“Have you two had a disagreement or something?” Okay, there was no mistaking it that time. They definitely exchanged a look. There was something they weren’t telling him. “Okay, spit it out.” He looked at each of them in turn, waiting for an answer.
“You’re imagining things,” Andrew told him, but she was looking at Marrie as she said it. With a sigh, he stood up. “Okay. Well, if you’re not going to tell me I’m going to get myself a drink. Anyone want anything?”
“Yeah, could you make me a hot chocolate, the way you always made them, with marshmallows?”
It wasn’t until he reached the kitchen that he realized what Andrew had just said. She’d remembered! But if that were true, why on earth hadn’t she said anything? Maybe she was just remembering little things without even realizing it? All thoughts of a drink forgotten, he rushed back to the living room.
“Andrew! Do you realize what you just said?”
She looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
“You asked for a chocolate the way I always used to make it!” He was grinning now “You remembered something!” He’d been expecting her to be as excited as he was but he didn’t see excitement in her eyes now, just naked panic.
“You stupid bitch!”
He whirled to face Marrie as she hissed this at Andrew. “What the hell?” He had no idea what was going on. “Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?”
“Neil, just leave it alone. Please!” Andrew was pleading with him.
“No, I won’t leave it alone! Something is going on here and I want to know what!” He turned to Marrie “Why did you say that?” She didn’t reply, instead just looking at him in disgust.
“Okay, if neither of you are going to tell me, I’ll call Beth. She can come home and straighten this out.” He reached into his pocket for his cell phone.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He looked up from dialing the number to find Marrie standing in front of the TV, pointing a gun and him and Andrew.
“Drop the phone and kick it over here.” In shock, he did what he was told.
“I should have known you were too stupid to pull it off,” she snarled at Andrew.
“Marrie, what is going on? What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Keeping the gun trained on them, she sneered, “Your precious sister got her memory back this afternoon. Unfortunately, that meant she remembered who attacked her.”
The confusion must have shown on his face. “Hasn’t the penny dropped yet?”
“Oh, my God! It was you!”
“Well done. Give the boy a medal.”
“Why on earth didn’t you do the job right? If you had, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he said to her, grinning.
“What? Are you kidding me?” She wasn’t sneering any more.
“Jeez, if you’d told me what was going on I would have helped you! Dammit Marrie.”
“What the hell are you taking about?”
“Well, I managed to get Ted out of the way. Did you think I’d have a problem getting rid of Andrew? She’s not even my real sister, for God’s sake!”
She looked unsure of herself now. “But you’ve been so worried about her, going on and on about finding her.”
“Yeah, because I knew full well that if she was found I needed to keep the family in the dark. You know how much the money and the business mean to me. I don’t give a crap about anything else. We’ll be lucky to get away with anything, now.”
“Neil, what are you saying? You can’t mean this!” Andrew cried looking at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. “Oh, my God, Neil, this can’t be happening.” She dropped her face into her hands and started sobbing.
Marching over to stand in front of her, he pulled back his arm and slapped her with a backhand hard across the face. “God, I’ve been wanting to do that for years.” He turned to Marrie. “We’re screwed now. The best we can hope for is to get out of here.” He held out his hand. “Give me the gun and I’ll watch her. You go upstairs and get what you can. All my mother’s jewelery is still in her room and Andrew’s got some nice stuff, too.”
“You must think I’m an idiot,” Marrie said, her brow wrinkled. “You go and get the jewelery and I’ll stay here and watch her,” she said, waving toward Andrew with her gun.
He shrugged. “Okay, but don’t screw it up this time.” Without looking at where Andrew was sitting, holding the side of her face, he turned and left the room.”
As soon as he was clear of the living room he quickened his pace and headed upstairs to his parents’ room. She’d taken his cell so he couldn’t call Beth or Finn because he didn’t know their numbers as they were programmed in his phone. He considered calling 911, but dismissed that thought almost immediately. They might not get here in time, and if Marrie heard them coming, she’d know that there was no escape and a cornered wild animal will do anything, including kill Andrew. No, he had no choice. It was on him.
He knew that his dad had kept a gun in his bedside table and he just hoped to God it was still there. Yes! He let out a breath as his hand closed around the cold metal of the gun in the bottom drawer. Checking that it was loaded, he took a deep, steadying breath. Grabbing his mom’s jewelery box, he headed back downstairs. This had gone on long enough. It ended now.
42
What had she been thinking? She hadn’t been thinking, that was the problem. If she had, she would never have gone to Finn’s. At night. With a bottle of wine.
