Page 19 of Unsealing Her Fate

I think for a moment before answering, feeling like this is a trick question.

“Forgive me, Detective, but I don’t know when Mr. Swank was murdered. Without more information, I can’t accurately answer that question.”

Tension now lines my shoulders.

“Fair enough, Ms. Andrea,” he replies. “Can you account for Mr. Gates’ whereabouts Wednesday night of last week?” Detective Monroe asks pointedly.

I straighten my back and square myself to face him. I know what I’m about to say may not entirely be the truth, but if Addy’s well-being depends on it, I’m going to say it.

“Yes, sir. He was at his office. Working. There was a new bill on the floor, ready for a vote. Anytime Christopher isn’t at the office working for the people of California, he’s home with me.”

He looks straight into my eyes for a few moments, like he’s staring into my soul while trying to determine if I’m lying or not. He lets out a heavy breath, placing his hands on his knees and pushing himself up from the sofa.

“Well then, Andrea, thank you for your time. I’ll make note that you state Mr. Gates was at the office. If I have any further questions, I’ll be in touch.” He turns to shake Andrew’s hand. “Thank you, Mr. Shaw. You both have a nice night now.”

Andrew gives him a nod, and I walk them both to the front door. Detective Monroe walks straight out without another word exchanged. Andrew, however, stays inside. He closes the door behind the detective and turns to me. Grasping my elbow again, he guides me back into the family room.

“Well done, Sister. You’re a better liar than I thought. You might not be a loose end that needs tying up after all,” Andrew says with a sinister tone.

“I didn’t lie, Andrew,” I spit out, even though I’m sure I did.

I can’t account for where Christopher is every moment. I know what he tells me, but clearly, he is only telling what he wants me to know.

“Bullshit!” he says with a bark of laugher. “You think Adalyn didn’t tell me all about your talk at the café?”

I’m shocked; my little sister betrayed me. She went straight to Andrew and told him what I’d said. That or he’s lying, and he’s waiting for me to divulge the details because I think he already knows.

“What did she say?” I asked sternly.

“She said you think you overheard Christopher ordering a hit on Jonathan.” His tone suggesting he is mocking both Addy and me.

Shit.Okay, she betrayed me. My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach.

“Well, Andrew, that’s what I heard. I heard him say he wanted someone ‘gone’ from the ‘world’. And then Jonathan’s body is mysteriously discovered two days later. I’m no detective, but I think that’s pretty obvious,” I say bluntly.

“You didn’t hear shit, and you better not tell anybody else your little bullshit story, either. Keep your mouth shut, and we won’t have a problem,” he says fiercely.

He’s never spoken to me like this before. He and I have never been close, but this feels like we’re enemies. Now another person I’ve known my entire life feels like a stranger.

He eyes me for another moment before leaving the room and then my home. The front door clicks as it closes. I sit in stunned silence for what feels like an eternity, trying to wrap my mind around all that’s happened in the last few days for the second time today.

I can’t dwell forever.

Standing, I look around the family room while trying to shake off the unease from the earlier conversation. I hear my phone ringing upstairs, and I hurry to get it in time, but it stops ringing as soon I pick it up from the floor.

It was Adalyn.

I’m not sure I want to talk to her right now, anyway. I’m deeply hurt by her betrayal. We’re sisters! How could she go back and tell Andrew what I said to her? I didn’t outright say not to repeat it, but it should go without saying. What I told her was a big deal, definitely not something you run around telling people.

My phone notifies me that I have a voicemail.

“H-hey, Andrea… Sorry I didn’t call last night. Time got away from me… Anyway, I was just calling to finish our talk since I had to leave so abruptly yesterday.”

I almost put the phone down, but the voicemail continued.

“Call her again,” says another voice, piquing my interest. Adalyn didn’t end the call. “Call her again,” the voice repeats.

What the fuck?

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