Push(107)

David sits down at the table, sucks in a gigantic gulp of air, and says, “I can’t stand the thought of you being so afraid, Emma. That’s why I did what I did. I wanted to get rid of Michael so you would never have to be afraid again. But after you opened that door and I saw the gun and the panic in your face, I know that your fear of Michael has only morphed into a fear of Ricky. And that is the last thing I ever wanted to happen. So I’m going to tell you something, and you aren’t going to like it, something that I decided not to tell you last night because I thought it might be too much. But clearly it’s the only way you’re going to trust me on this—the only way you are going to stop being afraid.” My eyes narrow. “This is not a lie, Emma,” he adds emphatically, “and the fact that I didn’t tell you about it last night does not make it a lie. I left it out to protect you.” I roll my eyes at him and cross my arms over my chest. Again with the protection crap.

“You’re right,” he continues. “Ricky is selfish and greedy. Not only did he come here to blackmail me, he was the one that convinced Evan to kill Michael.”

I am staring at David in disbelief, shaking my head.

“When I took the rest of the money to Ricky on Saturday night, he had been drinking, and he said some things that gave him away. He said that Evan killing Michael was the best fucking thing in the world. He and Evan had known for years that they would inherit everything when Michael died because they had a copy of his will. Michael gave it to them a few months after your mother died. He had it redone because he wanted you left out of it completely. So, now that Michael is dead and Evan’s in jail, Ricky will get it all—and, believe me, he was thrilled as shit about it.”

It’s no surprise that Ricky would be thrilled with his new windfall, but why would he tell David about Michael’s will? What would he gain by revealing that information?

“Why the hell would he tell you all this?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I guess he knew that I would tell you. Maybe he thought that you would be pissed about not getting anything from Michael. Maybe it was some sort of revenge.”

“I could care less about Michael’s money,” I say. “I wouldn’t want it anyway.”

“Yeah, but Ricky doesn’t know that. As he was telling me about Michael’s will, I was thinking about how convenient it all was for him. Then it dawned on me—it wasn’t convenient. It was planned. From the moment I pointed out that he and Evan would inherit nothing if Michael was found guilty, Ricky’s wheels were turning. Somehow he convinced Evan that getting rid of Michael was the only solution, and Evan did it.”

As David is talking, things grow clearer inside my head. I can see precisely how Ricky planted that seed because I know the suggestive power he has always had over Evan. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen how much Evan looks up to Ricky and how readily he is influenced by him. I can hear Ricky convincing Evan that it would mean the end of his financial troubles and an opportunity to start a new life. I can see Ricky bringing up my mother’s missing jewelry and using it as fuel against Michael. I can see Ricky manipulating Evan, and Evan falling for it headfirst and not even recognizing that he’s being played. Ricky knew that Evan was stupid enough to get caught; hell, maybe somehow he even made sure Evan got caught. At this point, I wouldn’t put it past him. But most importantly, Evan would never rat out Ricky, and Ricky knows it. I feel sick.

“And, to top it all off,” he adds, “Ricky knew that he could still get money from me, simply by threatening to take my offer to the police. He’s clever, Emma.”

“So, did you tell him that you figured it out?” I ask. “What did he do?”

“I took a risk, and I called him on it. I told him straight up that I knew he convinced Evan to kill Michael. The look on his face was priceless, and I knew I was right. He was fucking stunned. I handed him the rest of his money and then I told him we were facing a stalemate.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

David shrugs and raises his brow. “I paid him what he wanted, and I made it very clear that if he tells anyone about my offer, or if he contacts me or you ever again, I will tell the police about his involvement in Michael’s death. And when Evan finds out that Ricky set him up, he’ll sing like a motherfucking bird. It’s plain and simple—as long as we both keep our mouths shut, neither one of us will end up in prison.” He takes a breath and drops his hands down to his sides. “And that’s why I know he isn’t coming back. That’s why you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”