Page 146 of Coordinates of Death

“Easy. Sebastian wasn’t the only one who answered my ad on the dark web. Melissa arrived early yesterday. Just in time for all the fun.”

Rage bubbled beneath the surface, and Aurora struggled to contain it, but she had to keep them talking. “Melissa, weren’t you in an Ontario institution?”

“Yes, with minimal security, thankfully. My lawyer painted my mental instability claim well during the trial, even after my altercation with the guard.” She snickered. “Suckers. Anyway, Sebastian contacted me to let me know he’d been released from jail. Told me about the ad and how he was heading to the Yukon. I wanted in on the deal, so I pretended to be all in control. Fooled my annoying nurse into trusting me and gave her the slip.”

“And Dale purchased your plane ticket.” Kordell shifted slightly to the right.

“Yep. Said I could have my revenge on both Aurora and Kordell.” She waved the gun between them. “See, I’ve been keeping tabs on both of you all these years, planning my revenge. The two of you destroyed our lives.”

“How? Your family was toxic, not ours.” Aurora couldn’t believe the audacity of this woman.

Lady Grey’s squawk sounded. She heard Aurora and sensed her trepidation.

“Shut that bird up or I’ll strangle the life out of it.” Dale’s threat blared.

“No! Leave her alone.” Aurora paused, then raised her voice. “Lady, it’s okay. Stay calm.”

Lady Grey silenced.

Thank You, God. Aurora didn’t want anything to happen to her beloved pet.

“Good girl,” Dale said. “Your parrot really is a beautiful creature. I may just take her for myself.”

Aurora planted her hands at her side. She had to keep stalling. “Melissa, explain to me how we ruined your life. You are the criminals, not us.”

She waved the gun in Kordell’s direction. “Well, I’m assuming the anonymous tip that led to our arrest came from you as it happened shortly after you ran away.”

“Someone had to stop you from selling those innocent teens.” Kordell’s face reddened, revealing his anger. “You lured them to your house. Sebastian told us that.”

“Here’s a fun piece of information he probably didn’t tell you. I put the hit on my husband from my institution.”

Kordell and Aurora hissed in a breath.

“I fell out of love with that man as soon as he started doing things with those girls. He didn’t know I had a camera installed in that secret room. Kordell, you did me a favor when you called the police. I was planning his demise, and you helped it along.” She threw her head back and laughed. “I hated Cain but loved my sweet boys. Sure, I was hard on them at times, but it was in their best interest.”

Aurora noted Kordell’s contorted face. This news had shocked them both. The Roche family were pure evil, just like Jade and Dale. “Well, your sweet sons did despicable things to me.”

Melissa waggled the gun in her face. “You deserved it. You led them on and broke their hearts.”

Aurora sucked in a breath and staggered backward.

“She did nothing of the kind,” Kordell said. “How dare you accuse her of that!”

Melissa shifted her aim toward Kordell. “Shut up! You stole her from them. Sheldon died of a broken heart.”

What? This woman clearly was not cured as she’d led the institution to believe. “Melissa, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I never led your sons on. Never.”

“Well, now my only family member left is Sebastian. You two are why my Sheldon is dead.” She twitched, her arm shaking. “Sebastian and I are rich now, thanks to my friend here. We’re moving far, far away after you’re both dead. I need to make up for lost time with my remaining boy.”

Aurora subdued her shock. The woman wasn’t aware that her friend’s sister had killed her precious son. They’d use that information against them.

Kordell shifted his stance, his belt buckle glistening in her hallway light.

The alarm!

She coughed, catching his attention, then lowered her gaze slightly to the buckle.

He tipped his chin in acknowledgment and casually moved his fingers to the secret lodged in his belt, pressing the button.