In his hotel room, Alexander listened to Kelly’s story. After she had finished, a sick realization came over him. From the research he had done, Alexander knew that Kelly wasn’t telling the whole truth. He wasn’t sure exactly how she was lying. He was just certain that she was being dishonest in some way.


    When there was a lull in the conversation, Richard excused himself under the guise of going to the bathroom, but really, he just wanted to read the message that Alexander had sent him. Richard had to read the message twice to process it fully. His head spun with confusion could Kelly be lying? Her story and emotions had seemed so re Either she was an amazing actress, or Alexander must have the wrong information.


    Alexander sent another message to Richard, telling him to proceed carefully around Kelly because she could be dangerous and maniptive.


    Richard typed back a quick message and then put his phone back in his pocket. He started to head back to the living room, trying to ignore his instincts to help the scarred girl whose story had put a big lump in his


    throat.


    But before he made it to the living room, he passed by a room where the awful smell was the worst it had been. Richard turned to the door and reached out of hand…


    *Olivia*


    “Were you born in Ld?” I asked Kelly and took out my notebook


    to record her answers.


    0.00%


    <b>11:44 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>190


    203/<b>Vouchers </b>


    Throughout Ava and my investigation, I’d recorded everything <b>that </b><b>we </b>have learned so far. This included Chloe’s drunk confession, and I added a quick summary of the traumatic events that Chloe had put Kelly through.


    “Yes, I was born here,” she said.


    “So, that must mean that you know the area pretty well?” Ava asked with excitement. She was bouncing in her seat.


    Kelly shrugged. “I suppose so.


    “1


    I exined to her that Chloe had drunkenly confessed to the general spot where she had hidden Russell’s body. I told her that it was near a hill or mountain, by a field of flowers, a pond, and a cabin.


    “Do you know a ce like that?” Ava questioned, hope dripping through her tone.


    Tears filled her eyes again, and she sped her hands tightly together, but Kelly managed to tamper down her emotions enough to answer us. “Yes, I might know of a spot like that. My uncle lives in the country, actually.”


    My heart mmed against my ribcage, and Ava squirmed in her seat with excitement. I tried not to allow myself to get too excited just yet. We still had a lot of work to do in order to get justice for Kelly and Russell.


    “I could take you guys there if you want,” Kelly offered. “We could ask if my uncle knows of a ce like that or even ask around the vige if they know.”


    “That sounds perfect” Ava said.


    I nodded in agreement.


    <b>33.65</b>%


    11:44


    “Just give me five minutes to get some things together to get ready.” Kelly said and stood up, disappearing into one of the back rooms.


    “I have to get some fresh air, or I’m going to die,” Aiden muttered as soon as Kelly was out of hearing range.


    He pped a hand over his mouth and plugged his noise. Then he ran out of the apartment, making Ava and meugh at his dramatics.


    “Honestly, he does have a point,” Ava said, following after her brother.


    <b>“</b><b>I’m </b>going to look around,” I told Richard.


    “Be careful,” <b>he </b>warned.


    I nodded.


    <b>As </b>I walked down the short hallway, my stomach rolled from the smell that became even stronger the farther I went. Curiosity got the better of me. I plugged my nose like I was about to go for a dip in the pool and crept to the door where the stench was practically overpowering. My pulse quickened as I reached out my hand and grasped the door handle. What the hell could Kelly be hiding behind here?


    Just before I could swing the door open, a warm hand touched my shoulder.


    I jumped about ten feet in the air and spun around. “Richard!” I hissed and put a hand on my rapidly beating heart. “Don’t scare me like that.”


    “I apologize, but I had to stop you from going in there,” he exined. “I didn’t actually go to the bathroom a few minutes ago. I was really investigating the scent.”


    I gasped. “What did you find out?”


    11:44


    1288 Vouchers