Never Tell a Lie

by Lexy Timms

  “I’ve read up on this Nicholas Handel,” Lester said, sitting down and gesturing for them to sit down as well. “He’s brilliant. Very good at what he does, but a real nasty piece of work. His sister is probably even more brilliant and even nastier than he is.”

  “Have you discovered anything in the files they handed over?” Dane took a seat beside his wife.

  “I might have,” Lester said. “But it might also be insignificant.”

  “What is it?” Allyson asked.

  “I’ve gone over some of the files, and there’s one very large sum of money that stood out to me,” Lester replied. “It’s a trust fund that holds the exact amount of money that has gone missing from Prescott. And the fund has been set up for one of Nicholas Handel’s heirs.”

  Dane scratched his jaw. “I don’t remember Nicholas Handel having any heirs.”

  “Unless his sister Katherine counts as an heir,” his wife suggested.

  “That’s just it,” Lester said. “This kind of trust only gets set up by a certain type of kin. A wife or a child, for instance. People who are considered dependents. Katherine couldn’t be his heir. Neither could his parents.”

  She scoffed. “Nicholas definitely isn’t married, and I doubt he has a kid.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Lester asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I’m pretty sure the tabloids would have gotten wind of something like that,” she said. “The London press is obsessed with the Handels, especially now that they’re back in England.”

  “Well, regardless of what the tabloids say, Nicholas Handel has an heir,” Lester said. “And that heir has a trust that’s the exact amount that has gone missing from Prescott Global.”

  “Why would Nicholas give you a document like that if he was trying to hide it?” Dane asked.

  “He isn’t. Not really. Nicholas might be trying to hide the fact that he has an heir, but there’s no way he knows about this trust fund,” Lester said. “If he did, he never would have handed over such a document.”

  “So, if his heir is the thief, and the thief has set up an independent trust fund with stolen money, Nicholas has no idea,” Allyson said, sounding amazed.

  “Katherine Handel might know, though,” Dane said.

  “It’s possible, since she wasn’t the one who gave me the box of documents. Nicholas did that,” Lester said.

  “Not to mention Katherine wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to hand over the files to us,” his wife reminded them.

  No, she hadn’t been. And if Dane was remembering correctly, Katherine had been downright hostile. The idea of her brother handing over all those documents had really riled her up. At the time he had thought it was Katherine’s typically combative nature, but there was also a chance that she was up to something.

  Dane leaned forward in his seat. “What’s the plan now, Crane?”

  Lester reached for a folder and started looking through it. “The only way to figure this out is to talk to the heir.”

  His wife chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. “Is there any clue in that file about who Nicky’s heir could be?”

  “No clues at all, unfortunately,” Lester said grimly. “At this point it looks like the heir’s existence and identity are a closely-guarded secret. There’s proof of some kind lying around, but we don’t have that kind of access. Not without a warrant. And we can’t get a warrant with so little to go on.”

  “Don’t tell me this is a dead end,” Dane said. He hated that his wife seemed hell-bent on clearing her name rather than allowing him to go to prison for her, but the idea of admitting defeat to the Handels didn’t sit well with him.

  “It doesn’t have to be,” Allyson said. “If we went to the police and they got a warrant…where would we want them to search?”

  Lester furrowed his brow. “The Prescott Tower and any Handel residences, I’d imagine.”

  “That’s what I thought,” she said softly. “We’ve been invited to Nicky’s apartment later this week.”

  He didn’t like that determined look in her eyes. “No. I forbid it,” Dane said flatly.

  “You haven’t even heard my idea yet,” she countered defiantly.

  “There’s no way in hell I’m letting you sneak around that man’s house,” Dane forced out. “That’s just asking for trouble.” She’d been in enough trouble. He wasn’t about to let her risk being arrested in another country. He couldn’t pull strings back in New York; it was going to be even worse here.

