The One Before: A totally gripping suspense thriller with a shocking twist

by Miranda Smith

  Whenever Coop mentioned Celia’s death, he never said people thought he was to blame. Maybe he didn’t want to breathe fresh life into an old rumor. Maybe part of him was afraid I’d run for the hills. I exhale in frustration, shooing away my mental images of Celia and Bridgette. The scent of pollen and dirt drift upward, tickling my nose. There’s a potted collection of wildflowers resting next to my bench. Looking across the way, I see each bench has its own arrangement beside a memorial plaque. I stand, looking to see what my bench represents, to whom it pays tribute.

  Underneath my seat is a picture of a blonde girl with striking blue eyes, hypnotic really. The inscription reads: In loving memory of Celia Gray. May your light shine on us all. My eyes dart back to the girl’s face—Celia’s face—which, in some ways, appears harsher now. Like she’s taunting me. As I scamper away, the sign at the entrance reminds me to never forget.

  All I want to do is forget. About Celia. About the past. I’d like to make a home of this place without constantly feeling followed by ghosts.

  Eleven

  Helena

  I got a glimpse of Madison today, but I didn’t have the nerve to talk to her. Not yet. One of my first stops after arriving in Whisper Falls was Nectar, the uppity eatery owned by none other than Regina Douglas. I snagged a spot by the window, attempting to familiarize myself with this town again and the people in it. When I saw Regina behind the counter, I felt a rush of nervousness. Thankfully, she was preoccupied with kneading and chopping; she didn’t notice me.

  Imagine my surprise when halfway through my sandwich and waffle fries (which I reluctantly enjoyed), Madison approached the counter. I did a double take, finding it hard to believe my luck. It’s only my first day back in Whisper Falls, and here comes my target. Some would say it’s the lack of options in this backwards town, but I think it’s something else. Kismet. Fate.

  That ashy hair is hard to confuse with anyone else. It had to be her. I watched as she had a brief conversation with Regina. The two don’t yet seem comfortable with one another, and I wonder how else Madison is struggling to adjust. She didn’t seem particularly happy as she sat alone, waiting on her order. But maybe that’s just her. Resting Bitch Face, is that what they call it? Madison definitely has that. In fact, the only time she smiled was just before her food arrived, when she was staring in her lap, presumably texting someone. Probably Cooper.

  She looked up at me once, but then lazily drifted her gaze to the other diners without giving me a second thought. I’m used to going unnoticed these days. As a young woman, I turned heads. Now, I’m easily overlooked in crowds because my looks have faded and I’m always alone. Practically invisible. It’s been that way for years, which is why I’m not intimidated to come back here and do what must be done.

  Watching Madison saunter out of the restaurant, I could see she didn’t possess any of the loneliness and bitterness that plagues my existence. Perhaps she has some insecurity. Beyond that, she has her whole life in front of her. She bears all the promise any girl her age should, the promise my own daughter exuded when she was still on this earth.

  The last time I saw her was nothing like the last time we spoke. By then, the brightness I’d seen in her that day was gone. I’d felt it dimming for weeks. I could sense her holding back, cutting our conversations short. Not only did Cooper Douglas take her away forever, he took little bits of her leading up to that day.

  “Tell me what’s wrong, sweetie,” I said to her over the phone.

  “Nothing,” she said. But I knew something was off. Something personal was pulling her spirits downward. I needed to know what it was.

  “Is it your boyfriend?”

  “Gah, Mom.” She sounded like an annoyed teenager full of resentment. If only she’d seen I had once been a young woman, capable of understanding. “I don’t know. I love him, I know that. But there are things we need to work out.”

  “Like what?”

  “Just some stupid rumors,” she said, her voice starting to crack. “We need to talk, but I’m hoping things will blow over.”

  Rumors. A parade of faces flashed through my mind. Other young, vibrant girls. Had he chosen one of them over my daughter? None of them could compare, surely. Her father used to fool around on me, and I could remember that throbbing feeling. The resentment building, becoming too heavy to carry. That rejection, ripping the glow away, leaving nothing but gloom.

