Page 104 of Above All Else
“So you entertained the relationship?” I glared at James, and he shook his head.
“Therewasn’ta relationship.Wewent to the Garden of the Gods together,“ he moved his finger between him and Susan. “The next morning after we’d gotten back, there was a postcard on my windshield, along with the photograph.” He shook his head and moved closer to her. “I never went with her. I swear it.”
“But you knew about this little thing between them?”
“Only after it was too late.” Susan swallowed, the weariness on her face creasing the wrinkles around her eyes. “I am sorry, Carter. She was out of control.”
“Sorry?” I huffed. “You don’t murder a child because they are out of control. You find them help.” My stomach clenched, bile burning my throat as I squeezed the handle Susan used to kill my little sister. I turned, my nails scraping against my scalp as unshed tears burned my eyes. “You have to turn yourself in.”
“What?” Susan shuddered, her hand clutching her shirt. “I can’t do that. Think of what it would do to June.”
I growled, my fist punching through the wall. “Do you know what your lie has done already?” Plaster fluttered to the floor as I pulled my hand from the hole.
“Hey,” James said. “Now you’re going to fix that.”
“That’s the least of your worries, James.” I turned to Susan. “Did you ever wonder what really happened that caused June to leave Avon?”
“We assumed she found you and took the chance she always wanted.”
My heart soared, the validation of her feelings swimming inside me.
“I almost killed her.”
“You what?” James clenched his fists.
“Someone convinced me she was responsible. Sent me videos,” I held up the knife, “and this...” I turned it, showing her the initials carved into it.
“I knew that looked familiar.” James’ brows hiked. “Why doyou have it?”
“Just said... Someone wanted me to kill June and place the blame for Amber’s death on her. All becauseyoukept it a secret.”
“Who would want to do that?”
“Who else?” I chuffed. “The Exodus.”
Susan’s eyes widened as she snapped her gaze up to James, her breaths coming in short and hard. “But The Reckoning is over, and you don’t have the immunity here like you did there.”
“And?”
“So...” She gulped. “So you can’t kill me without going to prison yourself.”
I backed away from her. “I have no intentions of killing you, Susan.” I looked at James. “Or you.” I tucked the knife in my other hand and used my free hand to reach into my jacket pocket. “But I do intend on turning you in.”
Turning the screen towards her, I showed her the phone recording of our conversation.
James fisted his hands at his side and stepped toward me.
“Careful. This conversation is saving on the cloud.” James halted in place. “So even if you take my phone or do anything to me, you won’t have access to delete it.”
I put my hand on the open door and backed away from the room. “It’s taught me something, you know?” I waved the knife between us. “All of this.” Sniffing, I rubbed my nose. “It’s taught me just how far I’m willing to go for love and the sacrifices I’d make for it.”
“Do you think June will forgive you for this?” Susan stood, her arms crossed over her chest, a tear crawling down her cheek. “She won’t.”
“Then she wasn’t the girl I thought I knew,” I paused, “but there is one thing I do know.” I put the knife back into my jacket pocket and stepped out into the hallway. “She’ll for sure never forgive you. You’ve got until three today.”
Chapter 27
June