The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda (speld decodable readers txt) 📕

“All set back there?” he asks as we pull away.

“I sort of feel like a criminal,” I say. “But yes, all set.”

I want to ask Seth to come over, but I need to figure this out first and make sure the coast is clear. I don’t want to draw attention to him, point Tish in his direction, although I’m afraid I already have by going to his house. I pull out Dad’s phone and open Find My Friends. Tish is at home. I let out a sigh of relief.

“You were lucky no one was out and about in the parking lot,” Chief Briggs says. “And you missed that utility pole.”

“I didn’t have time to think of all of that. I just couldn’t keep going down Lane Avenue and plow through that intersection. Nothing on my car worked. Not the brakes, not the steering,” I say, and the tears spill out.

“Oh, we know something happened,” he says as we pull into my driveway. “The detectives are on it.”

My mom runs out the front door followed by Bob. Chief Briggs opens the door, and Mom gives me a big hug before I warn her not to.

“Ouch, stop, Mom,” I say. “My arm.”

“What happened, Chief?” Mom asks. Her hand rests on my shoulder. I lean against her and feel safe. For a minute.

“We should go inside,” I say, looking around.

We make it to the front door and Chief Briggs says, “It could have been much worse. Looks like the entire electrical system short-circuited somehow. We have investigators on it. They’ll work with BMW.”

My mom locks eyes with me. I nod.

“I think it was her,” I say.

Chief Briggs says, “Do you want to tell me what’s going on here?”

Bob clears his throat. “There’s been some strife since John Nelson’s sudden death. A bit of a power struggle between the first and second Mrs. Nelson. I’m sure it’s totally unrelated to what happened to Ashlyn’s vehicle. We’ll circle back with you in the morning, Chief, if that’s OK?”

My mom puts a fake smile on her face. “Yes, good idea. Ashlyn’s been through a lot tonight. We’ll let her rest and talk in the morning?”

“We’ve had her car towed to the dealership. They’ll give me an official diagnostic report of what happened to the car as soon as possible. You’ll all be OK tonight?” Chief Briggs looks at me and then at my mom. “We could have a squad car add extra surveillance.”

“Oh, thank you, but we’ll be fine. Why don’t you call me when you have the report from the dealership and we’ll go from there? You have my number.” Mom opens the door. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

“No problem. You should get that arm checked out, Ashlyn,” he says. “Talk tomorrow.”

My mom shuts the door and locks it. The look on her face tells me she’s as scared as I am. But there’s something else. Rage. I can feel it pouring out of her, I can see it in her eyes. I guess I can feel that anger as well.

How dare Tish do this to all of us?

Mom yells, “Get that paperwork here, Bob. Now!”

What is she talking about? “Mom, calm down. We don’t know for sure if she had anything to do with my car. What paperwork are you talking about?” I realize how upset my mom is because she never yells. This is not just about my accident. Maybe Mom knows even more than I do about what Tish has done? I saw her eyes when she almost ran me over. I know what she’s capable of. She’s evil. “Mom, what’s happening?”

“She’s gone too far,” Mom says, her fists clenched at her sides.

CHAPTER 45

KATE

“Go sit down in the family room,” I say to Ashlyn. “And I’ll get you some Tylenol.”

Bob says, “I’m going to give you guys space. I’ll be in the front room, waiting for the courier.”

I settle Ashlyn on the couch, bring her the medicine and a glass of water. She isn’t shaking anymore, but she looks like she may be in shock.

“She did this, Mom,” Ashlyn says.

“How do you know that?” I ask, hoping for proof.

“She followed me from the office, to Seth’s house,” she says. “She swerved at me, drove straight toward me to scare me. She came really close. I thought that’s all she would do, but I guess not.”

“It would take a lot of nerve to tamper with your car. On a public street?”

“I don’t know how, but I know she did.” Ashlyn starts to cry, and my heart breaks.

I have to tell her the truth, no matter how much I don’t want to. She’ll be traumatized again, but she must know what I’ve realized.

“I need to share some things with you about the company, and about your dad. They may be hard to hear.” I take a deep breath and exhale, my nerves zinging through me. “I believe Tish had something to do with your father’s death.”

“I do, too, Mom.” Ashlyn stares at me. I take her hand in mine.

“Really? You do? Here I thought I was protecting you. I didn’t want to worry you with this, but you are an adult and part of the company now.” I pull out the phone and hand it to her. I watch as she reads the text chain from the night John died, including the photo of the margarita.

Ashlyn looks at me. “I’ve read these.”

“What? How?” I feel my face flush. If she’s read these, she’s read everything I wrote, too.

“I took Dad’s phone,” she says, and breaks into a smile.

“Well, aren’t you a tricky one. How did you get it?” I ask.

“I took it out of Tish’s purse during the memorial service,” she says.

“You’ve had it all this time. Wow.”

“I had to keep track of her for us, you know,” she says. “And I can with Find My Friends.”

“That’s brilliant, really,” I say. All this time Ashlyn has been on my side, helping