Chapter 34

Laura

November

I spread the cash on the floor in the attic. There are piles and piles of it. More than I ever dreamed I'd touch.

The rest has been transferred to a new bank account in the Caymans. Easy enough to open online. I moved it a few times to various websites. Online gambling sites, casinos, PayPal. It's well hidden.

My phone rings, reminding me I have one thing still to figure out. Theo. I've given him some cash to keep him quiet, but he's started texting me, stopping me outside work. He's even driven past my house.

But Theo betrayed me . Fool me once and all that. As far as I'm concerned, this money is mine now.

I have to convince him I'm done. That there's no more money.

When I answer, Theo immediately begins spinning his lies about Cody needing a care home. I tell him there's only a few grand but I'll give it to him next week.

"No. I'll come by your house to get it." Theo's voice is hard, and it's then I realize: he knows I'm not giving him that money.

"I'll meet you," I say quickly. He can't come to my home. "Tomorrow night by the hollowed-out tree near the Garden Shed."

I hear voices downstairs. Pete's back from taking the girls Christmas shopping.

"Tomorrow night," I say again, then hang up.

I slide the bundles of cash into my desk, snapping the false bottom back into place. My phone pings. I think it's Theo, but it isn't. It's another one of those creepy texts.

I haven't forgotten about you. You better keep your mouth shut.

A thought hits me cold and fast. Has it been Theo all along? Trying to threaten me, unsettle me? I think back to the end of summer, to when I first started receiving these text messages. Theo just happened to show up the very same day.

But ... why? What would have been his motive back then? Or now?

My fingers hover over the screen. Keep my mouth shut about what?

I wait, but there's no response. I finally give up and go downstairs.

In the kitchen, Pete is pouring himself a glass of wine. I stare at him, rage filling me.

"What?" He's defiant.

"What do you mean, what?" I snap.

Pete's drinking has officially gotten out of hand. He knows it. I know it. Even the school knows it, now that he showed up drunk, shouting abuse at another teacher, and got himself suspended. We had our biggest fight ever after that, a fight that morphed from his drinking to him accusing me of cheating.

"It's never been enough for you, has it, Laura?" he'd slurred, drunk again. "This life we've built. The life we've made as a family. Who is it, Laura? Who are you fucking?"

I was horrified. I wanted to tell him the truth. The frightening texts, embezzling money from my brother, Theo. But how? I'd made so many mistakes. I couldn't bear him thinking the same thing as Jack: Poor, useless Laura, always needing bailed out.

I would fix this. I'd make it right, and then we'd be in a better position than we'd ever been.

Furious at my silence, Pete spun around, trying to storm out of our bedroom, but one of his feet had caught on a wooden chair. "Pete, no!"

It was too late. Pete landed with a crash, the chair splintering like kindling.

"Ella went to Katie's house for the afternoon," Pete says now. "Alice is upstairs with Maya. They have a school project."

I want to tell him I would never cheat, but he turns his back to me.

"I'll be in the shed working on some photos."

I rub my forehead. We'll talk later. Before tonight. I've organized a double date with Mel and Jack at a new karaoke joint in Black Lake, a throwback to our college days. We've all been busy with Thanksgiving last week and now the chaos of December coming up. It'll be the first time we've gotten together in a while.

I go upstairs, knocking gently on Alice's door. "Hi, girls."

"Hey, Mom," Alice says.

Maya stares at me, an unexpected animosity hardening her features. I step back, surprised, as she grabs her things, mutters something to Alice, and brushes past me.

Alice looks confused. I'm confused, too.

"Maya?" I hurry after her.

She's almost at the front door when something falls out of her backpack. "You dropped ..."

I reach for it but freeze. On the floor is a glittery gold pen.

Traitors gonna swing, bitch.

I stand slowly. Maya tries to snatch the pen, but I pull it away.

"It's you?" I whisper. "The note in my car, those texts. Why?"

"You stole my shit," she hisses.

My mind is spinning. The stolen tennis shoes and jerseys. The gun. Theo.

"Did Theo put you up to this?" I ask. "I saw you with him."

Her eyes flare. "What? No."

I look at Maya, this girl I've known since she was five years old.

You better keep your mouth shut.

She's scared. But not of Theo. Of me.

She thinks I'll turn her in.

I open my mouth to tell her I would never do that. I wanted to protect her. It's Theo who's dangerous. But something else entirely comes out.

"Who is Theo working for?"

That night, Mrs. McCormack comes over to watch the girls while Pete and I go out. It's too late and too dark to leave them home alone. Mrs. McCormack and I have grown closer the last few months, going to yoga together, drinks in the evenings.

I've told her some of the troubles Pete and I have been having, although of course not all of them, and when we go to leave, Mrs. McCormack hugs me and whispers in my ear, "If every chapter had a happy ending, we'd have no reason to start the next one."

Pete and I head into town, walking slowly even though the wind is flexing its muscle, stirring the uneasy clouds. A storm is brewing.

We reach the lake, which stretches like black velvet before us, the restaurant in the distance. We talk as we walk, fingers twined together.

I tell him I've been feeling like a failure since I lost the art studio—a truth—and that the guy Alice saw me with was one of Jack's employees, that I'd been asked to check on him, as he'd had COVID—a partial lie. He apologizes for drinking so much, for getting himself suspended from work, and swears he'll do better.

"Come here." He pulls me against him as we reach the restaurant. I press my body along the length of him, grateful we're no longer arguing. Pete is the love of my life; it physically hurts when we're angry with each other.

Mel and Jack are already seated when we arrive. The restaurant is an overpriced seafood place with excellent food and a gorgeous view. The conversation flows. Mel doesn't drink and Pete promises to keep it light, but somehow we still manage to finish two bottles of wine before we head to the karaoke bar.

