was the one with the money, so Reid wanted to live with me.”
“The money from the movie royalties,” Sara said.
“Yes. It’s what I’d foreseen. If I got Reid to marry me, our child and I would have money to support us forever. I didn’t know how it would work, but I knew it would.”
Greer seemed to have lost all color in her face. “This is why I wasn’t allowed to go to school.”
“I needed you close to me, and I managed to keep Reid under control. When he grew up, I bought him a company to play with, to make him feel powerful. He knows that if I die of any so-called accident, my money goes to charity.” She looked at Greer. “Nothing was ever willed to you as that would jeopardize your life.”
“But then he killed Derek Oliver,” Sara said. “Why? Reid was to inherit this place.”
“I don’t know,” Alish said. “I didn’t ask. He came to me that night, after it was done.” She hesitated. “He wore a look I’d seen on my husband. When Reid changed clothes with Aran, there was a gleam in Reid’s eyes. It was a look that was a mixture of pleasure and excitement. The night Derek Oliver was killed, I saw that same look. Reid handed me a rolled-up rug and told me to burn it. I didn’t ask about the contents. All I knew was that I had to get Greer out of the country. I’d seen what that look could lead to.”
“And you faked her death,” Sara said.
“A few years later, Reid began asking about her. I think he’d found something of hers.”
“He had a piece of fabric from her blouse that was caught in the doorway.”
“Maybe he thought she’d seen something.”
“I didn’t see anything,” Greer said. “I tore my blouse that morning. I was looking for Kate’s hedgehog.”
“What about Jack?” Sara asked. “We think someone has been trying to hurt him.”
“I don’t know about that either,” Alish said. “All I’m sure of is that I can no longer control my grandson. Years ago, he was very angry when the rich young woman, Rachel, wouldn’t marry him.”
“Now Reid appears to be a success, but Rachel still said no.” Sara looked at Alish. “He lost control of himself. This time, it was a murder for marriage but it still didn’t work.”
Alish reached out to squeeze Greer’s hand. “At least I have one success of my marriage for murder.” She looked at Sara. “You must save her.”
Sara looked at Greer. “Until I hear that your brother is in custody, I want you out of here.” She took her phone out of her pocket and sent a text to Gil.
Come and get her. Take her to Colorado.
Yes, was Gil’s immediate reply.
Sara’s phone buzzed. It was a text from Sheriff Flynn.
Reid isn’t in St Pete. Where is he?
There was a text from Kate.I can’t find Jack.
Sara look at Alish. “Reid isn’t where you sent him.” She saw the look of fear that came into the woman’s eyes.
“He wants this house.” Alish’s voice was hardly above a whisper.
“It’s his!” Sara said loudly. “If he’d let Derek Oliver live, Reid would know that.”
