But no. Tori couldn’t allow herself to think that way. The child was in a coma, but she wasn’t dead. To hell with what Dr. Fisher had said. There was no chance at all this coma could be permanent. Susy was going to snap out of it at any time now. Maybe it would even be today. She had to snap out of it. Tori could not lose her only sister. She could not lose this late “surprise package” as her mother had called it – this child that had been born so far behind the first one. Tori had been so proud, so happy to have a younger sister. She was supposed to be Susy’s guiding light, her role model, her inspiration. But before things had hardly even gotten started, things were trying to be cut short.
“Please, Susy,” she said softly. “Please don’t leave me. Don’t die . . . I’m begging you, Girlfriend. You’ve got to pull through this.”
Tori stared at Susy so strongly, that she even felt vicious, as if she were in a brutal fight. Inwardly, she demanded that Susy wake up. She tried to play God. She felt the blood running to her face, her demands straining her so harshly. But Susy still lay there, as pale and comatose as ever.
Tori bowed her head. She had been in there a half hour, and each passing minute seemed to make her feel worse. She felt so helpless, so useless, so worthless. There was nothing she could do, but beg.
“Oh God, please don’t let her die . . . Oh, Susy, please don’t die . . . Oh God . . . Please . . . Please.”
Never in Tori Edwards’ twenty-seven years, had she known such torment. And if Susy died, the torment had only just begun.
The bar was nearly empty. It always was at this time of day. Robbie sat in a booth all by himself. Occasionally he would sip on a beer. He looked depressed, very depressed. He felt like the lowest form of life that had ever existed. He felt like scum.
He had done Joe very wrong. He figured that if something miraculous happened, and Joe managed to become a free man again, Robbie knew it would only be a matter of time before Joe would attempt another murder, and this time, he would succeed. Robbie hadn’t wanted to do what he had done, but he had thought things through, and he felt he had no other choice. He was determined that he and Matt would one day be together – one day soon. Competition for Matt was fierce, however, and it would take something special for him to win Matt’s heart. Something that had always been quite special to Matt was money. He loved all that he could get.
Robbie loved Matt, even more than he did his own brother, as was shown by the choice he had made a few hours ago. He had a good idea of how he was going to get some money and thereby make Matt happy. That videotape meant a lot more to him than it would ever mean to Joe, he figured. All Joe wanted was revenge. He wanted somebody else to go to prison with him. It wasn’t going to save him. On the other hand, Robbie would get something that would be a lot more worthwhile. He would get money, and that money would allow him to procure the love of his life. He was sure he would get the money, because if Ava didn’t pay him what he wanted, then Joe would indeed get his wish of revenge. Robbie would then see to that tape somehow falling into the hands of the police.
Robbie took a long drink from his beer. For some reason, Joe’s image kept flashing in front of his eyes. That hurt, shocked face was something that Robbie knew he would take with him to the grave. He hated having to treat his brother that way, but when it came to Matt, he did whatever he had to do. But one thing Joe could rest assured of – he was going to sweat Ava Edwards as much as possible. She might not would have to suffer by going to prison, but she would definitely suffer the same as if she had. He would see to it. That much, he would at least do for his brother.
The thought made Robbie feel a little better, but not much. Oh how he hurt right now. He was so sorrowful for what he had done.
“I’m sorry, Joe,” he mumbled to himself. “ . . . I’m so sorry . . .” It made the pain feel no better.
Chapter Eighteen
There was nothing anyone could do at the hospital currently, so Tori had suggested that everyone go to her apartment. They hadn’t wanted to go to the Edwards’ house, because the police were still working there. The neighbors, the Shaws, would be there to assist the police if they needed anything. Also, there was still a lot of media at the house. Everyone wanted some privacy right now. For the time being, the tragedy had put aside Tori and Ava’s problems.
