She resumed petting Val’s hair, twirling strands between her fingers. Val’s eyes ached to blink and she didn’t know how much longer she could hold them open.

“After you got fired, the story would be you were so distraught you moved back to Florida. Only in reality, you were dead and I was you living in Florida. But you are a nasty girl. You lied to me about your Florida license. I’ve had a devil of a time trying to renew it because it’s expired. But that’s not the worst thing you did. What did you think you were doing showing up at my house with that bitch Gwen? She saw me and I’m sure you told her about me. Were you screwing with me?”

There was a moment of silence. Like she was expecting Val to actually answer.

“I don’t tolerate people who screw with me.” Molly laughed, tugging hard on the hair in her grasp, jerking Val’s head towards her. “Just ask Lauren Fitzgibbons how I take care of those who want to screw with me.”

She pulled Val’s hair harder.

“I know what you’re thinking! Oh, don’t you feel sorry for her. She’s not innocent at all. I believe one hundred percent she tried to befriend me on purpose, to check me out after she stole my sorry excuse for a husband. So, I got my revenge my way. If she had just stayed away from me, she’d be fine.”

Molly stretched out on the bed and let go of Val’s hair. She stayed close though. “I had to come out in the open because of that. I was going to be sued and I wasn’t ready to stage Julia’s death yet. I had to buy a lawyer so that I could drag this out a little more.” Molly sounded angry again and she took a few deep breaths.

Val resisted every urge to blink. It was unbearable now. She didn’t think she could hold out much longer.

“Why did I do it? Why infect her? Why would I jeopardize my plan, bring the Julia DeHaviland alias out in the open, and have some link to the real me?” she yelled. “Do you think I was going to let that silly bitch get away with trying to screw with me? Lauren’s punishment was that she lost her face. There’s a lesson to be learned for trying to screw with me. Unfortunately, it’s a lesson you’re going to learn too, the hard way.”

Val couldn’t control it anymore. As Molly lunged at her, Val finally blinked. Molly saw the movement.

“You’re beginning to come around.”

Val felt her arms being poked, her ability to move being assessed.

“We still have some time. But really I should get started.”

Val knew Molly miscalculated how much time she had.