Page 39 of Trial of Deceit

“I wanted to clean myself… but you only have a bath tub.”

“So?”

“I’m scared of tubs…” she whispered, and he stopped coloring.His brows came together as he looked at her, causing Ashari’s jaw to clench.Why did she confess that to him?

“Why?”

“You don’t care.Why’re you asking?”

“Because I care,” Jediah replied.His intense stare made her breath hitch.“About why you a stink up mi house.”

Ashari released a ragged breath.Jediah smirked before looking at his coloring.It was almost complete and beautifully done, while she hadn’t moved from the outline.

Jediah’s smugness and nonchalance were infuriating.Ashari couldn’t stop the tear from rolling down her cheek.It fell onto her side of the book.Jediah paused to look over, and Ashari broke from her trance and slammed the book shut.She grabbed it and stood, turning her back to him as she heard him stand.

“I won’t betray you.Can I go back to my life now?”she asked, hoping he ignored the break in her voice.

“There’s no life to return to.”

She sneered, still refusing to look at him, and said through gritted teeth, “I know that.I just want a chance to say bye to the kids at the daycare.”

“Okay,” he said before leaving the room.

The tension left her shoulders, and she fell to her knees and sobbed until her sobbing morphed into cackles.That brief interaction with Jediah was maddening.But she didn’t mind.She’d needed to be insane to play his sick game.

Regardless of her history, she was Senior’s daughter.The F.B.I.might not want her back after the many omissions she’d made in her reports, but she’d come too far to turn back now.

Jediah Richardson would go to prison if it was the last thing she did, but first she had to make him believe that she was truly his, and not the protégée of Toby Payne.

As the last parent and child left, Ashari slid her hands into her back pockets and looked around the room.She sadly smiled at the hand paintings on the left wall.Charlie had done them with the kids.

This daycare had lost some of its light, a bitter secret Ashari would have to hold on to for a long time.

A worker came up behind her.“Yu wan’ close up, Ash?”she asked.“Today should be Charlie’s day, but she naa answer anybody call.”

“Really?Me did outta town, so me will drop by her apartment when me go home today,” Ashari lied through a smile, and the worker nodded.“I’ll close…” Her voice trailed off as something caught her attention from the front window.

Reine was across the road, screaming at a guy who was rubbing at his neck.She stopped yelling, and he reached for her.She stepped back, wagging a finger at him before storming off.The guy looked at her as she walked away before sighing and walking away in the opposite direction.

Ashari waited to see if any of Jediah’s guards would pop out and follow the guy or Reine, but no one did.Worry seeped into Ashari.Was Reine okay?

“Close up fi me,” Ashari said to the worker.She grabbed her bag and ran out of the daycare.She caught up to Reine and grabbed her arm.“Reine, you good?”

Reine shook her head.“Mi boyfriend upset me.”

Ashari’s brow raised.“Jed allows you to have a boyfriend?”

Reine shook her head.“No, yu know how him stay…”

Ashari pursed her lips.She knew all too well.Jediah had only allowed her out of the abandoned wing after she showered and gained enough weight.

“Please don’t tell him,” Reine continued.

“I won’t…” Ashari’s voice trailed off as she stared at the mark on Reine’s arm from the guy’s tight grip.“Why’d he do this to you?”

“Mi sleep over his house last night, but Jed thought I was at a friend.We have a big argument, then mi go sleep.I woke up this morning with him atop of me when him know mi don’ ready and—” Reine held her head down, covering her face and choking on a sob.

Ashari laid a hand on Reine’s shoulder, rubbing it.“I’m so sorry, Reine… You should tell Jed.”

---