Stone Cold Fox (99)

Bea Case would, though, wouldn’t she?

I promised myself I wouldn’t hurt Collin again, even unknowingly. For him, but also for our child. That much I could do. I already knew the baby would prefer Daddy to me. I had a strong feeling about it, but it didn’t bother me at all because I wasn’t like her. And I didn’t even have to love Collin, at least not in the traditional sense, since I wasn’t sure that I ever could, but I could care for him in my own way. I could be the perfect wife. Simple. I’d make him believe I loved him and our family. I could be the star of this show, as always. He’d given me what I wanted so I would do the same for him. Fair is fair.

And more importantly, I’d provide safety for them in a different way. It was the trade-off now that Mother was lingering. I hadn’t heard from her since that night, but I knew it wasn’t the last of her. She would be back, prowling and plotting, so I would keep watch for the family, be on high alert and make sure she never infiltrated our lives again. It was a new purpose for me, including others as part of my motivation, but the rationale was one that I knew well. It was all I ever wanted. To be different from her, have her out of my life, even if my heart eternally hoped she would change, but I knew better. She would never, ever change.

And so it goes, but now it wasn’t just enough to be different from Mother.

I didn’t know if it was possible for me, but really, I wanted to be more like Syl.



* * *



? ? ?

SYL BOUNDED INTO the party, beaming from ear to ear, looking every part of the mother-to-be’s best gal pal. I had invited her to the shower in an effort to clear the air between us. A couple texts were exchanged to check in on Collin after what happened to Gale, checking in on how I was doing with my pregnancy. Surface-level interactions, but still, very sweet. I knew we had so much to say to each other, but would we actually do it now that we were face-to-face again?

“Hi,” she said, approaching my maternal throne. I struggled to get up and Syl took my hands to help me, hesitating before launching into the warmest hug, her own animal instincts on display. “You look beautiful.”

“Thirsty?” I asked, not knowing how to begin, if at all.

“Sure.” She nodded.

Syl took my hand and we strolled over to the table of refreshments, which were basically untouched due to everyone’s unhealthy obsession with their own bodies. In some ways, we’re all the same. Women. Always careful, always watching something, always for the good of the show. The show must always go on.

Syl delicately took a champagne flute from the tower and helped herself to a sip. She looked at me intently. I knew what she still wanted from me. Oh, how I wanted to be more than her friend. I wanted to be her sister. I wanted to do the right thing for her, take the test, free her father—our father—but how could I open that door now? I took a deep breath and marveled at my surroundings. I never had to worry about money or safety or security again. It had almost all been taken from me once. I couldn’t risk it all again. Not even for Syl. Before I could say a word, she took my hands.

“I know,” she said. “It’s okay.”

Of course she knew, but it wasn’t okay.

Sweet Syl.

“I took care of it,” she said, with an air of authority.

“Took care of what?” I released her hands instinctively, but she grabbed one of mine again, slipping me a piece of paper. I opened it furtively.

A DNA test. With very high percentages.

Essentially, confirmed sisters.

I crumpled the paper immediately, terrified by what it meant.

“Relax,” she said, taking it back from me to put in her purse, hidden away.

“YOU relax,” I hissed. “How did you—”

“I’m not going to share this with the Cases, you have my word.”

“But I didn’t—”

“With enough alternative samples, they can often get a solid read.”

“What the fuck are alternative sam—”

“Hair. Gum. Cigarettes. Lots of things.”

Jesus Christ, she was my sister.

“From the very beginning?” I asked, hushed, feeling deeply violated but also filled with a new level of respect.

“I wanted you to take the test of your own volition. It’s better evidence, but you didn’t so I did what I had to do. This is a start. I told you, Bea. I would do anything to get him out.”

“Holy shit,” I whispered. What else could I say?

“It’s not quite enough, though . . .” Syl trailed off.

“You can’t tell the Cases. I can’t be involved, it’s not—”

“Bea. I don’t want to blow up your life,” she said, grabbing my hands again. All I could do was laugh. “Listen. The fire? Gale? I know it was her. So do you. She’s close. She’s watching.”

I couldn’t speak.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Syl said, dead serious. “But I’m going after her.”

“After her to do what?! You can’t—”

“I can and I will.”

“You don’t know her. You don’t know what she can do.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Syl said. “You don’t need to worry. I’m going to take care of everything. I’m your big sister.”