Chapter 11 - The confession

Jill was proud of herself because she didn’t buckle under pressure and never showed any worry on her face. She knew Detective Scott bought her story, and still considered her an innocent victim in the case.

Jill and her parents were relieved that the questioning was completed. Detective Scott didn’t have any more clues and he realized the perpetrator could be anyone. But Jack and Jill didn’t have any known enemies in Thornsberry from what he was told. The detective was hopeful he would solve the case before the case grew cold.

After the detective left, Jill went to her room and lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling again. She was thinking about everything, mostly about what she did to Jack and Cindy, and all the lies she had just told. Still wondering why, she got so angry that night when she saw them making out by the well. If only she had gone straight home like she planned, then none of it would have happened or gotten out of hand.

Although her actions were extreme, Jill felt it was justified because of how they treated her. She remembered Jack’s disrespect towards her, from the breakup and the night he snubbed her at the pub in front of his friend Chuck. Her mom entered her bedroom.

“Are you OK dear? Do you want to go back home tonight or would you rather wait until tomorrow? I know you are probably stressed from all the questioning, plus it’s late.”

“Yes, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed Mom, but we can head back to Summerville in the morning. Plus, I was hoping to speak to Jack’s parents about how he is doing.”

Jill and her parents ordered take out then watched a movie before going to bed. When the news came on with an update on Thornsberry’s new renovations, it made Jill feel nervous all over again.

With Cindy being trapped inside the well and knowing there was soon going to be construction in the area, Jill was dismayed. She was trying to figure out what to do and how to get the project delayed. Jill yawned and clicked off the television. She was feeling very tired from all the stress and worry. Her parents were also going to bed walking down the hall to their bedroom.

“When are they scheduled to begin the renovations?”

“I think in a couple of weeks, but we can all go together if you want to.”

Jill got into bed, still thinking about what to do about getting Cindy out of the well, but she had to decide. One thing for sure, she needed to do something before the groundbreaking ceremony, because Cindy was in danger of being buried alive.

Jill thought maybe she could make an anonymous call to the police department or to Detective Scott. Or maybe she could get someone else to do it or maybe not. Jill had one week to save Cindy and to get her out of the well before the construction started. She was feeling remorseful and extremely concerned about the situation. The next morning, after having breakfast, Jill gave Jack’s mother a call.

“Hello, Mrs. Brenner. I hope you are doing OK. This is Jill, and I was wondering has Jack gotten any better since he had the fall?”

“Hello dear. I’m doing OK and I hope you are as well also. It’s so nice to hear from you. Jack is not 100%, but he is getting better and he’s regained some of his memory back.”

“Do you think Jack remembers what happened? Did he even get a glimpse of the attacker?”

“No, he doesn’t have any recollection of that night, not even being with Cindy Von, who’s also missing. Did you know she was missing? The detective said rumors are going around that she may be the one responsible, when she saw you and Jack together.”

“Uh…. I never saw Cindy that night and I didn’t know she was missing until yesterday when my mom told me. But I saw Jack at the pub with his friend, Chuck. We weren’t even speaking because we had broken up, the previous weekend.”

“So, you weren’t with Jack that night they found you both at the bottom of the hill?

“No ma’am, but I did see him at the pub with Chuck and they had just ordered a drink refill when I was leaving to go home.”

“But why do people suspect Cindy of hurting you and Jack when you said she wasn’t even there?”

“Well, I never saw her. I don’t know why she was blamed, but Jack and I were both attacked and left unconscious. Hopefully, they will find her and clear her name too.”

“Yes, I agree.” said Jack’s mother. “It would be good if she was cleared then they can find the real perpetrator who's responsible.”

After Jill ended her call, she started worrying again about Cindy being inside the well. She knew once the detective found out that she was a suspect and not a victim that she was going to be in serious trouble. It lingered in her mind, how her parents would be embarrassed and disappointed in what she had done. How everyone thought a stranger or Cindy had harmed her and Jack, just to find out she was the guilty one.

People in Thornsberry will say she lost her mind when he broke her heart after she came back home to be with him. Maybe they will understand she was hurt and she did it because she still loved Jack. Jill knew she had to tell her parents the truth about the trouble she was going to face. She needed a lawyer and a lot of sympathy, and forgiveness for what she had done.

Jill wanted to wait for the right time to tell her parents the truth about how she faked her fall. She wanted to be far away from and out of Thornsberry before she confessed. The reason she attacked Jack and Cindy was because she still felt angry about the break-up and the way Jack treated her when the car broke down, then the night at the pub. Although Jill had no regrets about what she had done to them, she felt bad for leaving Cindy in the well and for all the false accusations going around town.

Jill was relieved and feeling calmer for her decision to finally confess. Hoping she would be forgiven by her parents and everyone she let down or betrayed, and for causing such confusion. The reporters would want to interview her and she’ll make headlines on the front page of the newspaper. And her parents would have to leave Thornsberry, or at least take a leave of absence, until all the commotion calmed down about her.

On their way to Summerville, to take Jill home, she made a plea for her parents to stay the night at her place.

“What’s wrong honey, are you feeling, OK?”

“I need to talk to you and Dad about that night they found me and Jack unconscious at the bottom of the hill. Uh-h, this is not easy, but…. I lied. But I’ll explain everything and tell you both what happened when we get to my place and out of Thornsberry.”

Her mom and dad looked at each other nervously, having no idea what to say or what to think or what she wanted to tell them. What lie had she told?

Her mom broke the silence.

“Whatever you need from us, we are always here for you honey.”

“Thanks, Mom."

Jill said solemnly, as she wondered about how humiliating and disappointing, they were going to feel. With Jack having loss of memory and Cindy being in the well, it all seemed so surreal.

When Jill sat with her thoughts, she was appalled by her behavior and the suffering she caused herself, Cindy, and Jack. Now she had to make everything right and she knew her parents had her back. When they got to Jill’s town home, her parents walked in and immediately sat down on the couch, as Jill walked to the kitchen to get something to drink. She could hear her parents whispering in the other room, still not knowing what to think.

After Jill walked back into the room her parents looked up at her, waiting for her to tell them all they needed to know. She gave them each a water bottle and took a sip from another one, then sat across from them in the recliner.

“This is not easy for me to tell you and Dad, but I can no longer stay silent about what I have done. I was angry and hurt about the break up between me and Jack, but I was pretending I was OK with it, so I faked that I was okay. Remember when my car broke down and Dad came to pick me up? Instead of going home to Summerville, I decided to stay until daylight. I was supposed to meet my friend Chelsey at the pub, but she called and canceled that night. So, I took the long way to come home, then I stopped by the hill reminiscing about Jack and me. I parked my car and looked around before I got out to walk over to the big tree where we carved our initials when we were in high school. I remember hearing voices at the top of the hill, so I went to take a look. But there was no one else around. It was dark, but I saw Cindy and Jack making out by the well. I was still upset with Jack for leaving me on the side of the road after my car broke down and when he didn’t speak to me when I was at the pub. I went back to my car, opened the trunk, and took out a crowbar. I looked around again to make sure no one saw me, but I saw the headlights of a car coming by. I quickly stood behind the tree in the darkness, making sure not to be seen, waiting for the car to pass. Then I walked to the top of the hill, but Cindy nor Jack noticed me behind them, and they never turned around. I hit Jack first in the head with the crowbar, then he fell and tumbled down the hill. I never said a word, so they didn’t know it was me. Cindy saw Jack fall down, but before she could turn around, I swung and hit her in the neck and her head, then pushed her into the well before she could see me.”