𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓

    Someone knocks on the door. I run to the door and open it. To my surprise, there’s no one, but there’s a white sheet of paper on the doormat.

     Not again! I crouch over and pick it up. I thought the notes wouldn’t appear anymore once I stopped investigating, and the truth is, I have stopped. I’m not asking questions about Adrienne Styles any longer. I haven’t given up on her yet. I still believe she was murdered. I’m just holding on for now. I hastily unfold the paper. But this time it’s a letter. My brows pucker as I walk back to the living room reading it.

Dear Sarah,

This is Adrienne Styles. Don’t freak out. It’s truly me. I just want to set things clear. First of all, I broke into your house to retrieve my diary. I was the person who attacked you the other time. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to cause a scandal.

No one murdered me. I faked my death. By now you know the whole story. I’m sure you’ve read my entire diary entries. Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to read people’s diaries? You might not always like what you find.

I sent you the threatening notes to scare you. I was living my life as a different person until you showed up and started asking questions about my suicide. I needed everyone to believe I was dead. But you were hindering that with your incessant questions, so I had to stop you. It was lame, I know, using your family to scare you. Trust me, I never intended to hurt them. I’ve seen your kids and your husband in the park, where I took the photo. I must say they’re lovely.

You’ve got a beautiful family. Take care of them. I also hired someone to scare you the other night. I’m truly sorry. No offence, but your curiosity is annoying to the highest degree. But I also admire your persistence.

Don’t go blabbing to the neighbors I’m alive. They think I’m dead. Let sleeping dogs lie. And take care of my house and Ms. Gillian. She lives alone. I’ve talked her out to no avail. She loves to have creamy hot tea and omelet in the morning. If you have time, give her that, and she’ll truly appreciate it. Once you’re done reading this, destroy it. You wouldn’t want anyone to find it. I trust that you’ll keep this between us. I only revealed myself to you because you deserve to know that I wasn’t murdered, after everything you’ve gone through.

Yours ever,

Adrienne Styles.

     I can’t believe what I’ve just read. Adrienne wasn’t murdered. She didn’t kill herself either. She faked her death?

     Okay, this puzzle threw me off, and I’m realizing I wouldn’t have seen this coming if not for the letter. I’m glad she decided to tell me about this, or else I’d have held onto the conviction that Jeff murdered her.

     I feel slightly embarrassed. I shouldn’t have read her diary. Now I know it’s not good to read someone’s diary.