The Girl and the Deadly Secrets

The Girl and the Deadly Secrets Copyright © 2023 by A.J. Rivers All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Chapter Thirty-Three Epilogue Author's Note Also by A.J. Rivers Thursday, August 12 Present day Xavier picks up the remote and promptly turns the movie off. “I need to start from the beginning,” he says. “Why would you start me at the end that isn’t the end of a series that wasn’t supposed to have a beginning because it wasn’t a series?” Dean looks at him for a silent moment. We’re already off to a fantastic start with this ‘80s slasher movie marathon we’ve been planning. With Friday the 13th looming right on the other side of midnight, it just seems appropriate to do it tonight. I should have known it wasn’t going to go nearly as smoothly as finding the right film streaming and letting it play. Xavier has just found out that Dean tried to pull a fast one on him by starting with the fourth movie of the series rather than at the actual beginning. No one who has ever encountered Xavier should be surprised by his reaction. “You’re right,” my cousin replies flatly, still staring at Xavier. “Why would I do something like that?” While Xavier searches for the first movie, I go to the kitchen to refill my drink and contemplate the possibility of snacks for the movies. I look into the freezer at an assortment of ice cream pints and nearly grab one, but reconsider. The pizza we ordered should be here any minute and I intend on eating several slices. I don’t want the ice cream in the way. I get back into the living room just as Xavier is starting on a fresh set of questions. “Is that a real full moon or a stunt moon?” In our intermission between the first and second movies a couple of hours later, I clean up the dirty dishes from around the living room and bring them back into the kitchen. The ice cream is still calling my name and I’m deciding which flavor to choose as I’m wrapping leftover pizza when my phone rings. A glance at the screen tells me it’s my husband. “Hey, babe,” I answer. “How are you doing?” I do my best not to let my voice divulge how much I miss him. It feels like he’s been in Michigan for far too long, but I know he’s doing the right thing being there. His aunt is going through hell and needs him with her now. “Good,” Sam says. “It’s a lot, but I’m glad I’m here.” “I know you are,” I say. “How is Rose?” “Getting through it a lot better than I thought she would. Though, honestly, I should have expected that. She already got through the hardest part. This is just the formality.” “I miss you,” I tell him. I almost feel guilty saying it. Sam is by his aunt’s side as she copes with the loss of her only child, the cousin Sam was extremely close with growing up. The last thing he needs to be thinking about is me sitting at home wishing he was here with me. “I miss you, too. Are the guys there?” There was a time when this probably would have frustrated me. My mind would have immediately gone to the idea that he thought I couldn’t manage alone, or that I needed the two men to be there with me because he wasn’t. A few years of marriage and getting to know Dean and Xavier have mellowed me in recognizing that Sam just wants to know I’m safe and happy while he’s not around. “Yeah. We’re getting ready to start movie number two of our marathon. Well, actually, movie two and a half. Xavier found out that we started on the fourth one, and we got over an hour in before we had to find the original,” I tell him. “Why would you do that?” Sam asks, sounding almost shocked. “Even I wouldn’t try to do that.” I would laugh if my first instinct wasn’t a self-reflective nod he can’t even see. “I know. The mistake has been rectified,” I say. “Make sure you get some sleep. I know you have work tomorrow,” Sam says. It’s not so much that he knows I have work as he just assumes I do. Essentially, I always have work. “I will. You get some sleep, too. I love you,” I say. “I love you. Goodnight, babe.” “Goodnight.” I’m smiling as I end the call and tuck my phone back into my pocket. There are some moments in my life when I can’t help but acknowledge how damn lucky I am. The movies keep rolling and I’m fairly awake through the second and third. By the middle of the fourth, I’m curled up in my favorite corner of the