“Yeah, he messed up her face beyond any type ofrecognition,” I confirm.
We watch in silence as the two women finish their job before closing the back of the black SUV.
“You got the plan down? Dump the body, dump Ali’s wallet, and get the fuck out of there,” I remind Luke as the two women slide silently into the backseat of his SUV.
“I got it. We won’t fuck this up.” He nods at me, and I know he knows just how serious this is.
There’s too much at stake to fuck up now. “I’ll text you the code when we’re back home to let you know it’s done.”
Ali and I watch in silence, the cool rain dripping slowly on our skin as the SUV slowly disappears down the forest road. It’s difficult for me–leaving this critical part of the plan in Luke’s hands. But they have the masks to wear and the black out outfits. We can’t risk Ali being seen at the dump site; it would ruin the entire plan. We need them to believe it’s her body dumped by the side of the road. And I won’t let my Beauty out of my sight. Not until Brody is behind bars and Will is six feet underground. Once they’re dealt with, we will be free.
“So, what do we do now?” Ali asks once the SUV is long gone.
“We wait, I guess.”
THIRTY-TWO
Allison
Ten Days Later
“How did the conversation with the detective go?” Luke asks Garett as they both sip whiskey from crystal tumblers.
This is the first time I’ve been out of the house in nearly a week and a half. We’ve been in hiding since the news of my murder broke. It was surreal watching the news coverage of my own murder. Pictures of my face flashed across the screen with details of the brutal beating and bodydump. Catie, Erik, Susan, and my other coworkers lamented my loss in front of news cameras and I watched from the comfort of Garett’s leather couch. It’s been a bit surreal. I obviously couldn’t run out to grab a coffee or some groceries with the police investigating my murder. Two days ago, they arrested Brody for my murder. The Skagit County Police Captain gave a press conference explaining the evidence that led them straight to my dear husband—the evidence we planted, of course. The twisted sense of pride and excitement I felt watching a raging Brody being led away in handcuffs was criminal.
“She’s definitely suspicious, but she doesn’t have enough to prove anything,” Garett says before taking another swig of his amber liquid. The ice cubes clink in the glass as he sets it back down on the stone countertop. “Plus, they seem pretty certain Brody is their guy.”
A few days ago, Garett had to speak to the lead detective on my case, some Pierce lady from the police department south of us. Skagit County took the lead on the case, since that’s where the body was dumped, apparently. I was nervous the entire time, anxiously pacing our home. When he returned, he made it pretty clear she knew more about us than he ever anticipated her finding out, and we needed to wrap things up here and get out of town. With Brody arrested for my murder, there’s just one piece left to fall. Which is why we’re here tonight.
“They’re not letting him get away with it.” Luke shrugs as he twirls his glass against the counter. The sleeves of his white button down are rolled up, revealing corded forearms. He’s completely free of any tattoos. Much more professional looking than Garett, but in the short time I’ve known Luke, I can tell he’s just as depraved and desperate as the rest of us. He’s still a demon, just with a better mask. “He’s already guilty in the eyes of the media. This is too high profile for them to not get a conviction.”
Luke is a lawyer, Garett told me. He works at some big firm downtown. It seems fitting that he plays the game of false justice. I’m starting to wonder if anyone is truly what they seem to be.
“Pretty little white girl from a well-off family gets murdered,” Liv says as she strolls into the kitchen from somewhere beyond. Their house is an old gothic style mansion that’s been renovated. It’s closed off and kind of creepy. “Of course, the media pays attention.”
She flashes me a sardonic smile. Her pink hair is pulled up in two high pigtails today, and she’s wearing a cropped white shirt with fishnets and cut-off shorts. She looks like some chaotic character out of a movie. I’m not too proud to admit that I’m a little scared of her.
“No mention of Erika in any media coverage that you saw either?” Garett asks Luke.
Liv smacks Luke on the ass as she walks past before grabbing a healthy splash of whiskey for herself from the bottle and downing it. Luke watches her with amusement flicking across his face. It’s clear that their dynamic works for them, whatever it is.
“Where’s your pet?” Luke asks her, completely ignoring Garett’s question, his sole focus now on the woman next to him.
“Recovering,” Liv responds coyly with a small shrug. “She was naughty earlier and needed to be punished.”
The two of them smirk at each other, completely lost in whatever mutual understanding they’re sharing with one another. It’s sweet almost, the way they are so entirely consumed by one another that the rest of the world seems to melt away into the background. I wonder if one day Garett and I will be so in tune.
The sound of Luke’s phone vibrating against the stone countertop breaks through the intimacy of the moment. We allstare at one another, eyes flitting through the silent room.
Hesitantly Luke moves to pick up the phone. The screen lights up with an unknown number, but none of us are fooled, we all know exactly who’s on the other end of the line.
“Hello,” Luke says questioningly as he presses the button to put the phone on speaker.
“Lucky Lucas.” The voice that fills the room is smooth as smoke. Each one of us recoils slightly. Liv’s hand shakes so badly she had to set down her glass.
“What do you want, Will?” Luke’s tone drips with annoyance.
“Oh Lucas, is that anyway to speak to your big brother?” I watch as Luke’s jaw clenches and his fingers ball into a fist. “I remember a time when you used to be such a good boy, begging for it on your knees as I strok—“”
