Page 153 of Symphony for Lies

Spencer gave them both a quick nod. “We’ll drive around and look for anything suspicious while trying to figure out what this labyrinth could mean.”

Stacy stepped in front of the door before he could leave, her expression cold and razor-sharp. “You should take a closer look at Ella Aria.”

“Why?”

“That girl’s always been lurking in the background, and she’s the one who spread rumors to make Amelia’s life hell,” Stacy explained with disdain.

A tense silence filled the room. Every second that passed sent another surge of anxiety through me.

And then, it hit me.

Watson’s name had been in the same file as Ella’s. “She took lessons from Mr. Watson as well.”

Stacy’s eyes widened in horror. “Now she fits way too perfectly into this mess.”

Layla and Tiana latched onto the idea. “She was jealous of Amelia!”

“Maybe it wasn’t just jealousy. Maybe she’s involved!”

I was torn. It would be easy to pin Ella as the culprit.

She had wanted me. She had hated Amelia. And she certainly had the means to make other people’s lives miserable. But would she really kill for it?

And if she was obsessed with me, would she go so far as to kidnap me? Okay, maybe. I had fantasized about kidnapping Amelia before.

Spencer studied us carefully before stating, “Amelia had lessons with Mr. Watson, too. By your logic, doesn’t that make her a suspect as well?”

A suffocating silence followed.

“Amelia was present at multiple crime scenes. She had no alibi. Her apartment wasn’t broken into. She could’ve staged her own disappearance.”

I was seconds away from striking Spencer, but then I saw the look in his eyes.He was calm.

“I never once suspected Amelia. Not because I like her. But because my gut tells me it’s not her.” His gaze flicked to Stacy. “But Ella? She’s no killer. She’s just a spoiled brat who never learned what no means.”

She scoffed, “We should still talk to her. Maybe she knows something.”

“Forget it,” I interjected.

Tiana rubbed her forehead tiredly. “But if she had lessons with Mr. Watson, she might know something useful.”

I crossed my arms. “Ella only cares about one person—herself. She won’t help us.”

She wouldn’t help someone who took away her love. Sadly, that reminded me of my own actions regarding Tristan.

“You’re right… she could lie, too.”

“Then it’s a waste of time. Besides, the Arias can only be contacted through their lawyers now that they’re under investigation.” Spencer castme a pointed look. “No matter what game she played with Amelia, murder is something else entirely. She’s not a killer. Just a girl who didn’t get what she wanted.”

Those last words were aimed directly at me.

He was right.

Amelia suffered because of me.

If I had handled the Arias better, if I had controlled my mother better, she wouldn’t have had to endure so much. Maybe she would have been better off if I had told her the truth about my miserable life…

If…If… I was such a fucking fool.