Turning away to just stare out over the valley, “Maybe she was jealous?” Wendy offered.
“No,” Sutton stated flatly. “Alicia believed it was owed to her. Wendy, I was always an honor student. I never got in trouble as a kid and worked at the furniture plant from the age of twelve until I left for college. For the first year when I was at college my parents sent me money to help out, then my sophomore year they stopped. My car broke down and I called my father to ask for help, but he said no. His words were, ‘You need to learn how the real world functions without a safety net’,” Sutton paused and looked off.
“Yeah, that hurt, and I had a suspicion Alicia was involved, but Aunt June, one of my mother’s sisters, came to visit me at college. She gave me the money and confirmed my suspicions. She had been at the house the day Alicia had told my parents they babied me too much and should stop giving me money. I was a man after all and shouldn’t need help.”
Snapping her gaze to the side of his face, “Whoa, hold up. You mean to tell me your mom and dad let Alicia dictate something like that?” Wendy nearly shouted.
Giving a long sigh, “Wendy, from the age of eight Alicia was the ruler of that household. I don’t know why, but they adored and fawned over her. Alicia could do no wrong. If she got a bad grade, it was the teacher’s fault. When she got arrested, the cops were trying to plant something. Oh, I could go on for hours, and I will if you want me to. You may think, ‘He’s just making this up and I can’t verify it’, but you would be wrong,” Sutton told her.
He turned to look Wendy in the eyes. “At her house, she has filing cabinets filled with letters and newspaper clippings of the exploits she was in but always got out of. Then you could go into her bedroom and read her diaries. She’s kept them since she could write. Alicia likes to read them like a conqueror,” Sutton explained. “I haven’t seen Alicia since my mother died and yes, that’s the only reason I ever met up with her after I left the house. I never went to visit her. She always chased me down, wanting to meet up. When they were alive, my parents would hound me day and night to talk to my sister. If I kept brushing her off, Alicia called my parents and they would torment me until I gave in.”
Staring into Sutton’s eyes, Wendy could tell he was speaking the truth. “She wasn’t like that with me,” Wendy stated.
Nodding, “Not as bad,” Sutton told her and saw Wendy give a startle. “Wendy,” he paused. “You always gave in to her. Granted, not as fast as my parents, but you did. I can tell now, you felt sorry for her. You can think ill of me, but I love Arthur’s outlook on my sister. She is a bitch who needs to be tied up in a bag and tossed in the river.”
Taking a step back that a brother hated his sister that much, “Being a bit dramatic, aren’t you?” Wendy asked.
“Nope,” Sutton replied and looked off. “You’ve been friends with Alicia for over a decade, and are one of the few she has had as a friend that long. Don’t get me wrong, Alicia had friends but most eventually saw through her façade. One thing all of the friends she had for long periods of time have in common, you all felt sorry for her. I hate to tell you, but everyone who hates Alicia has a very good reason. Damn, if Alicia would have become a lawyer, she would have won every case. She loves to talk and wants people to see her point of view, and only hers. I don’t know how but Alicia can make so many people, if not like her, accept her.”
Scoffing, “Not Arthur or Joseph,” Wendy huffed. “For Arthur, it was hate at first sight. Joseph, I think he doesn’t like her because of Arthur.”
“No,” Sutton said, and Wendy narrowed her eyes. “Oh, you’re right they both hate her, but you’re wrong on Joseph. Well, not now. But when Joseph first met her, I think he was about twelve, he liked Alicia. He didn’t start hating her until he was fourteen.”
“How in the fuck could you know that?!” Wendy cried out.
With a flat expression, “Wendy, you have been around my sister. Hell, you have been around her more than I have. She talks,” Sutton told her. “And it shouldn’t surprise you, but Alicia hated Arthur with a holy passion because she could never get him to like her, no matter what she did. She tried and was still trying to get Arthur to like her.”
Blinking slowly, “Huh?” Wendy grunted.
“Wendy, Alicia has met very few in her life who hated her from first sight, but none who hated her with the conviction Arthur has. What really pissed Alicia off, she couldn’t get you to rein Arthur in because you loved him so much,” Sutton explained. “Now that I learned for a fact from Alicia’s diaries, but I already knew it.”