  “I’m sorry, honey.”

  “Nothing’s happened yet,” she said, failing to sound positive.

  “Everything will be okay. You know I’m here for you.”

  “I know.”

  “Maybe it’s time for another visit?” I needed to see her. Hiding her feelings was too easy over the phone.

  “Soon, Mom.” Then there was a sound in the background. “Cooper is waiting. I need to go.”

  “I love you, honey,” I said, but she had already hung up.

  The waitress with the arm tattoo returns to my table, interrupting my memories. Perhaps it’s a good thing, as I was right at the point where things turned bad. “Can I get you anything else?” she asks.

  “All good here. Thanks.”

  I exit the restaurant, looking over my shoulder one last time at the sister. She was a teenager last time I saw her, and it looks like she hasn’t gained five pounds since then. Thankfully, she doesn’t recognize me. I don’t think the brother would remember me, either.

  From where I stand, I can see the Gazette headquarters. I wonder if I should confront Cooper myself. Maybe I should just get a glimpse of him. Or cause a real scare by throwing a rock through the window. The idea makes me laugh, but I realize that’s the old me. Dealing with Cooper directly didn’t work last time, nor did causing a scene. That’s why I must go through Madison. I’m a stranger to her, and she’s an outsider here, which makes her easier to isolate.

  I walk in the opposite direction. I reach a small courtyard with a gazebo. If I recall correctly, this place was under construction last time I was here. I had thought the bulldozer and lumber were eyesores in the middle of this quaint town square. The sign reads: Whisper Falls Memorial Gardens: Always Remember, Never Forget. I remember reading, in the Gazette actually, about this place. I’d wanted to return to Whisper Falls for the dedication, but that was in the thick of my drinking days. Even I couldn’t handle my crazy then, though I’d like to think I’m better at controlling myself now.

  There are six memorial benches, each one paying tribute to a fallen Whisperanian. When I arrive at the third bench, I see her picture and plaque:

  In loving memory of Celia Gray. May your light shine on us all.

  My breathing gets wobbly and I fall to my knees. I stare at her beautiful face. I think of what Cooper must have done to her. The only thought worse, is that he got away with it. I begin crying. At first my sobs are shallow, then they fall heavy and deep. I’m wailing in the middle of the courtyard as I might if I were alone in my motel room.

  On the sidewalk, strangers stop and watch, but they don’t dare approach. Their stares are confused, then sympathetic. We humans are drawn to tragedy in the same way we’re mesmerized by fire: its power, its unpredictability, its warmth. Being near heartache reflects how cold we never realized we were. We watch on thinking, Those poor people. We never dare to think, Poor us. The only time we are untouchable is when faced with another person’s misfortune.

  I’m on the other side of things now. Let them look; I don’t care what they think. They’re catching a small glimpse of the grief I live with every day. None of them know the connection I feel to this beautiful girl. None of them could understand the determination I have to bring her justice.

  And just like that, my passion for vengeance is renewed. Cooper Douglas will know what it’s like to be on the other side of grief. I’ll make sure of it.

  Twelve

  June 16, 2006

  Cooper sat on the dock, his bare feet cooling in the water. Celia was still sitting in his truck. Just as they arrived, C
elia’s mother called. Even though they were in the midst of their own argument, he knew she would answer. She always did. Celia and her mother had a complicated relationship. He was happy he didn’t have to meet the woman. He thought it was shitty she gave up on Celia as a child. His family dynamic was so different. His parents were strict at times, but they always made him feel safe, secure and wanted.

  He knew Celia never had any of that. It’s what most people at school couldn’t understand about her. When her catty side came out, they didn’t see all the feelings of inadequacy she suppressed. That same vulnerability made him love her, and he thought a quick conversation with her mother might put Celia in a slightly more sentimental state. He needed a softer Celia right now. Because even though he loved her, he wouldn’t stick around if she was cheating on him.

