CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The Paradise fundlived up to neither part of its name. Alta sat cross–legged on the squeaking bed, surrounded by newspaper clippings about Marcus’s “suicide,”
Acockroach scuttled across the cigarette–humed carpet. Thire weeks ago, she would have screamed. Now she just watched it disappear under the mini–fridge
Her mother’s violin case lay open on the dresser, the festivament still pristine amid the room’s decay. She hadert played it yet. Wasn’t sure she ever would..
A knock at the door made her fingers twitch toward the gun she’d bought two days ago: “Whoisir?
Of course. She should have kosovshe’d find her eventually.
“And James Killian, private investigator.” A second voice, rough like gravel.
Ana smiled at her reflection in the griny minu. Time for me last perfoMMET
she opened the door, letting stale hallway als mix with her room misty atmosphere. David looked better than she’d expected–clean slaven, clear–eyed.
Sobriety suited him.
The man beside him had the weathered face of someone who’d seentes noch and wiltten it all down.
“come to attest me?“ Ania stepped aside, gesturing them in with exaggerated courtesy.
“Come to understand.” David’s voice way softer than she remembered.
“Understand what?” She perched on the edge of the bed, watching the Lake in her new accommodations. “Why your father jumped? or why Sofia fell?
Killian polled out a small recorder. “Mind if I doolment this conversation?
“He nor guest.” Aria spread her arms wide. “I love an audience.”
Η
David sat in the room’s only chait, looking out of place in his expresive salt. “We know what happened, Aria.”
She laughed, the sound bouncing off water stained walls “Tell me your version then.”
“You orchestrated everything “Killian leaned against the dresser, careful not to touch the violin, “From the moment you caught Mr. Holloway and Mr. Romanoy
tupether”
“Such a detective Ana clapped slowly. “Did you figure that out all by yourself?“:
“We have evidence.” Dand pulled out a familiar envelope, “CH all of it.”
“Ludmer?” She stood, pacing the small room like a caged animal. “Like you had evidence of Solla’s other lovers? That was me tou, you know. All fabricated. She was pathetically faithful to you?
“Then there was your father,” Aria’s movements became more static. “So easy to manipulate. So desperate for control. Did you know he proposed to me? Wanted to make me the new Mrs. Holloway”
“Stop “David’s voice cracked
“Why?” She whirled on him. “Want this what you came for? The whole ugly Truth?”
“We came to other you a deal.” Killian’s professional tone cut through herfienzy, “Confession, psychiatric treatment, minimal publicity ”
Jutta there back her head and laughed. The sound had an edge of hysteria even she could hear.
“A deal?” She grabbed her laptop, typing frantically. “Let me counter–offer.”
tumed the screen toward them Documents, photos, recordings–everything she’d gathered about the Holloway family’s darker dealings.
“Que email – Herdinger hoveordover the send button. “That’s all it would talar in destroy what’s left of your precious legacy.”
“Your north dang clearly “David stood slowly, hands talsed. “You need help!
“Help?” the slamained the laptop slaut. “Like Solla needed help? Like my mother needed help?”
Anagialibed the gun hum under her pillow, pointing it at the Hour. Not thiratening, just present. “Don’t talk about her
“Dar waved it casually, enjoying how they both tensed “You’ll add and theats to my list of crimes?”
David’s eyes we fall of pity. Slr hated. “What happened to Sotta–what did to you – I’m so
word Lasted like poison. “Sorry doesn’t bring back the dead, David Sorry doesn’t do what your father did to my mother.”
Anta’s İnaiat frembled. When had she started shaking?
“After that what?” She abundah
CHAPTER SATEEN.
Hold ghosts. The gun felt heavy in her hand.
They left het there, surrounded by newspaper clippings and old gl
She lowered it slowly, catching her reflection in the minor again. Her hair hung limp around her face, designer clothes wrinkled from days of wear.
The violin on the dresser caught the dim light, strings gleaming like razor wire
Twenty–four hours.
Aria picked up her phone, scrolling through her carefully cultivated contact list. Board members, critics, joumalists all the people she’d charmed over the years.
One email might destroy the Holloways, but it would destroy her too. Unless….
Her fingers flew over the keys, composing a different kind of symphony. One made of carefully chosen words instead of notes.
David thought he was being kind, offering her a way out. He didn’t understand that she’d stopped looking for exits weeks ago.
Now she only looked for a way to end it all.
The cockroach emerged from under the fridge, antennae twitching. Aria watched it scurry across the floor, disappearing into another dark comer
She understood the impulse. But she was done hiding.
Time to face the audience one last time.
CHATEA BEVENTUEN.