Cocking her head to the side, “You read her diaries?!” Wendy teased.
“You’re goddamn right I did!” Sutton shouted, making Wendy jump back. Realizing he’d scared her, Sutton calmed down. “Sorry,” he apologized. “That car I told you that broke down in college? I had bought it myself. Do you know why?” he asked and Wendy shook her head.
“My father took back the brand new Camaro he had bought me when I graduated high school. Why? Alicia wanted it. Yes, my father had the right, he had bought it and Alicia had a Pathfinder, a new Pathfinder. But she wanted a sporty car to drive around high school,” Sutton told her. “You would think Alicia would have asked for a new Camaro but no, she only wanted mine. My father sent two employees from the plant up to my college and they drove it back. Before you ask, no, I didn’t get the Pathfinder. Alicia told my parents she needed something that could hold more of her friends, so a sophomore in high school had two brand-new cars.”
Still finding it hard to believe but having no doubt Sutton was telling the truth, Wendy caught something. “Sophomore?” she asked.
Nodding, “Oh, yes. Alicia failed twice. The first time for grades, but my parents were able to sue the school board for ‘maltreatment of a minor’. They won the court case and Alicia was allowed to go into the eighth grade. But she was held back in the ninth grade because she missed, well, skipped school too many times, and my parents lost that case in court.”
Having a hard time believing they were talking about the same person, “I would’ve seen a person like that,” Wendy stated.
“Wendy, Alicia is as two-faced as they come. Most saw exactly what Alicia wanted them to see. It took time for most to see just what she really was, a cold-hearted bitch,” Sutton said with a flat expression. “You wouldn’t believe how much she hated me,” he said, and that got a reaction from Wendy. “Yes, she hated me and the older I got, the more she hated me. I always did well in school, graduated high school and college as valedictorian. I became one of the best and most famous viral researchers in the world and Alicia couldn’t get me to stay under her thumb.”
Turning away as she shook her head, “I would’ve seen a person like that,” Wendy mumbled.
“You weren’t looking,” Sutton told her. “I think if you would’ve ever taken Arthur’s side over Alicia, she would have shown you her true face, but that wasn’t going to happen.”
Scoffing, “You say that, like, Alicia liked Arthur?” Wendy doubted.
“That’s how her husband number two and three acted, they didn’t like her,” Sutton replied and Wendy’s face turned red. “I will say, Arthur hates her while they just didn’t like Alicia. Arthur is unique. He can see past the front most people put up to how they really are.”
Locking eyes with Sutton, “Are you trying to tell me Alicia wanted Arthur?” Wendy asked.
Nodding once, “I know she did, but I have confirmed it in her diaries,” Sutton answered. “When I say she’s cold-hearted, I’m not exaggerating. Husbands number two and three, once she married them, Alicia put them through a living hell for not fawning over her the instant they saw her. Just to let you know, she knew what she was doing to both of them. She waited, biding her time as she tormented them and when they found another woman, Alicia had private eyes with cameras waiting. Alicia’s not stupid and knew that’s what would happen. In her eyes, she had won. They had done what she wanted, and Alicia got money from both. Lots of m
oney.”
Wendy just stared at Sutton in disbelief. “Wendy, the only reason Alicia moved onto that property was to make sure I never did,” Sutton told her. “And you ask, ‘Can I believe she’s part of the Heavenly Disciples?’ It’s not even a stretch of my imagination. I know she is. This is a dream coming true for her. Others have to listen to her and do her bidding.”
“But there are others over her,” Wendy pointed out.
Giving a long sigh, “Wendy, you haven’t been listening. Alicia never wants to be ‘the center of attention’. She wants to be right there close to it because she doesn’t have to worry about everything and is never the one in charge, for that reason alone. If she was the one in charge, Alicia couldn’t run to tell someone in charge to get them to fix something,” Sutton told her. “I want you to think. Everything you did at church and for the community around here, was Alicia a part of that before or after you?”
