Page 83 of The Secrets We Treasure

Treasure felt like her spirit was being ripped from her body. Laci was not only a Judas but also a murderer. Treasure spoke aloud as she worked through the details. “The texts and emails started when I reconnected with Greer after Aimee’s funeral. Laci hired you—a computer expert to send them.”

“The police couldn’t track a thing,” he bragged.

“Why did you try to break into my house?”

He grunted. “If I had wanted to get in your house, I would’ve gotten in.”

Her eyes widened. “You wanted the police to find you in the neighborhood.”

He nodded.

“The break-in gave the stalker validity.” It was everything that Ian and Sadie had helped her piece together the day before. Except they had the most important element wrong. Ethan wasn’t the villain. Never, in a million years, would Treasure have suspected that Laci was the one pulling the strings. It was an intricate plan concocted by a brilliant but wicked mind.

“Why did you stop sending the emails and texts?”

“Laci was hoping that you and your manager would get together. The way I figure it, she doesn’t relish the idea of killing her best friend.” He chuckled. “Then you had to go and get together with Greer.” He made a face. “The lengths that Laci has gone to so she can be with Greer is astounding. She must love him a lot.”

Disgust rattled her gut. “Laci knows nothing about love.” She switched gears, picking up on something he said. “What lengths?”

“Do we really have to go into this?” he whined.

“You’re going to kill me anyway. What can it hurt to tell me the rest?” Her time was running out. She had to do something! At least she could go out fighting.

“Fine,” he grumbled. “Let’s cut to the chase.” He spoke in a conversational manner, like he was reciting a list of items to be checked off. “I spiked Waylon’s insulin when he found out about Laci’s affair and threatened to cut her out of his will. That left Laci footloose and fancy-free with a whole lot of money. But then, there was the problem of Greer’s wife.”

Horror trickled through Treasure. “You killed Aimee?”

“Pushed her right off a cliff like a bowling ball hitting a strike. It happened so fast, she didn’t feel a thing.” He grimaced. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to say the same for you.”

“You posed as a stalker so that when you killed me, no one would suspect Laci.”

“That’s right. Leo Clark is obsessed with you. The clues have all been planted. Now the police can follow the trail. I go off the grid, and Leo Clark disappears forever.”

“And resurfaces as someone else.”

“Something like that.”

“Why didn’t you just kill me in my sleep? Why bring me out here?” The cold was seeping into her bones, making her feel almost paralyzed. She had to snap out of it. Keep her wits about her.

“Because I don’t relish the thought of killing two old women,” he muttered.

She had to think of something else to ask. “How did you start working for Laci? Does Sterling know?”

He scoffed. “Sterling doesn’t have an enterprising bone in his body. He’ll spend the rest of his miserable life working as a servant to the rich. He’s a lapdog.”

“You were telling me how Laci first hired you,” she prompted.

“Sterling told Laci about my boy.”

“The one with leukemia. What’s his name?”

“Thomas,” he said quietly.

“You have three other children also.”

“You’ve been checking up on me,” he jeered. “Yeah, I’ve got three other kids, but my ex-wife won’t let me get near ‘em. They might as well be strangers. But Tommy. He’s my boy.” His words got choked as he coughed. “The doctor bills are never-ending. Sheila can’t keep up.”

Treasure connected the dots. “Laci knew you needed money, so she contacted you.”

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