  His car door slammed, and Celia thundered down the bank leading to the dock. She’d unraveled her braid and changed into a white bikini. He expected she’d claim it was for the party later, but he knew better. She was trying to distract him through sex appeal, a trick that might have worked on any other day. But not now.

  She sat beside him, crossing her legs and propping herself up on her elbows. She smiled, and he could smell the citrus body spray seeping from her pores.

  “What did your mom say?”

  “Just a bunch of this and that.” Celia looked away, at the trees plunging into the lake. “She’s already planning another visit to Whisper.”

  “If she wants a relationship with you, why doesn’t she just move here?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. Right now, we can talk and visit without her feeling like a total screw-up. Things might sour if we’re around each other twenty-four seven.”

  “But she’s your mom.”

  “My aunt does what she can.” She looked at him, her eyes distant. “Right now, Mom is more like a friend. That’s what I need more than anything.”

  “I don’t get it.” He knew better than to push the subject. Celia didn’t like talking about emotional things. When things got heavy, she usually just took her top off to lighten the mood. But he resented this woman he’d never met for taking advantage of Celia. She’d robbed her of her innocence and didn’t even know it. She’d made her cruel.

  “I know we’re not here to talk about my mom.” Celia hooked her arm around Cooper’s and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Will you tell me what’s been bothering you all week?”

  “You don’t have any idea?” He gently unlaced his arm from hers and scooted away. “What’s going on with you and Steven Burns?”

  “Oh my gosh.” Celia tossed her head back, letting her locks dangle. “That’s what you’re upset about?”

  “I’ve heard from three different people who saw you with him at last week’s bonfire—”

  “There were lots of people at last week’s bonfire. Is that why Jimmy was acting all weird earlier?”

  “Jim is my best friend. He’s not okay with you cheating on me,” Cooper said. “What’s going on with you and Steven?”

  “Maybe if you came out more, you’d know. But no, you’re always busy running around doing Mama Douglas’ bidding.”

  “My family has nothing to do with this.”

  Celia smirked. She dipped her shins in the water and leaned back. “You can either believe me or listen to town gossip. I have no desire to be with the likes of Steven Burns.”

  “It’s not just that. I found that T-shirt in your car last week. And you’ve been so shifty lately every time you get a call or text.”

  “I told you, the shirt belonged to my cousin. And I don’t know what you’re talking about. Being shifty. What’s making you so paranoid?”

  “It’s just the way you act with people, Celia. Like we’re all little puppets. You play people, and I don’t like the idea of being played.”

  “We’re on the same team, Cooper.” She cupped his chin and wiggled his face. “I adore you. I’m practically counting down the days until I graduate, and we can get married.”

  Cooper pulled away. He tugged a nearby dandelion out of the grass, flicked off the bud and threw it in the water. He watched it float, then sink. That’s how he felt. Like he was sinking. When he was around Celia, he didn’t know what he wanted. Couldn’t tell what was true and what was a lie. He was sick of feeling like he wasn’t in control.

  “I’m not settling down with someone the whole town calls a cheater.”

  “Who gives a shit what this town thinks?”

  “I do. I like it here. My family is important. You need to change the way you treat people. It sends the wrong message.”

  “Oh, Cooper.” Celia leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’m not some ball of clay you can mold into your liking. I know your family has brainwashed you into thinking you’re important because you’re a Douglas, but don’t you forget, I’m special too. I’m Celia Gray.”

  Cooper rolled his eyes. “Stop deflecting, Celia.” Usually he thought her attitude was cute, but right now he was annoyed. Whatever she was trying to pull, it wasn’t going to work this time. “I’m getting tired of your games.”

  He wanted to say more but stopped when he heard footsteps. They both turned to see who had joined them on the dock.