Several instances popped in Wendy’s mind and her eyes got wide. “Yes, it was always after you started that Alicia followed but she always wanted to be noticed, and was. Even you took up for her to Arthur. Granted, you never reined him in. At least, not in front of Alicia or others,” Sutton said and a smile sprang up on his face. “I’m going to tell you something. Arthur alone, almost made me visit the area many times, and I had never even met him or seen a picture because he was blocked on all of Alicia’s pages. Alicia would rant each and every time we talked about Arthur, and how he had yelled at her and she couldn’t get him to like her. I wanted to come and meet him, but I still didn’t want to be near my sister.”
Panting hard as her mind continued to fill in the blanks proving that Sutton was right, “Why did you even come here then, if you hate her that much?” Wendy asked.
Shrugging, “To be honest I figured she was dead, and it was the only place I could think of going that was secluded,” Sutton told her. “Between you and me, I was going to kill the bitch if she was still alive when I got here,” he stated bluntly.
Hearing no doubt or remorse in Sutton’s declaration, “Whoa,” Wendy gasped. “Did you bring Alicia’s diaries here?” she asked.
Shaking his head, “No, I left them at her house,” Sutton answered.
‘Burrrrrrrrrrr’ sounded to the west, and Sutton turned to see a string of red tracers shooting up in the sky. “I’m in awe of your husband,” Sutton smirked. “He taught Skannish and me how to hotwire a car and thinks of things most don’t. After meeting him, I really wish I had come here before the outbreak just to have met him earlier.”
With so many thoughts in her mind, Wendy just nodded as she reached up and patted Sutton’s face. Hearing how bad she’d been duped, Wendy was questioning everyone and everything in her life. “He likes you,” was all Wendy could really say and be honest about. Not saying anything else, she turned and walked off in a stupor.
“I’m glad you asked, Wendy,” Sutton called out to her as she walked off. “I have wanted to tell you but I have learned, don’t try to tell others about Alicia until they ask because none will believe me.” Seeing Wendy never pause her slow gait, Sutton held his tongue. He was about to explain why Alicia had just started working out because in the diaries he knew Alicia had been about to ask Wendy if she could start coming over to work out with her.
The fact Alicia had put on over a hundred pounds in the last two years, on purpose, as part of her plan to bond tighter with Wendy, Sutton didn’t feel Wendy was ready to know. Alicia was the definition of conniving and deceitful. Alicia would plan out schemes years in advance to get what she wanted, and Sutton was just glad Wendy at long last had finally asked the question. Until the weight gain, Alicia had the best body money could buy and had used it to her advantage.
Crossing the moat and heading through the gate, Wendy walked down the slope to the barn. Kit and Kat bounded out through the open gate following her. Once they reached Wendy both labs bounced around in excitement, wondering where Wendy was going. Reaching out, Wendy patted both dogs. “Hey, guys,” she droned, lost in thought.
Walking past the barn and crossing the fields she headed toward the old house as her mind fired away on random events over the past years, confirming what Sutton had told her. “Wendy!” she heard behind her. Spinning around, she saw Samantha jogging down the driveway from the house.
“Something wrong?” Wendy asked before Samantha skidded to a stop.
Barely winded from the mile jog, Samantha shook her head. “No, I came outside earlier and saw you talking to Sutton. When he came inside, I saw you on the monitor at the barn and noticed you looked upset,” she answered.
Not even making an attempt to disagree with that, Wendy gave a shrug. “Sorry, I just found out Arthur’s been right about Alicia all along.”
“Shit,” Samantha scoffed. “I love Arthur, you know that, right?” she asked and Wendy nodded. “Wendy, after getting to know Arthur, I’m amazed he let any of us adults in. I’m still trying to figure out how in the fuck my husband got past Arthur’s defenses. Arthur’s not anti-social, but he damn sure doesn’t let many in. Very few of those he does let in, Arthur still doesn’t give them his trust. Jason had it all that first day.”
Wondering where this was going, Wendy gave a slight nod and Samantha continued. “It took a while, but I figured out LL isn’t included in that. The only way I can put it is, Arthur just worships LL because he saved you. I honestly think if LL just sat on his ass, Arthur would walk around just daring anyone to say something.”
