The Girl and the Field of Bones (Emma Griffin FBI Mystery Book 10), стр. 63

I realize she's sitting right where Lakyn Monroe was found. My heart leaps into my throat when I see the knife in her hand. The tip presses into her wrist, bringing up a small bead of blood.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I watched her,” she tells me. “I didn't want to. Every second of it was horrible. But I couldn't look away. I couldn't let her be alone. So, I watched her.”

“You watched her do what?” I ask.

“Die,” she says.

“You were here?”

“Of course, I was. I'm always here. People just don't see me. I couldn't move that night. They had changed me. I don't know if it was because they wanted me to watch, or for some other reason. They rarely tell me. But I didn't close my eyes. Even if she didn't realize I was there, I wanted her to have someone. Someone to be there for her last moments.”

“You put the cage over her,” I say.

She nods and makes a soft sound of acknowledgement. “She was too beautiful not to. I couldn't stand the thought of the birds and the animals getting to her. I knew somebody would be looking for her. Some of them, nobody ever did. Either they weren't missed, or there just wasn't a way to find them. But her, she was something special. I knew someone would find her. I wanted them to find as much of her as they possibly could. I visited her. As much as I could. While I took care of the corn, I took care of her.”

“All this time, it's been you,” I say.

She nods and digs the knife a little deeper.

“Stop,” I say. “Don't do that.”

“I can't do this anymore, Emma. I've been doing it far too long.”

“Why?” I ask.

“I fell in love,” she says. “I was already married. But our marriage wasn't a happy one. If you listen really closely and read between all the lines, you'll find the truth to what it was really like to be married to Michael Duprey. Some moments very special. When he wanted to, he could treat me wonderfully. And he had the means to do it. But he also had the means to do it for any other woman who caught his eye.”

“The, he did have an affair,” I say.

“So many more than just one,” she laughs caustically. “I knew about all of them. I pretended I didn't. It was easier that way. But I knew. I knew every time he had found somebody else. I could follow the progression of their relationship based on my own. But he always managed to be discreet.”

“Until Lindsey Granger,” I say.

She makes a sad sound and nods. “Until her. The thing is, I think he really loved her. I don't know if he ever told her that. Or if she had any idea other than the ring he gave her. But I really do think she was important to him. I just didn't want to give up that life. It was his idea to move to Salt Valley and try again. He didn't end up trying very hard, and my heart found somewhere else to be.”

“Who did you fall in love with?” I ask.

“Sterling Jennings,” she says. “He was a friend of Michael's. He was strong and confident. He was funny and made me feel beautiful. The more I loved him, the harder it got to be with Michael. He hated that Lindsey left him, and he was cruel and distant. I let Sterling convince me the only way I could live my life was to be without Michael. That I needed to save myself.  He would always choose Rachel. Spoiled, vicious child, just a touch too fixated on her father.”

“You killed him,” I say.

Tears stream silently down her face, and for the first time, I realize how pretty she is. Her face is etched by time and worry, but the delicate details of beauty are still there.

“I thought I was getting my freedom,” she says. “But I was just buying my way into hell. Now, it can be done. It can be over.”

“No, Lilith,” I say as she turns the knife. “Don't do that.”

“I've done too much, Emma. I've been here and seen far too much. I know the faces that belong to the bones in this cornfield. I know what has come up out of that tunnel beneath the temple. I can't do any of it anymore. And I can't let them have me. They know what I've done. They know I helped you. I can't let them have me.”

“I can protect you,” I say. “None of this is your fault. They manipulated and intimidated you.”

“Emma, I just can't. Every day of the last ten years, I've lived with this. And a constant reminder of what brought me here. I could never escape it. It was right there, all the time. I shouldn't be here. I don't deserve to be here. They took everything out of me. Everything that ever was worth anything. I’m ready for this to be over. Thank you, Emma. Thank you for finding her. And for finding me.”

In one swift motion, Lilith slits her wrist from the heel of her hand down nearly to her elbow. I gasp and lunge toward her. Yanking off my jacket, I tie it tight around forearm.

“You are worth more, Lilith. You are worth far more.”