by Anna Paige
How the hell did that woman continually make me fall further in love with her? Just when I thought I couldn't love her more, she opened that amazing heart of hers, and I was falling all over again.
Hating to break up the love fest, I cleared my throat and waited for all eyes to swing my way. "We still have to figure out how to handle this. The police will probably be around sometime today to take statements, and they may have some indication about the fire's origins. I say we wait to see what they have to say before we assume anything was deliberate."
I turned to Lauren, hoping like hell trusting her was the right decision. "Do you have any texts, emails, voicemails, anything from Keith that we can use to prove his intentions?"
She shook her head. "No. He was careful about that. He always called me, always from a blocked number and never with any warning or regularity. It was like he didn't want me to be able to anticipate his calls. He just sort of flared up like a hemorrhoid."
An apt description if I ever heard one.
I looked back at Ali, who was wincing and sipping water from the foam cup left by the nurses. "Did you see or hear anything when you got to the house that was unusual? Was anything out of place or were there any signs that someone had been there?"
The straw between her lips began pulling air as she emptied the cup, and Lauren jumped up to refill it from the pinkish pitcher on the tray table. Watching her thoughtfully, Ali shrugged. "Not really. Someone parked the stupid backhoe right up against the house but other than that..." Her head tilted to one side, a crease in her brow. "Now that I think about it, I thought I heard something when I was around the side of the house, cussing whoever parked it there and blocked the basement door."
"What did it sound like?"
"I don't know. There are so many little noises out there, critters all around, the wind in the trees, all noises that I was used to. Somehow this one noise was different. Maybe like the click of a door or something. I wasn't sure I heard anything, to be honest. It wasn't disturbing enough to keep me from grabbing the flashlight from my glove box and going into the house. Not a scary noise, just something that sounded out of place."
I nodded, filing that away for later. "What about when you got inside?"
She pursed her lips. "Nothing else, just the usual settling noises that houses make. I knew the electrician was making adjustments, so I didn't bother to try to turn on any lights, just followed my flashlight beam to the basement. It was almost dusk, and I knew there wouldn't be much light down there." Her expression darkened as she replayed it in her mind. "I'd hidden my surprise for you and Gran behind a stack of drywall in the far corner of the basement, so I went down to dig the canvases out. It took a few minutes because I was trying to crawl back there without damaging anything and juggling the light while I shifted the heavy drywall sheets out of the way. I stopped twice because I thought I'd cracked one of the sheets."
Ali cleared her throat painfully, and Lauren handed over her newly-refilled cup. She nodded her thanks and took a few sips before continuing. "It only took a few minutes. I got the paintings, slid the drywall back into position, and climbed the stairs. When I got to the top, though, smoke was rolling in under the door. I opened it, and the gust of air that came in made the flames in the living room flare in that direction. I was so startled that I jerked backward and slammed the door. I lost my grip on the knob and tumbled down the stairs." She looked down at the thick boot on her foot and ankle. "I think I must have hit my head or something because I blacked out for a while. When I woke up there was smoke everywhere. I tried to get to the window, knowing the door was blocked, but I couldn't climb up with my foot the way it was."
She was trembling all over with the memory, and I wished like hell I could fold her into my arms. I reached for her hand and found Lauren beat me to it, so I took hold of the other one. "I'm so sorry it took me so long to get to you."
She squeezed my hand and gave me a sad smile. "Stop that. You're my hero. I just wish I could have gotten the paintings out of there. You would have loved them."
"I forgot to tell you, Spencer went back in for them. The fire chief cussed him like a dog and called him a moron, but he said there was no way he was leaving there without them." I brushed away the tear rolling down her cheek at his thoughtfulness. "He knew they were important to you. And that you are important to me."
Ali smiled softly, fresh tears streaming down her face as I turned to Lauren, wanting to get things back on track. "You need to think about getting Teach out of town for a few days, at least until we know what Keith is up to."
