Page 35 of Girl, Undone

‘You saying I’m a bad actress?’

‘Yes.’

‘Alright, you might have a point, but we don’t have the luxury of time.What if our guy is someone who works there?Our profile isn’t detailed enough to be able to spot our killer from a mile off.It’s not just like we’re interrogating one person here.There could be session leaders, priests, counselors, church volunteers.We need eyes on all of them – discrete eyes.’

Ripley folded her arms and took a few steps back.‘Can you cry on command?’

‘I’ve never tried.’

‘What’s your cover story?’

Ella shrugged.‘I don’t know.I’ll make it up on the night.’

‘This is the night.’

‘Fine.Spiders, clowns, open spaces.There’re a million phobias out there.’

Ripley checked her watch and said, ‘Well, you’ve got a few hours to get your story straight.Do you want me there with you?’

Ella anticipated that this would be a solo mission.Too many new arrivals at the group could be a red flag.‘You?You sayI’vegot cop written on my forehead?People might recognize you.’

‘How would they recognize me?’

‘You have your own Wikipedia page.’

‘Do I?I just meant do you want me there for extra eyes, or moral support.’

‘Maybe.You could pretend to be my mom.’

‘Harsh,’ Ripley said.‘I tell you what, I’ll stay in the car.I’ll be your eyes and ears on the outside.Any suspicious activity, I’ll move in.No heroics.’

‘Alright.The sessions begin at six, so we’ll get there a little early.I want to mingle with this phobia crowd before we get down to business.’

‘Crowds,’ Ripley clicked her fingers.‘That’s a good one.’

Ella nodded, but she wasn't thinking about crowds.She was thinking about her own fear.The one she'd buried years ago and never talked about.Not to Ripley, not to Luca, not to anyone.

For a second, she considered using it.The real thing.It would make the whole thing more convincing.

But she pushed the thought away.This wasn't about her.It was about Julia Dawson, bound to a table and eaten alive by rats.It was about Thomas Barker, suffocating in a wooden box under six feet of dirt.

Whatever fear Ella carried, she could keep it locked down for one more night.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

In her car outside St Augustine’s Church, Ella turned to Ripley and said, ‘I’m going in.’

She had everything she needed.Blue jeans, pink jacket; a look that said there was no cop to be found here.When it came to going undercover, the intricacies were everything.She'd left her credentials locked in the glove compartment.

‘Got your cover story?’Ripley asked.

‘Entomophobia,’ Ella said.‘Fear of insects.I can work with that.’

Ripley nodded toward the church.‘I'll be out here.Anyone comes or goes, I'll note it.You see something wrong, you text me.Don't try to be a hero.’

‘I know the drill.’

‘I mean it, Dark.I know what you’re like.’