“Then there’s nothing left to say.”
Chapter 18
Morgan
We’re going to be a family. Me, Jasen, and our baby. I hum to myself as I place the last stuffed animal into the toy chest. Jasen went to the office for a few hours, and I’ve been in the baby’s room all morning, just because. I like the excitement I feel when I’m in here. I dream about what kind of mother I’ll be. What will I tell our baby about Monroe? It’s going to be a difficult conversation for sure, but Jasen and I agreed that we won’t hide the truth about how we conceived. I have a seat in the rocking chair and place my hand on my belly. I stop humming and close my eyes, allowing my thoughts to roam in the silence. That’s when I hear it. The sound of a click. My eyes pop open, and I freeze. I stay completely still as Simone points the gun in my face.
“Don’t you move.”
“Simone…”
“Shut up. You thought you could sleep with my husband and get away with it. You think I would let him leave me?”
“No. You have it all wrong.”
She shoves the gun closer. “I said shut up.” I remain quiet while I let her finish. “He should’ve listened to me. He should’ve stayed home. But he didn’t. He came home that morning. I knew something was wrong, but he wouldn’t talk to me. He shut me out like he always did. I told him I thought we were going to talk and work things out. Only he came home to tell me he was going to leave me. For you.”
I shake my head. “I’m not…”
“Don’t say another word.” I raise my hands in surrender. “I begged him to stay, but he packed a suitcase. He said he wasn’t happy with me and wanted to be with you. I cried. I told him I would do whatever he wanted if he stayed. But he left. And I followed him. I saw him come here. He went inside the house, and I waited. When I saw your housekeeper leave, I went inside. I heard voices upstairs and snuck up them slowly. I saw the suitcases packed. I thought you guys were running away together. I didn’t know they weren’t yours. I didn’t know that your sister was visiting.”
“Simone,” I speak slowly. “What did you do?”
“I had to make it look like Cooper killed her. I made him place the emerald ring on her finger. I put my gun against his head and made him stab her. Then I shot him.”
“You killed them both.”
“He tried to make me seem like I was crazy. That I was making up stories about him having affairs. But I knew. I knew about every single one of them. You weren’t the only one.”
“What did you do with the body?”
“I dragged him out of the house and into the car. I went back inside, cleaned up his blood, then I buried him and both of their cell phones in our backyard. That way, I can be close to him, you know.”
“Simone. You’ve got it all wrong.”
“I said shut up, Monroe. I may be sorry about killing your sister, but I won’t be sorry about killing you.”
“Simone, listen to me carefully. The person you killed was Monroe. I’m Morgan. She asked me to switch places with her.”
“You’re lying. The detectives said I killed your sister. Morgan.”
“Because we switched identification. I didn’t tell the cops the truth.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I can prove it.”
“How?”
“I still have Monroe’s phone.”
She thinks for a second before she pushes the gun against my forehead. “If you try anything sneaky, I’ll kill you.”
I nod. She allows me to stand and walk in front of her. She pushes the gun into my back. I walk slowly to our bedroom and open the safe where Jasen keeps Monroe’s old cell phone. I power it on and unlock it. Then I hand it to her. “Just read our messages and see for yourself.”
She snatches the phone out of my hand and scrolls through the messages exchanged between Monroe and me. She’s quiet as she reads them, but I feel the gun slowly slipping away. I’ve got to get away from her. I can’t allow her to harm my baby. “See, I’m telling the truth.”
“Not so fast. You helped her go away for a weekend with my husband?”
She’s got me there. “I didn’t know he was married at first.”
“Bullshit. You’re just as bad as your whore of a sister. Both of you should rot in hell for what you did.”
“Us? You murdered them, Simone. If anyone is going to hell, it’s you.”
I regret saying it as soon as it comes out. She comes around my front and points the gun at my belly. “Please, Simone. I’m sorry.”
Her eyes are sagging, like she hasn’t slept in weeks. “He was the love of my life. And she took him from me.”
“You don’t have to do this.” I try my best to reason with her. She’s holding the gun; therefore, she has the power.
“Yes, I do. I might have already killed Monroe, but you’re just as much to blame for this as she is.”
I no longer reason with her. I take a chance and try to get away for the sake of my baby. I grab her arm and wrestle with her for the gun. She’s strong. But I feel myself getting stronger, terrified for my baby. I find myself taking control. My finger finds the trigger. I angle the gun so it’s pointing at her, and I squeeze. She somehow gains enough strength to turn the gun back towards me and smiles right before she squeezes the trigger.
Chapter 19
Jasen
I arrived home about ten minutes ago and decided to pour myself a glass of water before checking on Morgan. Just as I take a sip, the sound of two gunshots rings through the air. The glass slips from my fingers, and I run up the stairs. “Morgan!”
I call for her frantically as I run through the hallway, checking inside each bedroom. When I reach the master bedroom, I stop. I panic at the sight before me. Morgan is lying on the floor. Simone is lying across from her. Blood is splattered on them both. I rush to Morgan’s side and grab her hand. “Morgan. Baby.”
She squeezes my hand. “Jasen.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial 911. I give my address and end the call. “It’s going to be okay. The ambulance will be here soon.”
“I… I’m sorry.”
“Shhh, don’t try to talk.”
“Simone. She… she killed…”
She doesn’t finish her sentence, but I don’t care. What she needs to tell me doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters right now is that she’s going to be okay. “Stay with me, baby. You’re going to get through this.”
“I love you.”
“Morgan, stay with me.”
Her eyes flutter open and closed, and I’m not sure if she hears me. “Hang on, baby. You can’t leave me. I need you and the baby.”
She doesn’t respond, and her hand goes limp inside of mine. I shake her. “Morgan. Baby.” She still doesn’t respond. No. I can’t lose her. I just found her. My body shakes as I lean over her, soaking her in my tears. “Morgan. I love you.” But there’s no response. The only thing I hear is the sound of the ambulance in the background.