“I’m sure it’s hard to live with a murder, even if it was an accident, a fit of rage.” I stand up, too. I mean, I wouldn’t know, but I can imagine how stressful killing someone could be, especially someone you love. Haunting.

“I don’t think it was an accident, Mrs. Harris. I think Betsy pushed Mary off that cliff, maybe with Bo’s help. Maybe alone. And you don’t think it was an accident, either.” Josh looks down at his feet.

Correct. “I never did. Mary never went up there to that point. Never,” I agree.

“Do you think I should go to the police?” He swallows. He certainly is facing a big moral dilemma at such a young age. And the kid still has to live here when he comes home from college break. If he tells he’ll be labeled a snitch. And who knows what Bo will do to him? Bo could be dangerous, don’t you agree?

“I can’t tell you what to do, or stand in your way. It’s my worst fear come true.” I look down at the bench, pretend to gather my thoughts. “Tell your mom what you know, she will tell you what to do.” A sob racks my body and I bend over. “My God. My only living daughter is a—” I falter, unable to say the word murderer. “What if Betsy and Bo lured Mary to the Point to murder her? My God.” I break down, inconsolable sobs. Full waterworks.

“The stupid thing is, I still love her.” Josh lets out a big sob as he walks away. I lift my head from my hands so I can watch his back as he crosses the tennis court and waves to Hoffman. He opens the metal gate and disappears into the night.

I sit up and take a deep breath, collecting myself. I knew he might have the piece I was missing. He puts everything together in a way even Detective Branson will understand.

Most likely, Josh will drive home and confess everything to his mom. He’ll sob, and cry, but his mom will insist that he do the right thing. They will call Detective Branson first thing in the morning and Josh will implicate Betsy in the murder of her sister. It was a crime of passion, of course. She’ll probably be able to get off with a little time served, with a good attorney. Everyone knows she was angry, her new love was threatened. Teenagers in love do very bad things.

What I can’t believe is how much Josh still loves Betsy, even after everything she’s done to him. I mean, I guess I can understand. I thought David would dump the bimbo, start over with me. That was my original plan. I thought we could reconnect, be a family again. Now I know the truth. Josh and I were both delusional, in denial. But not anymore.