Real Bad Things(66)

“Have they talked to Jason?” Georgia Lee asked.

“Yeah, but he won’t say anything.” Some other thought bubbled underneath Jane’s assurance.

Would Jason stay quiet as they led his sister away in handcuffs for a murder she hadn’t committed? Would Jane? They all had much more to lose as adults than they ever had as teens.

“They haven’t confirmed it’s me in the photos. They don’t have any additional evidence. Or any, for that matter,” Georgia Lee said. “At least none that I know of. Just your confession.”

That stupid, stupid confession.

Jane faced her, exasperated, tired, ready to give up. She might as well have written I surrender! on her face. “It’s not like I wanted to. I made a mistake. There’s nothing I can do about it now.”

Here Jane was, willing to take the fall for something she didn’t do, again. Praise Jesus came to mind before Georgia Lee had time to admonish her wicked subconscious self. Jason had never told Jane anything else about their fight with Warren. That could change, and quick.

“Don’t turn yourself in again before they even show up to your door. That’s insane.”

Jane glared at her. “I didn’t say I would.”

“Well, good. You need to see what evidence they have before throwing in the towel. Even with your confession, it’s possible they won’t be able to convict you. You don’t have to admit to anything until you find out what they even know. It’s all speculation. It could fizzle out any minute.” Though she spoke the words to Jane, they were more for herself as the certainty of Benjamin’s tenacity, the weight of everything, and what her brain told her had happened pressed on her conscience. How could she come clean now? After saying all that? Jane would never forgive her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get rid of the picture,” Jane said. “I didn’t know it’d come back to haunt us.” Jane leaned closer to Georgia Lee to whisper, to comfort. It tore at Georgia Lee’s soul. “And I’m sorry your husband and kids have to go through all this. To see that photo. That can’t be easy. Not in Maud.”

Georgia Lee’s wedding ring glinted up at her, still there even though she wasn’t sure she wanted it or what it represented anymore. That morning, she’d slipped it halfway off but then stopped. Not until after the investigation concluded, with or without that photo. Depending on how Rusty responded to this latest reveal from Let’s Talk About Maud, she might not have a choice.

“I’m not ashamed.” In that moment, unbridled from alcohol and despair, Georgia Lee could say those words. But they weren’t altogether true. She’d heard nothing but how wrong girls like them were. But a small part of her, the one that had opened herself up to Jane back then, fought to get out, to be heard, to be seen again. “What I hate is that other people think I should be ashamed. I’d like to at least have the option to choose what I share and have the opportunity to explain it rather than respond to it.”

“How do you want me to explain us when the cops show up asking questions and pull out those photos? You want me to lie?”

“I don’t know.” She hadn’t outright denied it in front of the reporters. “I’ll say it was a fling. Long before anything to do with Warren. So you can keep your story intact.”

Jane offered a withering look. “Thanks. I’m sure your husband would be delighted to hear that.”

Georgia Lee wrestled herself out of the busted sofa cushions she’d sunk into amid Jane’s apologies and entreaties to stay. Once she extricated herself from the couch, she slung her purse onto her shoulder. She’d never been one for soap opera theatrics, but the wine and the whiskey and the circumstances had put her in a mood for just that. At the door, she held on to the handle. For drama and also to assist in her efforts to not fall down. But it only reminded her of Warren. She snatched her hand away as if the handle were hot liquid.

“One day, you’re going to regret that you responded with sarcasm instead of kindness.” She lifted her chin, defiant. Let Jane know what someone else leaving was like for a change.





Twenty

GEORGIA LEE

The tap at Georgia Lee’s window about scared her to death. Only one exterior light lit the laundromat parking lot that sat at the entrance to Maud Bottoms Estates; the interior loomed in darkness. Georgia Lee had parked off to the side and in the shadows. Appropriately, near the dumpster. She’d been in no condition to drive and decided to wait awhile to sober up. She’d fallen asleep and dreamed of tumbling under the lock, over and over, her breath held, her lungs screaming.

Jane stood at her car door, sweat glistening on her forehead from the stuffy night air.

After pulling herself together from the fright, Georgia Lee checked the time—a little after ten o’clock—and rolled down the window. “What are you doing out here? How did you find me?”

Jane paused and then laughed. “You didn’t even leave the trailer park. I went for a walk and saw your car,” she said. “You shouldn’t leave the car running.”

“It’s the outdoors, not a garage. I’m not trying to kill myself.”

Jane smirked. “I meant that someone might see you. And it’s bad for the environment.”

Georgia Lee smirked right back. “Get in the car,” she said. “It’s hotter than Hades out there.”