Simone had needed some rest; Tori had told her to go home. As for Tori, she sat in the recliner, watching Ava gently massage Henry’s temples. He lay on the couch with his head rested in Ava’s lap. Henry was in a daze. He stared out into nothing. Tori was already starting to wonder if he wasn’t going to need some immediate psychiatric help. As for Jimmy, he was at a neighbor’s house. The television was on, but nobody was watching or even listening to it. It was just there to provide some sort of company. No one was doing any talking. The apartment was completely devoid of life. It felt dead.
Tori had to admit to herself, that Ava’s behavior did seem absolutely genuine. She appeared to truly be hurt over what had happened to Susy. Considering the past, that thought had been hard at first for Tori to believe. But then, she figured the woman wasn’t a complete animal –because only a sick animal would not be besieged by this situation. Still, Tori couldn’t help but be surprised over Ava’s showing of compassion. And if Ava hadn’t been there for Henry, he would have possibly been out of his mind by now, Tori speculated. She, herself, simply wasn’t in a position to comfort him much.
Tori’s attention was suddenly caught by the television, when the afternoon Sunday news came on. The young female anchor’s words introduced the story: “Brutal attack on young girl has neighborhood in shock,” were the lady’s words.
All Tori could do was shake her head. Behind the lady anchor on television appeared a large photo of Susy. Ava stood beside her in the photo, which had been taken on the front lawn just a week ago. The two were smiling, though Susy looked somewhat uncomfortable. Tori knew that Ava had given the media the photo. She had told Tori a couple of hours ago, that she had managed to find a little time to talk to them before they had all left the hospital. The camera zoomed in on Susy. She looked so sweet, so innocent. It pained Tori terribly to look at the photo.
As the news lady talked about the case, the screen behind her eventually changed to a shot of the house where the tragedy had occurred. It was film from the darkness of early this morning, when there had been dozens of people outside the house. An instant later, there was a shot of Susy being brought out of the house on a stretcher.
“No!” Henry yelled out. “My baby. My baby!”
Henry raised up and began convulsing. Ava clung to him tightly. She squeezed him as if she were a mother trying to protect her child.
“It’s alright, Sweetheart. It’s alright.”
She pulled his head close to her breast, and Henry immediately stopped his shaking. He calmed down, as his body went almost completely motionless. Tori watched him with such pity. She just wondered how in the world she was going to get through all of this. She knew she probably never would if her sister died.
Tori noticed that the television had switched back to the photo of Susy and Ava. This time, the camera zoomed in on Ava, showing a huge close-up. The news lady talked, with Ava’s photo in the background: “The latest information that we have on this story is shocking indeed. The man in custody, Joe Riley, has confessed to the horrible crime. But what he had to say in his confession lent an even more shocking twist to this story. Riley says that the attack on little Susy Edwards was not a burglary gone awry at all. He said the burglary was just a setup for murder. In other words, the attack on Susy Edwards was a murder-for-hire. And he said that the child’s stepmother paid him to carry out the murder.”
At this point, only Ava’s face showed on the screen. Slowly, but surely, Tori leaned forward in her seat. She was sure that she had misunderstood what the reporter had said. She wondered if she shouldn't rewind the television, so that she could hear it again. But no; she didn't have to do that. She had indeed heard things correctly
; she just didn’t want to believe it. Tori felt her eyes bulge, as if they were opening up a mile wide.
The news lady continued: “Riley claims that Ava Edwards, the child's stepmother, and a minister, wanted the child dead so that she could collect Trust Fund money she could use to expand her ministry. She was also going to pay him for the murder out of some of that money. ‘It was a hit, plain and simple,’ is what Riley has told police.”
Tori looked at Ava, who herself looked absolutely stunned. Henry raised up from the couch, and he stared at the fifty-inch screen in disbelief. Tori glued her eyes on Ava. She wanted to see some sort of reaction that would tell her immediately, that this had to be a horrendous lie. She got her reaction.
“They . . . They’re crazy,” said Ava in a high-pitched, outraged voice. “How could they allow something like that on television? There’s no evidence whatsoever. I don’t believe this . . . I absolutely don’t believe this, Tori.”
