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A CONGREGATION OF LIES

DIYA

J onah Bricks.

Again.

Sighing, I motioned to Asher. “Untie him.”

“But…”

“If he died here, there’s no guarantee you’ll get out of it this time. We need to take Jimmy back to his room.”

“He needs to die.” Asher glared at Jimmy, eyes burning. “But you’re right. Not yet.”

We walked back to the building, carrying Jimmy.

We sent him back to his room, drugged into oblivion, his breathing shallow but steady.

He would be alright. For now.

It was time to go see the Bricks brothers.

Vincent had texted me early in the morning, asking me to go to his brother’s anniversary party. I said yes, of course.

I got dressed and went to Hollowhaven to talk with Asher before I left for the party.

Asher’s eyes widened as soon as he saw me. He took a step back from me, as if he was worried I might bite him.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered, his gaze dragging over me, slow and deliberate, like he was committing every inch of me to his memory. “Breathtaking.”

I wore this dress for him, to make him regret what he said last night. He did look like he regretted it, but he stayed in his place, his arms crossed, as if it took him every last drop of resolve to keep his distance.

Last night, after he told me my debt was paid, we hadn’t had time to talk about us. If there even was an us.

I wanted… there to be an us. It was startling, but there it was. I wanted more. Last night, when he said it was over… my whole body went into fight mode.

To think of a life where Asher wouldn’t be a part of it was the shock I needed.

“Don’t go,” Asher said.

“Jonah will be there. I have to go.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“Do you know you’re whining? I thought the debt was paid in full,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“I’m not whining,” he said, disgruntled.

“Oh, stop pouting. This is work. We’re so close.”

“We still don’t know if it’s Jonah,” Asher said, running his fingers through his hair.

“That’s why I’m going. We need proof before we jump in.”

“Just be careful,” Asher said, his fingers trailing the back of my hand for a second.

“I will.”

I met Vincent at his house.

“I’ll follow you,” I said when he walked out of his tiny house. He sighed before walking back to his car. By now,I was sure Vincent was regretting this invite, but I wasn’t going to be the bigger person.

The party was already in full swing when we walked in. Holland and Ellis lived in a fucking mansion.

Vincent and I walked around for a while, drinking wine, never saying a word to each other. If there hadn’t been any music, it would have been awkward.

Vincent sighed. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course. This looks fun.”

“Holland goes all out for his anniversary.”

The party was pure luxury. Everyone was dressed to impress. Men in tailored suits, their cuff-links flashing under the light, and women in gowns that shimmered with every movement, dripping in diamonds.

This was a gathering of the rich, the powerful, the ones who pulled the strings behind the scenes, the ones whose voices made a difference.

“Did you find anything?” I asked after a while. “Maria?”

“The autopsy is done. We are still investigating.” His voice was curt.

“Any leads?”

“Her BAC was above 0.20 percent.” His frown deepened. “Someone drugged her and then killed her. She wasn’t conscious when he stabbed her.”

“He could have killed her quietly,” I said, and Vincent looked away from me. “You know why he didn’t? Because it was a warning.”

Vincent took a deep breath, his eyes flitting around.

“If he had been doing what you suggested, it would mean Riley was not his first kill, nor was she the last.” He blinked. His shoulders slumped, eyes resigned when I nodded. “Are you saying there’s a serial killer in Hollow Heights? And it’s not Asher Maddox?”

I glared at him. He shrugged.

“Yes. And Asher only came here because of Riley.”

“Asher isn’t sick, is he?” Vincent’s voice was tight.

“Listen,” I said, my eyes firmly on his. “It doesn’t matter if he’s sick or not. He’s right about Riley.”

He closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, pressing his fingers against his eyelids.

“I don’t… I can’t…” He rubbed his temples, sitting down on the chair as if his legs had suddenly becometoo weak.

“But—” I stopped when I saw a woman walking toward us.

“Hey, Vince,” she said. “Holland’s looking for you.”

Vincent shot me a quick look.

“Vincent, don’t tell anyone yet,” I whispered. His eyes narrowed, but he gave me a resigned nod.

“I know,” he said, before turning to look at Louise. “Lou, can you keep Diya company?”

The woman nodded.

“Hey, I’m Louise. We met at Tide and Table.”

“I remember. Nice seeing you again.”

I looked around once again, taking a sip of my wine. Every man here had the means and money to hide their twisted hobbies, to find dirty secrets of others, and to use them to their advantage.

It could be Jonah. It could be any one of these men.

“You look beautiful. Green is definitely your color,” Louise said.

“Thank you. You look just as beautiful.”

“Oh, here comes the VIP,” Louise said when Ellis joined us.

“I hope you’re enjoying the party, Doctor Sharma,” she said with a smile.

“I am, and the wine… delicious.”

“Everything has to be best for the best couple in town,” Louise said with a smile. “Do you know they were childhood sweethearts? How long have you known Holland now, Ellis?”

“As long as I can remember. Our parents are friends, and we grew up together,” Ellis smiled, her eyes shining with pride. “He’s my soulmate.”

“It really is a beautiful party. Happy anniversary, Ellis.”

“Thank you.”

She gave me a smile, nodding to a waitress passing by. The woman stopped, and offered a tray filled with Crostini, topped with goat cheese and fig jam.

“I’m going to go say hi to the others.” With a nod, Ellis swept off, in her flowing champagne-colored dress, smiling and greeting the women standing behind us.

“Where’s the restroom?” I asked with a wince. Louise chuckled.

