Chapter 3

The relief lasted all of ten minutes.

The doorbell rang.

I froze. Mom went to answer it.

Standing on our doorstep, suitcase in hand, was Jessica.

And next to her, looking apologetic, was David.

My blood ran cold.

"Hey, Sarah," David said, a confused smile on his face. "Found Jessica by the curb looking upset. She said you guys had a little misunderstanding about her staying over? She called me, said she thought you just forgot you' d invited her."

Jessica looked at me, eyes shining with unshed tears, a masterpiece of wounded innocence. "I' m so sorry if I caused any trouble. David was so kind."

David, my kind, trusting brother. Of course, she' d gone to him. He wouldn't see the malice, only a friend in need.

Mom, seeing David with Jessica, immediately softened. "Oh, you poor dear! Of course, you can stay. Sarah was just being a bit... protective of David' s study time."

I was trapped. Arguing now would make me look like the unreasonable one, the cruel sister.

Jessica' s eyes met mine over David' s shoulder, a flicker of triumph in them before she quickly looked down, all humility.

"Thank you," she whispered to Mom and David. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

I forced a tight smile. "Yeah. Welcome, Jessica."

My mind was a whirlwind. She was in. The first step of her old plan was complete, despite my efforts.

I had to adapt. Fast.

That evening, after dinner, Mom, ever the gracious host, said, "Jessica, dear, you can have the master bedroom. It' s got its own bathroom, much more comfortable."

Just like before. The exact same offer.

A shiver went down my spine. This was where Jessica had claimed David entered her room.

"That's so generous," Jessica gushed, "but I couldn't possibly."

"Nonsense," Dad said, beaming.

As Jessica headed upstairs, I followed, a glass in my hand.

"Here," I said, offering her a glass of warm milk. "To help you settle in. New place, sometimes it's hard to sleep."

Her eyes, usually so sharp, held a flicker of surprise, then softened into her charming smile. "Oh, Sarah, that' s so thoughtful of you. Thank you."

She took the glass.

She didn' t know I' d crushed two strong over-the-counter sleeping pills into it, the kind advertised for serious insomnia. Enough to keep her deeply unconscious until well past morning.

I watched her drink it down, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips.

She was probably thinking how easy this was, how she had everyone fooled.

Little did she know.