Page 13 of Kept in the Dark

Hailey anxiously fetched the cardboard and walked to her bed where she began opening it. Her heart thudded loudly as she tugged at the flaps. Part of her wanted to throw it back into the closet and leave. How could she live with herself if what Angie said was true?

It wasn’t too late. She could ignore what Angie told her and finally move on with her life. Once she left town, her past would be left here, no longer able to dig its claws into her and drag her down.

Then she thought of Sara and how much she had loved her sister once upon a time. She remembered who she was before the drugs and alcohol, before their father began beating them into obedience, before she was named a murderer.

Pushing past her selfishness, Hailey folded down the tops of the box and peeked inside.

Sure enough, just as Angie claimed, there was a single video tape inside hidden under green packing peanuts. Her heart sank as she realized the magnitude this video could have. How it could turn everything upside down if it did in fact prove Sara’s innocence.

She popped the tape into the VHS player that still sat on the opposite side of the bed. She turned the volume down low, not knowing what to expect. Hailey hit play and held her breath as she watched the screen come to life.

Donna was drunkenly talking to the camcorder about the group’s plans. Hailey could make out Sara, Jake Nelson, and Thomas Smith in the background. They all sang loudly to the music that played on the radio in the car. Donna laughed at her friends and turned the lens toward them. Sara sang to the camera, always the life of the party, slurring her speech as she did.

It then panned to Thomas who was at the wheel, also intoxicated. He shoved the camera out of his face, causing Donna to curse at him. Hailey felt sick knowing all of them had been driving drunk that night, though during the video they seemed to be in a parking lot.

Sara grabbed the face of the camera so that Donna was focused on her. Sara started crying, her words hardly intelligible. “I love Chase soooo much, but I can't give up my dream of modeling. Doesn’t he love me enough to wait until I get my big break?”

“Forget about him! You can have any guy you want. Just wait ‘til you get to New York,” Donna said, sending Sara into hysterics. Donna set the camcorder down on the dashboard revealing that they had been parked at a local corner store. The camera went black after that, and Hailey sat motionless for a moment before rewinding the tape.

As Angie claimed, the camcorder had the date and time stamp of the murder: June 03, 1998, 10:42 pm.

Angie was right: Sara hadn’t killed Morgan Gallagher.

And Hailey unknowingly had proof for the last thirteen years.

June 25, 2011

9:47 pm

A knock at the door startled Sara. No one knew she was staying at Angie’s, and since today was Angie’s wedding, Sara knew the woman wouldn’t be expecting company. Assuming it was a neighbor, Sara didn’t get off the couch and instead ignored the knocks.

She planned to stay with Angie until she could get back on her feet. Thankfully, with Angie's recommendation, she had been able to score a part-time job restocking a small shop a few evenings a week. It wasn’t much money, but it was enough for now.

All she wanted to do was lay low until she was able to get her life in order…and until she could plot her revenge. The last thing she needed was for word to spread that she was back in town. And since Angie would be on her honeymoon for the next four weeks, Sara had ample time to set things in motion. The happy couple was celebrating wedded bliss and Angie’s recent doctoral degree graduation with a month-long vacation.

The thudding continued and she grew more and more irritated. Whoever it was knew she was inside. Sighing, she got off the couch and opened the door.

She hadn’t expected to see the pretty face that stood on the other side. It was like staring into a mirror, except the other woman didn’t look like she’d been to hell and back. Hate flamed within her as she stared into her sister’s eyes. Anger, her oldest friend, came right after.

The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. How did Hailey know she was here? They hadn’t spoken to each other since Hailey left town, making it very clear her womb mate deemed her guilty like everyone else.

Sara was surprised to see Hailey had added blonde to the lifeless brown hair she wore as a teen. She always vowed she’d never go blonde, a knock at Sara since Sara had taken pride in the platinum color she loved so much. Hailey looked older and more mature, but she didn’t look like life had beaten her down or that she spent the last decade fighting for her life.

Jealousy roared right below the surface, just as it always did when it came to her sister. Hailey was loved by everyone, and Sara was second best.

“Wow, the perfect little princess returns,” Sara mocked. “What do you want, Hailey?”

Sara didn’t want anything to do with her sister, but before she could slam the door closed, Hailey nervously said, “I know a lot has happened, but I need to show you something…it’s about that night.”

Immediately on edge, Sara said, “What about it?”

That night was the beginning of Sara’s nightmare. What could Hailey possibly need to talk about that required her to all but hunt Sara down this late at night? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Hailey wanted nothing to do with Sara so if her twin was standing on her doorstep, no doubt a hurricane of trouble wasn’t far behind.

Bothered by Sara’s hostility, Hailey began picking at her nail polish. “There’s something you need to see.” Hailey looked around, shifting as she did.

Sara was nervous now. She didn’t like that Hailey was jumpy. It was unlike her and it put Sara on edge more than she already was.

Sara hesitated at first but then simply opened the door and gave Hailey the space to come in, not saying a word. Hailey walked inside, slowly taking in the cozy bungalow. Angie decorated her home with a lilac, white, and pale-yellow color scheme. Not something Sara would have chosen, but it suited the bubbly redhead.

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