“Just go through the main door, take a left, and you can’t miss it,” Louise said.

I walked toward the massive mansion, grabbing another glass of wine from the tray. I’ m quite drunk was always a great excuse.

I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for… but I wanted to find something that linked Jonah to Riley.

I walked along the long corridor, right past the bathroom.

The corridor wound through smaller ones. The main one ended in a massive room with a carved wood door. I pushed the door open, my fingers shaking. It opened without a protest to my surprise. I walked inside, looking around, my heart hammering.

It was a study. There were tall shelves filled with books on law and crime.

I jerked, spilling the wine when someone grabbed my shoulder.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he hissed, eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Re-rest room. Ellis said it’s … sorry, I’m drunk.”

He grunted something, nostrils flared.

“Go back. The bathroom is right in the front. It’s hard to miss unless you’re blind. Are you blind?” Jonah snapped, looking around the massive room. “You’ll be in big fucking trouble if Holland catches you here. Go now.” He opened the door, motioning me out, his eyes desperate.

“You… you are? You look like Vincent.”

While Vincent’s eyes were honest and open, Jonah’s eyes were… something else.

“I’m not anyone important. Get going now, Doctor.”

He knew who I was.

I made sure to stumble as he locked the door behind us.

I walked away and took the time he was distracted to hide behind another smaller corridor. Jonah whistled something—it reminded me of Jimmy’s songs—as he nervously looked around before opening the study door again.

What was he doing? I waited for a while, but he didn’t come back.

I sneaked back outside, grabbing my phone, calling Layne.

The voice that answered was not Layne’s.

“Asher?”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes. I just met Jonah. He caught me when I was in Holland’s study, sneaking around,” I said with a wince.

“Please be careful, and don’t let Vincent touch you.”

“Fuck off, Pussycat. You told me the debt is paid,” I said with a frown.

“It is, but…” he trailed off with a sigh. “Just don’t.”

“You should finish that,” I said.

“Come back home in one piece, and maybe I will,” he said, sounding so sure.

What the fuck?

“Whatever. Tell Layne to give Jimmy his next dose. I’m hanging up.”

I walked back into the party, looking around. They all looked the same, their face stretched in eerily similar smiles. A parade of masks.

“I was looking for you,” Vincent said, tapping on my shoulder.

“Went to the restroom,” I said, exaggerating my slur.

“Come on. You promised me a dance.”

“I don’t remember. Are you lying to me because I’m drunk? You can’t trick me, Sheriff Bricks.” I smiled as he took my hand. We moved to the song.

“I don’t lie,” he said with a grin.

“Oh, I met Jonah. I missed the restroom, and he found me wandering.”

He went rigid.

When the song changed into something soft, I pulled back from him. He looked at me for a second before he nodded as if he knew exactly what was going on in my head.

“Falling in love with your patient is forbidden, is it not?” Vincent said, eyes sharp, knowing. “What happens if someone finds out?”

“Are we doing this now, Vincent? Again?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What do you want?”

“I want you to be safe, and you won’t be when you’re with Asher. You’ll get hurt, Diya.”

“Asher and I are…”

“Don’t tell me there’s nothing between you, because I saw what I saw. He’s obsessed with you, and he’ll destroy you.”

I grabbed the wine from Vincent and chugged it down.

“What if… I might enjoy the destruction. What if I even need it?”

“Then you need to get the fuck out of here and find a good doctor.”

“It was great up until…” I sighed. “Can we not?”

“Well, can you not get distracted by him just because he’s sexy?”

“You think Asher is sexy?” I grinned, and Vincent looked like he had eaten a rotten lemon.

“No. But I know what women think about him. He has always been the center of attention, even at school. He’s charming enough to get any girl, but…”

“But?”

“But you should know better. You’re a psychiatrist. You do this for a living.”

“I do this for a living, and that’s why I trust Asher. You’d need to read Riley’s letters to…”

“I can’t.”

“Now you just sound like an obstinate child who doesn’t want broccoli on their plate.” I pursed my lips. “I know what I told you was hard to digest, but—”

I was interrupted when Mayor Bricks walked toward us.

“Hi, Doctor Sharma. I’m glad you came,” he said, shaking my hand.

“Thank you, Mayor Bricks.”

“I hope you’re enjoying the party.”

“Of course. It’s been a while since I attended any parties.”

“Oh, yes. Please, take advantage of your night out. Have more food, more wine…”

“Thank you, Mayor Bricks. When will you be arriving at Hollowhaven tomorrow?”

“After eleven. I have a meeting at ten, I’ll come straight after I finish it.”

“I’ll see you then,” I said. With a nod to me, he walked away.

I looked around, scanning for Jonah in the crowd of faces. He was still a no-show. Why wouldn’t he come out for his own brother’s party?

As if he heard me mentally wishing for him to come out, Jonah walked out, looking pale. A woman marched to him and said something, and he shrugged.

Vincent’s nostrils flared when he saw Jonah.

“You two aren’t very close, are you?” I asked. Vincent nodded, his lips pulling down.

“He’s an asshole.”

My gaze trailed Jonah as he moved through the party, silent and alone. He didn’t talk with anyone, he didn’t even attempt to blend in. He looked angry to be here.

He ignored the hasty hellos thrown in his direction, and he didn’t attempt to mask his contempt.

“Why?”

“He has… always been mean and selfish,” Vincent said with a shrug.

As if he knew I was staring, Jonah looked up.

He stared, eyes unblinking, brows furrowed before he walked back into the mansion and disappeared.