I pressed my lips together, examining Ralph’s reactions. "It's hard when really great relationships like yours and Ava's don't work out."
His face had turned deep ruddy color. Sweat beaded at his temples. His neck bulged a bit where his arteries worked overtime to keep up with his pulse rate. "I was the one she really wanted."
"Of course, you were. That other guy was just an imitation."
He gripped the edge of the table. “How could she have chosen him? I don't understand."
"Maybe it was because he looked like you. Maybe she was fooled by him."
"How could she have been fooled? I told her...” Ralph stopped himself.
"Told her what?" I asked.
"I told her I cared for her."
"So, Ava knew how you felt."
"Of course, she did. I asked her to marry me. I mean, she's wearing the engagement ring I bought for her in this picture, and—"
"So, she was wearing your ring while she was out with another guy?" I asked.
"Yes—I mean, no."
"We both know this isn't you." I pushed the photo of Ava kissing the man toward Ralph.
"No, it’s not me. Those photographers—always snapping pictures. It’s maddening."
"Ava loved the camera—why do you think she'd pay a photographer to leave her alone?"
"She did that?"
"She did. She paid the photographer who took this picture not to follow her the day she was attacked. Why was it that she didn't want to be photographed?"
"I...I don't know."
"I think it’s because she had something to hide."
"What would that be?" Ralph asked.
"Well, she doesn't seem to be ashamed of her date." I pointed to the kissing photo. "So, it must be something else."
"How would I know? I wasn't there," Ralph said.
"You weren't there." I pointed to the dates on the financial analysis.
"You can't prove that," Ralph grumbled.
"Fine. Then tell me where you were."
"I don't recall." Ralph crossed his arms over his chest. "How can you expect me to know exactly where I was at any given moment?"
"I was at my cabin enjoying a snowstorm with my dog that day. You see? It isn't all that difficult. I'm sure if you asked your personal assistant, he could tell you where you planned to be."
"I don't have a personal assistant. Bob took care of most of my part of the business."
"So, you’re retired?" I asked.
"Semi-retired."
"That’s a fortunate thing, except your business is really in trouble now that nobody's running it."
"My business is fine."
"But Bob’s no longer able to work since he is in jail."
"I’m sure things are just fine. I never needed Bob. I should never have asked for his help."
"But you did, and your profits tripled."
"So what? I could've done that for myself." Ralph blurted the words with too much anger.
"Could you?" I asked. Something about the question had obviously bothered Ralph.
"It’s always the same. I was the one who made something out of myself. It was me who'd built a billion dollar industry, not Bob. I was the one whose name was supposed to have been on people's lips. I was supposed to be on every front page, but I never get the credit. Bob's a business genius. Bob makes everything better. When does it ever stop?"
"Your face was in every paper with Ava. That didn't seem to make you happy."
"Because it wasn't me. It was a freaking stunt. I wanted hers to be the face of Cybertech."
"But then you wanted more."
"No, she wanted more. She made it clear. Everyone believed it, anyway. Our pictures were in every tabloid, and I never had to put myself out there. I never had to walk the streets."
"Because that would be dangerous?" I guessed.
"Have you seen the streets these days? There are robberies, shootings, stabbings, and I'm out there with a target on me."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because everyone wants what I have." He was right. Most people wanted money. More wanted power and influence than I could ever have imagined.
"So, how did you do it? How did you show the world you had Ava on your arm without putting yourself at risk?"
"I used him. He did it for money. She could be his in public and mine in private."
"He did public events quite often for you."
"All of them for the last five years."
"How did Bob not know?"
"I told you: he’s not there with me. He doesn't deserve what I have."
"So, Bob doesn't attend events?"
"No, and I rarely do. Even letting him go…well, I have to be careful,"
"So nobody notices he's not you?"
"Yes, but it keeps me safe. I have to protect myself."
"How can you do that now that your double is dead?"
Ralph put his hands on his head and covered his eyes with the heels of his hands. “It wasn't supposed to be that way."
"I'm sure that wasn't why you were waiting for him and Ava in that alleyway."
"I needed to know if he was doing his job. I needed to know Ava was mine."
"But she was kissing him and laughing."
"She knew she was mine, and she knew he was a fake."
"You carried a dagger with you that day. Why?"
"Because anyone could be there to come after me. I told you: I'm a target. If they were to recognize me, anyone could've attacked."
"So, you took a risk that day. You knew anyone could see you, but you needed to know if the chemistry in those pictures was true."
"Ava was an actress. She was doing her job. But when I saw them together in person, she was so happy and free. It wasn't the same as when she was with me."
"He took that from you. He took the person you cared about. She was yours, and he took her."
Ralph slammed his fist on the table. "How could he do that? He had a job to do. He was supposed to keep me safe, not take what was mine."
"It was his fault, but it was also Ava's fault. She knew he wasn't you."
"It was her fault. She knew better. She knew I loved her, but there she was with him, like none of it mattered."
"So, you hid in disguise to protect yourself. How did they find you?"
