Page 36 of Little Twisted Things

A couple of days later, two people discovered his body in the woods, propped up against a tree, perfectly posed, as my mother once knew him. My mother thought she’d gotten away with it. But one week later, the police showed up at our door and took her away. She’d made a grave mistake. She didn’t control the story the way she thought she had by leaving a piece of herself behind.

The girl started to wake. Her eyes opened, and she started to scream until she realized her mouth was covered with duct tape.

“Do you know why I have to do this?”

She frighteningly shook her head.

“Your friends and family need to remember who you are, not who you’re going to become. You’re a beautiful dancer. The drugs you’re secretly using will destroy all of that. You didn’t need them, Jenna. Soon, your family and friends won’t recognize you anymore. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure your last chapter ends here before the damage is done.”

She twisted and turned as much as the chains would allow it.

“There’s a bucket over there if you need to use the bathroom while I’m gone.” I turned, walked out of the room, and shut and locked the steel door.

19

Dahlia

Last night didn’t exactly work out as I had planned. I wanted to dump Bart at the park, but when I’d arrived, a group of teenagers hung around drinking and smoking. Stupid brats. If only their parents knew. So, I turned around and headed back to Bart’s office, pulling around the back entrance where deliveries were made. I carefully checked the area for cameras and didn’t see any. Stupid of him, but good for me. I peered through the glass door and noted the security system keypad. Walking back to the SUV, I grabbed Bart’s wallet and searched for anything with a code on it. Embedded deep inside his billfold was a green Post-it note, folded twice. Unfolding it, the words “alarm code 613892” appeared. Perfect.

I walked back to the door and tried every key that fit into the lock until I found the one that unlocked the door. Stepping inside, I quickly dismantled the alarm. I looked around for cameras. There weren’t any. Again. Stupid man. He’d probably kept cameras out of the place so he could come here after hours with his mistress and nobody would know.

I dragged his body from the SUV and across the marble floor until I reached the elevator. When I had researched the place, his office was on the second floor. So, I pushed the button and the elevator doors closed. Once they opened, his office sat directly across, so it was easy enough to drag his body inside.

When I stepped inside the gallery, Tess was looking at her phone with a wide grin.

“Good morning,” I said, placing my purse under the counter.

“Morning.” She stared down at her phone.

“You’re all smiles this morning.”

“I met this guy last night. He texted me this morning and asked me on a date for tonight.”

“Oh yeah? Who is he?”

“His name is Cameron Dean. He has his own construction business. He’s so cute, Dahlia.”

“And how did you two meet?”

“We were both at the same restaurant picking up our takeout orders, and he got mine, and I got his. Luckily, we both noticed before we left the restaurant. We switched bags, got to talking, and he asked for my number.”

“That’s cute.” I smiled.

“I really haven’t dated since David died a couple of years ago. I really haven’t been ready. But now, I think I am.”

“Good for you, Tess. Where is he taking you?”

“I don’t know yet. He said he’ll text me later.” She set her phone down. “I printed out our inventory list last night. Can you check it for me?”

“Of course.”

It was almost eleven o’clock when I was in the back of the gallery, and Tess screamed my name.

“Dahlia!”

“What’s wrong?” I ran across the gallery to her.

She looked as pale as a ghost, while her hand trembled over her mouth.