Page 64 of Circle of Strangers
Will’s footsteps grow louder as he approaches the bedroom, stopping outside the door. Peeking through slitted eyes, I spot the shadows of his feet at the bottom of the door. He’s been sleeping in the guest room since our big fight and I expect him to do the same tonight, which is why it’s concerning that he’s standing in the hall outside our bedroom, lingering.
The soft creak of our door hinges sends my heart lurching to my throat.
A moment later, the bed shifts as he sits on the edge.
He’s quiet for the longest moment, and I can almost feel him watching me, the heat of his gaze heavy on my face.
“You’re not asleep.” He breaks the silence. His voice is low, steady, but most of all, knowing. “I just saw you swallow.”
He leans closer, brushing a hand lightly down my arm.
“Talk to me,” he whispers, his breath warm against the back of my neck, though it’s more commanding than endearing.
Does he know?
“Camille, enough of this.” His hand grips my arm, and he gives me a good shake, enough to wake me up had I been truly out cold.
I open my eyes, meeting his in the dark. His shape is illuminated by the hallway light spilling in from the doorway.
My mind circles back to Mara, like it has been all night. If she and Will were somehow in this together, maybe the disappearance thing was to frame Oscar but it backfired? Maybe Sozi wasn’t in on it, but Mara blamed her because given her history of lying, it wouldn’t be hard for anyone to believe? Maybe Sozi was being honest the whole time about Mara’s obsession—and about trying to tell Mara to leave Will alone.
Maybe Mara killed Sozi as a way to shut her up and frame me at the same time.
If I go down, Will would be free—a single man.
My husband exhales, dragging his hand through his thick dark hair as his shoulders fall.
What if Will and Mara orchestrated this entire thing? Mara is stunning and wasted no time flirting with my husband the second she laid eyes on him. I used to put the man on a pedestal, but after everything that’s come to light lately, I now know he’s not who I thought he was.
Not even close.
The mattress dips slightly as Will shifts. Then, with a click, the soft glow of the bedside lamp flickers to life. I wince, my eyes adjusting to the light.
“Camille,” he says. “I need you to look at me because we’re going to have a talk. A very important talk. And we’re having it right now.”
His blue eyes are stormy, laced with determination.
The thought of Will orchestrating this whole thing with Mara turns my entire thought process upside down. Hecouldn’t. He was at work allday and taught class all evening. He wouldn’t have had time to murder Sozi, then come home and clean it up while I was inside making dinner. The whole thing is absurd enough without twisting it into something implausible.
His hand moves to mine, squeezing gently. “It’s going to be okay.”
He knows.
He has to.
But technically, he doesn’t know that I know. I could play dumb—he doesn’t know I noticed the body in the corner of the garage, which means I wouldn’t know anything about it being cleaned up and removed while I was inside with the kids.
His hand tightens on mine, his expression hardening.
“Come with me,” he says, his voice low and uncompromising.
Wrapping his hand around my wrist, he pulls me until I’m sitting up, then he peels the covers off me and tosses them aside with one fluid movement.
“Where?” I ask.
He rises off the bed, my wrist still in his firm grip. “Just come with me.”
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