Page 61 of Bad Intentions

Another collective nod.

I stopped at one of the kitchen shelves and took three pairs of latex gloves. I couldn’t take a chance of having blood traces all over the place or their cars. I tossed a pair to each of them. “Put those on. Get in your cars and drive to my place. Now. No stopping anywhere. No calling anyone. Try not to touch more than you need to in the car. I am right behind you. When you park at the house, walk in through the side door and wait there.”

They listened. For once, those two did exactly as they were told.

I killed all the lights, locked up the bar, and followed them in my car. When I got to the house, the two stood like statues, in the enclosed patio, in the dark, waiting for me.

“Both of you, in the bathroom,” I ordered. “Clothes off. I’ll bring you fresh clothes. Wash your faces, hands, and hair. Thoroughly. Leave the gloves with the clothes in the bathtub.”

They scrambled inside. I took off my gloves and dropped them into the plastic bag with the hammer and the rag. Then I picked up the phone and dialed Donna.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Where are you?”

“Sitting with the chief trying to figure out what to do.”

“Something bad happened.”

“What?”

“Don’t tell Steve. Look normal. I need you to get in your car and drive straight to my house. Don’t tell him what I just told you. Tell him I’m not feeling well, and I’m at home. I need you here. Victoria and Alysha are here, too. Come as fast as you can.”

I hung up and tried to even my breathing out because the world was falling apart around me, and for the first time, I didn’t know what to do. Donna and I had messed up. We’d been outsmarted. We’d been fooled and set up. The worst part was that we didn’t know if our children were collateral or willing accomplices.

34

JOSIE

How do you tell a dead body from a prop? The smell. The smell is so pungent that I almost throw up in the trunk. I shut it and take deep breaths, trying to figure out what’s happening.

There’s only one person I can call, Rika. She’s still inside the bar, so I dial her.

“I need your help, Rika. Please! I’m outside,” I blurt.

I wish I were a braver person and could deal with this on my own. At least Rika will know that I had nothing to do with it.

Rika comes out of the bar right away. “What’s up?”

When I pop the trunk open, she stares at what’s inside. “Is it what I think it is?”

“It is,” I whisper.

“We need to call the police. Now,” she says, still staring into the trunk and covering her nose with her forearm.

“I know. I didn’t do it, Rika. I didn’t do anything. I don’t know what this is, but I have nothing to do with it. I swear. I was with you inside.”

She looks around. “Dammit, the cameras are only in front of the bar, not here. I’m calling 911.”

That very moment, my phone beeps with a message, and I meet Rika’s eyes.

“Check it?” she prompts.

I do.

Unknown: I know what you did to your daddy.

I read it out loud, in a half whisper.