Page 79 of The One Before

Something about this interaction feels dangerous, but I can’t pinpoint why. “If you’re trying to help Coop—”

“Cooper is at risk because someone turned him in,” Josephine interjects, taking a step closer to me. “Based on your slip a few moments ago, I think that person is you.”

I look to Roman, as though he might help me, though clearly that’s not what he’s here to do. “It doesn’t matter who turned him in,” I say, flailing for excuses. “He confessed.”

“That confession can be thrown out,” she says. “As long as there isn’t someone to corroborate his story.”

I step closer to the fire, feeling the warmth of the flames near my skin. “They won’t need anyone to corroborate his story once they find Laura’s body.”

At the sound of her name, Roman shudders. He tips his head upwards, staring at the ceiling.

“No one has looked for Laura Price in years,” Josephine says. “You’ve been here two months, and they have dive teams swarming the lake?”

“I love Coop, but what he did all those years ago—”

“Don’t insult us with your proclamations of love.” Josephine sits in the armchair, crossing her legs, without ever breaking eye contact. “Love is unconditional. Mother to son. Brother to brother. Husband to wife. You’ve betrayed my son, and all of us in the process.”

I try not to wilt under her hypnotic stare. “Josephine, I can’t imagine how difficult all this must be for you. Learning what Coop did all those years ago.”

“Are you that dense? You think I only found out about Laura Price tonight?” She leans forward, ensuring her words sink in. “A mother knows her son.”

I blink away tears, trying to remember everything Coop told me. “He said you didn’t know—”

“I told her,” Roman says at last, stepping away from the wall.

“You knew?”

“Cooper needed help getting rid of the body, so he called me,” he says. “I’m the one who drove her back to Whisper and left her in the lake. I had to tell Mom. We were kids. We’d never have managed to cover it up without guidance.”

Roman has known about Laura this entire time. It explains why Coop won’t tell the police about Laura’s remains. He doesn’t want Roman to get in trouble. Hell, Coop may not even know where he put the body. I look to Josephine, seeing her for what feels like the first time. “Guidance?” I ask. Even being their mother, I can’t believe she’d condone such behavior.

“Cooper was already upset. It was best he never knew about my involvement,” Josephine says. She breaks eye contact, looking at the assortment of rings on her hands. “I told Roman what to do with the body. I told him to buy those festival tickets and clean the apartment. The boys made some mistakes, but they did better than last time. At least Laura’s body still hasn’t been found.”

Last time.A cry escapes my lungs, and I take another step back, almost stumbling into the fire. “Celia? Did you have something to do with her, too?”

“You aren’t the first woman to try and interfere with my family.” She looks at me again, her stare sharp enough to pierce through me.

I’m scared. No one is coming to my rescue. My phone and keys are on the other side of Josephine and Roman, two immovable threats. I focus only on this moment, on this dynamic which is turning unsafe.

“We can figure another way out of this,” I say, knowing the suggestion is futile.

“I’m sorry, Madison. Our hands are tied.” She looks over her shoulder at Roman. “Get her.”

He darts after me, barely giving me time to skirt between the fireplace and sofa. Either way I turn, I’m blocked. This spacious home is closing in. He corners me behind an armchair. I raise my hand to strike him, but he grabs my wrist, twisting it downward. I attempt to kick him, but my strength is no match for his. He grabs my other arm, attaching both wrists with zip ties. He pushes my body onto the sofa.

“Now what?” Roman asks, pacing manically in front of the fireplace.

“We’ll take her to one of the rental properties. There’s too much activity at the lake,” Josephine says.

“My statement is already on record. Even if I disappear, they’ll use what I told them against Coop. You don’t have to do this.” I’m speaking to Josephine, but I hope Roman hears me. Something in his nature makes me think he’s not as convinced killing me is the right option.

“The police may have your statement, but you have a habit of telling lies,” Josephine says, pulling my attention back to her. “At least that’s why you lost your job at theChronicle.”

Remembering my career and why I lost it seems foreign now, in this moment of life or death. My breathing slows, as I remember what life was like before I moved here. “What do you know about that?”

“I know everything about it,” she says, her lips twisting into a smile. “Cooper had played around in the city long enough. I had to bring him back here, but I knew that wouldn’t happen unless you joined him. I’d been in Atlanta three days. Bernard Wright’s name was everywhere at that time. I could tell you were a spitfire. You’d chase a story if the right one was presented. All I needed to do was put the pieces in place.”

“You planted that story?” All this time I’d assumed Bernard Wright’s defense team set a trap and I fell for it. I never dreamed it was Josephine.

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