Page 55 of Let Her Live

Mark looked at her for a long moment, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation. But Fiona stood her ground, unwavering in her resolve. Finally, Mark let out a sigh and nodded.

"But...what about us?" Mark asked, his voice breaking. "What about all the plans we made together?"

Fiona sighed, feeling the weight of her decision. "I'm sorry, Mark. I can't keep pretending that everything is okay. We're just not right for each other."

Mark's face fell further, and he looked like he was about to protest, but Fiona stopped him with a gentle hand on his arm. "I know this hurts, but it's better to end things now than to drag it out and hurt each other more later."

Mark nodded, his eyes downcast. "Okay, Fiona. I understand."

Fiona let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She almost didn't believe it—but Mark was actually accepting their breakup.

"I really liked you," Mark said. "I'm sorry if I was too intense."

"It's okay," she said softly. "Just... it's over now."

"I know. I'll go now. Just...take care of yourself, Fiona."

Fiona nodded, watching as he left her apartment. She felt a mix of emotions: relief, guilt, sadness, but she knew that this was the right decision.

She could finally move forward, unfettered.

EPILOGUE

Fiona sat in her car, staring at the pharmacy where Marissa worked, daylight shining down on her.

She had already talked to Julia Rowe's best friend days before and learned nothing, but something—a gut feeling—had brought her back here.

According to Julia's sister, Marissa had been her best friend. The one she'd been meeting up with at the butterfly conservatory. It seemed likely that Marissa was the last person to see Julia alive.

Then, three years later, Joslyn, Fiona's sister, went missingatthe same beach Julia was found dead on.

There were coincidences in life. Fiona knew that. Maybe this was one of them, and maybe Marissa did know nothing. But Fiona wouldn't be able to move on until she scratched the itch.

Fiona took a deep breath and got out of her car, walking towards the pharmacy. She pushed open the door and was greeted with the familiar smell of medication and disinfectant.

Marissa was behind the counter, counting pills, and didn't notice Fiona at first. When she looked up and saw her, her face twisted in confusion and surprise.

"You... the FBI woman. You're back," Marissa said.

"Yes, I'm sorry to bother you again," Fiona said. "But I wanted to talk to you again."

Marissa turned back to her pills. It was early, and the pharmacy was dead. Even Marissa's fellow employees were not in the room, leaving the two women alone.

"I told you everything I remember," Marissa said. "I don't know what else you want me to say."

Fiona studied Marissa's face, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew that Marissa was hiding something, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She decided to change tactics.

"I know it's tough, Marissa. But I really need your help," Fiona said, her voice softening.

Marissa sighed heavily, still not looking up at Fiona. "I've already told you everything that I know. What more do you want from me?"

Fiona leaned in closer to Marissa, her heart pounding in her chest. "I need you to be honest with me. I need you to think, hard. Was there anything off about Julia the last time you saw her, anything at all? Was there ever anyone strange at the butterfly conservatory? Maybe there's a detail that you didn't think was relevant at the time, but it could be helpful now."

Marissa shrugged and leaned against the counter. "I mean, I don't know what else I can say. Julia was my best friend. She was an amazing person and it's still hard to believe she's gone."

Fiona could see the sadness in Marissa's eyes. It was genuine, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Marissa was hiding something. Especially now. Marissa seemed much more cagey and closed off than she had before.

"Look, I'm busy," Marissa said. "This case has been closed for years and it's stirring up a lot of old memories for me. I don't know why you're so stuck on it, but I don't know anything about Joslyn's death."

"But—"

“Hold on!” Fiona stopped dead in her tracks.Her eyes narrowed in on Marissa, who turned away, looking down at the bottle of pills like she'd said nothing. But she'd just saideverything.She'd said Joslyn's name. A Freudian slip? Fiona had never told her her sister's name. She'd only asked about Julia. And yet Marissa—she knew it. She said it. And she hadn't even realized it.

Fiona stared at Marissa in disbelief, but another thought swam into her mind that made her stomach fill with dread: Marissa Johnson clearly knew more than she was letting on. But couldshebe the one who killed not only Julia—but Joslyn too?