  “I have to agree with your husband, Mrs. Prescott,” Lester said. “Sneaking around and stealing documents would be highly unethical. Not to mention illegal.”

  “Who said anything about stealing?” she asked. “I could just take photos of whatever evidence I find. It’s not a crime to take photos in a apartment you’ve been invited to.”

  Dane stared at his wife, totally stunned. “You’ve been working in corporate America for too long.”

  “Oh, come on,” she said. “We came to London to clear my name. So, let’s clear it.”

  He crossed his arms. “What happens if you get caught sneaking around and you end up getting arrested again?”

  “I’ll have you to help me so that doesn’t happen,” she said breezily.

  It irked him that she didn’t seem to be taking the consequences of her insane idea seriously. “How exactly do you expect me to help you with this mad scheme?”

  “You and Mr. Crane can distract everyone while I look through the house,” she replied. “Nicholas is bound to have a study or a home office. I bet that’s where he keeps his important documents.”

  “As potentially dangerous as that sounds, it could help with our case,” Lester said.

  Dane narrowed his eyes at the lawyer. “Are you kidding me? A second ago you were talking about how unethical all this was.”

  “That’s when I thought Mrs. Prescott would be stealing evidence,” Lester said. “Taking photos really isn’t all that criminal.”

  He glanced at his wife and their eyes met. The determination hadn’t left her face. “There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”

  She shook her head. “No. My own mother believes I’m a thief. This isn’t just about clearing my name. It’s about getting my family to trust and believe in me again. I need this, Dane. I need us to at least try.”

  With a heavy sigh, he said, “Fine. We’ll do this. But you have to promise you won’t tell my father or drag him into this plan.”

  “I promise I won’t,” she assured him.

  The determined expression on her face shifted to one of relief. A relief he didn’t share. Because if there was one thing Dane trusted it was his gut. And his gut told him the worst was yet to come.

  ~~*~~

  Buckingham Palace loomed in front of them. Allyson squeezed her way through the crowd and pressed up right against the black front gate. Her phone was out, and she held it up to take some shots.

  There was a slight chill in the autumn air, but she didn’t mind. Seeing all the London sights today had been totally worth it. The expansive palace was stately, full of windows that the public couldn’t see into. But the flag wasn’t flying at full mast, so the queen wasn’t in residence; still, she felt a jolt of excitement.

  When she finally got the shots she wanted, she squeezed back through the crowd and found Dane.

  “Ready to go to the park?” he asked.

  She nodded excitedly, and together they walked arm in arm to St. James’s Park. The park was beautiful now that the leaves had changed color. The autumn foliage had turned into brilliant shades of vivid red and stunning gold.

  After they walked lazily through the park they made their way to a nearby fish and chip shop, with Allyson settling into a booth and Dane going up front to make their order.

  Finally, he arrived with their orders

  “It’s so warm and cozy here.” She popped a warm fried potato chip into her mouth.

  “Did you enjoy the tour of the city?” Dane asked,
cutting into his fish.

  She nodded excitedly. In addition to seeing Buckingham Palace, they had visited the wax museum and visited Big Ben. It was all very cheesy tourist stuff rather than the fancy things she was still adjusting to, but with the stress of everything she needed to do something fun. Something that took her mind off the fact that later tonight they’d be sneaking around Nicholas Handel’s London apartment.

  Which was easier said than done. Right now, her lawyer was probably on a video conference call with the prosecutor of her embezzlement case. She didn’t like it since there might be a plea deal involved, but she could easily shoot it down. If they got enough evidence to clear her name tonight, they wouldn’t need a plea deal.

  The thoughts going around her head didn’t exactly help to steady her nerves.

  Dane reached across the table to squeeze her hand gently. “Your lawyer knows what he’s doing.”

  “I know that,” she said. “Crane is a great attorney, but I don’t like the idea of a plea deal.”

  He sighed. “Neither do I. Which is why I still want to take the fall for all of this.”

