Contents
Chapter 66
Overview
Naomi decides to burn the house to hide Veronica’s captivity and Ezra’s fatal fall, planning to pose as Teddy’s rescuer. She believes arson will erase evidence and win back Jeremy. A text from Lola reveals outside knowledge of the DNA truth, prompting Naomi to target Lola after the fire.
Summary
Naomi concludes that fire is the only way to conceal Veronica’s restraints and Ezra’s death from a fall. She rationalizes that a house fire will make both deaths look accidental and remove any trace of her involvement.
She plans to ignite alcohol in the cellar, then grab Teddy from his room to appear as a heroic rescuer. Naomi imagines this will make Jeremy, who prioritizes Teddy, love her again, framing arson as a path to a “happy ending.”
Searching upstairs, Naomi finds a lighter in the kitchen to start the blaze and prepares to move quickly once it spreads. On her way back, Veronica’s phone lights up with a message from Lola urging Veronica to go to the police.
Realizing the message references a DNA result, Naomi infers that Lola knows Teddy is Veronica’s biological child. Naomi checks Lola’s contact entry, finds her St. Louis address, and deems her a new threat.
Naomi resolves to proceed with the fire to eliminate Veronica and the evidence, then “deal with” Lola afterward—possibly with help from Naomi’s mother—before heading to carry out her plan.
Who Appears
- NaomiDetermined to commit arson to hide Veronica’s captivity and Ezra’s death, planning to fake-rescue Teddy and silence Lola.
- VeronicaCaptive in the cellar; intended victim of Naomi’s planned fire; her phone reveals Lola’s warning.
- EzraLies dead from a fall in the cellar; Naomi plans to mask his death with arson.
- TeddyAsleep or sequestered upstairs; Naomi plans to ‘rescue’ him to appear heroic.
- LolaTexter urging Veronica to go to police; knows DNA truth; identified as Naomi’s next target.
- JeremyOff-page; Naomi hopes arson-rescue will win back his love for Teddy’s sake.