She’d hoped that after everything that had happened over the last few days, they would be able to come to some kind of a truce. She needed that. She hadn’t truly realized until she’d come back just how much her past still weighed her down. She certainly hadn’t expected to find herself in his arms once again. Oh, she was still attracted to him. She’d realized that the first day, but she’d had no idea he felt the same way.
It would be different if he knew the truth and still felt the same way, but he didn’t and she couldn’t deceive him like that. No, she would just have to avoid seeing him until she left. It wouldn’t be long now, and then she could get back to her life. That thought had held such appeal just a few short days ago but now, for some reason, she was dreading it more and more.
43
“I’ve got it,” he announced, walking back into the living room. He’d concealed the gun in the waistband of his jeans, in the small of his back. Now he just needed to wait for the right time. “What now?”
“We go. Before Beth gets back. With any luck, we’ll get a bit of a head start.”
He nodded over at Andrew. “What do we do with her?”
“If it wasn’t for her, I’d have everything I want right now. I’ve got no intention of letting her enjoy what should have been mine. This time, I’ll make sure she’s dead.”
How had he not known he’d married a monster? He’d known she was tough when he’d first met her, and he’d discovered she was ruthless when he’d told her about killing Ted and she didn’t bat an eye, but this? He’d never even considered that she might have had anything to do with Andrew’s disappearance. He was such an idiot! But one thing he did know was that he had started all this, he had brought this monster into their family, and now it was up to him to deal with it.
Turning her back on him, she raised her arm and pointed the gun at Andrew. It was now or never.
“Put the gun down, Marrie,” he said, his voice surprisingly calm.
Keeping the gun trained on Andrew, she turned her head and looked at him. “You bastard. I should have known. Killing Ted was one thing, but you really are soft when it comes to her, aren’t you.” She shook her head. “Such a shame. I was starting to think you had potential.”
“You know damn well that killing Ted was an accident. I never meant for it to happen. My mistake was not coming clean at the time and letting you get your claws into me. A mistake I intend to rectify right now.” His voice hardened. “Now put the gun do
wn, Marrie. It’s over.”
He could see her turning her options over in her mind and realizing that she had none. He wouldn’t put it past her to kill Andrew anyway and his finger tightened on the trigger, watching for the slightest sign that she was going to shoot.
She didn’t, though, and after a tense few seconds, raised her hands. “At least I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re going to prison with me.”
He didn’t reply, keeping his eyes on her but addressing Andrew. “Grab the gun.”
He watched as she stepped forward and took the gun from Marrie’s hand before handing it to him. He tucked it in his jeans before telling Andrew to go and call 911 on the house phone.
She didn’t move, though. “Are you sure?” she asked him, a hard edge to her voice.
Surprised, his eyes flicked to her. “What do you mean? Of course I’m sure.”
“Answer me one question, truthfully.”
“Now? Can’t this wait?”
“No, it can’t, so will you? Tell me the truth?”
“Yes, of course, what is it?”
“Was Ted’s death an accident?”
He allowed himself to meet her eyes briefly. “Yes, absolutely.”
“Then shoot her.”
“What? Are you nuts?”
“No. She tried to kill me. I lived through hell because of her. If you don’t, you’ll go to prison, too.” She put her hand on his arm. “You did wrong, but you are all I have left and the only people who know are in this room.”
For a moment, he allowed himself to consider what she was saying. It was true; if he shot Marrie now it would be easy to claim self-defense and no one would ever find out the truth about Ted. The moment quickly passed, though. He could never kill another human being in cold blood, and he knew in his heart that he needed to pay for what he’d done, accident or not.
“No, I can’t do it Andrew. This all started because of my greed and I need to pay for what I did. I’m as responsible for what happened to you as she is.” He gave her a small smile. “Go and call the cops, please.”
“There’s no need. I’ll do it.”
They both jumped at the sound of the voice. They could tell from the look on her face as she stepped into the room that Beth had heard everything.
“Oh, Beth, I’m so glad you’re here!” Andrew flung herself into her arms.
“How long have you been standing there?” Neil asked her, meeting her eyes.
“Long enough to know that I’m proud of you for making the right decision.”
He watched as she took her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed 911. All they had to do now was wait.
He didn’t feel any panic as they waited for the police to arrive. Instead, he was filled with a sense of relief that it was all over and he had finally done the right thing. They all knew the truth now, and the fact that Andrew hadn’t immediately condemned him made his heart soar, though he knew that he owed her answers.
She would be okay now. The monster that he married would spend the rest of her life in jail and she had Beth. That was all that mattered.
44
Beth watched as first Marrie and then Neil were handcuffed and led away to the waiting squad cars, and was glad her sister wasn’t there to see it. When she’d gotten home, she’d heard the voices coming from the living room. It wasn’t until she got close that the conversation had stopped her in her tracks. Stunned, she’d stood there listening, while all the pieces clicked into place.
