He turned away, wincing. “When we first met you, I wanted to believe you when you said you were doing your best, and that Cassie would be safe. I came to understand that to you, Cassie was no one. Just another name, another nobody. But she wasn’t a nobody. She was my sister, and it was your job to protect her. But you didn’t. And then…”
He squeezed his eyes closed. “Cassie used to take care of me when my mom was too sick to get out of bed… She used to make me chicken noodle soup and we’d watch television and she’d read me books. Did you know that? She wasn’t a nobody.” He wiped at his nose with the back of his hand, and when he went on, his voice was almost childlike. “We tried to warn you what was going to happen, but you didn’t listen. When Cassie died, my mom couldn’t stand living anymore. Because of you, she killed herself. Did you know that? Tell the truth.”
“Yes,” she admitted.
“You know all about us, don’t you, Maria? You know all about me.”
“Yes.”
“And you sent the police after me after Cassie died.”
Because you sent the notes. Because you were threatening me. “Yes.”
“And your boyfriend… He is your boyfriend, right? The big guy at the club? I saw how angry he got after I sent over the drink. He wanted to hurt me, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“And then, this morning, you sent the police again.”
Because you slashed my tires! Because you’re stalking me!
“Yes.”
He stood a bit straighter. “That’s what I told the doctors. All of this. But they don’t believe me, of course. No one ever believes me, but at least you’re being honest. I knew, but now I really know… and I can feel the difference in my whole body. You understand, don’t you, Maria?”
No. “Yes.”
“It takes over – fear, I mean. No matter how hard you try to fight it, it takes over, crushing the life out of you. Like right now. I know you’re afraid of me. Maybe like Cassie was afraid after you failed her?” He looked at her for confirmation, waiting.
“Yes.”
She watched him tap the gun against the side of his leg. “Can you imagine how it feels? To lose your sister? And your mom? And watch people like you go after my dad? And then me?”
“I can’t imagine how awful that was.”
“No, you CAN’T!” he shouted suddenly, and in that moment, she heard the faint sound of a police siren in the distance.
Lester snapped to attention, recognition dawning as the sirens grew louder. He refocused on Maria.
“I said no police. I said NO POLICE!” His voice cracked, whipsawing between anger and disbelief as he took a step toward her. “I’m NOT going BACK! Do you HEAR me? I’m NOT going BACK!”
Maria retreated, holding up her hands. “Okay…”
“They HURT ME!” he cried, taking a step in her direction. His cheeks grew mottled as he thrust his face toward her. “They SHOT ELECTRICITY INTO ME! And they put me in the cage with ANIMALS who beat me and they didn’t DO ANYTHING! They ALL laughed at me and to them it was just a game! AND YOU DON’T THINK I KNOW WHO PUT THEM UP TO IT?”
Oh, God… He’s losing it…
“YOU DID!” he screamed, vibrating with rage.
Maria retreated, trying to maintain the distance between them. Her gaze kept flicking to the gun, then back to Lester again. He continued to advance as she backed away, her back almost to the garage door now.
“YOU called the POLICE! You keep coming back, but this time I’m NOT going to let you GET AWAY WITH IT!”
Serena had to have heard him that time, she thought. Or my parents. They’ll open the front door any second now and Lester will turn and fire…
Through the static of her racing thoughts, Maria realized that the first siren had now been joined by another, more distant one, both of them drawing closer. Lester’s jaw clenched and his eyes burned with the anguish of betrayal. His finger began inching toward the gun’s trigger and a single impulse flashed through her body.
Go, go, GO!
She turned and rounded the car, sprinting toward the house, through the yard. She heard Lester shout her name in surprise, heard a grunt as he started after her, clipping the car.
GO!
Ten yards. Maybe five.
The front door began to open and a slash of light fell across the porch. Maria was sure she could hear him behind her now.