Her eyes begged Tori to believe her.
The news lady yet went on: “Riley claims that he has a videotape showing Ava Edwards making plans with him to kill little Susy. He says that his brother Robbie Riley has the only copy of the videotape, and that for some reason, he won’t acknowledge it. This was the case, though originally, Riley tried to make out that his brother didn’t know what he had possession of. Now, he claims his brother knew about the plan as well, and was the one who filmed the scene. As for the Edwards family, we haven’t been able to contact them yet about the accusation, but we’re sure that a statement will be forthcoming from them shortly.”
If Tori’s eyes had been knives, they would have ripped clean through Ava. Tori didn’t know exactly what to think as of yet. She felt rage boiling up inside of her, but at the same time, she tried her best to hold on to her temper. She knew that if she didn’t, there was no telling what she might do.
“It’s a lie!” Ava shouted at Tori. “I swear to you, it’s a lie.”
Tori couldn’t speak a word. But she could tell that Ava had definitely been caught off guard, especially when the word videotape had come up.
“You’ve got to believe me. It’s a damn lie. The man is sick. He’s crazy.”
“You goddamn right it’s a lie,” screamed Henry. “Ain’t we suffering enough without them putting bull like that on the air. They’re damn crazy.”
Henry became so enraged, that he picked up a pillow from the couch and threw it at the television. All it did, however, was bounce off the screen.
“You shut up,” he yelled at the news lady on TV. “It ain’t true. You know it ain’t true.”
Ava took hold of Henry by the shoulders. Henry had quickly turned the deepest shade of red.
“Calm down, Honey. Just calm down,” Ava said.
“How could they even put that on the air, Ava?” Henry shouted. “Those were the words of a madman. A nut. A child killer.”
“Don’t worry about it, Henry. Don’t get yourself all worked up.”
“But it ain’t fair. They know you wouldn’t do something like that. They know it. It’s so damn stupid.”
Tori wasn’t sure, and she didn’t want to believe it. But it almost seemed to her that her daddy was trying to convince himself of something. As for her, she could feel a headache suddenly coming on. She could already tell, it was going to be a big one. She didn’t know what to think in regards to Ava right now, but she did know that she had better get away from her. When her head really started hurting, she could go absolutely wild.
For the time being, she had to give Ava the benefit of the doubt as to what the news reporter had just said. Still, to be on the safe side, she knew that she had better get Ava out of her sight, and quickly.
Slowly, Tori stood up. She couldn’t help herself; she kept those eyes pasted on Ava. Ava looked back at her so innocently.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Tori?” she asked. “Certainly, you don’t believe the lies of that crazy Joe Riley. I never knew I was employing such a sick human being.”
“Of course she doesn’t believe that bull,” Henry added.
Tori didn’t respond. Instead, she forced herself to look away from Ava and her daddy. Quivering somewhat, she crossed her arms and bowed her head. She calmly walked past the two sitting on the couch. She ignored them both as they called her name. She walked to the door and opened it.
“Tori, where are you going?” Ava anxiously asked her.
Tori looked back at her. Again, all she could do was give a cold glare.
“Please, Baby,” Henry called to his daughter. “You don’t believe that about Ava. Say you don’t.”
Again, Tori sensed something in her father’s voice that seemed forced. It made her that much more determined to leave. Tori went through the door. She calmly closed it behind her. She stood outside, her arms still folded. Stay calm, was all that she could think about. She had to stay calm.
Jimmy lay on the bed of his best friend, or rather – only friend – Jake Baines. The Baines’ lived right across the street from the Edwards’. Jimmy hadn’t wanted to go to Tori’s apartment, claiming that he preferred to be in the comfort of his best friend. In reality, he hadn’t wanted to be around his family. He hadn’t wanted them to see just how little he cared about what had happened. He especially hadn’t wanted Tori to notice it.
