Page 145 of Her Wicked Plan

“Okay. I’ll call out to her sister⁠—”

“Can I be the one to do it?” I cut him off.

He studies me for a moment but then eventually nods. “You want full responsibility for the chaos that is about to happen? By all means, Dr. Madden, go right ahead.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I reach for the corded phone positioned in the top right-hand corner of my desk but hesitate as my fingers brush over the phone itself. My heart has been racing since I stepped foot in this office.

Veronica will be mad at me for doing this, but it needs to happen. I have to push her to see her sister, or else she never will, and then she wouldn’t know if her sister forgives her.

Does she deserve forgiveness? That isn’t up to me to decide.

It’s up to Stephanie.

Exhaling out a long breath, I pick up the phone. The dial tone sounds in my ear as I punch in the keys to her phone number.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Each one is more prolonged than the last. As if it were dragging this out.

“Hello?” The voice on the other end surprises me for two reasons; I wasn’t sure she would answer and because she sounds like Veronica.

“Hi, is this Stephanie Rollins?” My voice remains strong and professional even though I shake inside.

“Yes. Who is this?”

“This is Dr. Madden from Black Lake Asylum.” I swallow the nerves down my throat.

She remains silent, her heavy breathing sounding through the earpiece. “What do you want?”

“I’m calling on behalf of Veronica. She⁠—”

“Is she alright?” If I weren’t mistaken, her tone sounded concerned, which is a good sign.

“She is doing fine, considering,” I reassure her. “I am calling because I would like to set up a visitation between you and Veronica.”

“Why?” She snaps that concern away.

“Well, she hasn’t had any visitors since she has been here and I believe it would be good for her.”

Silence for another beat until Stephanie speaks. “Why would I come visit the person who killed my boyfriend?”

The person.

Stephanie doesn’t even acknowledge Veronica as her sister.

“Because she is your sister.” There is a bite in my voice.

“My sister who murdered my boyfriend.” She bites back furiously. “What, does she want to see me to rub it in my face? To remind me of the horror of that night?”

“No.” My head shakes, even though she can’t see it. “She doesn’t even know I’m calling. Veronica wants to see you but won’t make the move to start the visit. And before you say it, she doesn’t want to see you make you relive that night over again. She wants forgiveness.”

“What about what I want?” The sadness in her voice is prominent.

“I can’t change the past, Stephanie. Neither can your sister.” My fingers rub my forehead. “I’m not asking you to come here, forgive her, and move on from the past. That I know won’t happen, but I think that seeing each other after all this time could at least settle something between the two of you.”

She sniffs, which I’m sure means she is crying. “Do my parents know you are calling me?”