She’d held her breath as Andrew had told Neil to shoot, understanding her reasons but knowing it was wrong. Relief had washed over her when he had refused and, despite everything, she’d felt incredibly proud of Neil in that moment.
“What’s going to happen to him?” Andrew asked her. They watched from the front steps as they were driven away.
Turning and going back into the house and closing the door behind her, she sighed. “He will go to prison, there’s no doubt. How long will depend on what they decide to charge him with.”
“I believe him, you know.” Andrew said, following Beth into the living room where all the drama had taken place. “I mean, I believe him when he said that killing Ted was an accident.”
Beth nodded. “Yes, I believe him, too. He’s made mistakes, but he’s not a bad man and he loves you dearly. He would never have intentionally wanted to hurt you.”
“It was Dad. He made him the way he was. I remember it all now.”
“Will you be able to forgive him?”
“I already have. He’s suffered enough.”
“And so have you.” Beth took her in her arms. “I’m just glad it’s all finally over and that you’re safe at last.”
They stood there for a while, just hugging each other both lost in their own thoughts.
45
“I’ve been doing some thinking,” Andrew said, breaking the silence. They’d both been caught up in their own thoughts since leaving the prison where they’d been to visit Neil.
He’d made a full statement to the police and there had been no doubt that he was totally ignorant of Marrie’s attack on Andrew. They’d also accepted that what had happened to Ted had been an accident and that he’d never intended to kill him. The D.A. had offered him five years, which his lawyer had advised him to accept, avoiding the necessity of a trial. They’d both been very proud of the way he had handled it, stepping up to the plate and being not only willing, but wanting to take his punishment.
“Yeah?” Beth briefly took her eyes off the road and glanced over at her. “And what have you been thinking about?” It was finally over, but Andrew had a tough road ahead and Beth was worried about her.
“I’m on my own now. Well, for the next five years, anyway.” She sighed. “It’s too much. I’ve got to run the business, which I know nothing about, look after the house and Neil’s affairs.” He had signed over power of attorney to her before he was convicted.
“It’s a lot to take on I agree, but I know you can do it.” Beth tried to reassure her.
“Yes, I can. But I can’t do it alone.”
“Well, I can help you find someone suitable before I leave. Maybe we could speak to Jude Cassidy, the lawyer. He might be able to give us some recommendations.”
Andrew shook her head. “No. I need someone I can trust completely. After everything I’ve been through, I need you, Aunt Beth.”
She’d had a feeling that this was coming, had even been thinking about volunteering herself, but now that the question was out there she had no idea what to say. “Andrew, I’ve got a career, one I need to get back to.”
It sounded empty even as she said it. More and more, lately, she’d been lamenting the fact that yes, she had a career, but very little else. And what was a life with nothing in it but work? She’d neglected her family while she still had one, and now that it had been torn apart, could she really just walk away?
“You could apply to the local PD, couldn’t you?”
It’s true, she could. But there was the small question of Finn. It was a small department, and if she did that it would mean working with him closely on a daily basis and she knew that that was something she simply couldn’t do. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Andrew, but no. That wouldn’t work.”
“Okay, well how about this then. You come and work for me? Now that we’re taking on more sensitive projects, we need a security division and someone to head it up. You’d be perfect with your background. Will you please at least think about it?”
Beth nodded. Yes, she would think about it. “Okay, but I’m not making any promises.”
46
She was not looking forward to this conversation, but it was one that had been a long time coming.
She’d phoned Finn and they’d arranged to meet just outside town. When they were kids, they used to come to this spot to make out. It was one of the few elevated spots in an otherwise almost completely flat landscape, and from the top you
could see for miles. She sat on the hood of her car waiting for him now, looking out over the town stretched out below her, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.
The sound of tires on dirt told her that he’d arrived. She gave him a small smile as he pulled himself up onto the hood to sit beside her.
“How’s Andrew doing?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
“She’s going to be fine. She’s strong.” She took a deep breath. “And I’m going to be by her side to help.”
“You are?”
She could feel him looking at her, but she didn’t turn to meet his gaze. “Yes. I’ve decided it’s about time I came home.” She sighed. “I should have come back sooner, been more of a sister, more of an aunt. I can’t get that time back, but I can try and make up for it.”
He nodded. “So, what are you going to do?”
She told him about the job Andrew had offered her, and that she’d decided to accept it.
“Is that what you brought me up here to tell me?”
This was it. It was time. “No, I brought you up here to tell you why I left all those years ago.”
The End
Michael Connelly, Murder Worthy
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