Page 45 of Secrets

“That’s the last of it,” she said to the man standing in the doorway. He didn’t even respond, just carried the last three suitcases down the steps.

When the men had entered the house, he knew exactly who they were. Mr. Dyatlov had warned him of who might show up and not to fight them. In fact, he said to cooperate and leave if they allow it. If they don’t allow it, he would come and bail him out.

Fortunately, he set the bags at the bottom of the stairs, and the man opened the front door.

“Leave,” said Miller. The man nodded, happy to be gone.

Beatrix took one last look through the drawers, closets, and safes just to be sure she wasn’t leaving anything of value. The furniture could be sold for thousands of dollars, but it was doubtful her husband would allow her to take anything so valuable.

She walked slowly down the long hallway, surprised by the feeling of dread and loss. She never mourned for her own children, yet she was going to miss the hell out of this house.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she noticed all the luggage just stacked there.

“Hello? What the hell,” she mumbled.

“What the hell indeed, Mother.” She turned so quickly, her heels slipped on the floor, causing her to twist her ankle. Not one person moved to assist her.

“Jay,” she whispered.

“Jay and Millicent,” said Millicent. “Hello. Mother.”

“Millicent, lovely to see you,” she sneered. “Where’s my fucking money?”

“Money? What money, Mother? I have no money.”

“You’re a lying little bitch,” she said as spittle flew from her lips. “I know that you got the money and put it in a bank in New Orleans. And you!”

“Me? Stupid, obedient, useful Jay, Mother. I’m no longer as obedient thanks to the drugs no longer in my system.” She stared at her son, still rubbing her ankle. Moving slowly toward the chair, she sat down in the plush leather and smiled up at her children.

“Things had to be done, and I was brave enough to do them,” she said calmly. “Your father was more than a willing partner and willing to watch over his loving children.”

“Is that what you call the abuse we endured?” asked Millicent.

“Please, Millicent. Don’t be so dramatic. So you were slapped a few times, beat with a belt once or twice. Who wasn’t? You had food, clothing, an education. All you had to do was be loyal to your family.”

“How dare you,” she said, taking a step toward her mother. “You know nothing of what I did or didn’t do. I was loyal to my family right up until the end. If it hadn’t been for Jay, my own brother would have raped me.”

“Tick was just a peculiar boy,” she said, waving her off. “No one understood him.”

“He was a pedophile, Mother, and would have become guilty of incest had I not intervened.”

“Well, well, well. Aren’t you the hero of this little drama,” said Beatrix. “Do you really think you’re going to be able to stay on the run? You killed more than a hundred people.”

“Per your order,” he said.

“Yes, I ordered the murders, and you carried them out. Like a good boy. You, your father, and brother. Your sister was useless. She was supposed to be dead, but you wouldn’t kill her, would you?”

Millicent stared at her brother, realizing just how much he’d actually protected her.

“There wasn’t any reason to kill Millicent. She didn’t know everything that was happening. She was just a kid.”

“I’m so tired of everyone giving excuses. Who are these men that everyone is so fearful of? My own husband chose to leave me because he didn’t want to face them. You lucked up running off to them,” said Beatrix.

“I got lucky in a lot of ways,” she said calmly. “I’ve married a good man, and we’re going to be happy.”

“Happy!” she laughed. “Happiness is an illusion, Millicent. It doesn’t exist. You pretend you’re happy so that your world doesn’t collapse around you, but that’s it. Nothing else.”

“You’re wrong,” said Trevon, stepping closer to Millicent. He looked down at the swollen ankle of the older woman. Gently, he leaned forward, gripping the ankle and squeezing. She cried out in pain, and he smiled at her. “That’s a shame. I think it’s broken.”

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