More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
It burns, but a good type of burn, like the small fires we sometimes need in our lives to remind us that we are alive.
I’ve always felt like Sarah was taking on the world, while I was just struggling to live in it.
That’s the funny thing about dreams. You always eventually wake up from them.
She’s not one of the best: she is the best—like I always knew she would be. I just never thought I’d resent her so much for it.
Two women trying to make it in a man’s world. We work twice as hard as our male counterparts to make it just an inch ahead of them.
The slam of a car door wakes me from my slumber.
red illuminating digits it reads 12:15am.
The most recent text is from a girl named Jesse. It reads ‘I’m sorry.’
Too late. You’re a fucking memory now. That’s the final text message from Scott at 11:45pm.
I slide my hand up her thigh into her core. It’s wetter than it’s ever been, and I think at first, she’s going to wake up for me immediately. But she doesn’t stir, and when she doesn’t, I take my hand away. I want to be there for her in every type of way—physically, mentally, and emotionally. I wipe my wet hand against my pants and quietly walk out of the room.
Kelly, It’s you. It hasn’t always been you, but it will always be you. You’re the words to a story I’ve been trying to write my whole life, and tonight I determined the ending. Love you, Love me, Adam P.S. The maid will be here at 9am. Please make sure you’re gone before then.
I look down at my phone before getting into my black Range Rover. It’s 12:30am.
By my side of the bed I shuffle off my pants and shirt.
It’s the only reason the human race isn’t extinct, because people with no purpose breed,”
“I always test people. If they can’t handle me at my worst, they don’t deserve me at my best,”
I’ve always believed the eyes cannot lie. They hold the truths we are unable or unwilling to speak.
“I don’t know how to explain it. He just seems like he’s more interested in this case than he should be.”
“He doesn’t seem to think Adam did it either. Don’t you think it’s odd that he told me that as the defense attorney on the case?”
“Yes, as the defense attorney. But not as the wife. He’s probably just not able to draw the lines between what’s appropriate and what’s not given what’s going on. This is an extremely odd predicament you’re all in.”
“Evidence went missing during the trial, and the charges were dismissed. But guess who one of the arresting officers on the scene was?” “Who?” “None other than Scott Summers.”
“If you plead not guilty, the D.A. will try for the death penalty. If you plead guilty, they’re offering twenty-five years with no possibility of parole. What would you like to plea?”
Anne’s tote bag falls to the floor with a loud thud, and nearly everything spills out of it. She quickly bends down and gathers her items. “Sorry,” she says as Sheriff Stevens and I bend down to help.
while Anne finishes packing her tote bag.
turn to Anne just as she gets her bag back up on her shoulder.
“Nope. That’s it—did Kelly ever talk about the other guy she was seeing?” “I didn’t even know there was another guy.” He makes a hmmph sound and walks to the built-in bookshelf. He reads the spines and randomly pulls out one here and there. I look into the kitchen and watch my mom fill her wine glass a second time.
“You never got the sense there was someone else?” he asks. “No.” “She never slipped up and mentioned another man’s name or anything like that?” “No, like I said, I didn’t know she was seeing someone else.” There’s an edge of annoyance in my voice.
Sarah just mumbles to herself, but she seems disappointed that he’s leaving. Why does she want him to stay? Is she trying to get more information out of him for the case? Or is there something between them?
I seem to have been living solely off coffee, water, and alcohol.
“Thirty-two, lives alone in Gainesville, dropped out of high school, no real job history. He seems to do freelance writing and painting on the side according to his Facebook page. No family in the area, not sure how he came to live around here. Never been married and no kids. Overall, he’s kind of a creepy recluse.” “Registered phone number?” “Yep. It’s on the first page, and it matches one text and a dozen missed calls in Kelly’s phone history. He texted her, ‘I’m sorry’ on the night of the murder and all the calls were sporadic a couple of days before.”
I can’t even recall what happened that made his whole demeanor change. Was it something Adam said? Did Adam threaten him?
I can’t read this guy, but I feel like he’s hiding something or maybe just not sharing the full truth with me.
Kelly and I were friends. She gave me her phone number and everything.” He slams his fist on the table.
knew who her friends were or at least the people she was with a lot. One of them was a cop.” Jesse juts up his chin and raises his eyebrows. “You mean Officer Scott Summers, her husband?” Sheriff Stevens shifts in his seat and places his elbows on the table. The room is silent, while the two stare at one another. Jesse doesn’t really move. He simply stares.
stop paying attention to Jesse and Sheriff Stevens and pull out my phone.
Wait what?!?!
late-night visitor, I got a delayed start this morning.
“Bob Miller,”
I can’t worry about him though.
Nicholas Robert Miller.
“Here are the copies of the case files you asked for.”
Anne??? Or sheriff?
something Jesse said that made me think twice and if I’m right about this, it would explain why no one saw Kelly with this third man and why this third man used a burner phone.
She’s the one person I can always depend on, the one person I can always trust.
I know Sarah has let her stay there in the past for vacation, but why was she there then?
“Your son is a liar, a cheater, and possibly a murderer. Your coddling and over-the-top mothering has gotten Adam into this mess. The best thing you could do as a mother is to take note from mine and kill yourself.”
Even when you have nothing left in your life, hope is the one thing that can never be taken away.
“Did you ever see Kelly with anyone else?” Sheriff Stevens asks. Anne glances around the room. “What an odd question,” Matthew says from behind me. “It is. Isn’t it?” I glance back at him and then return my attention to Anne and Sheriff Stevens. What is he getting at? What’s his angle?