He lay on the bed with his shoes on. His feet were crossed. He had his arms locked behind his head. His eyes were closed and he had earphones on. He listened to a CD of the Jonas' Brothers greatest hits. His friend Jake was downstairs watching TV with his family. They had shown far greater interest than Jimmy in regards to Susy. He had heard Mrs. Baines, when she had been up in the room a little while ago, mumble something to the effect: “Poor little thing, he’s trying to keep it all inside.” Jimmy had thought, Yeah, lady, that does sound like a good one to use. I gotta keep it in mind.
Jimmy couldn’t help but think about all the possibilities that lay ahead. Two bedrooms that he could use. No more haggling over the television. No more eating his heart out as Susy talked about her good grades. No more watching her be voted this and that.
So, where are you now, Lady President? He almost giggled. He was still quite amazed at what he had seen early this morning. He was rather proud of himself. He had always thought he would freak out if he ever saw somebody who had been murdered, and there was blood and everything. But he had handled it like a man. He hadn’t thrown up or anything.
Susy wasn’t dead yet, but from what the doctors had said, it was probably only a matter of time. Poor little Susy, he thought. At times, I actually wondered what it’d be like to be perfect like you – to be in your shoes. I damn sure don’t wonder that now.
The door to the room came open, and Jake, who was nearly as big as Jimmy, stopped just inside the door. Jimmy raised up.
“Somethin’ wrong?” he asked.
“You ain’t gonna believe what they just said on TV.” Jake was real excited.
“What they sayin’ ‘bout Susy now?”
“It ain’t about Susy. It’s about your mom. Man, they saying your mom paid that guy to have Susy killed.”
Briefly, Jimmy was thunderstruck. Then, pride began slowly breezing through his body. A light clicked on. He knew now why his mother had treated Susy so kindly in the last two weeks.
“Can you believe it, man? They say your mom paid the guy.”
Jimmy didn’t say anything. He had to fight hard to keep from grinning. However, one word did go through his mind.
'Cool.'
Chapter Nineteen
Tori entered into her apartment; Simone was behind her. They had come from the hospital. A day had passed and there was no change in Susy’s condition. She was still comatose. However, as much as Susy’s condition concerned Tori, it was not the primary concern on her mind right now. She walked to the couch and dropped her purse.
“I don’t know what to think,” she snapped at Simone. “But I don’t like the way I’m leaning.”
“Bu
t she couldn’t do something that cruel,” Simone countered. “Ava Edwards is bad, but even she couldn’t be that kind of a monster.”
Tori didn’t answer. She left the den and walked into the kitchen. A weariness was taking over Tori, which she knew was quite understandable. She could feel the stress etching itself into her body. She just hoped that her migraines wouldn’t start making her vegetative. She rubbed the middle of her forehead briefly, and she then picked up a bottle of Aspirin from the counter.
“I want to believe that, Simone, but it just doesn’t feel right.”
She picked up a glass, filled it with water from the faucet and popped the pills.
“But you’ve never liked the lady. That’s clouding your judgment.”
“She’s given me good reason not to like her. She’s been a hateful stepmother who’s mistreated my sister.”
“But trying to have Susy murdered? That’s going too far.”
“Why would Joe Riley make up something like that? What does he gain from it?”
Briefly, Simone didn’t know what to say.
“He’s a kook,” she then responded. “Who knows why they do anything?”
“Riley said that she wanted Susy’s Trust. People kill for money all the time. Considering
how she’s hated Susy, it doesn’t sound so illogical.”
“Riley’s said a lot of stuff. She had an affair with him. She did drugs with him. All kinds of bull.”
“Why is it bull?”
“I don’t know Ava real well, but she doesn’t strike me as being the type who could sleep with, or hang out with trash like Joe Riley. I think she sets her sights a little higher.”
“Well I say the witch is capable of anything.”
Tori put down her glass. She paced to the refrigerator door. She banged it with her fist.
“Damn it. Is that why she suddenly started treating Susy so nice? She wanted to throw everybody off because she wanted to kill her?”
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