Talia finally took the ultrasound from my hands.
For a second, she just stared at it silently. Then she let out a soft chuckle.
I couldn’t tell whether her reaction stemmed from amusement, disbelief, or genuine amazement.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Youreallypulled it off.”
I couldn’t help but beam with pride. “Yup! I told you I would, silly! Never underestimate a determined woman with good timing and cooperative ovaries.”
Talia raised an eyebrow, pointing out the obvious flaw in my narrative. “You’re the surrogate though. Why would they give you this?”
I snatched the ultrasound back quickly, guarding it like a treasure.
“Because they didn’tgiveit to me... I stole it. Duh.”
Talia stared at me pure disturbed disbelief.
“What?” I shrugged, completely unfazed. “Zonnique put the ultrasound pictures in this little memory box in her closet like I don’t snoop when I’m bored. Well, technically, she doesn’t know that because I just moved in. Still, that’s beside the point.She needs to be more careful about where she leaves important shit. You can’t invite somebody into your house, give them free time, and expect themnotto go through your belongings. That’s unrealistic.”
I slid the ultrasound picture back into my purse.
“If I really wanted to, I could probably find her Social Security card, birth certificate, bank statements, and the password to her Wi-Fi… and not because I’m nosy. I’m observant. There’s a difference.” Another pause. “Okay, I’m nosy too, but she still needs to tighten up.”
Before she could say anything else, I gasped dramatically, my eyes lighting up with excitement.
“Oh! And I went to Merge’s house! Girl… I know you said he had money, but I ain’t know you meant private-compound-with-security-detail money! That man got guards everywhere! Big gates opening automatically like the damn White House, cameras everywhere, and marble floors so glossy I almost busted my ass trying to walk regular!”
Talia sniggered. “You know… killing Dottie was one thing. I don’t wish death on anyone, but yeah, shekindahad what was coming for her. But this? This feels like the beginning of a true-crime documentary, and a damn good lifetime story.”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, if they make one about me, I just hope the actress is pretty.”
If judgment could physically shove somebody, I would’ve been on the floor.
“Haelyn, are you seriously not afraid of going to jail… or back to the psych ward?”
Immediately the voices started again.
She’s judging you.
She should be.
Don’t answer that.
Tell her the truth.
No. Lie.
“Of course I am,” I admitted, my voice tinged with nervousness. “But Iwon’tbecause who’s gonna find out?Youcan’t spill a word about Dottie without incriminating and dragging yourself into the mess as well.” I pointed out. “You might not have been the one to poison her directly, but you knew what was taking place. You stood by and watched as I slipped that rat poison into her coffee, each day a little more than the last. Day by day,wewatched her deteriorate, and all the while you watched me spiral deeper into my obsession, never once intervening. You even overheard her complaining of the stomach pains and cries for help that went unanswered. Instead of reaching out to anyone, you chose silence… all these years. So, mysister, that little knowledge has unintentionally made you an accessory to this crime. You could have stopped me, but your choice to remain quiet has entangled you in this dark web.”
My heart raced as I continued, the memories swirling in my mind like a storm.
Talia’s face hardened slightly.
“Yeah… so don’t start acting morally superior now that shit has gotten real. But no worries. Dottie is gone, Zonnique doesn’t know anything, and Merge definitely doesn’t. Let’s tryreallyhard to keep it that way.”
For now,one of the voices whispered darkly.
I ignored it quickly.
