rectly about the gala incident.

ekend, and my mother,

rlier," she said, as we sat in t

ept my vo

hat charity event. Something about her guardians putting a temporary hold

as inclined to believe the best in people.

glasses of iced tea, "that perhaps you were a little... abrupt, s

od. Playing the victim, su

declined for five hundred dollars. She made a very public offer she c

ut incredibly strict," Mom mused. "And tha

my brow. "We' re classmates, Mom. She' s always ve

, about how she just wanted to fit in, how the pressure of her "guardians'" expec

Dad said, his brow furrowed with conce

ation about Brittany' s character yet. "And honestly, that whole credit

. They loved me, trusted me,

etime soon?" Mom suggested. "Clear the

mile. "Maybe. University i

sking about their week. But I knew Brittany was already w

of her manipulation. She wasn't just after money. She wanted our lives, our s

om Mr. Davies, the PI, ar

Indiana. Mother deceased, drug overdose. Father unknown. A string of foster homes

records to be so tightly sealed unless the offen

ourke yet. But the "assault" ch

, not the murders. They' d never believe that.

ning, I appr

talk to you about B

it card again, but this ti

ay she tried to cover it up. The elaborate lies about her 'gu

oes... security consulting... to discreetly look into her background. Just to m

ked, his expr

e. She comes from a very difficult, impoverished

Oh, Jess. Are you s

m saying it because her lying so extensively about something so fundamental

ubt. They w

"Sealed juvenile records ar

details, but the fact they're s

in," Mom said, looking pal

ut we also need to be careful. She' s

image of the grateful, hardworkin