I thought of Garrett’s smile on the riverbank.
I thought of Penelope’s hand on his face.
I thought of the warm milk he had made for me every night.
“Yes,” I said. “Let him celebrate.”
By sunrise, the first reports had arrived.
The SUV had been located in the river. Investigators found evidence that the seat belt had been deliberately restrained with a length of wire. The vehicle’s electronic data also contradicted Garrett’s claim that he had lost control on the coastal road.
He had accelerated before striking the barrier.
He had not braked.
He had not attempted to steer away.
And the passenger-side window had been lowered before the SUV entered the water.
The evidence was damning, but Garrett was already preparing his defense.
At 8:15 a.m., he reported me missing and told police I had likely drowned.
At 9:30 a.m., he appeared outside the family home with Penelope at his side. Cameras captured him looking devastated as he spoke about the woman he had loved.
