After a lengthy amount of time spent soothing Milton’s anguished heart, Marjorie finally pried the pillow from his hands. She disappeared for a short time then reemerged without it. A story was formed, and everyone agreed. The only thing left to deal with now was a tall, blubbering wild card, who looked like he was about to blow.
“Before the call is made, I want to be clear,” Marjorie said. “If this doesn’t go as planned, and the police decide one of us is to blame, I’ll be turning myself in. I won’t have it any other way, and none of you are to try to stop me. Understood?”
Addison and Luke nodded.
“Milton?” Marjorie asked. “Do you hear me? I need to know you understand.”
Milton’s head rose partway. “Yes, ma’am.”
“All right then, it’s settled. Who wants to make the call?”
Luke dialed the phone, remaining on the line while police were dispatched to their location. Marjorie and Addison moved to the living room, where they watched and waited.
“I don’t believe it was you,” Addison said.
“What do you mean?”
“Milton is torn up, more than he should be. It’s not because Helen’s gone, is it? You didn’t do it. You didn’t kill her. He did.”
“Nonsense. You’re allowing your mind to run rampant. Stick with the plan, Addison. Don’t give it another thought.”
“I felt her, you know, felt Helen pass through me the moment she died. You said you sent Milton to the store earlier so an alibi could be established for him if it came down to it. I felt Helen’s death after Milton returned home.”
“How would you know when he arrived back at the house?”
Addison thought back, remembered seeing Helen’s car drive past her house. “I saw Milton in Helen’s car earlier today.”
“It doesn’t mean he’s to blame for what happened.”
“But he is, isn’t he? You don’t have to take the fall for him. You don’t have to protect him.”
Marjorie clenched Addison’s hand, patting it several times before speaking. “I see what you’re trying to do here, Addison. We need to stick to the plan.”
“Even if the plan backfires? You’re really willing to turn yourself in?”
“To protect all of you, you bet I am. I’d never planned to involve you in the first place. I wasn’t even going to give you the letter Helen wrote.”
“You never planned to involve me? Did it ever occur to you to ask for my help, my opinion about all this before you put your plan into action?”
“Addison, please. Take a breath, take five if you need to. I don’t want you all riled up when the cops get here. It won’t help the situation. Milton was the one person in life Helen adored more than anyone. The one who remained by her side through it all. He doesn’t deserve to spend the rest of his life behind bars for honoring her dying wish, does he?”