The place is bumping, with a full-size stage, a wall of videos, fancy lighting, and a sound system.

"I can't get up there and sing!" Mel gasps.

She looks stunning, all lithe and graceful in a low-cut, silky cream blouse and leather pants, her body toned, her hair sleek, her skin glowing with health.

"Sure you can, it's just like in college!" I have to shout over the music.

"I was drunk in college!"

"Come on, first round's on us," I say.

Jack raises an eyebrow. He always gets the drinks, but I have money now. Okay, maybe it was Jack's money, but it's mine now.

Pete and I grab the drinks, taking them to a table Mel and Jack have chosen near the back. Pete's hand on my lower back is warm. I lean into him, enjoying this feeling, the heat, the electricity.

We start with shots and move on to mai tais, Diet Coke for Mel. I get up to sing "Don't Stop Believin'"; then Mel belts out "Like a Virgin." When it's Jack's turn, he tosses back a shot of tequila and sings a hilarious version of "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys.

Mel moves closer to the stage to cheer Jack on, and everyone in the bar is laughing hysterically. I watch my brother capture the audience. Jack has always had that ability to charm people. It's the same power Theo had over me. But Jack is one of the good guys.

Suddenly I realize the easiest way to stop Theo's threats. It's so simple, it's almost dumb.

All I need to do is tell Jack the truth.

Except what Maya told me earlier is still niggling at me. The person Theo is working for. There is an alternative. Am I brave enough to do it?

"Hey." Pete's voice nudges into my thoughts. He's back from the bathroom, except I can tell from his breath he was actually at the bar. I don't want to ruin the night, so I don't say anything.

Pete reaches a hand under the table to my knee. My heart skips a beat at his touch. Maybe it's the alcohol or the way he's looking at me. I lean forward and kiss him. He tastes of lime and salt and tequila.

"Do you know how lucky I am?" Pete murmurs.

"Not as lucky as I am."

And it's true. After my dad left, I thought I would never be worth anything to anybody. But then I met Pete.

Jack actually set us up. He vaguely knew Pete, who was school friends with Nick Greene. Nick came from a political family and had high hopes of getting into office one day. I knew that Jack had set us up in order to get access to Nick. Or maybe I'm being cynical. It's pretty Machiavellian to set your sister up with a man you hope will open doors for you. But I know Jack. He loves me, but there's always an end goal in mind.

It never bothered me because I got Pete out of the deal. This wonderful, uncomplicated, loyal man who fills every space inside me. Who's given me a family, our two amazing girls, a kind of love that is both my compass and my map.

The bar is heaving, music swelling, but I feel it all disappear as our kiss deepens, Pete's tongue dancing over mine.

"Get a room!" Mel shouts as she and Jack return.

Pete and I pull apart, giggling like teens in a dark cinema.

We talk about college, about the gigs we used to go to, the music we listened to. Jack leaves, returning with three tequila shots, another Diet Coke, and a bottle of Dom. The old me would've rolled my eyes. He's showing off, I'd think. But now I just smile and let the bubbles fizz on my tongue. My big brother, just four minutes older, likes taking care of people. Flashing money around is his love language.

Pete excuses himself to go to the bathroom. He's gone a long time. Mel goes back onstage, belts out another song, leaving Jack and me alone at the table.

"I know, Laura," he says after a few minutes.

"Know what?"

"Rose found one of your invoices. DIY Building Supply?"

Everything seems to fade, the music, the people. My breath hardens in my throat.

"You don't think I know everything that goes on in my business?" Jack's eyes blaze. "I followed the accounts. I know they belong to you."

"Jack ..." I want to apologize, but it's not like it was a fluke. I did this on purpose.

And then I don't have to because somebody trips over a nearby chair, crashing into our table and sending drinks flying. I jump up, legs splattered with booze, and see Pete scramble to his feet, eyes glassy, a sheen of sweat on his upper lip.

"Come on, buddy, let's get you outside." Jack guides Pete to the door just as Mel reappears. He doesn't look back at me.

Outside, Pete promptly vomits on a bush. I'm mortified. We're not college kids anymore.

"Maybe we should go home."

"Nooo," Pete slurs.

"I don't think you're in any state to be out right now," Jack says.

"Why don't you get him home, babe?" Mel says, ever the problem solver. "I'll stay with Laura."

Jack shrugs. "Sure. I have an early-morning meeting anyway."

Anger flickers across Mel's face, but she recovers quickly.

I know I shouldn't leave Pete like this, but I'm so annoyed, and Mel seems so eager to carry on, and honestly, I don't want the night to end. So I give in.

Jack helps Pete to a waiting taxi. As they drive off, Mel lights a cigarette.

"Mel! Is that even allowed with your pacemaker?"

"Ehh." She hands me the cigarette, and I take a drag, coughing a little as I do. It's been a long time since those heady college days.

"When did you start smoking again?"

"Oh, right about the time Jack started fucking his secretary."

"Shit."

Poor Mel. She's worried not just about her health but her husband, too.

"Yep."

"I'm sorry. Jack's a jackass."

It's what we called Jack in college. She would laugh and say, Yeah, but he's my jackass . She doesn't laugh now.

Mel and I finish the cigarette; then she grabs my hand and drags me inside. We order more drinks, then move onto the dance floor. Strange men hit on us and we laugh in their faces, so hard our stomachs hurt. We throw back shots and we smoke cigarettes and we dance like we're young and free.

When the night ends, we walk back to my house to wait while Mel calls a taxi. Wind tosses my hair around my face, whipping at my cheekbones. A rumble of thunder cracks in the distance and rain pings off my face. The storm is here.

We turn into my driveway, talking about Christmas, setting a date to go shopping, when someone steps out from behind my minivan.

Theo.

And he has a gun leveled at Mel's head.