Page 9 of Kept in the Dark

But maybe it was time. After all, they were back where it all began. A torrid love story, a princess and a knight in shining armor, a fairytale that many girls dream about…but it all ended in heartache.

Except Trinity. She was the only good thing to come out of that devastating summer.

But Hailey wasn’t ready to face her demons. So, Trinity’s father would remain in the shadows.

Angie leaned in, more serious than before. “Have you talked to your sister?”

Hailey was taken aback by the question, though she shouldn’t be since her sister had gotten out of prison two weeks ago.

“No, there’s not much to say,” she said curtly.

“I mean, I get there’s a lot to clear up between you two, but I’m surprised you feel that way.”

Angie was interrupted by a couple coming to say their goodbyes. Hailey waited patiently for them to walk away, hoping the interruption would cause a change in subject. Angie had always been known to talk about things at the worst time, a trait she clearly still possessed, unfortunately for Hailey.

“Anyway,” Angie continued, “I just can’t believe she ended up serving time. That video was proof she didn't do it. She literally had her alibi recorded and was still convicted?” Angie simply shook her head in disappointment.

Hailey furrowed her brows. “What video? The reason she was even a suspect is because she was found next to my mother’s dead body.”

Hailey couldn’t believe the audacity her friend had to bring up her mother’s death. Angie knew firsthand how distraught Hailey had been over her sister’s conviction, and even more so, her mother’s murder. Hailey had refused to discuss any of it during their few phone calls over the years. That Angie would bring it up the first time they saw each other in over a decade struck a chord with Hailey.

Aware of Hailey’s anger, Angie put her hands up. “I didn't mean to start a fuss. Really. I thought you knew all about it. I mean, I gave the video to you.”

“What video?” Hailey said, irritated by the turn of the conversation. This was the last thing she wanted to talk about.

Angie frowned and let out a sigh and Hailey immediately felt bad. “I’m sorry. This is still really hard for me to talk about.” Hailey calmed herself before saying, “What video are you talking about?”

“Remember the package I brought you a few days after your mother died? It was actually from Donna Sheldon. It was a video of her, Sara, and a few others at the time of the murder. It was time-stamped and everything. Donna thought it proved Sara didn’t do it.” Angie paused for a moment and shook her head. “When Sara was convicted, I just thought the judge tossed it.”

Hailey was bewildered.

Angie asked, “Do you really not know what I'm talking about? It was in a large box because Donna didn’t want anyone to know what it was. She labeled it with your name, and it had a bunch of packing peanuts in it…”

Hailey’s heart sank and a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. A week after Morgan died, Angie dropped off a package to Hailey. She didn’t want visitors at the time so Genevieve, the family’s housekeeper, brought the box to Hailey. Except she never opened it. She didn’t care about the box or about Angie or people’s empty condolences. All she cared about was trying to figure out how to put back the pieces of her now-shattered life.

So she had shoved the box into her closet and forgot all about it.

She truly hadn’t cared about anything in the weeks and months after her mother died. She hardly ate or slept. She didn’t get out of bed unless it was necessary. She would simply stare at a spot on the wall for hours, wishing she were dead along with her mother.

Her whole life had changed that summer's night. Trey broke up with her after swearing to love her forever. Her mother was killed and Sara was arrested for the crime. Then Hailey herself danced with death. On top of that, she found out she was pregnant that morning.

After everything was said and done, Hailey wanted to run away and never come back. And she had done a pretty good job thus far.

Hailey took in a deep breath to try to steady her racing heart. Heat pricked her skin and she felt the desire to run away again. She tried to focus on what Angie was saying, but everything was muffled and the room slowly started to spin. She reached out and grasped the table to steady herself.

If what Angie said was true, Sara was wrongly convicted for their mother’s murder.

And for the last thirteen years, Hailey had the evidence that could have exonerated her.

June 25, 2011

8:32 pm

Hailey tried to fight the dizziness that came and went in waves as she attempted to keep herself from panicking over Angie’s revelation about the video. After catching up with Angie for another thirty minutes, Hailey said her goodbyes and made her way to her childhood home to find the tape.

When they spoke on the phone yesterday morning, Genevieve mentioned that all of Hailey's things were still in her old room. Hailey had been surprised to hear the housekeeper was still taking care of the Gallagher home after all these years.

Apparently, David Gallagher had no desire to change anything about the old estate, despite his new wife’s claims they needed to update the space. Hailey found it slightly eerie that her father hadn't changed the house since Hailey left and Sara was arrested. Especially given the fact it was where his first wife had been murdered.

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