  Thirteen

  Madison

  We remain silent until we arrive home. The confines of Coop’s car aren’t the right place to revisit such a claustrophobic topic. My attempts to ask earlier came off as another accusation. Coop doesn’t like talking about Celia, and I oblige him by not bringing it up, not picking at his life’s greatest tragedy. But there’s another layer to this situation now, it seems, and I’m not prepared to live in Whisper Falls without knowing all the details.

  Coop returns from the bedroom having changed into a T-shirt and sweatpants. I’m sitting by the fire, my jacket still on and my arms crossed.

  “I’m sorry what Bridgette said upset you this much,” he says, sitting beside me.

  “Of course it upset me,” I say. “Accidents happen. Tragic deaths happen. But for people to accuse you of a crime—”

  “Bridgette was one of Celia’s friends. Used to be one of my friends, too. After her death everything became so divided.” He looks away, as though the sight of me hurts him. “It was the darkest time in my life. I couldn’t even mourn Celia without being labeled a murderer. I don’t like to talk about it.”

  “That’s understandable,” I say, reaching my hand out to touch his. “But I’m here now. I can’t stand walking into a room and thinking people know something about you I don’t.”

  “Fair enough.” He nods, pulling away his hand so he can prop both elbows on his knees. “You know, I think if Celia’s body had been found the same day she drowned, the rumor would have never been started. It was the days while she was still missing that created all this nonsense. It gave people time to make their own theories. Too much time.”

  “How long did it take to find her?”

  “Ten days, or something like that.” He shakes his head, as though trying to remember the facts whilst dispelling the heartache. “By the time her body was found, people had already made up their minds about what happened.”

  “Why do they—”

  “Why do they think I killed her?” He looks at me with pain in his eyes. I can see all of this is hurting him, that I’m hurting him, but I have to know. “We were supposed to go to a party that night, but I showed up without her. Our friends knew we’d been fighting, so they thought—” Try as he might, he can’t continue. He covers his mouth with his palm.

  “What were you fighting about?”

  “Dumb high school stuff.” Now he stands, pacing in front of me. “I can barely remember. Celia had this way of irritating people, and honestly, I’d had my fill of it, but I’d never—”

  “I know you wouldn’t have hurt her, Coop.” I stare into his eyes, hoping he’ll see that I believe him. Not for a second did I think Coop could be capable of harming another person, and I regret the way I con
fronted him earlier suggested otherwise. I only want to know why others think he did.

  He nods, and, for the first time all day, I feel like we’re on the same page. “So, you can see why they’d blame me. I was the boyfriend. Last person seen with her. It made for a good story, and people liked to tell it. This town had resented my family for years, and Celia’s death finally gave people permission to take it out on one of us. I felt the full brunt of everyone’s hate. My whole life I walked around Whisper like I was a god. Overnight, I became public enemy number one. I was only a kid.”

  It’s visible now, his upset over the way he was treated. I’ve never heard him express his displeasure with Whisper so openly. He’s made hints in the past, but now I understand he has a plethora of unresolved issues with this place and the people in it.

  “I’m sure there were some people who defended you,” I say, hoping.

  “There were. My family always had my back. Certain friends, like Jimmy. More than a few people have changed their stance over the years, especially when they need a loan from Mom or a little extra publicity in the Gazette.”

  “Anyone who knows you understands you could never be involved in something so sinister,” I say, placing a hand on his chest. “That must count for something.”

  “People shout accusations and whisper apologies.” He releases a dry laugh, which fails in masking his pain. “People may not treat me like a murderer anymore, but at one point they did. The sting of that never goes away.”

  I think of what that must have been like. Coop would have only been eighteen at the time, the moment when most people discover life, explore new possibilities. It must have stunted him in some ways, wrestling with both grief and resentment towards those around him. It explains why he’s so cautious now, why he keeps everyone, including me, at a distance.

  “I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you,” I say, touching his cheek. “But I’m here now. I believe you, and I won’t let anyone spread lies about you.”