Ali squeezed the hell out of my hand, pulling my attention back to her. "Do you think he'd hurt Teach? I thought he was threatening to expose information not physically harm him." Lauren nodded in confirmation but looked afraid.
I glanced between them both. "Yes, but now that Lauren has defied him, he might be looking to do more damage. I don't think it's worth the risk. I'm going to make a few calls and find out where Keith has been the last couple days and, just as importantly, where the hell he is now."
Ali looked at Lauren, panicked. "Get him and Marilee out of here. Make up an excuse, lie, whatever you have to do. And you should probably go with them. Keith might decide to come after you directly."
Lauren started to argue, and I interrupted. "You two hash this out, come up with an excuse to get Teach out of town, I'll be right back." I stood to leave, kissing Ali's hand.
"You trust me alone with her?" Lauren sounded shocked.
I did my best to look at her without glaring, knowing the risk she took by telling the truth. "I guess I do. You didn't have to come forward, so I figure you aren't entirely evil." I softened the statement with a half-smile and left the room as the two of them started rattling off ideas to protect a common interest.
MOST OF THE GANG was in the waiting room when I got there. Noticeably missing were Eileen and Jeffrey. That was one reunion I was glad not to be invited to. Eileen had pointedly ignored me all night and was in a snit about not getting enough time with Ali since she awakened this morning. Drama was a passion for that one. I fleetingly wondered if she was still in contact with Keith but decided I'd pursue other avenues before resorting to conversation with that woman. I had a feeling she would lie anyway.
I told everyone Ali was resting and asked that she be given a little while alone, only Gran raised a doubtful brow at my explanation. She always knew when I was lying. I'd never sneaked one by her, ever, but she didn't call me out on it today and for that I was grateful.
I motioned for Spencer to follow me out and waited until we were in the elevator headed for the lobby to relay Lauren's admission. It was a good thing I had. He let out a string of curse words at a volume that would have gotten us all kicked out if we hadn't been alone in the elevator car.
The doors opened, and I took the lead, needing to get outside for some fresh air. "I'm calling my PI to have Keith tracked down. I want to know where he is, where he's been, and where the fuck he's headed. And I want to know now. My guy has been digging into his involvement with the shit at GFS for a while, so he should be able to give me some answers." The automatic doors opened as I caught sight of myself in the reflection. Jeez. I looked like shit. I turned to say something to Spencer and saw that he'd stopped just outside the doors, an odd expression on his face. I walked back over and asked what the hell was wrong.
He looked at me with wide eyes and asked, "What if it wasn't Keith? Marissa has been awfully fucking quiet lately. What if it was her?"
Oh, right. I hadn't gotten a chance to tell him. "No. Marissa isn't going to be a problem anymore, for any of us."
He looked at me warily. "What do you mean? Did you do something?"
"Yeah. I fixed my mistake. Trust me, she's going to stay the fuck out of our lives. There's no way she set the fire."
He eyed me with suspicion and tapped his foot, getting pissed off and wanting answers, so I told him. "She said she'd release the video of us at the office, right? She threat
ened to label you as a letch, too." He nodded impatiently. "Well, I sent her a little counter offer. She backs off, and I don't turn her in to the cops for trying to run me down with her damn car."
"You have no proof of that."
"I have footage from my home security cameras. I held onto it just in case she decided to come calling again." I grinned at the expression on his face. Was that what he looked like impressed? I thought so. "Needless to say, when presented with the possibility of jail time, she wasn't feeling as litigious."
"Why didn't you tell me about the tape before now?"
"Marissa asked the same thing. I told her that since I'd been out of town, I was unaware of the particulars of the lawsuit until recently and, once I was up to speed, I thought it was time to put an end to the bullshit." I shrugged innocently. "As far as telling you, there was nothing to tell. Absolutely nothing."
He studied me for a beat and said, "You mean you bluffed her? There was never a tape?" I couldn't tell if he was pissed, or proud.
