Page 24 of Property of Chaos

“They won’t let you access them,” I say with a frown. “You aren’t related.”

“No?” She winks, placing her free hand on her chest as she takes on a woeful voice. “I’m so concerned, Ma’am. My sister cut off contact with the family, and we’re worried she’s not taking proper care of herself.”

I smirk. “You do sound convincing.”

“I’ve had some practice manipulating people for information over the years.”

“You don’t say,” Marianna mutters.

The animosity between them pulses through our joined hands, pinging through me as a conduit from one woman to the other. I pull free and set my palms on top of my legs, rubbing back and forth.

“Not my fault you didn’t think of doing it,” Theresa bitches without looking Marianna’s way. “What haveyoudone to help?”

“Ness said she has an estranged aunty who might know the truth, so I reached out on social media.”

Theresa lifts an eyebrow and gives a humph, reluctant to admit she did well. “And?”

“And she’s on her way here to meet me face-to-face.”

The goddamn room swims again. I lean forward and deep breathe.For fuck’s sake.I believed I was better. That I was halfway to being somewhat normal with how little my anxiety and panic attacks had disrupted me since moving to Temperance. But all it took was one fucking letter, and I’m fifteen and disassociating amongst the crowd while my world slowly burns all over again.

Shit.

“Babe, it’s okay. She’s coming to talk to me,” Marianna assures. “You don’t have to see her.”

“And she’ll probably clam up and bolt the second she realizes you’ve lied to her.” Theresa shakes her head. “Why does she think she’s coming here anyway?”

“To talk to me about her brother. Vanessa’s stepfather.” Marianna lifts her eyebrows. “So, you know, it’s like fucking untrue and all that.”

“Fuck you.”

“Ladies,” I growl. “Seriously.” The need to know their backstory grows more dire by the second.Later.“When does she get here?” I ask, doing the math in my head. It’d take my aunty two days to drive here but only two hours to fly. “Is she driving or flying?”

“Flying. I bought her the ticket.”

“When?”

“She arrives in three days. Saturday morning. I’ve got an open home to wrap up that day, and then I’ll pick her up from the airport.”

“Is she staying the night?” Theresa asks. “Or flying home the same day.”

“Same day.”

I set my elbows to my knees and hang my head. “I want to come.”

“Honey, no.” Marianna tilts her head. “You need to stay under the radar.”

I shrug. “They already know I live here—they sent the letter here. What does it matter if she knows, too?”

“She has a point,” Theresa cedes, slouching in her seat. “Are you sure you want to do this, though? You seem affected enough by the thought alone. Phoning the hospital would be a lot easier.”

“No.” I draw a deep breath and sigh before I continue. “I’ve got other questions she might be able to help with. I’d like to talk to her anyway.”

“Well.” Theresa rises from her seat and sets it back on the table. “I think you should take your friend's suggestion and have her stay the night. You need the company, Ness.”

I smile softly and shake my head. “No. I need the time to sit and work through what I want to say.” I turn to Marianna. “Thank you, though.”

“I’m keeping my phone on.”

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