Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
"He never ran for president," I say, growing even more confused.
"In high school. For his class? Dad missed my awards program to go help him," he says, sounding more like a bitter brother than one concerned that his older brother has had the ability to hurt people. "He never could stand not to be the center of attention."
"Were we going to stop to get a phone?"
"With you looking like that?" he says, his jaw clenching as if just hearing my voice annoys him.
"Chris," I whisper.
"Always the center of attention," he repeats. "I bet he killed Faye and had Sadie killed."
His words snap me right back into my current reality.
"Sadie overdosed," I say, my heart kicking up ten levels.
That's what they were told. Chris and William should think nothing else happened unless they knew better.
"Right," Chris says, but I know he knows what I know when he gives me a quick glance. "I bet he made it look that way."
As if watching CGI in a movie, his face transforms to someone I don't recognize at all.
The sadness is gone. The irritation he was portraying about William, all of it fades away. I swear he looks demonic, sinister in a way that had he looked like this all the time, I would've known the minute I opened the front porch that I should've run instead of asking him for help.
"Oh Chris," I say, tears already streaming down my face.
So many things make sense, and it's as if knowing he was involved and not William makes everything crystal clear.
"I know I sound horrible, but William has caused so many problems for our family," he says, the mask back in place.
I can't tell if he's actually aware of what I've discovered or not. What I do know is I should keep my mouth shut, but I just can't wrap my head around my baby brother doing something so heinous.
"You came through the front door," I say. "Where was your car?"
"I parked it in the garage," he says, eyes on the road. "Like always."
I glance at his hands when he shifts them on the steering wheel, just now noticing the small abrasions on the back of his left hand.
Did he wipe blood on his face that was transferred from me or did he already have blood on him and I was just too crazed after finding Faye to notice?
I dig deep into my memory, but I just can't pull up the image of him at the front door very clearly.
He didn't act anything but upset when the officer came to the house and gave us the bad news.
But didn't Faye say he threw stuff away out of spitefulness? Did I get confused on her timeline and think she was the one confused?
I shake my head because clear as I thought things were, more thoughts only lead to more unanswered questions.
I recall the way William acted on the porch after he left, and the sincerity I felt in his emotions after being told about Sadie's death.
But Chris didn't act surprised or confused about the alternative explanation either.
Am I making it up in my head? Am I grasping at straws to make this all make sense? Am I losing my mind completely?
Tears continue to fall, and I know I'm in trouble when a sob bubbles out and he turns to look at me like I'm the most disgusting thing he's ever laid eyes on.
"What's wrong, mother hen? Having trouble putting two and two together?"
"Wh-who are you?" I manage, covering my mouth when another sob escapes. "You killed Faye? Had Sadie killed?"
"Sadie died of a drug overdose," he mimics, an attempt at the exact same tone I used earlier. "You probably don't have any idea what it was like having to grow up in William's shadow. I bet Sadie knew what it was like growing up in yours. The first daughter, the oldest. I can only imagine how many times she heard, your sister would never do that or you should be more like Cora."
I look at the dash, seeing that we're going over seventy-five. There's no way I could survive if I caused an accident, and I also have to worry about the others on the highway with us. Putting anyone else in danger isn't an option.
"Will was always the one expected to reach for the stars," Chris continues. "He was the one meant for greatness. Why would Dad waste any energy on me? I gave him a chance."
"Who?" I whisper.
"Dad. We were supposed to have a good day for my birthday. I gave him a chance to redeem himself, to make up for all the times I was cast aside for William, but of course our perfect brother needed his help."
"Wh-what are you saying?" I ask, cold dread crawling inside of me like a spreading virus.
I should've kept my mouth shut. I should've just let him keep talking because maybe he would've skipped over the details.