“What instructions?”
“She knew you.”
“What does that mean?”
“She knew exactly what you would do if anything happened.”
My throat tightened.
“You’d abandon school, work yourself into the ground, and decide Vicky mattered more than you did.”
I looked down.
“That’s pretty much what happened.”
“Which is why she planned around it.”
Mercer paused.
“Tomorrow morning, someone wants to meet you.”
“Who?”
“The dean of your university.”
CHAPTER 8 — THEY THOUGHT THEY STOLE OUR FUTURE. MY MOTHER HAD ALREADY SAVED IT
Six months after the fire, I walked into the courthouse holding Vicky’s hand.
This time, no one was trying to take her from me.
Howard had been indicted on two counts of murder, conspiracy, arson, financial fraud, witness intimidation, and half a dozen other charges I couldn’t remember.
Kessler had accepted a plea deal.
He would testify against Howard.
Denise had also pleaded guilty.
Not to murder.
Investigators ultimately determined she had left before Howard returned and had not known he intended to set the fire.
