Chapter 14 - The Edge of the Water
Diane pulled Rosie along the narrow path above the ocean.
The old phone remained hidden in Rosie’s pajama pocket.
Mark could hear every step through the open connection.
“Grandma, my hand hurts.”
“Stop pulling away.”
“I want Daddy.”
“Your father ruined everything.”
The tracking signal stopped near an abandoned lighthouse.
Detective Cole called the local sheriff.
Two deputies were ten minutes away.
Mark and Detective Cole were still twenty minutes away.
Mark spoke into the phone.
“Rosie, can you hear me?”
Diane stopped.
She searched Rosie’s coat.
Rosie stepped backward.
The phone fell from her pajama pocket.
Diane stared at it.
“You little liar.”
Rosie began crying.
“Daddy said telling the truth is not bad.”
Diane raised her hand.
Then she stopped.
The phone camera faced upward.
Mark saw Diane’s expression.
He saw the cliff behind her.
“Do not touch her.”
Diane picked up the phone.
“You poisoned her against me.”
“You bruised her arms.”
“You locked her in a room.”
“You made her believe Emily’s death was her fault.”
“I did what was necessary.”
“For money?”
“For this family.”
“You keep using that word.”
“You do not know what it means.”
Diane looked toward the road.
Sirens sounded faintly in the distance.
She grabbed Rosie and pulled her toward the lighthouse.
The front door was locked.
Diane kicked at it.
Rosie bit her arm and ran.
Diane caught the back of her shirt.
The fabric tore.
Rosie fell onto the wet grass.
She rolled dangerously close to the cliff edge.
“Rosie!”
Mark heard her scream.
Diane reached for her.
A second voice came through the phone.
“Let her go.”
Bethany stood near the lighthouse path.
A white bandage covered her forehead.
She held a tire iron in one hand.
Diane stared at her.
“You were supposed to be in the hospital.”
“I left.”
“You helped them destroy us.”
“You destroyed us.”
Bethany stepped between Diane and Rosie.
“Walk toward the road, Rosie.”
Rosie crawled away.
Diane lunged after her.
Bethany blocked her.
Diane struck Bethany across the face.
Bethany did not move.
“You taught me that love meant taking pain quietly.”
“You taught me to blame everyone weaker than me.”
“You taught me to hurt Rosie.”
Diane lifted her hand again.
Bethany grabbed her wrist.
“But you never taught me what happens when the weaker person stops obeying.”
Diane shoved her.
Bethany stumbled.
Her foot slipped on the wet path.
She fell to one knee near the cliff.
Diane moved toward Rosie again.
Bethany swung the tire iron into the ground beside Diane’s foot.
Diane jumped backward.
The edge collapsed beneath her.
She fell onto a narrow rock shelf several feet below.
She screamed and clung to a tree root.
“Help me!”
Bethany crawled toward Rosie instead.
She wrapped her coat around the child.
Two sheriff’s deputies arrived.
They secured Rosie first.
Then they pulled Diane from the rock shelf and placed her in handcuffs.
Mark’s truck reached the lighthouse moments later.
He ran across the grass.
Rosie broke free from the deputy.
“Daddy!”
Mark dropped to his knees and caught her.
She pressed her face against his chest exactly as she had in the dining room.
This time, no one tried to take her away.
Mark held her so tightly that his arms shook.
“I came back.”
“You promised.”
“I will always come back.”
Diane sat in the rear of a patrol car.
Her wet hair clung to her face.
“Mark.”
He did not look at her.
“I am your mother.”
Mark lifted Rosie into his arms.
Then he finally faced Diane.
“She is my family.”
“You are not.”
Bethany stood beneath the lighthouse.
Blood had reopened the cut on her forehead.
Detective Cole approached her with handcuffs.
Bethany held out her wrists.
“I know.”
Before he placed the cuffs around them, she looked at Mark.
“There is one more person involved.”
Mark’s expression hardened.
“Who?”
May you like
Bethany looked toward the approaching county vehicle.
“Caroline Wells.”
