“You haven’t seen the reaction to your interview.”Movingwas the least she could say. Compelling, persuasive, a magnum opus. This trial was widely considered another shred of entertainment—there were even petitions to host it stateside so they might let cameras in the courtroom. “Everyone is primed to believe you. In fact, the only thing holding the public back is … us. Our history and all the violence laced within it. So I’ve agreed to take part in a documentary. It’s dropping the night before the verdict.”
Harper winced. “My mother told me about that—couldn’t believe they had the nerve to approach her. I suppose it’s no surprise you’re taking part.”
Nadine hadn’t risked Greta, just in case her phone lines were tapped too. But she’d make it up to her once all this was behind them.
“It should be good for you. Ruchi found out they’re trying to frame me instead.” She’d had to justify allherfriends being involved somehow. “Kayla Alexander is arguing the case, so I suppose she’s more loyal to you than you thought. But they want to argue I killed him as an escalation of the rivalry.”
Harper arched a brow, but Nadine saw the panic flitting in her eyes. “You’re obsessed with me, Nadine. But even I don’t believe you’d kill for me.”
No, no one would believe that. But they might be persuaded Nadine was the instigator of all of their encounters—that Harper had no history of violence, just a history of being Nadine’s victim. An innocent party on all accounts.
“No, I don’t think anyone is going to think it was me. God, could you imagine?” She flicked her gaze down at Harper’s clothes. “Well, I supposeyouprobably can. So they’ll be looking for a better story to tell.” Nadine grinned, not realizing that Harper tracked those smiles like jewels, hungry to collect every single one. Sometimes you can admire someone so completely you do not realize they’re staring right back, harboring worship of their own. “I imagine the truth is going to come out.”
“And that is?”
A simple missive, a singular request:Blame me. Save her.
“That we’re nothing to each other. A fabrication. And it’s over now.”
A FATAL FEUD
Kayla Alexander:I think it’s pretty clear that Harper is innocent. She’s always been innocent. And the guilty party is quite obviously right there. I mean honestly, ask yourselves who the only person who benefits from this is. It’s, like, Occam’s razor or something.
Caleb Krause:I could have believed Harper was responsible for Joel disappearing. Maybe had some leverage over him and blackmailed him into vanishing. But killing him and burying him? Nah, Harper’s innocent for sure.
Zoe Holland:The only way I could believe she did this is if Nadine was the one riling her into it.
Stephanie Cameron:Of course she didn’t do it! She has stunt doubles for heavy lifting, and you think she buried a body in the woods? The press have always been on Nadine Heywood’s side, and now they’re doing as they always do: blaming Harper.
Lewis Stamper:She’s innocent. Why are we even discussing this? If Harperhada motive, she’d have sooner told us all than used it to justify killing him. She’d have milked the press on it for days—she’d slaughter Joel in the papers, sure. But not in actuality. To even consider it is to believe the lies Nadine has been telling for years.
Ivan Drozdov:If I put this into a film, I’d be accused of stretching the bounds of reality. We’re just enjoying suspending our disbelief—but at the point of a trial and a verdict surely we must remember the weight of that disbelief. If Nadine knew it would go this far, she never would have kissed that boy or called Harper a bitch in the papers—she never would have lit this fire that just keeps burning.
Oisín Connellan:Look at Nadine partying through every minute of the trial—this isn’t serious, this is the limelight she’s spent years begging for. Stop giving it to her. Harper didn’t do this, so stop letting Nadine win.
Jasmine McKenna:We’ve connected the death to the rivalry in a way we never should have. Debts and drugs and gang violence have nothing to do with the pettiness that Harper and Nadine have drip fed us through the years. It’s a disservice to Joel to framehim in the context of it. Pushing this fantasy of Harper Moore killing him lets whoever really did commit the crime get away with it.
Sasha Wallace:It’s the same thing as Nadine inDreadbaseall those years ago. People love a femme fatale. Harper’s easier to objectify when you think of her covered in blood. It’s disgusting. This rivalry is rooted in similar misogyny, and you should all be ashamed for letting it go so far as to convince you someone committed murder.
Amos DuPont:Please, if Harper was going to kill anyone, it would be Nadine. But the real question isn’t if she did it but if we want her to be convicted of it. I don’t want Harper locked in prison—do you? That would be so terribly boring.
In the London hotel, Nadine looks weary, as though this story has rung her out. The producer edges into the shot, waving his notes with evident exasperation.
Producer:So you’re saying that Harper did not attack you in the bathroom of Cannes? She did not fight you on the dance floor of her own club? That it was all perpetuated by your animosity?
Nadine Heywood:Yes.
Producer:But why would you admit to that? It makes you look calculated.
Nadine Heywood:The woman’s on trial for her husband’s murder, and everyone seems to believe she did it because of the lies I’ve told. Forgive me if I think, maybe, we all took this rivalry a little too far.
Producer:Alright, fine. That’s evidently the narrative of the day. So final question: Doyouthink Harper did it?
Nadine Heywood:No, darling. Harper is nowhere near smart enough, talented enough, or skilled enough to murder her husband. She wouldn’t know where to begin. When it comes to crime dramas, she’s much better when someone else is feeding her the lines.
Producer:You—Nadine Heywood—don’t think Harper Moore killed her husband?
Nadine shakes her head, her gaze landing heavily on the lens.