"Yeah. I didn't even install my new security system until after she tried to turn me into a speed bump, but she doesn't know that. She was so scared she deleted her copy of the footage from the office and dropped the suit. I had her overnight paperwork verifying that, of course. I guess she figured even Shepard's money couldn't erase that tape."
As if speaking his name had conjured him, Holden Shepard came casually strolling across the parking lot.
He looked totally nonplussed in his tailored suit, the slight sheen of the fabric reminding me of a snake's skin, and he walked with an air of authority that only came from a lifetime of self-importance.
I stared him down as he approached, the set of my jaw letting him know I was less than impressed.
The automatic doors swishing closed at my back barely registered until Brant stepped to my side, his eyes following mine. Shepard's arrival snuffed out any attempt at conversation.
I stood there rigidly as the bastard took his time sizing me up, totally oblivious to Spencer and Brant, who flanked me protectively. His attention never wavered from me as he spoke. "I assume you know who I am, given your recent correspondence." There was an edge to his voice that belied his anger though he gave no outward signs.
Spencer and Brant stood there looking like they knew exactly what was going on though neither was privy to what I'd done. Looking him dead in the eye, I stood my ground, "And I assume you finally realized who you were dealing with when you opened that correspondence."
Apparently, he'd decided not to directly acknowledge the contents of the envelope I'd sent. Photos my investigator had obtained for me of Marissa 'paying' Shepard for his help. Most of which occurred with her head in his lap. Luckily for me, his face was much more recognizable than hers.
He huffed softly. "I suppose you think I'm concerned about your little threats? But what would Alison say about you breaking up her mother's marriage?" His cocky smile told me that, like so many others, he didn't know Ali at all.
"Actually, she said it would serve you both right. Eileen would lose her loveless marriage, and you would lose half your shit. No prenup, Holden? Rookie mistake for a man of your standing." Being addressed by his first name obviously rankled, that was exactly why I'd used it. I leaned a little closer, brandishing a cocky smile of my own. "She also saw the pictures and wasn't at all impressed. Guess money can't buy everything, huh?" I was surprised that Ali hadn't wanted to expose the affair to her mother, but she reminded me that Eileen expected certain 'eccentricities' and probably wouldn't leave him anyway. Luckily for us, Shepard didn't know that.
He almost succeeded in hiding his fear, almost.
Spencer cut in, speaking to me but never turning his eyes from Shepard. "Surely you're mistaken about the prenup, Clay. A cutthroat business man such as our friend here would never forget a thing like that."
Shepard spared him a fleeting glance as one might to acknowledge a gnat hovering at the edge of their vision, but returned his attention to me without comment.
I nudged Spencer in a conspiratorial way and said, "Oh, I'm sure he thought about it after the fact, but he was in such a hurry to steal Eileen from the man who she was engaged to — Holden's business rival — that once he had her on the hook, he whisked her off to Vegas before common sense had a chance to set in."
There was a flicker of genuine hatred in Shepard's eyes before his mask slipped back into place.
Apparently, Spencer saw it too because he snickered softly. "Maybe he's not the formidable opponent everyone thinks him to be. I mean, hasty decisions don't work out for him as evidenced by his lack of forethought in his marriage, but meticulous planning hasn't worked out well for him lately either. He had quite a few months to work on his little plan to bring us down and look how that turned out. Here we stand, three nobodies who currently have him by the short-and-curlies. That must be a real blow to his pride."
Shepard's fists were clenched at his sides, and I could practically hear his blood pressure skyrocketing.
It was glorious.
Brant cleared his throat, drawing Shepard's attention. "And just so you know, it was never going to happen. Ever. I'd sooner sleep in a viper's nest than do business with you."
