You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 593

He stood there for a long time, silent, patting his pockets for a cigarette he didn’t have.

At eleven, Tina walked out of the hospital. She should’ve just gone straight home, but right as her car pulled up near her apartment, she spun the wheel and headed for the Martin family house instead.

The day Emerson confessed, the police had already barged in with a search warrant and torn his study apart. Grandma was home alone, totally helpless, and she’d called Tina over and over, nearly hysterical.

Tina hadn’t answered even once.

People only remember you when they need something. When they don’t, you might as well not exist.

What did that old woman think she was to her, anyway?

She parked outside the house, saw the single weak light inside, and walked straight in without knocking.

She found Grandma in the kitchen, stirring noodles on the stove. Gone was that helplessness from a few days ago; she was starting to get used to fending for herself.

“Why?” Tina demanded. “Why’d you tell the police you lied before? Why admit to perjury now?”

“Patricia threatened me,” Grandma said quietly.

“With what?” Tina pressed.

What could someone threaten this old woman with, at her age? If she just kept quiet, what could Patricia really do? Kill her? What was left to lose?

Before Tina could figure it out, Amber’s face popped into her mind.

“She didn’t threaten you with your grandson, did she?”

“You think this is just about self-interest?”

“You’re not after the people who actually hurt you. Instead, you come after me—an old woman who’s half in the grave already. Go ahead, keep it up. Maybe you’ll drag yourself down with me.”

Grandma shoved Tina out the door.

Tina stood outside, staring at the closed door, feeling completely hollow inside.

What was she even doing? Fighting the police, fighting everyone—maybe she really should just let herself go down with the rest.

Back then, she’d done just as much as Emerson.