Page 125 of Trace of Doubt
“She had it traced. What do you remember about the conversation?”
“I didn’t accuse her of anything, but I begged her to reconsider what she was doing to her daughter. She cried, her typical response. Claimed she missed Aria but believed her daughter was better off with me. Shelby had threatened her until she had to run, and some guy offered to help her get settled in Phoenix. No admittance of wrongdoing.” Clay shook his head. “Now I learn she’s in Miami. Why there when she insisted a need for a dry climate?”
“Her medical records are clean. She has no known health issues.”
He gasped. “But she has rheumatoid arthritis.”
“No, Clay. It’s a fabrication.”
He swallowed hard. “Before the FBI picked us up, I searched every inch of Marissa’s room and the bakery for information about her RA. Nothing. I’ve been a fool. Tell me how to make this right. I’ll do anything.”
“Shelby is risking her life to usher in truth, and she’ll protect Aria. The—”
“They’ll both be killed! I have to do something. You can’t expect me to sit here while my daughters wage war against each other. I’ve been blinded by lies. When and how did Marissa become the epitome of evil?” He rubbed his hand over his face. “You should be asking me that.”
Motive came in different layers, and the origin of Marissa’s ambition mixed a deadly brew of when and why. “I drove here for another reason—to talk through what led up to Travis’s shooting. Think back to when your daughters were small. How was theirrelationship?” I eased onto a chair and stretched out my injured leg.
“The wife and I thought we’d never have another child after Marissa, but five years later, Shelby arrived. We were happy with another little girl, healthy and so good.”
“And Marissa?”
“She seemed excited until she realized Mom and Dad’s attention were on two girls instead of one, and she was miserable. She stopped eating and acted out. The typical jealousy of an only child when another child enters the home. It got so bad, we took her to the doctor. Although we divided our time and included Marissa in Shelby’s care and added dance lessons to her schedule, it took a long time for her to adjust. We had to keep an eye on our girls because Marissa’s jealousy had a violent streak.”
“How?”
He sighed. “She lifted Shelby from the crib and attempted to toss her across the room. My wife discovered it before it was too late. Another time, when Shelby was crying, Marissa placed a pillow on Shelby’s face.”
“Marissa grew out of the jealousy?”
“We thought so. She changed almost overnight. One morning when Marissa was eight, she apologized for not believing we loved her as much as Shelby. My wife claimed God had answered our prayers. Marissa showed interest in her little sister and wanted Shelby to be a part of her life.”
“The new relationship must have been a huge relief.”
“For sure. Marissa showed patience and played with her little sister. As they grew older, they became very close.”
“In what way?”
“In the beginning, Marissa played teacher and showed Shelby how to dress herself, brush her teeth, comb her hair, and tie her shoes. As they grew older, Marissa taught Shelby how to dance and bought her gifts for no special reason. We were very pleased. Later on when Shelby went through her acting-out stage, Marissatook up for her. Made excuses and begged us not to be too hard on her.”
“Were you aware Marissa made up mysteries and challenged Shelby to think like a criminal to outsmart the law?”
Clay startled. “What? I never heard a word of it.”
“Marissa asked Shelby to keep their games secret.”
Clay stared out the window, as though his thoughts were far-reaching. I let him process. The truth hurt... I knew firsthand with my brother’s betrayal.
“Shelby idolized her sister,” he finally said. “She’d never betray their relationship. That’s got to be why Shelby took the blame for Travis’s death.”
“Marissa asked for her help, and she agreed. I’m questioning if the problems in Shelby’s teen years correspond to Marissa’s prompting.”
“I’m afraid it makes sense. If I’m putting this all together right, Marissa never got past her jealousy. Instead she chose other ways to make herself look good and show Shelby as rebellious.”
“I’m not a psychologist, Clay, but my thoughts are the same as yours. If we are to end Marissa’s crime spree, then we must consider the worst-case scenario. She and Eli Chandler have been together for years.”
“Are you saying all the time she and Travis were married?” he whispered, the torment evident in his tone and on his face.
“Yes, according to what she told Shelby.”
