She draws in a breath. “Did you go to the police?”
I shake my head and push past her.
“Will you turn me in?” she asks from behind me.
I turn back to face her. “I don’t know,” I say truthfully. “I really don’t.”
Chapter 41
Like I do each time I step out of the prison gates, I exhale.
I have been visiting my mother once a week, every week, for a whole year, but I can never get used to seeing her behind bars.
The day after she confessed her crimes to me, and before I could decide what to do with the information, the hitman she hired to do her dirty work exposed her.
He made an anonymous call to the police and sent in all the evidence that proved my mother’s guilt, including their text messages and online chat logs. He went as far as making it look as though she was the one who killed Brittney with her own hands, and not him.
There was enough evidence to prove that my mother wanted Alex to suffer the same way her husband did, to go to prison for a crime he did not commit.
Now my mother, my husband, and my mother-in-law are behind bars. All of them were convicted of crimes that were interconnected, but committed for very different reasons.
In addition to his other crimes, Alex got life imprisonment for raping Brittney, and my mother was locked away for her death.
Marcy was also found guilty of covering up all her son’s crimes and for getting Jeffrey Holder killed in prison so he would be silenced forever. No amount of money could set her or Alex free.
If it weren’t for the letter, it would never have been proven that Jeffrey was murdered.
After my mother’s trial, I went back to Lavinia’s house and found a letter Jeffrey had written to me the day I last saw him, the day I asked him whether Alex murdered Brittney. He arranged for it to be sent to the house because he knew I might return to it at some point.
The original letter never reached the house. The prison staff who screened the mail kept it and sent a copy. By then Jeffrey was already dead.
Before going to my car, I push a hand into my purse and pull out my copy of the letter. The original was used as evidence in court.
Viola,
In answer to your question, yes, I do believe Alex killed Brittney. Yes, I had an affair with her and I regret it deeply. What you don’t know is that Alex knew about it and was very upset. Now I know it was because he wanted Brittney for himself. I guess, in the end, he took what he wanted.
I confessed to the crimes because they forced me to. They threatened to kill me and my family if I didn’t. Lavinia took her own life before they could get to her and pay her off. They have people in here watching me, making sure I don’t step out of line. I live in fear for my life. That’s why I could not talk to you openly when you visited. I could not tell you the truth.
The reason I’m writing you this letter is to tell you not to be fooled. You are married to a dangerous man. Save yourself before it’s too late.
Lavinia is not here for me to apologize to her for all the things I did to her, but I hope you will forgive me for the things I did to you. If Alex were not in your life, I would gladly let you take care of Jenna. Until then, she’s safer with a grandmother who never remains in one place for long.
I’m sorry for the loss of your baby. Take care of yourself, Viola.
Jeffrey
Instead of putting the letter back in my purse, this time, I wrap my fingers around it and toss it into a nearby trash can. There’s no point holding on to it.
I hurry to the car, get behind the wheel, and turn to glance in the backseat. My heart leaps when I receive the most beautiful smile from the sweetest girl I’ve ever known.
“I love how her face lights up when she sees you,” Aunt Mayleen says. “You two were made for each other.”
Aunt Mayleen and I took turns going to see my mother. We didn’t want to take Jenna inside the prison.
“I think you’re right.” I smile and start the car.
As I had hoped, Carmen finally became overwhelmed with caring for a small child.
