“She is, but apparently, one of the employees got careless on a smoke break and Mother took advantage. They called to tell me I had to come get her but their story didn’t add up so I refused. I had to make a big stink about getting camera footage before they’d admit they were liable. Having some dirt on them is the only thing keeping her there.”

“She needs to be in a mental health hospital.”

“There’s nothing available. At least this claim of dementia got her into a secure facility.”

“Only sort of secure, apparently.” Halcyon shook her head. “I’m glad I got the narcissist for a mother. You can write a narcissist off and no one blames you for it but you’re stuck with crazy until it dies.”

Marina nodded. Halcyon didn’t even know the half of it. Before Dr. Miller was convinced to declare that Letitia was suffering from dementia, Marina had been to the sheriff’s department four times to deal with her mother’s shenanigans. And each time, they got increasingly more dangerous. The final shot, literally, was when she took aim at the postman, claiming she thought it was a home invasion. Marina knew her mother had hated the man ever since he’d dumped Letitia for her best friend in high school, so she wasn’t buying it for a second. But Dr. Miller was, and that was enough to give Marina power of attorney over Letitia’s affairs and the ability to get her into the lockdown unit at the assisted living facility.

Marina had never told anyone—not even Halcyon—but the day of the transport, she’d given Letitia sedatives and convinced her they were going shopping. It was the only way she knew she could get her mother into the facility without incident. If Letitia had known where they were going, no telling who she would have opened fire on to avoid it. Marina still felt guilty for what she’d done, but she’d also decided that her mother was going to be locked up one way or another. It was simply a choice between a medical facility and prison. She’d opted for the choice that left no other potential victims.

At least, that’s what she’d thought before the fire.

“Was anyone hurt?” Halcyon asked. “In the fire, I mean?”

“No. Thank God. They caught her right after she’d poured rubbing alcohol on the living room furniture. She was holding the lighter when a nurse’s aide tackled her.”

“Good. God.”

“So anyway, all that is to say that my mother doesn’t get a vote in my living here,” Marina said.

“You might still want to keep it a secret. If she finds out you’re here and actually happy for a change, the old witch will change her will and leave everything to someone else just to spite you.”

Marina sighed but couldn’t argue. Halcyon was probably right.

“To be honest, I’m more worried about Avery than Letitia,” Marina said.

“Oh shit! I guess I hadn’t thought that far. What are you going to tell her?”