"He saw me run into the alley. He thought I was ill. I wanted him to think that, so he wouldn’t recognize me."
"And he went into the alleyway first?"
"Yes, and I knew I was in danger. He wanted to be me. He had my face and my woman. What was to stop him from taking the rest?”
"What was Ava doing?"
"She taunted me. She said, "Get up. Nobody believes your disguise. You need a few acting lessons."
"Did she say your name?" Had she thought he was Bob?
"No, but I couldn't stand it, her taunting me like that with him standing there, so I went after her. I wanted my ring back."
"And did you get it?"
"No. He grabbed me, and I knew it was true—he wanted it all." Ralph rocked back and forth. His hands clenched and his nostrils flared. I seriously thought he needed a psych consult, but who knows how that works in Canada.
"He wanted your life?"
"Yes, but he couldn't have it. Not really. That was when I knew I'd given him too much, and I had to take it back."
"So, you stabbed him?"
Ralph sobbed into the crook of his arm, but he never said another word for the rest of the interview.
Chapter 25
Jesse took a sip of his beer. "Wow, Avery," he said, "you almost got a confession." We were sitting in the hotel's Jacuzzi.
"Almost doesn't cut it in trial," I grumbled.
"Oh, come on—now we know that Ralph's alive, I'm sure the evidence will make more sense.
"Genevieve contacted me earlier. They're working on identifying the victim. Unfortunately, the 'family' had him cremated.”
"Yeah. Ralph’s cousin Sandra botched things up when she miside
ntified the body, to begin with."
"That’s a little strange. You’d think she'd know her own cousin." I moved to sit on the side of the hot tub to cool off.
"I was there on that one. She was hysterical. She barely looked at the body. I'm not surprised she didn't notice."
I dried my hair with a towel. "It still seems weird. I don't know—I can't quite put my finger on it."
"What else did Genevieve say?"
"She said they'll have Ralph extradited to the States for trial, and that Bob's attorney is moving to have his case dropped."
"I can't believe we head back to California tomorrow. I guess it’s a good thing—all the evidence has to be processed again before the prosecutor can form a case against Ralph."
"Which is why it would have been so much easier if he'd confessed. But in all sincerity, the guy's messed up. I think he needs help."
"Yeah. Why does he think the world's out to get him?"
"I guess that's some people's reality. He has what most people want. I guess that put a lot of pressure on him."
"Have you heard from the hospital?"
"Oh, they heard from me. I called and gave them a piece of my mind when you went out to pick up the swimsuits the hotel ordered."
"Good. I can't believe they called the police before they let you know what they suspected."
"You know, Avery, I wouldn't do that to you. I'm not like that. Heck, I didn’t even know you were allergic to bees."
"Few people know that about me." Something about saying that out loud made the allergic reaction seem even stranger. There had been too many near misses to chalk all of them up to coincidence.
"Who does know?" Jesse asked.
"Oh, no! Now you sound like me, questioning everything."
"I hear it’s good for a career in law enforcement." Jesse smirked.
I laughed. "I suppose that might be true."
"But seriously, who does know?"
I chewed my lip as I thought it over. "My dad, my partner back in Sandusky, oh, and the guy I worked a couple of cases with last year. He'd known since we both ended up in the hospital at the same time. There’s nothing like almost getting blown up to cement a hospital bond. I suppose you know, now."
"Don't worry Avery—I won't let any bees near you while I'm around."
"I'm sure you won’t, but how did the hundred or so get by you at the airport?"
"I've been asking myself the same question. How did that much bee toxin get into your system? I don't think I noticed a single bee. I mean, it’s subzero outside. There aren't many swarms up and moving around this time of year."
"No, I don't think it's even possible."
"Did you touch anything or eat or drink anything?"
"I didn't eat anything. We were in a hurry to get our bags and head out of the airport."
"What about drinking?"
"No, I don't remember drinking anything until we stopped at the restaurant."
"That can't be it—you were already sick by then. I thought your blood sugar was the problem."
"I should've told you how I felt. I should've remembered what it felt like from when it happened before."
"So, how did the bee venom get into your system?"
I already knew how it might have happened, but I'd hoped I was wrong. "Jesse, did they give me a shot in the shoulder on the way to the hospital?"
“I don’t think so. They gave you a shot in the leg. They put the needle right through your pants leg. I don’t remember them giving you anything in the arm. Why do you ask?”
“The day I came home from the hospital, I noticed two needle marks other than where they had my IV. One was on my upper thigh, and the other was on my shoulder, but the thing is—why would they have given me a shot there?”
“Holy cow! Do you really think somehow someone gave you a shot of bee venom? How could that have happened? I would've noticed a dart or something.”
I laughed. “I think I would've spotted that myself.”
“So, that means they somehow injected you without your noticing.”
“I’ve been going over it in my mind, and all I can figure out is that it might have happened as we were walking out of the airport.”
“We picked up the luggage and headed out. I don’t remember anything like that.”
“I suppose we both missed it. We were in a hurry. It had been a long flight.” Not to mention the fact that I had been trying to keep myself together.
