Chapter 9
Suzanne was arrested first.
That surprised everyone.
Including Suzanne.
She was picked up outside a luxury nail salon after trying to use my canceled bank card for a five-thousand-dollar equipment deposit.
She screamed so loudly someone filmed it.
By noon, the video was online.
By one, Patricia called Olivia’s office and demanded I “stop humiliating the family.”
Olivia put her on speaker.
“Mrs. Vale, this call is being recorded.”
Patricia hung up.
Detective Collins found Suzanne’s fingerprints on documents tied to Natalie’s insurance claim.
She had helped Derek mail forms after Natalie vanished.
She claimed she thought it was legal.
Then Collins showed her text messages.
Patricia to Suzanne:
Make sure Derek gets the death payout before Natalie’s sister asks questions.
Suzanne stopped talking.
Patricia was arrested the next day.
I expected to feel relief.
Instead, I sat on my safe apartment floor and shook.
My burns were healing.
Pink skin.
Tender.
Visible.
The doctor said scarring might fade.
Might not.
I stopped caring as much as I expected.
The scar was proof I left.
Natalie flew into Miami under protection to testify before the grand jury.
I met her in person at Olivia’s office.
She was smaller than I imagined.
She hugged me carefully.
Not touching my neck.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For not stopping him before you.”
I stepped back.
“No. He did this. Not you.”
She cried.
“I know. I’m trying to believe that for myself too.”
We sat together for three hours.
Two women connected by the same man’s violence.
Not rivals.
Not tragedies.
Witnesses.
Natalie told me Derek had once thrown hot tea near her, missing her cheek by an inch.
“He said next time I’d learn faster,” she said.
I touched my healing skin.
“He didn’t miss with me.”
Her eyes filled.
“No.”
May you like
That night, I looked in the mirror.
For the first time, I did not look away.
