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What was done was done.
Living without him required some adjustment in the short term. She wouldn’t share those thoughts with the others, not even Laney. They wouldn’t understand. None of them had experienced a relationship that was doomed to end with such sharp suddenness. It had been Ellen’s choice, of course. She was strong. She would recover.
Ellen closed her eyes and shed her clothing of the day. She slipped into bed and allowed the memories to play with her senses. What wasthe harm? Surely she deserved some restitution for her sacrifice. No one ever had to know.
When she had satisfied herself, she considered that all was moving along as it should.
No need for concern.
However difficult these past two days had proved, the worst was done now. The rest would fall into place. She would in time put her mistake fully behind her.
Ellen hesitated. There was just the one anomaly. An unexpected glitch that hadn’t quite smoothed out. But it would. She felt confident.
The bond of trust between Ellen and those closest to her was too strong to be undone by a mere glitch.
12
The Other Woman
11:05 p.m.
Pettit Residence
Penrose Drive, Brentwood
Jessica had known this would happen.
She had done this far too many times not to recognize the signs. Just as she had recognized them inhim.
It was all falling apart.
Ellen was worried. Obviously, Finley O’Sullivan had proved a more than worthy adversary. So much so that Ellen had called Jessica and asked yet another favor for wrapping up this project.
Hadn’t she done enough already?
Outrage simmered inside her.
Ellen had made a serious mistake with this one. This could have cost all of them everything. Now getting through the debacle was up to Jessica. She was the key. Theother womanwho would change the direction of the investigation and save the project.
She smiled. Liked the idea a little too much. Jessica had waited far too long for the others to recognize her value. She possessed assets theyhad long ago allowed to languish. Furthermore, she was far stronger than even Ellen or the others knew.
They would all see soon enough.
Ellen wasn’t the only one who could create and pull off elaborate plans.
All Finley O’Sullivan had to do was find the carefully planted clues. She would too. She was very, very good at what she did as well. Then the stage would be set for resolving Jessica’s other problem.
She smiled. Shifted her car into drive and sped away.
Her work would soon be done, and all would go just as planned.
13
Tuesday, September 20
5:30 a.m.
The Murder House
