Chapter 192
“You’re no dun,” Rebecca mumbled with a pout, then lit up again. “This is the key to sending Tina to prison.”
She tapped on the screen.
Vespera leaned in to take a closer look, then smiled, “You planted a listening device in the artifact you sold to Mrs. Sowle.”
She knew it. No wonder Rebecca was in such a good mood–she didn’t walk away empty–handed.
“How did you.” Reberca blinked, caught off guard, but quickly pieced it together. “You were eavesdropping next door?”
Vespera gave her a wide–eyed, reverent look “Ms. Snyder, your magical powers are incredible. I’m honestly in awe.”
Rebecca couldn’t help but laugh, thinking back to the whole scene. “That old witch was too slick. She’d never believe me if I didn’t go all in like that.
figured there was still a chance she’d keep her mouth shut, so I took advantage of all the setup we did earlier. The timing was perfect to sell her that crucifix necklace with a hidden mic inside.
“Now she’ll bring it home and have Tina wear it. No way they won’t let something slip when they think they’re alone.”
Vespera gave her a big thumbs–up. Then she asked, “That thing Mrs. Sole mentioned today, how did you even find out about it?”
“Tina had slipped through my fingers twice. That was a personal insult to my career. One of my friends, a psychologist, told me that for someone as extreme and twisted as Tina, that kind of personality doesn’t form overnight.
“The stuff she polled–it’s not something you past suddenly low how to do. A nemal person, even if she’s spolled or bratty, wouldn’t jump straight to cruel Tactics on her first crime.
“So I started wondering… had she done something before? I went at it from two angles, tracking down the doctor who faked her reports and digging into her past ““That’s whent found out that five years ago, she was questioned by police over a missing male classmate, I knew there had to be more to it
“I looked into the boy–he was a straight–Astudent, top of his grade, smart, polite, good–looking, real clean–cut.
“He vanished five years ago and was never found. Do you know why Tina was questioned? Because he was last seen with her.”
Achill ran down Vespera’s spine.
At first glance, maybe it didn’t sound that serious. A missing boy didn’t have to mean she was involved. But after what Claire said… Whether she thought about it deeply or just a little, it was terrifying either way.
Rebecca continued, “I found out Mrs. Bowle was superstitious, so I quietly followed her once and saw her go into Verrin Tower to meet with Ms. Kinsman. “After she left, I went in myself and gave Ms. Kinsman a little secret about Mrs. Sowle, something that could help squeeze more money out of her.
“That old har only cares about money, so we hit it off instantly. And you know what? She’s got better mind games than half the cops and therapists I’ve met. Took hai, what, two conversations? Mrs. Sowle fell for it hard and thought she was a living saint.
Vespers laughed. “Come on. If someone can expose secrets even the police don’t know about, of course, she’d look like a living saint.”
Rebecca grinned. “Exactly. That’s how we pulled off today’s performance,”
Then Wespera frowned. But that boy just disappeared like that. Tina was clearly a suspect. Didn’t his family do anything?!
Rebecca’s expression turned serious. “I heard from one of the neighbors. The boy lived with just his mom. It’s a single–parent household.
“After he went nussing, his mom raised hell she showed up at the Sowle residence multiple times. Then, one night, her place exploded from a gas leak, and she
H
Vespera went cold all over
She told Rebecca about Luke showing up and pressuring her to sign the release agreement for Tina. “I was going to the firm to find you just to tell you about this.” Rebecca’s face darkened as she listened. Then she suddenlykild the coffee table and began pacing, hands on her hips a
boiled over
“Luke, that motherfucker! What the hell is he? He should just die already! Does he even count as a person? He’s not even it to be a dog!
“Ever since he got involved with that twisted psycho Tina, he’s not human either! A release agreement? They can go eat shit! I’ll give them two pounds of it, gift- wrapped!”
“Beca
**Vespera’s face had gone pale. If I had just been Luke’sthreats, she might’ve held her ground. She would even believe she could fight back.
But hearing about the boy’s mom and how she died in that explosion. She was genuinely scared now.
Rebecca stopped pacing and looked at her, instantly picking up on what she was thinking. “Don’t be scared. Scor tut.”
“What if something happens to my parents? What it something happens to you? I couldn’t live with that.”
Rebecca looked like she was about to explode “it’s all because of Lake, that bastard. He dragged all this shit in! Even after the divorce, he won’t let you live in
“I swear, If there’s a god or something out there, please send someone to take out both him and Tina already!”
past then, the doorbell rang.
Rebecca Brownrd “Who the hell is that this late?!
She headed toward the door, but Vespera lunged and grabbed her arm in a panic “Wait, don’t. Don’t open it.”
