Chapter 0011

BELLA

The 21-year-old girl from North Carolina, missing for ten months, found dead. Suicide or murder?—the morning headline said.

I was tired of hearing Mamma’s sob every time I entered this house. The more I wanted to forget what I had seen, the more I sank. The feeling of guilt seared within me, like a flame that never douted.

“I don’t understand why the police are claiming it to be suicide when it isn’t,” Val said, sitting at the edge of the bed. “She goes missing for a year straight. Then, she’s found drowned in a lake.”

“I’m more curious about the company she got involved with.” I pushed my tears back. If I had known what was going on, I would’ve done everything in my power to protect her.

“Did she say anything else in the letter she left for you?”

“Only that there were some bad people after her.”

Rage filled Val’s eyes. She slammed her hands on her knees and growled, “This is the very reason I want to be a police, Bells. I’m tired of the strong being defended.”

“Zia was a