Shelby shared what she’d told me and a few details not spoken of previously. “I’ve never stolen, but I have sold drugs, not for money but to prove I could get away with it.”

“You studied robberies, murders, even kidnappin’ to figure out how to commit the perfect crime?” the sheriff said. When she nodded, he blew out his obvious anger. “Little lady, where were your parents?”

“They didn’t know. Marissa called our time together secret-sister games.”

“More like secret-sister crimes.” The sheriff crossed his arms over his chest. So typical. “Your dad deserves the truth.”

Shelby’s face paled. “He’d be devastated.”

I shifted to ease the agony in my leg. “He and Aria planned to talk on the way back to Sharp’s Creek. Don’t you think from the way he took time to heal your relationship that he suspects at least part of it?”

She covered her mouth and stared over my head into the kitchen. “When I saw Mom for the last time, she asked if Marissa had shot Travis. I stood by my original confession. Mom might have mentioned her doubts to Dad. I’ll call him.”

I didn’t think Clay could handle derogatory info about Marissa. “Not a good idea. Clay Pearce deserves to hear this face-to-face from his daughter. His phone or Aria’s might be bugged, putting them in line for a death order.”

She leaned back against the sofa, trembling. “If not for Aria’s visit and where my thinking led, I’d have continued the ruse. I believed Marissa was perfect.” She buried her face in her hands. “I see now how she fostered my rebellion and how she used me to accomplish her own agenda. I’m incredibly hurt . . . and angry.” She stared at me. “I have no proof of my innocence.”

“You served your sentence. You’ve been victimized. And now Marissa has abandoned her daughter. The FBI needs your official statement.”

“All right.”

Sheriff Wendall summoned our attention. “Makes sense Marissa took the $500K and claimed it had been embezzled. Would you recognize your sister’s handwritin’? I have the sympathy card, although the FBI didn’t find a match.”

“I could identify it,” Shelby said, “and if it’s a match, then the FBI has reason to bring her in for questioning. She’s supposed to be in Phoenix as recommended by her RA doctor. Is her medical condition even legit? Aria doesn’t think so.”

“Maybe not. I’ve learned more about her actions.” I told them about the photos of her and Eli Chandler in Miami, the restaurant’s reputation, and the use of an alias in her travel. “I requested medical records for her earlier today, and I’ll contact Clay about the dates she claimed to be resting. Doubtful she left anything incriminating behind at your dad’s, but the FBI has cause to issue a search warrant and sweep her room.”

The sheriff cleared his throat. “Denton, if big sister’s on to what you’ve uncovered, we’re low on time. My guess is she’s on her way out of the country. Has the FBI red flagged her alias?”