Page 73 of Nobody's Girl

Oh, so, he was going to play it like this, was he? “Did you have some fun while you were there?” Meaning…did you enjoy fucking my step-sister? Bastard.

Penn said nothing, but pulled out a sheet of paper. “This is an autopsy report. I want to read it to you.”

Tamara sat down, crossing her legs and sighing. “Surely we can think of better things to than that? A bit morbid.”

“It’ll just take a second.” He looked down at the paper. “Injuries to head include multiple fractures of the skull, consistent with an impact with a hard surface. Internal hemorrhage of the brain would have resulted in instantaneous death.”

“You’re reading your sister’s autopsy report to me?”

He ignored her. “All injuries consistent with a fall. Some bruising on the scapula indicate that force could have been applied but this is not conclusive.”

Tamara felt her skin begin to prickle. “I though you said your sister fell? That it was an accident.”

“Cause of death – injuries sustained in a fall. Whether the fall was accidental or not is still to be investigated. Therefore, I conclude death by misadventure in the case of…”

Tamara shifted in her chair, irritated. “Penn, what the fuck?”

“…in the case of Judith McClelland Rutland.”

Tamara felt her heart stop. Of course. Sofia blabbed, that fucking little…The next moment she cried out as Penn grabbed her throat and dragged her by force to the ground.

“You killed my sister, you fucking psychopath,” he growled at her and his hands tightened around her throat. Tamara kicked and fought with him but he was far too strong and she began gasping for air. She cast around desperately for something to help her – and realized exactly why the place was covered in plastic.

“You’re going to kill me…just do it,” she gasped, then felt the pressure release. Penn stood, looking down on her in disgust.

“You would think that. No, Tamara, I’m not going to kill you. But I am going to make you go to the police and confess what you’ve done.”

Tamara heaved herself away from him, clutching her sore throat. “And why should I?”

“Why did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Kill my sister? Kill your own goddamned mother? Why?”

Tamara shrugged. “Because they got in the way of what I wanted.” She had her hand in her pocket now, ready to take out her cellphone. “I did you a favor. A pregnant sister hanging on every moment? Where would you find the time to fuck my step-sister?”

Penn’s expression changed. “You’re having me followed?”

“Not you,” Tamara coughed, “That little bitch Sofia.” She squeaked in alarm a Penn advanced again and backed up, feeling something hard press into her back. Penn squatted down to stare into her eyes.

“Why? She’s out of your life, why bother with Sofia anymore? You had everything on a plate, Tamara, everything. Leave Sofia alone. She deserves her happiness.”

Tamara smirked, remembering the shock on Ivo Zacca’s face when she’s confronted and then kissed him at his mother’s funeral. Maybe it was time for the world to see the same thing…if she, Tamara, made it out of this mess. Play nice.

“Look, Penn, darling…I am sorry about your sister. It was a misunderstanding, but I swear, she did fall…”

“Don’t.” Penn almost spat at her. “Don’t lie. Don’t attempt to cover up what you’ve done.” He stood, staring down at her with such hatred it made Tamara’s heart falter. God, he was so beautiful like this…but she wasn’t stupid. She’d lost him. If she could get out of here alive, that’s all she wanted right now.

“So, what now, Penn?”

“Now…nothing. But I’ll be watching. One wrong move and I’ll make sure everyone, including Daddy Dearest, knows about your murderous little ways. Stay away from me, stay away from Sofia, and you get to keep your pathetic little existence.”

Penn strode to the door, not looking back, slamming it behind him. It echoed in the silence of the cabin.

Tamara could barely believe she was still alive. She took out her cellphone and found the photograph of her and Ivo Zacca. She had promised Grant that she would hang onto it until the right moment but that moment was now. She quickly typed an email to a gossip columnist she knew and sent the photo. By morning the whole world would know that Ivo Zacca cheated on his beautiful wife at his own mother’s funeral. Tamara grinned to herself and called Grant.

He was, as expected, unhappy at the move, but sighed. “Fine. This just means we’ll have to move things up. I have a feeling how Sofia will react and I’ll just have to take advantage. You make sure the room is ready. I’m bringing Sofia back to New York.”