Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“ W e’re having company,” Aaron said as soon as he walked in the door.

Maisey had been lying on the sofa for an hour. She was totally wiped, knowing what had happened. “Who?”

“Shaw, Cherilyn, Carly, and Ross. I’m having Chinese delivered.”

“But I wanted to put on the coat one more time because I’m pretty sure I know who did it.”

“I am too. I asked his dad where he was, but he was gone. Vince said he doesn’t know where Colin is, but I’m pretty sure he does.” She reached her hand upward toward him and he took it and squeezed it in his. “And yes. You’re putting the coat back on. And I hope it’s for the last time.”

“Me too.” She felt his grip soften, and she dropped her hand onto her belly. She was so, so tired.

“I just wanted to check on you. I’ve got to go pick up Murielle from school, but I’ll be right back.” As he passed back by, he leaned down and kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She listened as the door closed behind him and heard his truck start.

Two hours later, Shaw and Cherilyn had come in with Maya, Lara, and Candace, and Carly and Ross walked in with Belle just a few minutes later. Within minutes, the delivery guy had brought dozens of containers in, and everyone filled plates. Aaron had also ordered burgers and fries for the kids, so they were happy with those. Maisey was so tired that she struggled to eat, but the longer they spent eating, the more she could avoid the inevitable.

Too soon for her liking, dinner was over. “Aaron tells me you’ve got something you want us all to see,” Carly said, but it was more of a question.

Maisey glanced over at Aaron, but he was smiling, and he nodded to her. “Yeah. I have something that… I can do. But this is so far beyond anything I knew… I don’t know how…”

RossMcEvers’ face was soft and his smile was warm. “Maisey, we’re not here to prove you’re a phony. We’re not here to make fun, or scrutinize, or try to rule out what happens to you. We’re here as your friends. We’re here to understand, to support you, and to encourage you to embrace whatever this is. It’s a rare gift. You can’t ignore this anymore.”

Maisey nodded. It was inevitable. She’d known that, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. She glanced at Aaron again and saw him nod. “Okay. It’s time, I guess. But I need a minute, okay?”

“Sure. We’ll get the kids settled and then we can all go out to the deck.” Carly stood and stretched, then called out, “Candace! Maya! We need to talk to you out here!” Behind her, she could hear Carly telling the girls to go to Murielle’s bedroom and not to come out until they were told they could, with Aaron, Shaw, and Cherilyn repeating what Carly was saying.

While they talked, Maisey went to the closet, pulled out the coat, and slipped past everyone to go into the master bathroom. She closed the door behind her, sat down on the toilet seat lid, and clutched the coat to her chest. With one sigh, her head bowed, and her eyes closed, Maisey quieted her mind and concentrated.

Victoria, it’s Maisey. You’ve been speaking through the coat to me for a while now. I want you to know that we’re pretty sure we know who killed you, but we need to know positively. Please, please, reveal it all to me tonight when I put on the coat. We want to bring him to justice once and for all. Please? Trust me.

She opened her eyes, straightened her spine, and stood. There was work to be done, and she had to get on it.

As she stepped into the living room, there was silence. No one was in there, and she realized they were on the deck waiting for her. At the back door, she stopped for a second, her hand on the knob, and thought of Victoria again before she stepped outside.

“Ready?” Maisey nodded. “Okay. I’ve gotcha. Do whatcha gotta do, babe.”

Maisey drew the sleeves of the coat up her arms until it reached her shoulders, then grabbed the lapels and pull the coat up until it slipped over her shoulders and settled. And just like always, everything went black.

Fear. It was thick in Victoria’s mind. “Who are you and why are you here? What do you want with me?”

“I’m going to shut you up for good.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You need to keep your mouth shut.”

Victoria’s voice rang out. “Please, I really don’t know what happened. I won’t say a word, I swear.”

“You’re right. You’re not going to. She’s just a stupid high school girl. It’s her fault because he’s a good man. If you do the right thing, you’ll ruin everything for me, so that can’t happen.”

“But I didn’t see―”

“You’re right. You didn’t see anything.”

Suddenly, everything was crystal clear, almost like the darkness was lit up, and she saw the knife plainly, the exact one she saw in the hunting goods store, and the flash on the blade as it found its home in her stomach. Victoria’s heart was pounding so hard that Maisey could hear it in her ears. “Why? I don’t understand…”

“Because I want a fucking Maserati, and if you open your fucking mouth, that’ll all go away. The lottery corporation won’t pay out to a felon, so you have to go.”

“Please. Please help me. Don’t let me die here. Who are you? I don’t understand!” Her voice was weaker, and Maisey could tell she was fading.

“Who am I?” The figure flipped back the hood on his hoodie and for the first time, Maisey could see his face. “I’m the guy who’s not going to let you ruin everything.”

It got darker and darker, and Maisey understood that Victoria was almost gone. In her mind, she whispered, Victoria! We’ve got him! He’ll pay! We’ll get justice for you. And know that Will still loves you. He always will.

From somewhere in the ether, she heard a voice. Thank you, Maisey. Tell Will I love him too.

The silence of the field where Victoria died was replaced with the sound of crickets in her backyard, but there were no voices. She lay there for a minute, stunned, until she finally opened her eyes, and a voice she loved said, “Maisey? Baby? You okay?”

Maisey struggled to sit up. Once she was upright, she felt something on her face. Tears. She was crying. “I saw him, Aaron. I saw him. He flipped his hood back and I saw his face.”

Carly’s voice cut through her fog. “Who was it?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before. But his voice was familiar.”

Aaron pulled out his phone. “I think it’s because you’ve heard it before, arguing with his father.” He held up his phone and there, on the screen was the face of the man who’d killed Victoria.

“That’s him! Oh, god! It’s him! Is that who I think it is?”

“That,” Aaron said, “is ColinSkidmore.”