Page 89 of A River of Crows

Caroline shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“We need to call the police?” Libby asked.

“No,” Caroline said. “We already have a plan.”

Libby swayed slightly as she wrapped the vegetables in a towel. “You still want to go through with this? It’s something you really need to think about.” Caroline flinched backward as Libby touched the vegetables to her eye. “Hold it,” Libby instructed. “You need to get the swelling down.”

Caroline took the makeshift ice pack and held it against her throbbing eye. “This is the only way. Even if they did arrest him for this, it’s only a matter of time before he gets out and kills one of us.”

Libby bit her lip. “Alright. Vince suggested these.” She pulled a pill bottle out of her purse. “He takes them for narcolepsy.”

Caroline took the bottle in her free hand and studied it.

“It’s called GHB,” Libby said. “It’s safe. Bodybuilders use it because it induces weight loss, but it also induces sleep. It’s really regulated Vince’s sleep cycle, helped him sleep at night and have fewer episodes during the day.”

“Okay.” Caroline stared at the words on the amber-colored bottle till her vision blurred. They were really doing this.

“It’s untraceable on most drug tests. Even if they took a blood sample, GHB only stays in the system for eight hours. If you give him enough, he’ll pass out and won’t remember a thing. It’s like being drunk, but without the hangover.”

“How much do I give him?”

“That’s what we aren’t sure about. You’ll have to try a few different doses and see how long he takes to pass out and how long he stays asleep.”

“Okay.” Caroline set the bottle down. “He’s coming home next Thursday for a long weekend. I’ll try. What else?”

“We leave October 24th,” Libby said. “So, this needs to happen sometime after.”

Caroline stood and lifted a page of the calendar by the stove. “What about November 6th? I can tell Jay he needs to take Ridge fishing.”

“Are you sure you want to risk it in public? Why not set something up here?”

“Because I want it to be clear it was Jay. It’s turning cold. There won’t be many people fishing. And if someone sees them there at some point, that’s even better. They’ll know Jay was alone with Ridge. Plus, we won’t need a body.”

Libby nodded. “So, we make it look like Jay passed out and drowned Ridge during an episode?”

“Or better yet, that he killed him in an episode, realized what he’d done, and then dumped him in the creek to cover it up. I mean, I’d love to make it look like it wasn’t accidental at all, but then we’d have to establish a motive and that might be tougher to convince a jury of.”

“Right. PTSD is an easier sell for sure, but I worry a judge wouldn’t put Jay away for life for manslaughter.”

“Whatever he gets will be enough.” Caroline expanded her chest with a full breath and held it in. The media would cover this. The truth would all come out. Anna would find out. His kids would find out. Jay would be ruined forever, just as Caroline had been. Yes, it would be enough.

Libby cleared her throat. “So, when are you going to talk this out with Ridge?”

Sitting down with Ridge at the kitchen table a few weeks later was the closest Caroline had come to guilt since devising the plan. It was hard to look into those blue eyes and lie, but this was for the greater good. She couldn’t let Ridge grow up with the influence of Jay Hadfield. He’d ruin everything good and pure about their boy.

“Remember last month when I told you I fell and hit my eye?” Caroline asked.

Ridge nodded.

“I was lying. Daddy hit me.”

Ridge froze, eyes wide like he was struggling to comprehend.

“He’s hit me a lot, hurts me a lot. There are two sides to your father. I was okay living with both until he started hurting your sister.”

Ridge shook his head. “Dad never hurts Sloan. She’s his favorite.”

“He does.” Caroline pressed her lips into a thin line. “I’ve noticed little bruises here and there, but she always makes up stories.”