Page 74 of Lies He Told Me

“Prinell … Prinell Bank.”

“And you have access to the money? You have access to the safe-deposit boxes?”

“I … I don’t know.”

“Marcie —”

“I don’t know!” I shout, panicking. “I’ve never been there. I just found out about all of this, okay?”

“I swear toGod,Marcie, if you’re —”

“I don’tknow!” I shout, punctuating each word with a pounding of the steering wheel. “He — knowing David, he would have given me access.”

A pause. He’s thinking this over. That detail, access to the boxes, never occurred to me. What if I can’t get into the bank’s vault?

“Tomorrow morning, first thing, you drive to that bank,” he says. “I follow. You take out the money in those duffel bags, and you put them in your car. You drive your car to some parking lot nearby. You leave your car unlocked. And you walk away. Got it?”

I nod my head — and silently wonder what will happen if I can’t get that money out.

“Good,” he says. “Now —”

“Wait.” I turn to him. “First thing in the morning, I’m at the hospital. I meet with the doctors first thing at eight, when visiting hours —”

“I don’t care about your schedule. The doctors can wait —”

“No,” I say.

No. I have to go to the hospital tomorrow morning. I have to see David.

It may be the last time I see him.

“It … everyone will wonder if I’m not there,” I say, thinking quickly. “The police might get suspicious. They might go looking for me.”

He doesn’t answer right away. But what I’m saying should make sense to him.

“Well, I guess an hour more won’t hurt,” he says. “Fine, Marcie. Go to the hospital at eight and leave at nine for the bank. I’ll follow. And while we’re on the subject of the police,” he says.

He jams the gun against my neck again.

“If you get some clever idea about involving the authorities, just remember. Michael Cagnina has unlimited resources. If I walk into a police sting operation tomorrow, you won’t be any safer. He has plenty more people like me out there.”

“I know. I … I won’t, I promise —”

“Promises don’t mean shit. Get that money tomorrow, Marcie. Your life and your children’s lives depend on it.”

The back door kicks open. Silas jumps out and disappears around the corner.

EIGHTY

I RACE BACK TO the hospital, violating any number of traffic laws, distracted, unnerved, so many thoughts flying through my head.

The money. I protect my family with the money. It’s our only saving grace.

Or our downfall. The end of everything.

I park in the hospital’s garage and run into the building, texting Camille that I’m coming, wondering if she’s in the kids’ playroom or David’s hospital room or the cafeteria. I jump into the elevator and wait for the doors to close.

Before they do, a hand blocks the doors.

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