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But we were waiting.
We’dbeenwaiting.
Because, as Scarlet had told me, Litany came into the house after every session, without fail. Scarlet was also planning on mentioning the sketchbook and notes to the girls to see how LT reacted.
If she gave herself away then, we’d clearly know. If she tried to skip coming into the house, we’d know.
Any way it could possibly go, we’d know. I felt the certainty of it down to my soul.
“They should be done,” I muttered as I glanced at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time since Litany had first come running through. My body practically buzzing with all the restless energy built up inside me.
“Haven’t heard any yelling yet,” Brandon said, eyebrows lifted knowingly.
“You think she’s going to keep pretending,” I said, already understanding the look without needing him to explain.
“I just don’t think anyone would give it up that easily after what they’ve been doing,” he said, one hand raised placatingly. “But being Litany? She’s crazy enough without all this other shit on top of it. There’s no way she’s going to be like, ‘Yeah, you know what, I did all that.’”
My head moved in tight, fast jerks. “She’s going to fess to it,” I said undoubtedly. “I know she is.”
That feeling I’d gotten the other day, as if my memories were on the tipping point of being freed, had only grown. Now every little thing felt like it might break that invisible barrier. Like the softest sound or the slightest movement had that dam weakening. Had my memories crying out. Grasping. Begging for me to just reach out andtakethem.
“But if she doesn’t—”
“I’m anxious as fuck,” I snapped, cutting Brandon off. “It feels like I’m crawling out of my skin. It’s coming to a head. I know it is.”
“Chase,” he began, voice gentle but no less firm. “I’m on your side. I want this to end for you.”
“Then trust me.”
“All right,” Brandon said, lowering his head. “All right, man.” Reaching forward, he snatched the box and dragged it toward him.
“Finally,” Konrad said on a near groan, only to let his head fall back with a heaving sigh when the door to the garage opened. “Damn it.”
“Just in time!” Litany said with a giddy smile as she practically danced our way. Touching Brandon’s shoulder, she trailed her fingers toward the other side, looking from the box to the three of us. “I put a little somethingspecialin there this time. Let me know what you think.”
With a much more understated wink than before directed at me, she turned and left for the hall.
And it took every ounce of agitated energy I had to just watch her leave. Not to demand answers from her.
“Every time,” Konrad muttered as Brandon pushed the box, sending it across the island to where I was standing. Bouncing. On the verge of pacing.
“Aside from her ruining food,” Brandon began as he leaned across the counter, voice a whisper, “she didn’t look like someone who’s about to get caught.”
“She looks like she thinks she’s getting away with it,” I said under my breath. “Remember the way she winked at us before they began working out?”
“I like to forget what she does,” Konrad murmured as Brandon lifted his chin in confirmation.
“She just winked at me. It wasn’t anything like that. It wasn’t anything like the way she looks at us when she’s being overly flirty or sexual.” Before I could tell them how she’d looked at me the week before, as if she’d known me in a way I really hoped she didn’t, my phone vibrated from where it rested on the counter.
“It’s Scar,” I murmured as I snatched up the phone and opened the message just as another one came through. The smallest whisper of doubt pushing into my veins when I read the words there.
Scarlet:She asked questions the way she does about everything. Not too interested. Not interested enough. She didn’t seem suspicious in any way.
Scarlet:Sam’s coming to keep an eye on LT when she’s around you.
“She didn’t pick up on anything,” I murmured, answering their unspoken question as Konrad and Brandon eagerly waited.
“I don’t think Litany’s going to admit to it,” Brandon began, his low voice dropping to a nearly imperceptible whisper when the door to the garage opened. “But I can’t see how it’s anyone else.”
