Ashley abandoned the Grayson household car and took an Uber to Macintosh Square, where the private detective she hired- Harry Doyle, was waiting for her. The location was a more serene part of the city with parks and fountains and greenery. It was the perfect site for clandestine meetings.
On the way, Ashley texted her stepsister Scarlet.
Ashley << I served Jake divorce papers!
Scarlet << Go go, girl power!
Ashley << Coming back home today.
Scarlet << Woohoo, I’ll arrange a party!
Ashley << nothing over the top, please!
Scarlet << I promise (liar emoji).
Ashley wondered what her life would be without Scarlet. She’d probably have killed herself. Scarlet always lent an ear to her, listening to her ordeals in great detail. She was her one true friend.
Scarlet always made time for her, even though she was running Palmer enterprises as CEO. Their father, Arthur, had wanted Ashley to lead the company, but the tragic events in her life had left his daughter too traumatized for the job. Scarlet had reluctantly filled the role but constantly poked Ashley to come back and relieve her. She wanted to travel the world and meet her soul mate.
The Uber car stopped beside the Crown Fountain, a popular site for lovers’ meetings. There were couples of all age gaps, and hence it was ideal for those trying to be inconspicuous.
Harry Doyle was a middle-aged man with greying hair and a beer belly. Dressed in a shabby suit and hat, he leaned on the bonnet of his old Toyota Prius, smoking a cigarette. Doyle stubbed out the bud as he saw Ashley approaching.
“How are ya doll,” he asked in his raspy, annoying voice. His stares always creeped Ashley out. But then, he was reliable, discrete, and came well-recommended.
“I can see you haven’t gotten rid of your Prius yet, Harry,” Ashley jabbed.
“This mama helps me blend in, doll,” he replied, tapping the trunk of the car with a ring. “And the decent mileage doesn’t hurt.”
“If you say so,” Ashley teased, leaning on the trunk beside him, “Now, spill the beans.”
He had categorically stated in his message that he had found Tessa’s murderer. If he had evidence, then she could bring them to the police. Jake would finally believe her, and she won’t have to go through the divorce.
“Ah, about the paycheck, first, doll.”
Ashley fished into her purse and removed a paper bag. Doyle extended his hand to relieve her of it, but her client held it back.
“I have your ten thousand dollars. Tell me what you have discovered first,” Ashley asserted.
“I’ll do you one better. I will show you.”
Doyle opened the back door of his Prius and invited Ashley in. He removed a laptop from a bag and placed the mouse pointer on a video file.
“This isn’t going to be easy, doll. But you can stop watching anytime you want.”
“Why are you being so ominous? Who is the culprit?”
“See for yourself.”
And he hit play. The video looked like it was taken from a CCTV security camera. Three masked figures stood inside an empty garage which looked abandoned. Two men entered the garage through an overhead door. Each of them had a person mounted on his shoulder.
“This footage was recovered from an abandoned garage in Alpine Hills. It took me years to hunt this down.”
“Alpine Hills? That’s where Palmer estate is.”
“Keep watching,” Doyle instructed.
The men carrying the bodies approached the three waiting figures and deposited the loads on the floor. Ashley tried to make out the faces of the bodies.
“Oh my God, that’s-”
“-You. And the other body is Tessa,” Doyle completed her sentence.
One of the masked figures produced a pocket knife and cut Tessa’s throat. Blood spewed out onto the floor, forming a puddle. The killing was not a struggle as the girl was drugged. The blood spread under the other body.
“That’s why the police found Tessa’s blood on my clothes!” Ashley declared.
Then, the wielder of the pocket knife started peeling off the skin from Ashley’s face.
Ashley, watching the video, felt her blood run cold. She wrapped her arms around herself to prevent from shaking. Doyle raised an arm to comfort her but then changed his mind. He paused the video.
“Are you sure you can watch further? We can just take it to the police.”
“Let me watch it,” Ashley murmured.
Her fear somewhat subsided after the culprit was done with her face in the video. Now, she wanted to know who the murderer was.
After committing the brutalities, the figure removed the mask and turned around to go.
Ashley squinted at the video. And without doubt, she could recognize the culprit. It was Scarlet!
Scarlet! Her stepsister!
The world seemed to collapse around Ashley. Her stomach lurched, and she felt queasy. She got out of the car and threw up into a bush.
“Fuck! What the fuck!”
“Scarlet did this?!
“But why?! It can’t be real. It’s a mistake, Harry!”
“I know this is a lot to take, doll,” Doyle explained. “But I have a flash drive full of WhatsApp chats in which Scarlet had elaborate discussions with goons about planning to kill Tessa and mutilate you.”
“But it does not make sense! Scarlet was the one who supported me through all the pain.”
“I can’t speak as to her motives yet. But the evidence is damning. And enough for a conviction. Should I make the call to the cops?”
Ashley’s mind raced.
“No, not yet, Harry. Do you have a backup of the video and the data?”
“Of course I do.”
“Delete everything after loading it on the flash drive.”
Doyle protested at first but finally did as requested.
Ashley took the flash drive, passed Doyle the bag of money, and hailed a taxi.
“I’ve sent the video to your mail, but I will hold on to the data till midnight just in case you change your mind!” Doyle called after her, but Ashley was barely listening.
When the taxi stopped, she said, “Palmer Estate.”
On her way, she texted Jake.
<< I know who killed Tessa. I have evidence.
<< Come to dad’s place.