Page 92 of He Sees You
His window rolls down.
"Engaged already?" His voice is hollow. "Jake's not even in the ground yet."
"Dad—"
"I know what you are," he says to me. "Both of you. I know what you did. Jake, the others, probably more I haven't found yet."
"Then arrest us," Celeste challenges.
Sterling laughs, bitter and broken. "With what evidence? Everything points to Jake. The state police are satisfied. Case closed. Town safe." He looks at his daughter. "You're really going to marry him?"
"Yes."
"He's a killer."
"So am I now."
Sterling flinches. "I failed you. Failed to protect you from Jake, from him, from yourself."
"You failed those seven women who complained about Jake. You didn't fail me. I chose this."
"I know." His eyes move to Juliette. "Ms. Lockwood. Shouldn't you be in the city?"
"I came to check on Celeste. And my brother."
"Your brother." Sterling's laugh is humorless. "Do you know what he is?"
"I know exactly what he is. What he's always been. The person who saved me from parents who would have destroyed me completely." Juliette steps forward. "I also know what you are, Sheriff. A man who protected a predator until that predator came for his own daughter."
Sterling's face darkens. "Careful?—"
"Or what? You'll arrest me? For what? Telling the truth?" She pulls out her phone, shows him something. "Sarah recorded your conversation when you convinced her to drop charges against Jake. I've had it for two years. One click and it goes to every news outlet in the state."
The sheriff's face drains of color. "You're blackmailing me?"
"I'm protecting my family. Just like you tried to protect yours. The difference is, my brother actually removes threats instead of enabling them."
Sterling shifts the car into reverse. "The engagement ring. I recognize it. Your mother wore it to every town council meeting. Flashed it around like it made her better than everyone else."
"Now it's mine," Celeste says simply.
"Yeah." Sterling looks at all of us. "I guess it is. Merry fucking Christmas."
He drives off, leaving us standing in the snow.
Back inside, Juliette gathers her things. "Morrison will be a problem if you don't handle him quickly. The interview won't air until tomorrow afternoon, which gives you a morning window."
"We'll handle it," Celeste says, and the 'we' sends warmth through my chest.
"Good." Juliette kisses my cheek, then Celeste's. "Try not to get caught. I don't want to have to find a new star author."
After she leaves, Celeste and I sit by the fire, planning.
She wears nothing but my shirt and the ring, the diamonds catching the firelight with every gesture.
"Morrison's a detective," she says. "He'll be careful, paranoid. We can't just grab him like Jake."
"No. It needs to be subtle. The digitalis is good, but getting it into his system?—"
