Page 113 of The Blackmail of Denise Randall

THE HOSPITAL

Sixty-three minutes.

I stare at the clock on the wall. Sixty-three minutes ago, my life seemed perfect. One minute later just proved to me that life is never perfect. Sixty-two minutes ago, an event sent everything spiraling out of control. A mere sixty-two minutes ago, I was a completely different person with a completely different life. A life I took for granted, I now realize. I’d give anything to go back in time to exactly sixty-two minutes ago. If I’m being completely honest, I’d go back farther in time than that. I was an ugly person and it only took sixty-two minutes to reveal my true ugliness to everyone. It doesn’t seem like all that happened within that small amount of time. I know I’m going to lose everything and everyone. Most of all, I know I’m going to lose him.

I’m stunned as I sit here. Isabelle and Nine are missing. Kamila Jamerson is in handcuffs. Keaton’s been taken away in an ambulance. I’m numb. How did everything get to this point? I don’t understand. Doctor Roland Hall is Seven. He used Isabelle’s aggression toward me to push me to depression and drugs, in hopes I’d become one of his clients and then his girlfriend. He’d been having an affair with Kamila Jamerson, Isabelle’s mom. His son is dating Isabelle. Keaton Sloan, who I’ve had a crush on since he danced with me when I was fourteen, actually liked me the whole time. We were finally together and now he’s on his way to the hospital after our car flipped when Brennon, Roland’s drug-dealing son, rammed into us.

What has my life become?

They take me to the hospital to get checked out as well. I’m lying here waiting for all of my lies and deceit to come out of the shadows and in to the light of day. I’ll be okay as long as Keaton is. It’s my fault we’re here now. Not my family’s. Mine. If he doesn’t live, I’ll never forgive myself.

A nurse enters the room. My voice quivers as I speak. “Can you please tell me if Keaton Sloan is alive? He was brought in my ambulance. Did he live?”

“He’s alive. It’s not looking good though. He’s in critical condition.”

I sniffle and try to keep the tears at bay until I can get through this. “Thank you.”

Mom and Dad run in, and I quickly give them the shortened version of what happened.

“I’ve been lying to you, everyone, for a while now. I started using drugs in high school. I told myself it was to focus on school, but really, it was to take the focus off how much I hated myself. I was ashamed that I wasn’t strong enough for this family. I’ve never loved myself enough to not care what other people thought about me or you. Always wanting to impress the very people that are jealous and would love nothing more than to see us fall. I let meaningless words have power over me.” I swallow and catch my breath. “So, I fell for a trap. My friends started using drugs they were getting from Isabelle Jamerson. She was getting those drugs from her boyfriend, Brennon, Doctor Roland Hall’s son. Because I was so caught up in my own delusional and skewed world, I willingly played into their hands. I became addicted to the drugs. Then I became addicted to him. Roland and I had a secret affair. After he told me that him and Amira were separated. Every time I wanted to quit the drugs and get better, they found a way to scare me and trigger my weakness. I’d slip back into the comfort of him and drugs.”

“What did they do?” My father’s voice is unrecognizable.

“It was Roland that sent one of his drug dealers, Thirteen, to the guest house. Nine—or Brennon—was the one that pushed me off the balcony. Roland always knew how to get me to take something every time we were together.”

Mom breaks down in tears while Dad has one lone tear sliding down his cheek. His voice cracks as he asks, “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I was scared. Ashamed. I just wanted to be perfect.”

Mom throws herself on me. “You are perfect!”

“There’s more. Kamila Jamerson has been having an affair with Roland Hall.”

Mom nods. “I know. Amira knew about them. That’s why she divorced him.”

“Did she know about him selling drugs?”

“I honestly don’t know. I know Amira doesn’t blame the boy, but she does blame Roland.”

“I’ve never heard about Roland’s first wife, Brennon’s mother.”

Mom and Dad look at each other and then back at me. “Nobody knows.”

An officer walks in and asks for my statement. Dad shakes his head and tells him I’ll speak to him when my attorney is present. When the officer leaves, I ask my dad why.

“Denise, honey, there’s a lot here. Let’s be safe.”

Could I be in serious trouble? What will happen to me? I did fight with Isabelle. Not only that, I assaulted her and then lied about it. My heart begins to hammer in my chest so hard that I place my hand over it as if that’s going to actually calm it down. The room begins to spin and my eyes can’t seem to focus. Breathe in. Breathe out. It’s hot in here. It’s so hot. I’m sweating and my body feels like it’s burning from within. I begin counting to try and calm my nerves.

It’s not working. I feel like the walls are closing in. I need to focus on something other than the fact everything around me seems to be closing in. I take in a deep breath.

Greyhound. Yorkie. Bloodhound. Dalmatian. Terrier. Cocker Spaniel. Chinese Crested. Great Pyrenees

I wake up to Alice’s hesitant voice. “Denise?” I open my eyes and smile at her, but she doesn’t return the smile.

“What is it?”

“I’ve heard some news.”

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