When someone dies mysteriously during a Psych experiment, Rhiannon becomes enmeshed in a conspiracy that includes both the survivors and the killer.
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Short on cash, Rhiannon...
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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
COUNTERFACTUAL THINKING
( — human tendency to create possible alternatives to life events that have already occurred; something that is contrary to what actually happened. )
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IT MIGHT NOT EVEN MAKE SENSE, BUT RHIANNON ALREADY DISLIKES SORAYA.
Perhaps Rhiannon could hold her own in a physical altercation with her, seeing as she's several inches taller than Soraya, who must be standing at a height of five foot three; however, the latter is older and, most likely, stronger, as Rhiannon doesn't know the concept of upper arm strength and can't throw a punch to save her life.
She can't even run. Therefore, she's pretty much useless and is praying both of them will be able to keep things minimally cordial; after all, Rhiannon would like to think she hasn't done anything wrong. The only thing she wanted that night was to get out of that house, take Roman to a safe place and take Jude to the hospital as quickly as possible; they can hold her cowardice against her, but it was for a greater good.
The lie is also for the sake of a greater good, but it's totally different. That's what Soraya would use as an argument against them while speaking to the police.
Connor shifts his weight from one leg to the other, and Rhiannon bitterly realizes this is the worst combination of people she wanted to spend time with on her birthday. "So . . . is there anything you want to tell each other? Because we really, really should get going. This place is depressing."
"How do you two know each other?" Rhiannon questions, with a note of irritation weighing down on her voice. They're a terrible combination and, if their individual threat level was pretty high, it gets even scarier when they're standing side by side.
"Over the experiment, obviously," Soraya clarifies, choosing every word as carefully as possible. Only people who have something to hide do things like these, along with adopting a defensive posture; Soraya herself has firmly crossed her arms in front of her chest, and Rhiannon raises her chin. "I'm certain you know Connor's family was kind enough to let Crowcrest borrow one of their houses for the experiment, and that's how they repaid the favor."
Rhiannon narrows her eyes. "The fire was an accident. There were candles spread all around the house and people were already panicking, so someone must have knocked one aside and the flames spread."
Soraya flashes her a cold smile. "I'm sure you know a lot about what happened that night. That makes me wonder, though; do the people at the police department know all about it too? Or did you just tell them what they wanted to hear?"