Jesse’s brow wrinkled as he tried to remember that day. “That guy—the one who bumped into you. Could that have been when it happened?”
“The more I think about it, the more I think that has to be it. I felt fine before that. He bumped me, hard, and I had to catch my balance. The guy acted really strange, but I thought something was wrong with him. I didn’t think he meant any harm.”
Jesse climbed out of the hot tub, sat beside me, and put his arm around me. “I feel like a schmuck. I came all the way to Canada to make sure you'd be all right, and we didn’t even make it to the car before you were in trouble.”
“It’s not your job to keep me safe. That one's on me. You can’t put it on yourself; that’s not fair.” I turned and leaned into the kiss I knew was about to come. The sparks weren’t the same as they had been with Kain—Jesse didn’t have that dangerous aura. Instead, he was warm and comfortable. As my lips moved against his, I felt the warm glow of anticipation and leaned into him once I felt the warmth of his body against mine. The world still had some nice guys, but I was likely putting him in danger, just by being around him.
I ended the kiss. “How about another ice cream sundae?”
Jesse looked at me. His eyes narrowed for a long moment, and then he grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 26
The plane touched down at LAX with a jolt, snapping me from my train of thought. Jesse had slept the whole way back. I was glad for the quiet. After a year on my own, having someone there, at my side, was a strange experience.
While Jesse was sleeping, I'd made a list of the evidence that had made little sense when Bob was my suspect. I was sure Ralph had killed his body double, but being sure wasn't enough to prove a case.
My list went as follows: The killer was right-handed. Bob is left-handed, but Ralph is right-handed. Beck Oliver identified the killer as a man who looked like Bob Maddox, and Ralph Maddox fits the description. The “Blood is on your hands” statement made little sense with Bob as the speaker, but it made a lot of sense if Ralph had killed in a fit of jealousy or delusion.
I looked over my list until my eyes ached. It still didn’t answer the question of the murdered man's true identity—Ralph hadn't given us the name of his body double after he'd come so close to confessing. At least we knew the motive.
I'd called Genevieve before our flight had left, and she'd assured me the medical examiner felt confident they had enough information to make a positive ID, despite the body having been cremated. I knew there were photos and x-rays—I had copies—but I wondered if there was anything with which to confirm DNA.
I stuffed the list in my bag before reaching over to give Jesse a nudge. “Rise and shine. We’re back in sunny California.”
Jesse made a face and flopped against the wall, trying to get comfortable.
“Jesse, don’t make me leave you on this plane. I'd feel guilty, seeing as how you were nice enough to go all the way to Canada with me, but to be honest; I doubt I can carry you.”
Jesse peeked through mostly closed eyelids. “We’re home?”
“I guess you are. I’m back in California.” The question made me think about my actual home. The cabin was a sanctuary, to be sure. After almost having died once more, a part of me was ready to return to my hiding place, but a part of me hadn't missed the isolation.
Jesse stretched as best he could, given the tight space. “Oh, man. I bet Amelia will be so excited. This is the longest I have been away from her since she was born.”
I cringed. I'd taken
him away from his daughter, and I could have put him in danger.
“Well, I know you’re ready to head home. How about you go ahead, and I’ll catch a cab to Dad’s house?”
Jesse rubbed his eye. “Don’t be silly. We made it all the way back here. At least, let me give you a ride.”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t going to argue with him. Traveling was fun, but I was ready to be away from the airport.
As we disembarked the plane, I was careful to keep my distance from the other passengers.
We picked up our suitcases and headed for the truck. The day was clear and cold, so we threw our luggage into the back.
Jesse gripped the wheel as he navigated morning traffic. “I want to thank you for letting me go with you on this trip.”
“I have to admit I wasn’t sure about it. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy your company—but I’ve been on my own for a while, and I’m used to that.”
“That makes sense. I feel the same way. But it was good to feel like I was doing something meaningful.”
“Meaningful?” I reached up and grabbed the grip above the door.
“Yeah. We may have helped to free an innocent man; that’s major, if you ask me. Putting people in jail is only a victory for the system if we catch the right ones.”
“Oh, I see what you mean.” I watched a homeless person wandering down the sidewalk with a sign as we waited at a traffic light. It made me wonder what had been going on with Ralph Maddox to have pushed him to go that far.
“I would've had to have lived with it, Avery. Bob Maddox is behind bars because of my investigation.”
“That’s true, but you did the right thing. You all followed the clues you had.”
“I guess you’re right.” Jesse put on the turn signal and pulled up behind a Volvo parked in front of Dad’s house.
“Hmm…I wonder if Dad has company.” I hopped out of the truck and hoped for a dignified landing.
Jesse grabbed my bag, but instead of handing it to me, he started up the front walkway. “I’ll carry that in for you.” He blushed a little.
“Okay, thanks.” We made it to the door. I grabbed the handle, ready to barge right in, but to my surprise, the door was locked. “That’s weird. Dad never locks his door during the day.”
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