Easier to Lie

Chapter Thirty-Three

I smashed all the other cars to find all the missing jewelry. Kathryn's ring, Julia's, then, in #1 Dale Earnhardt Rainbow collectible, Betty's wedding band. I knew it was hers, "forever yours," was engraved inside the band.

My first instinct was to get rid of the evidence. Protect my dad. There had to be some explanation for all this. Only two people knew the truth. Dad and Frankie. I needed answers. I left the mess on the floor and the jewelry on the coffee table.

"I need to see Frankie Joe Hoffman," I told the clerk at the prison. I didn't have much time, visiting hours were almost over.

He smiled when he saw me standing on the other side of the glass. Somehow, he managed to look good in the orange jumpsuit. To occupy my mind, I twirled my wedding band around my finger.

"I was hoping you would come see me," he spoke into the phone receiver.

"I found the rings," short and to the point. "Why cover for him? Why not tell me the truth?"

The smug grin disappeared, "Loyalty."

"Loyalty? You're throwing away your future while he walks around acting innocent. That makes no sense."

He took a deep breath, "Reggie, he's been taking care of my mom. I had to do what he wanted, or she would have lost the house, her job, everything."

"Explain. How does he even know your mom?"

"They were friends. She bailed when she met my dad. Greg knew he was abusing her. He helped me get rid of my dad. I didn't know he was your dad until this past summer."

"When you realized who I belonged to, why didn't you tell me then?"

"Because I didn't want to lose you. It sounds stupid, but, Reggie, I needed you. I still need you."

"I'm turning him in. You have to tell the truth."

I left before he could say anything.

A radio broadcast interrupted my thoughts. I was almost to the police station when the news was announced.

"The DNA found on Betty has been matched to Greg Ollison of Sedona, South Carolina. His DNA was also a match for the infant girl found on the beach."

I stopped listening. This wasn't real. I pulled onto the side of the road and turned on my hazard lights. Everything became quiet and dark. The blue sky turned grey and the clouds opened. It was snowing. I hadn't realized how cold the day had been.

I don't know how long I had been sitting there. My windshield was completely covered in ice and snow, inches think. The knock on my window didn't register with me until a voice announced they were the police.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" the officer asked. I kept my eyes straight ahead. "We've had calls coming in about your car. Everything alright? Do I need to call someone for you?"

"He killed them."

"Who killed them? What are you talking about?"

"My dad, Greg Ollison. He killed those girls. Getty Apartments, 423. You'll find the rings on the table."

I don't remember how I got to the police station or how my mom knew where to find me. I couldn't get the images of Frankie and my dad killing those girls out of my mind. My dad and Betty had a child together, but Dad had killed her. Why? I wouldn't get the chance to ask. He was booked into jail and his apartment was searched for evidence.

The parking lot of the Getty Apartments filled with the news vans and swarms of curious people. The police were filmed bringing out bags and bags of evidence. What more could they have found other than the rings?

I couldn't cry. I couldn't yell. I couldn't do anything. I was numb, a blank space of nothing. Mom had her arms around me, but I couldn't feel that either.

I kept thinking about Frankie and what he said. My dad had been taking care of them. For how long?

"Mom?" I took a sip of the now cold coffee that sat in front of me.

"Yeah, Baby?" She had been crying. I hadn't noticed.

"Frankie told me that Dad was paying their bills, did you know that?"

She ran a hand through her curly hair. "Not until recently. Remember that fight you overheard?" I nodded. "I found a debit card with a female's name on it. I thought he had a girlfriend, but he told me about helping her. He had a separate bank account for them."

"And Betty?"

"I found out when the rest of the world did. On Headline News with Nancy Grace. Her mom and Sam called me. They were just as shocked."

"What's wrong with him?"

She pulled me closer, "I don't know. I just, don't know."

We were allowed to see him later that night. Mom didn't want to talk to him. I wanted to because there was so much I wanted to ask, but when I saw him sitting at the table wearing handcuffs, I felt sick. I vomited into the trashcan and ran as fast as I could out of there.

"Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" my mom asked.

We were sitting on a bench outside the police station. Media surrounded us. They were white noise to me, an annoying buzz that I could tune out.

"I'll be fine. You should go home to John," I told her. I wanted to be alone.

"Do you want me to call Eric? When is he supposed to come home?"

Too many questions. I couldn't wrap my head around anything that was happening.

"Next week, I think. I'll try to get a message to him. I don't know where he is."

"Call me," she stood and tossed her purse over her shoulder. "You should head home before this media storm gets worse."

"I don't care," I told her. The media was the last thing on my mind. My eyes fluttered to meet hers. "How can you be so calm right now?"

"I don't have a choice, Regina. There are people watching, I have to be composed."

"Mom! Dad killed those girls. Killed Betty. It's okay to not be on your best behavior right now."

Unbelievable. She was absolutely unbelievable.

I paced around my house that night. My animals followed my every step. They were ready for bed, but I couldn't sleep. I was torn between needing someone to talk to and wanting to stay off the grid. I compromised with myself and called Leah. The call went straight to voicemail, of course.

"Leah, hey, it's, well, you know who it is. I'm sure you've heard the news by now. I'm sorry. I was a horrible friend to you over the summer. I was caught up in trying to prove something to myself that I didn't listen to you. I know the truth now, and I turned my dad into the cops. You hate me, I get it. I'd hate me too. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry."

An hour or so later, her Kid Rock ringtone interrupted my thoughts.

"Leah?"

"Hey," barely more than a whisper.

I looked over at the clock, almost two in the morning. Neither one of us spoke for a long time.

"I got your message," she finally said, "I don't really know what to say, Reggie."

"I wish you would have told me."

"You wouldn't have believed me."

She was right, I could admit that. "Leah, I miss you. Can't we be friends again?"

A pause. "Not like before."

"Why not? I didn't do anything—"

"I have to go. Bye, Reg." Just like that, she was gone again.

Finally hearing her voice gave me the closure that I needed. For the first time in months, I slept great.