Page 41 of Things Left Unsaid

Leaving my words to sink in, I let her go and return to the driver’s side.

It’d be too easy for her to toss other insults at me, ones that revolve around how being a Korhonen didn’t keep my mum safe, or even about how I dropped her when she needed me most, but she doesn’t say anything as I get behind the wheel.

She just studies me until she turns on her heel and heads for the MacFarlanes’ front door.

Ordinarily, I’d have walked her to it, but I don’t stick around longer than to watch her make it to the porch. The second the door opens, I reverse out of there.

On the road, I veer toward the east side of town.

Since I saw Bea on the street outside Harry’s, my mind’s been racing. I had to tamp it down, though, because Zee sees more than I thought she would.

I don’t know why I didn’t expect that. She was always an astute little thing.

Maybe it comes with the turf of her chosen career, or maybe I was more obvious than I ought to have been. Either way, she picked up on my awareness of Bea and I already have a fight on my hands with Zee—I don’t need her thinking I chase anything in a fucking skirt like my pops.

Unbidden, those words from that note flicker to the forefront of my mind’s eye.

You think you can hurt people and get away with it.

I meant what I said to Hilary—poisonous words hurt everyone.

Part of the reason I threatened her with a lawsuit is I suspect her of being behind the notes I’ve been receiving in the mail lately.

She, Lydia Armstrong, and Jessica Cardinal are all at the top of my list of suspects.

Hilary because she’s a gossiping busybody. Lydia because she always believed the Korhonens were behind her daughter’s disappearance. And Jessica because she’s hated us ever since Pops refused to marry her sister when she got pregnant—both mother and child died during childbirth.

Sighing tiredly, I grab my cell when it buzzes. Spying my brother’s name on the Caller ID, I cut the call and text:

Me: I’ll be in touch later

Cole: Sure thing

Pigeon Creek’s so small that I find my way to Bea’s in less than five minutes.

As I slam the door shut, I see her standing in the window. The curtains are closed but she peeks out from the crack she made in them at the sound of my truck pulling up.

When the door opens a slither, silently, I slip inside.

“How did you get the bruise, honey?” I ask, pitching my tone softer so as not to spook her. “Has he been using you as a punching bag again?”

“N-No. I walked into a door.”

Even if I hadn’t been close to her since junior high, I’d know that was bullshit.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not.”

Though I’m impatient, I lean against the door. When I fold my arms across my chest, she stares at the floor.

“Bea, I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

“It’s nothing. A-A dumb accident.”

“If Marvin’s abusing you, I need to know.”

“You’ll fire him,” she bites off, finding some of that sass I know Marvin tries to extinguish. “That’s the last thing we need. You know he won’t let me get a job. If money’s tight then it’ll add extra pressure, and I can’t cope with that right now.”

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