Page 62 of Fever Dream

“I’m not sure I do.”

“Jesus Christ, Grace,” she says, throwing up her hands.“You’re not giving me much to work with here.”

Her eyes are cruel and blue, and they stare me down.

“What?”

“We’re going to put on a little show for him, okay?He’s promised to bring the champagne.”

“Okay?”

“And we’re bringing the pills.”She smiles.“Not that he knows that.”

“We’re going to drug him?”

“Not drug him.Kill him.”

“I don’t want to kill anyone.”

“Fine,” she says.“I’ll do it.”

“And then what?”

“And then we’re going to pull the fire alarm and get the hell outta Dodge.”

“Sounds like you’ve really thought this through.”I’m being sarcastic, but Elizabeth either doesn’t see it or doesn’t care.

“Oh, I have.My promise to him, saying that you and I, we’re gonna put on a show… Well, you ought to be more grateful.It bought you some time before you get your brain hacked up.So be thankful for that.”

“How’s this going to work?We’re supposed to seduce him, and then what?”I get the sense she’s digging my grave for me, that she hasn’t actually thought any of this through.

She appears to read my mind.“I have succeeded in seducing him plenty of times, Grace.That’s the easy part.But even seduction can only get you so far.Sooner or later, you realize you’re trapped.Happier, maybe.But trapped nonetheless.”

“You’re not happier.”

“Exactly.And I’m done being trapped.So he has to die.”

“What if you get caught?”

“That’s where you come in.”

“Where I come in?”

“Money can buy you just about anything, Grace.Good lawyers.Freedom.You name it.”

“Whatcan’tit buy you?”I ask, partially because I don’t know the answer and partially because I want to see where her head is at.

“True friends, for one.”

“You think we’re friends?”

“I think I picked you for a reason.I think you’re as good as it’s gonna get.”

“That’s comforting.”

“It should be.Anyone else I told about that money, they’d dig it up and be gone.But not you.You’re the die hard kind, Solomon.Careful, though,” she says.“All that hope, all those good intentions, they might just be your downfall.”

I fold my arms across my chest.“Tell me why I should trust you.”

“You shouldn’t,” she says matter-of-factly.“I just don’t know what other choice you have.”

I nod, because it’s the first honest thing anyone has said to me since I’ve been in this place.