Now nodding vigorously, “Oh, you’re so right on that, but LL would never do it,” Wendy replied still wondering where this conversation was going.
Mistaking the expression of confusion on Wendy’s face for distraught, Samantha stepped up and put a hand on Wendy’s shoulder. “I know, Wendy. LL’s still trying to get Arthur to blow it off, but I don’t see that happening,” Samantha said forcing a grin. “Wendy, what I’m getting at, Arthur expects the worst of people from the very beginning…” Samantha paused, “Except for Jason,” she amended. “People have to prove they’re better than what Arthur thought of them. Talking to you over these months lets me know very few ever move up in Arthur’s mind. Wendy, you aren’t like Arthur. Granted, you don’t think everyone is your friend, but you approach each person with a blank slate.”
Not able to argue Wendy relaxed with a little smile, and that made Samantha feel better as she continued. “Listening to you talk about Alicia and Arthur talk about Alicia, I would have trouble thinking they were the same person but,” Samantha paused raising her other hand up and pointing one finger to the sky. “That goes for every person from yours and Arthur’s past, not just Alicia.”
“Samantha, I just found out Alicia really is a bitch! She wasn’t acting ditzy. Well, she was, but it was on purpose so those around her would let their guard down,” Wendy cried out and Samantha dropped her hand pointing to the sky back to her side.
Now, it was Samantha nodding. “Oh believe me, I can see that,” she said and Wendy gave a startle. “Wendy, I’ve seen and heard Alicia, remember? I listened to her sermons and got close enough several times to listen to her talk to people in her quarters. That bitch is conniving to a degree I never knew existed.”
Throwing her hands up, “I should’ve seen it!” Wendy shouted.
Grabbing Wendy’s shoulders, “Wendy, if I had met Alicia in a normal setting, she would’ve fooled me,” Samantha confessed and Wendy scoffed. “I’m serious,” Samantha told her. “Alicia is extremely intelligent and uses that bimbo attitude to lull people into her confidence. Only because of how Arthur views all people is the only reason she never fooled him.”
“Alicia wouldn’t have fooled you,” Wendy challenged.
Dropping her hands from Wendy’s shoulders and giving a shrug, “I’m being honest when I say if I had met Alicia before this, I think she would’ve,” Samantha said. “Wendy, I’ve known women like Alicia, granted, none were nearly as intelligent, and they fooled me for a time.”
Coc
king her head to the side, “Samantha, did you talk to Sutton about Alicia?” Wendy asked.
“Yes,” Samantha answered. “I asked his ass that week after Jason saw her in the picture and no, I wasn’t going to talk to you about her until YOU talked to Sutton about Alicia. Sorry, but I didn’t want you mad at me.”
“I wouldn’t get mad at you,” Wendy chuckled, but stopped seeing the deadpan expression on Samantha’s face.
Giving a nod, “Then you’re a better person than me,” Samantha replied. “Ask Jason about Pam. She was a conniving bitch we knew. Granted, not to the degree Alicia was, but she fooled my fucking ass and even Jason’s ass. I will say, around three months after we met Pam, Jason saw through her but I didn’t. Oh, when Jason started telling me what type of person Pam was? Holy shit, did a fight start and yes, I’m the one who started it. I couldn’t, no, let me rephrase. I wouldn’t admit I could be that blind, but in a year I saw Pam for what she was, a bitch who was trying to fuck my husband.”
Feeling sorry for the fact Samantha had gotten duped, Wendy felt worse because she’d never seen through Alicia with her own eyes. “Um, just how did you, ah, get your eyes opened?” Wendy asked hesitantly.
Anger washed over Samantha’s face and Wendy regretted her question. “Jason proved his point,” she growled out. “A year before we moved to Birmingham, we went to a party one of the doctors Jason worked with was throwing. An hour into the party, Pam pulled Jason outside and he used his phone to record Pam talking dirty while she pulled him around the swimming pool toward the pool house. That bitch was telling him what she was about to do to him and let me tell you, that whore must have watched every porn movie on the planet because she was leaving nothing out!”
Viral Misery | Book 3 | Revelations Page 22