Page 217 of One Big Little Secret

“You read my mind,” I snap. “Trouble is, I know you’ve already sold it, and I also know where. I don’t need your help.”

“What? Oh, yes, well…” Panic fills her voice as she gives up trying to break my hold and glances down at her bag. “But it’s recoverable, Patton. I just know it. If you’ll simply let me—”

Enough.

I grab her wrists and pin them to the wall.

The stone feels scalding under my fingers, and her skin feels thin and papery.

“What’s in there?” I ask, nodding to the bag. “Mace? Were you going to burn my face off and try to run? Are you that predictable?” I lean in, putting my face too close to hers. She smells like alcohol, some chocolatey liquor that was in her coffee drink.

“Patton, please. You’re scaring me.”

“Good.” I stare at her until she shrinks back. “Listen, I’m not here because you stole Mom’s jewelry and fucked her over. I could’ve let the police handle that.” I tighten my grip on her and lower my voice. It’s either this or give in to the temptation to roar in her face, but I’m deathly quiet as I say, “But there are no words in the world that will make me forgive you for trying to kill my son.”

“Kill him? Oh, no, I—” She stops. Her mouth hangs loosely as she stares at me. I think she’s tracing the features Arlo and I share, if she isn’t trying to find a flimsy excuse for trying to murder a child. “I wasn’t trying to kill him,” she whispers haltingly. “Just… enough to make him sick and—andof courseI hated it! But I needed a diversion, and—”

“A diversion? How?”

I shake her.

Her lips quiver. “His juice! I slipped in the slightest concentrate when no one else was looking. Just enough to causean upset tummy, his heart was never in any danger, I made sure. I never wanted to hurt the boy too badly, I swear.”

Does she fucking hear herself?

It’s a living miracle I don’t snap her neck like a stick.

“Bull. Shit.” I yank her back through the alley, pulling until we’re back in the tropical sun. A diversion.

That’s all Arlo was to her. Fully expendable.

With the demon’s confession, I drag her down the street, making sure I have a firm hold as she begs for mercy. The recording app on my phone will do the rest now, plus a little muscle.

It’s hard as hell not to strangle her in broad daylight.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done.

The Nassau detectives I tipped off this morning are waiting by a scenic overlook.

“Oh, no! Oh, no, no, no. Oh, Patton,no!” When she sees them, she starts kicking like a mule, braying loudly enough for people to look up nearby, but I don’t give a shit.

As soon as the detectives spot us, they hurry forward.

“Let me go!” she howls, her voice high and unfamiliar. “I’m innocent. I didn’t do it. Ididn’t do any of it.”

One of the detectives nods at me.

I nod back.

The timing couldn’t be better.

As they haul her away in handcuffs with her head hanging miserably, I take a stroll under the sun, staring at the wide turquoise sea.

It glitters, inviting and warm. There’s no denying it’s gorgeous here. There’s plenty to do on this island, if you want to throw your cares to the wind.

Old Patton, he would’ve stayed a few days just for the trouble of getting here. But new Patton just wants to get the hell out of here on the first flight home.

I think about Salem and Arlo, how much I wish I had my family here to take the edge off.

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