Page 96 of The Lies I Told
Even as anger scorched through reason, I had enough presence of mind to pause as I raised the glass to my lips. “This is what I am. The family lush.”
Clare’s own self-destructive path had likely led to her death, and now as far as I was concerned, mine could lead me to the same dark ending.
Closing my eyes, I drank the wine. It was cheap, too sweet and fruity, but like Brit’s expensive blend, I barely tasted it as I guzzled the liquid until I saw the bottom of the glass. Drawing in a deep breath, I swiped my hand over my mouth and then refilled the tumbler. My head spun a little. My system wasn’t used to the booze, and the alcohol hit my system and empty stomach like bricks.
I refilled the glass, and I walked to the window and stared out at the river now drifting over the rocks as if it had all the time in the world. Why had I chosen this apartment with this view? Any sane person would’ve stayed away from the river that had cleaned all the evidence off Clare’s body and hidden her killer’s identity. But I’d chosen this daily reminder that rubbed salt into a wound, ensuring it never healed.
My vision blurred, forcing me to sit on the couch. I closed my eyes, pressing the glass to my temple as Clare’s voice whispered in my head.
“Guess what Brit’s been doing,” Clare said.
I was darkening the shadow around her eyes. I liked the smoky Daryl Hannah–in–Blade Runnerlook, and since she wanted to be me tonight for the New Year’s Eve party, I was going all out. Maybe over the top, but Clare deserved to be noticed. “What? Did mini-Mom iron our jeans again?”
Clare stared at me. “Bigger than that.”
“What?” I loved stories of Brit’s screwups, which were few and far between.
“Wait and see.”
“What’re you talking about?” Her double talk annoyed me.
Clare fiddled with a tube of lip gloss. “Taste of her own medicine.”
I darkened her pale eyebrows. “Speak English, Clare.”
“It’s better to show, not tell. But it’s going to take a couple of hours.”
“Okay. Puzzles.” I tossed the pencil on my makeup table. “I’ve got to go to Jack’s house.” I blended her blush and stepped back. She could be me.
“Why are you going to see him?”
“Same as everyone else. Getting a little something to help celebrate the New Year.”
Clare’s gaze met mine in the mirror. I could have been looking at myself. “That’s not the way to do it. He’s got a weird vibe.”
Her critique hit a nerve. “You screw everything with a heartbeat, Clare. At least I haven’t crossed that bridge yet.”
Clare stood, stepped back. “The shit he sells could kill you!”
“So could one of your boy toys.”
Her face paled. “I’m not doing that anymore. Just Kurt now.”
I pulled on a leather jacket. “What’s changed?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Clare stared at me as if ready to say something, but then she seemed to think better of it. “Just get home as soon as you can. Like I said, I have something to show you.”
“You’re being very mysterious tonight. Are you okay?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
I was too jumpy to press. “Can Kurt pick you up so I can use the Jeep?”
Clare frowned. “I don’t think you should go. I don’t like the way Jack looks at us.”
Her real concern smoothed my ruffled feathers. “It won’t take long. I’ll be back before you know it. And we’ll ring in the New Year at Jo-Jo’s party.”
Clare’s brow furrowed as she stared into the mirror. “Everyone’s going to think I’m you.”
