Page 136 of The Sinner: James

James asked my father to vote for that proposal?

“Are you done, sweetie?” my mom asks.

Startled, I jerk in my chair.

“Yes.”

“You haven’t even touched it,” she says.

“I’m good. I’ll eat later,” I murmur, pushing my chair back and rising in a daze.

I rush to my room, lock myself in, and for the next hour, I search for James’ name online and read about him, his businesses, and Sexton International, as well as his other projects, the lawsuits, and his estimated wealth.

I knew some of this stuff from my sister but never paid much attention to it.

James inherited his dad’s empire. And he’d been involved in running it with his father since he was eighteen.

He became the sole owner of Red’s at that time.

I sift through mountains of information, looking for the valuable bits, trying to put the pieces together.

I call Eve.

“Hey. You okay?”

“No, not really. I need to ask you something...” I say. “The women… TheNight of the Kingswomen… Do you know anyone other than Denise Anderson who’s been involved with them?”

“Why are you interested?”

“I don’t know right now. That’s why I need more information.”

“The ones I know... Let me see. There was an Isabelle Carson, Anika Joffre, Tammy Louis...”

I write the names down.

“Okay. Anyone else?”

“Theo Lang… I don’t know anyone else, but there were more.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I research their names and pull up more information. As these pieces add up, a cold shiver races down my back.

I clear the search history on my laptop, turn off the computer, grab my car keys, and swing the door open.

Daria almost falls inside.

“Are you fucking kidding me? What the hell are you doing at my door?”

I push her to the side and shoot her a glare.

“I told Dad about you and Sexton,” she slips to me as I rush by her.

“Go fuck yourself, Daria.”

I veer toward the entrance when my dad thunders from the kitchen.

“Rain, I need to speak to you!”

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