  She groaned inwardly. Her husband still hadn’t let that go. Dane really thought the best way to deal with all this was to admit to something he didn’t do. The only thing worse than everyone thinking she was a thief was Dane going to prison in her place for something he didn’t do. “I’m not discussing this again.”

  “Tough, because we are going to discuss it,” he said. “There’s no way in hell you’re going to talk me out of this. It’s the best plan and you know it.”

  Before she could come up with a retort, her phone rang loudly. She fished into her handbag and retrieved it. Seeing that it was Lester, she quickly answered it. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Mrs. Prescott,” Lester said. “I’ve just wrapped things up with the prosecution.”

  Apprehension made her heart hammer wildly. “Yes? What did they say?”

  “Well, I think it’s good news, though you might not see it that way,” Lester replied. “The prosecution is willing to give you a plea deal. You plead guilty and get three years, instead of risking a trial.”

  She bit her lip. “I see.”

  “Here’s the thing, though—we don’t have long to decide. The plea deal is only on the table for a short amount of time,” he went on.

  “How long do we have?” she asked.

  Her lawyer’s next words filled her with dread. “We have to get back to the States as soon as possible. The plea deal is only on the table for the next four days.”

  Chapter 11

  Her eyes looked haunted. Like she had seen a ghost and heard the worst news of her life all at the same time. He wished he could take her away from all this and head down to the Bahamas. To their villa where they’d gotten married. Where everything had been safe, and perfect. He wanted the light back in her eyes. This was all his fault.

  When Allyson hung up her phone, he asked, “What is it?”

  “That was Lester,” she replied softly.

  He clenched his jaw, bracing himself for the bad news. “Has he finished speaking with the prosecutor?”

  She nodded. “He’s negotiated a plea deal. But I have to decide and get back to the States within four days.”

  “You’re not going to take it,” he said firmly. “We’re going to call Lester back right now and make him pin this on me. We’ll say I put you up to taking the fall, but I changed my mind and have decided to turn myself in.”

  “No. You’re not going to jail for me,” she said.

  Crossing his arms, he narrowed his eyes at his wife. Damn her stubbornness. Damn her unwillingness to listen to reason. “Stop being noble. Put Lester back on the phone.”

  “No.”

  “That’s not a suggestion, Allyson,” he said flatly. “If you won’t call him back, I will.”

  “I’m not letting you sit in prison for three years for something you didn’t do,” she said.

  “Ditto,” he said.

  “I’m the one who’s been accused,” she said. “Not you.”

  “So, you’re taking the deal?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not,” she said. “We’ve been over this. I’m not admitting to something I didn’t do. I’m not going to disgrace my family like this. I refuse to let the world go on thinking I’m this dishonest person.”

  “Better to be free with everyone thinking you’re guilty than to be locked up and everyone thinking you’re innocent,” he said harshly. “Listen to reason. You won’t let me go in your place. You refuse to take a plea deal with a reduced sentence. This insanity has gone on long enough.”

  She inhaled sharply, her eyes shining with tears. “You have no idea what this is like. To have your own mother look at you like she doesn’t know you. I can’t live with that. I won’t.”

  “I beg you,” he ground out, “don’t do this. Don’t force me to go on without you for thirty years. I can’t do that. If you go away, Allyson, you might as well kill me. Because I can’t live without you.”

  Allyson covered her face with her hands, but he could hear her softly sobbing. Her shoulders heaved like the weight of the world was breaking her apart.

  The sight of his wife in so much distress tore at his heart. Filled him with an agony he couldn’t begin to describe. The desperation that gripped him now was driving him so insane he couldn’t breathe. His chest constricted painfully. The thought of losing her. Of watching her go to prison for decades. It was almost like finding out she was dying.

  “Give me tonight,” she said, her voice hitching.

  “What?”

