All Chapters of THE BRIDE OF DECEPTION: Chapter 51 - Chapter 57

Annie's POVClaire drove us to an apartment building on the east side of the city that I had never seen before. The building looked ordinary enough with cracked concrete steps leading to a entrance that needed paint. She parked in an underground garage then led me through a series of locked doors that required keycards to open."This is one of my safe locations," Claire explained while unlocking the apartment door. "Nobody knows about this place except me and two people I trust with my life. We can talk here without worrying about surveillance or interruptions."The apartment was small but clean with furniture that looked expensive despite the building's rundown exterior. Large windows overlooked the street below while heavy curtains blocked anyone from seeing inside. Claire gestured for me to sit on the couch while she poured two glasses of whiskey from a bottle on the counter."I think we need to have an honest conversation for the first time since I showed up in your life," Claire

Annie's POVMrs. Patterson disappeared into a back room while Claire and I waited in uncomfortable silence. I could hear her moving things around while drawers opened then closed in quick succession. Part of me hoped she would not find the journal because that would mean Claire's story might still be fabricated. But another part needed to see whatever evidence existed regardless of how much it would hurt."You have been very quiet since we got here," Claire observed while watching my face. "Are you starting to believe what I told you or are you still convinced this is all some elaborate scheme?""I do not know what to believe anymore," I admitted while rubbing my temples where a headache was forming. "Every story you tell sounds plausible but that does not make it true. You could have coached Mrs. Patterson on what to say before bringing me here tonight."Claire shook her head while something that looked like hurt crossed her expression. "I understand why you doubt me, Annie. I gave

Annie's POVClaire grabbed my arm while pulling me toward the back exit of the orphanage. The sirens were getting louder which meant the ambulance would arrive within seconds followed quickly by police who would want statements about how Mrs. Patterson died. Neither of us could afford to be questioned right now with a dead body on the floor between us."We need to leave immediately," Claire hissed while shoving open the back door. "If the police find us here they will arrest both of us before we can explain what happened.""Running makes us look guilty," I protested even as my feet carried me through the doorway. "We should stay and tell them the truth about what we saw."Claire laughed without any humor while leading me through the alley behind the building. "What truth Annie? That we came here in the middle of the night to question an old woman who then died of poisoning right in front of us? That sounds incredibly suspicious no matter how we explain it."We reached Claire's car the