SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

ROSE'S POINT OF VIEW

The shoe sat on Detective Ramirez's desk between us. A woman's size seven pump, once black, now gray-

green from three months underwater. The heel had broken off, but the designer's red sole remained visible. Louboutin. Unmistakably Camille's.

"Is this your sister's shoe, Ms. Lewis?" Detective Ramirez asked, his tired eyes watching my reaction carefully.

I reached for it with trembling fingers, a calculated tremord practiced that morning. "Yes," I whispered, breaking on cue. "She wore these the last time I saw her. A gift from our parents for her birthday." The lie slid out smoothly. In truth, I'd given Camille those shoes when she

landed her first job, playing the generous big sister while privately mocking her pathetic excitement over my hand-

me-downs.

"Does seeing this personal item bring up any new thoughts about your sister's state of mind before her disappearance?"

An Interesting question. Not "accident" or "drowning," but "disappearance." The detective's word choice revealed his lingering doubts.

"Your parents mentioned Camille kept journals," he continued. "Have you had a chance to read them?"

So Mom had spoken to the police about the journals. This was worse than I thought. voice

bear to read them," I said, looking away as if overcome. "Too painful. Mom mentioned she found some, but she's been very private about their contents." "And your relationship with Mr. Rodriguez? Your

were friends before he and Camille dated. After a

family's trusted fixer. "I need everything you can get on Detective Ramirez. And I need to know exactly what my mother told the

antidepressants.

through Camille's room methodically, checking obvious hiding places. Nothing. The floorboard Mom had mentioned yielded nothing but an empty space. Mom's private sitting room, then. The

"Looking for something?"

voice from the doorway froze

months.

and alert than I'd seen

I said, forcing warmth into my voice. "I didn't expect you back so

told Jason I stuffed ny bra before the dance. Now he won't talk to me. She says she was

spent weeks helping her get his attention, only

drama,” I said dismissively. "Camille was always

says it's probably a mistake. Now I can't stop worrying they'll realize

me."

trying to protect her from disappointment," I

what happened next? She called the admissions office to 'confirm' they wanted her. They thought she was having a mental health crisis. When we decided

"I didn't want to tell you this, but..: Camille had problems none of us

"What things?"

hearing voices sometimes. About feeling watched" The lies flowed smoothly, tailored to match symptoms I knew Mom feared. Her own mother had

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