Deven reached up to drag her hands over her wet face, then her hair. Justin was waiting, his seething inflaming the air between them until it was nearly suffocating. She owed him an explanation. That was the least she could do. She took a breath and sank to the mattress. “Paul has been helping me,” she said, keeping her voice, and eyes low, as she spoke. “I’ve been doing some digging into my sister’s case.”

“What case? She’s dead, Deven. And what the hell does that have to do with you and him fucking?”

She flinched at his piercing words. No use denying it. “My sister isn’t dead,” was all she could mumble.

“You know what? Fuck you, you crazy, lying, cheating bitch!” Justin swung his arm, sending the bedside lamp flying across the room. The shatter of the wall plaster startled a choked scream from Deven. He stalked to the door, snatching up his bag along the way. Then, for the second time, another loud slam shook the walls as Deven was left to cry alone.

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-three

Excerpt from the diary of Kennedy (Age 11)