Home Entertainment Game Technology Advertisement Part 2: For eight years, my parents made me leave the house every time my brother brought his fiance over; Mom said, “She comes from a good family, don’t embarrass us”; Dad added, “Just disappear for the weekend”; I did; then one weekend, I never came back; it took them four years to find out where I went.

“What?”

“Means you're paying attention.”

By noon, Mara called.

“They found the original memorial account ledger.”

My stomach tightened.

“And?”

“Your father kept everything.”

Then:

“They also found a file labeled STACEY — KEEP PRIVATE.”

I closed my eyes.

“What was inside?”

Mara paused.

“Photographs.”

“Of what?”

“Of you.”

Years.

Me leaving for work.

Me returning from Ruth's.

My car.

The garden center.

My graduation from horticulture certification.

They had not merely hidden me.

They had monitored me.

“Why?”

Mara said:

“I think your father was terrified you would discover you were supposed to be dead.”

Then she added:

“And Stacey…”

“Yes?”

“They found a letter Mitch wrote eight years ago.”

My stomach dropped.

“What does it say?”

Mara's voice softened.

“I think you should read it yourself.”
CHAPTER 5 — MITCH’S LETTER BEGAN, “I TOLD AVERY MY SISTER DIED BEFORE MOM AND DAD EVER FILED THE INSURANCE CLAIM.”

I met Mitch in Mara's office.