  “Let me look for the evidence at Nicky’s apartment.” She lowered her hands, revealing a wan face streaked with tears. The sight tore at his heart all over again. “Let me try to find evidence that clears my name. Who knows? If I find something good enough, maybe things won’t even have to go to trial. Maybe they’ll drop these charges entirely and get the real thief.”

  “If I give you tonight, will you promise to let me go to prison in your place if you don’t find anything?” he asked.

  She nodded solemnly. “I promise. I’ll let you go ahead with your plan.”

  He slumped back in his chair, relief coursing through him. But the relief suddenly gave way to another worry. Allyson’s promise made tonight even more dangerous than he had anticipated.

  The prospect of him going to jail in her place could make his wife do something reckless and dangerous just to keep him out of jail. Because, as different as they were from each other, they were both alike in one way. There was nothing either of them wouldn’t do to protect the other. And if Dane was willing to give his life to protect his wife, there was no telling what Allyson might to do save him.

  “Just don’t do anything crazy tonight,” he said. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

  “I won’t,” she promised.

  Allyson was always honest with him, so somehow his wife’s word was going to have to be enough.

  ~~*~~

  She hadn’t had jitters about getting dressed since her wedding day. Yet Allyson was a bundle of nerves as slipped into the short blue cocktail dress.

  “You look beautiful,” Dane said behind her. He whistled. “Damn sexy. Maybe we should just stay here.”

  Turning away from the mirror to look at him, she forced a smile. Her husband looked so handsome in the light gray suit he was wearing. He wasn’t wearing a tie, making his formal outfit look less formal and slightly dangerous. “Thank you. You look very handsome.”

  He walked up to her and took her hands in his. “You remember what we discussed?”

  She nodded, remembering the plan they had gone over in the fish and chip shop earlier today. Dane would distract Katherine and Nicholas by suggesting some business venture that they couldn’t resist.

  Meanwhile she would talk business with Rebecca Greene, and then slip away from the conversation long enough to snoop around.

  “Yes, I do,” she breathed.

&nbs
p; Suddenly Dane cupped her face in his hands. His touch made her body tingle all over. What she wouldn’t give to forget about their troubles and spend the rest of the night in bed with her husband. His blue eyes burned into hers, reminding her that she was his.

  Desperate for more contact she leaned forward, grabbed the lapels of his jacket, and pressed her mouth to his. Heat unfurled in her stomach, spreading through her entire body. All she was now was wanton longing.

  His hands slid away from her face and he grasped the nape of her neck possessively. She already had her lipstick on, but she didn’t care. Let him kiss it off. Let him kiss away all the pain and fear and torment.

  He pried open her mouth with his tongue and she took him in, her tongue meeting his. As their tongues collided she clung to him even more tightly, not wanting this moment with the man she loved to ever end. She needed this. Needed him. Needed his touch. His body.

  Better to get lost in the sensation their bodies gave each other than to let him see the truth in her eyes. She had lied to him. Made a promise she had no intention of keeping. If he knew what she was planning, her husband would never forgive her. But at least he would be free.

  Free to live. To work. To find love again if he wanted it. That thought made her pull away abruptly. She couldn’t kiss him with the thought of him moving on to another woman flashing in her head.

  He rested his forehead on hers. “Be careful tonight.”

  “I will.” That was another lie. Tonight, she had no intention of being careful.

  Pulling away from him, she turned her attention back to the mirror. She reapplied her makeup and slipped into her cashmere coat.

  Then, she and Dane stepped out of their suite and met up with Lester, Alfred, and Alfred’s assistant to take the rented luxury car to Nicholas Handel’s apartment.

  Nicholas greeted them at the door and offered to take them on a tour of the luxury apartment. The space was expansive, pristine. There were scores of guests, Prescott’s London staff as well as London’s elite mingling, sipping drinks, and eating oysters. It was all very decadent, a show of Nicky’s power and influence despite the fact that Alfred, Prescott’s founder, and Dane, Prescott’s CEO, were senior to him.