Spencer stepped in, nodding. "That contract was never going to be enforced. Ever. No matter how or why it was broken. We'd rather stand shoulder to shoulder with Clay on a sinking ship than cruise away with you on your fancy yacht. We wouldn't leave our company and we damn sure wouldn't walk away from our brother. Not for your money or anything else, you smug bastard. That's what friendship is. And, for all your business savvy, that's something you wouldn't have a fucking clue about."
I wanted to take pleasure from the indignant huff Shepard uttered as he walked away, but all I could do was stand there in awe of my partners. My friends. My brothers.
I was so much luckier than I ever realized.
Brant nudged my shoulder. "Blackmail, huh? I'm impressed."
Spencer chuckled, stepping over to the courtyard vending machines and getting the three of us water. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"You're too damn scrupulous for your own good," I observed, heading for the small garden area to our left. A large flowerbed filled with deep reds and purples sat at the center of the space, a small koi pond in the middle. Tall, boxy shrubs created a circular border, blocking out most of the parking area from view. "Luckily for us, I'm still capable of being an asshole when necessary."
"Good to know falling in love didn't take that from you." He teased, sitting on one of the stone benches that flanked the flowerbed and taking a long drink from his water bottle.
"Yeah. I'm hoping marriage won't either."
Spencer choked and sputtered, spitting water everywhere just as I anticipated.
Brant just laughed and slapped my back.
Yeah, I was still an asshole.
SPENCER AND I stayed outside for a while making phone calls and trying to track down Keith. My investigator was having no luck so far and whoever the hell Spencer was speaking to in a hushed voice was having no luck either. It was like the bastard had fallen off the face of the Earth.
We should be so lucky.
Frustrated, I told Spencer to keep trying while I went to talk to Ali. When I got back to the room, Ali was trying to convince Talia to go home to D.C., knowing she had an event scheduled at her restaurant that night. Thinking that the best thing for everyone would be to leave Denson for a few days, I had to concur. We eventually wore her down, and she grudgingly left with strict instructions that she be provided with regular updates.
Once we were alone, I suggested to Ali that we go spend a few days with Gran after her discharge from the hospital, using the excuse that we had been going there anyway, and now we needed to decide how to proceed with the build. There was still no word from the fire marshal on the cause of the blaze, but I didn't need to know how it started to know that it was a total loss. Ali was hesitant to leave, as I knew she would be, but mentioning the house stopp
ed her objections. She would want to help Gran and I come up with a plan. It was a dirty trick, but I didn't give a damn. She had to get the hell out of town until I could find out how the fire started and where the fuck her psycho ex had disappeared to.
I had just finished telling her that I was stepping out to talk to Gran about our visit when Eileen walked into the room. The scathing glance she tossed my way indicated her displeasure with what she'd heard. Her expensive heels clicked on the tile floor as she sauntered over and took Ali's hand. Her unwrinkled wrap dress and perfectly styled hair seemed out of place; cold somehow given the situation. Maybe I would have respected her more as a mother if she'd looked disheveled and haggard, or at least given some outward sign that nearly losing her daughter had shaken her even a little.
She looked down at Ali, raising a perfectly plucked brow as she surveyed her only daughter. "Why would you go stay with strangers when you can come home with Holden and me? We have your room all ready and an entire staff to look after you. You wouldn't have to lift a finger."
Of course she would assume Ali needed a damn staff. I'd only known her a few months, and even I knew better than that. How did this woman not know her child at all? I watched with thinly veiled distaste as she smoothed Ali's hair back and tried to wipe a smudge of soot that was still on her face. The gesture was awkward and obviously unnatural to her. Was she putting on a show for my sake? Even Ali looked surprised at her behavior. "Mother, why are you acting so oddly?" Ali reached for me, so I walked over and slipped my fingers through hers, locking them together in a show of support. "You haven't even spoken to Clay since you walked in. Isn't it somewhere in your etiquette handbook that it's rude to ignore someone's presence? Have you even bothered to speak to him this whole time while I was being treated?"
She pursed her lips but said nothing, knowing Ali didn't need verification.