Echo(55)

“What about his wife? Has she been in the news?”

“No. The coverage is so limited at this point. The police are keeping a tight lip while the case is being investigated.”

I give a nod, and then she adds, “Honey?”

“What is it?”

“Have you thought any more on calling your son? Don’t you think he should know?”

Clapping my hands together, I rest my forearms on the table. “Not yet.”

“I could call him.”

I shake my head, saying, “Lachlan mentioned a girl he’s been spending time with in Gala. Elizabeth Archer. Can you remember that name?”

“Elizabeth Archer,” she repeats. “Yes. Why?”

“I need to know who she is and what interest she has in my son. Lachlan told me she’s only been in Scotland for a short time. I couldn’t get too much information because the call was cut short.”

“Who do you think she is?”

“Don’t know. But someone shot Declan within days of Bennett’s murder, and he refused to mention who. There’s a link in this somewhere; I know it.”

“This is so unfair,” she voices. “I mean, you never hurt anyone. I don’t know why you’re sitting here in jail and not the others who are involved. Why don’t you give up their names?”

“You know why, Camilla. We’ve already talked about it. These aren’t the types of people you turn your back on. This business is much bigger than me. And knowing the amounts of money I’ve been laundering and the lives at stake if someone were to blow the whistle, I’d be killed.”

“I know we’ve talked about it, it’s just . . . ”

“Look,” I say, wanting her to not get wrapped up in the emotions of it all. “For right now, just focus on taking care of yourself. Focus on figuring out who this girl is that’s spending time with Declan. I don’t want you getting hung up on things that are out of our control right now, all right?”

Nodding, she yields, “All right.”





STEPPING FOOT ON foreign soil feels freeing. I’m relieved of the weight I’ve been bearing on my back, and it’s a welcome change to be able to walk around without constantly looking over my shoulder.

I arrived here in Scotland yesterday, and after getting my first night of solid rest in a long time, I woke up this morning, revived.

But now, it’s business.

Finding her is my ticket to freedom.

So when I open up my laptop, I start searching with the two names I’m already aware of that she uses: Nina Vanderwal and Elizabeth Archer.





“HELLO?” I ANSWER when my cell rings.

“Elizabeth, it’s Lachlan.”

His voice disappoints. Ever since Declan came to me and asked me not to leave, I’ve been hoping to hear from him, but so far, nothing.

“Hi.”

“I was wondering if we could get together. I have some information about your mother.”

A slight jolt of adrenaline rushes my body. Or is it anxiety? Fear, maybe? I don’t know what it is exactly, but it awakens something inside of me, and I ask, “You found her?”

“Yes. Do you have time to meet me?”

“Are you in town?” I ask, knowing he lives over an hour away in Edinburgh.

“I can be. You just tell me what works for you.”

“I can come to the city.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” I respond. “It’ll be nice to have a little change of scenery.”

Honestly, I just need a distraction. I spent all of yesterday moping around after having Declan here the night before. The tangled mess of this situation is driving me to madness. Trying to deal with the wound I opened the other night is proving to be too much for me to cope with.

And when one wound opens, so does another.

With the rousing of the shame and disgust of my past that I’d forced to lie dormant for so long, I needed a vice to help me grapple with the war inside of me. So I did what I’m becoming good at, and when the tranquility of blood running down my neck faded, I hammered my fists into my thighs. I wasn’t sated until I could finally see the blood pooling beneath my skin. Mutilated alabaster.

I hang up with Lachlan after I jot down his address and grab my scarf and coat. I head out and make the drive to Edinburgh. When I turn onto Merchiston Gardens, I’m greeted with beautiful Victorian homes.