“It’s okay, Kristen,” Sarah saved her from saying the word she so clearly didn’t want to. Her mind was racing, but one thing was certain. “This isn’t your fault.”
“But…”
“But nothing. For starters, I don’t believe Brett had anything to do with Chad’s death.”
“You don’t? But I, I told him where your husband worked. I didn’t know that you guys had a relationship in high school. And Shane said the police have named him as a suspect. They’ve even suspended him from work pending the investigation.”
“That’s all true, Kristen. The police apparently believe Brett and I were having an affair.”
“Are you serious?” Kristen’s expression matched the surprise in her voice.
“It’s what the police believe.” Sarah smiled at her sister-in-law as a realization occurred to her. “Actually, I think you may be able to help him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, what you just said only helps confirm what we’ve been saying. His coming back to the area had nothing to do with me. He came back looking for his father. Kristen, this could help us both.”
Kristen’s relief showed. “Oh, thank God! I thought you were going to be so angry with me.”
Sarah let out a laugh. “For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I just thought….” Her voice trailed off.
“I know. It’s fine. You’ve really helped a lot. If there was any doubt left in my mind before about Brett being innocent in all of this, you’ve just removed that doubt.” She added with all sincerity, “Thank you, Kristen.”
Now it was Kristen’s turn to laugh. “There is certainly no need to thank me. “
“What did you find out?”
“About?”
“About Brett’s father.”
“Oh, well, nothing really. I mean, all I did was pull some old newspaper articles and yearbooks from when Maggie, that’s his mother, was in high school. I didn’t really look into it any further. I just handed over the information he’d requested.”
“Oh,” she sighed. “That’s too bad. I wonder if he’s had any luck.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since all of this happened. It’s funny. He had been coming in a few times a week to read different things I’d pulled. I guess he just doesn’t feel comfortable being around me, with me being your brother’s wife and all.”
“Well, if you find any more information he’d like to have, don’t be afraid to call and let him know.” Seeing the astonishment on Kristen’s face she added, “I mean that, Kristen. If you can help him find his father, I think that would be a good thing.”
Seeing the way Sarah’s eyes lit up when she talked about Brett, Kristen’s look turned suspicious.
“Were you?”
“Was I what?”
“Having an affair with him? I mean, I know you and Chad were having problems and, well…”
“Absolutely not! How could you even think that?”
“Honestly? The look on your face just now, well, it looked like that of a woman in love.”
“Kristen,” Sarah’s voice grew stern. “It was a long time ago. There isn’t anything between us anymore, regardless of what the police would have everyone believe. There was no affair and I am most certainly NOT in love with him.”
“I believe you, Sarah,” Kristen offered as she drained the last of her coffee and stood. “I ought to be heading back. I have to work this afternoon. Thanks, again. I feel so much better.”
Sarah smiled in response as she rose from her chair and led Kristen back to the front door.
“Really, it’s nothing to worry about.” She gave her a quick hug and Kristen promised to call Brett if she found any more information about his father.
Sarah headed back to the kitchen and started sorting through the mail on her counter. She thought about her conversation with Kristen a little more.
He didn’t come back here for you, Sarah. She felt a bit of sadness at the realization but also felt joy in the thought that this really could be of benefit to his case. Kristen could help end their theories about his motives for coming back to town and the police can concentrate on finding out who really killed Chad.
A knock on the French doors caused her to whip around in surprise.
“Speak of the devil,” she said as she pulled open the door. “You have more accusations to sling?”
“I wasn’t sure you’d open the door,” Brett explained. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked contrite. “I came to apologize for last night.”
“Well,” she said with a wave of her hand, “let’s hear it.”
“What?” He looked up in astonishment
“This apology,” She explained then laughed as realization hit. “Oh, was that it? Typical man, can’t even speak the words.”
Brett looked up at the ceiling.
“I’m sorry for what I said. I had a few too many at the bar and was just lashing out.” He quickly looked down at the floor but she’d already seen the regret in his eyes. “With everything that’s happened, I guess I just needed to lash out at someone. It shouldn’t have been you.
“You want a cup of coffee?” She asked, purposefully not responding to his apology.
He looked up in amazement and his mouth twisted up into his semi-smile.
“That’d be great, darlin’, thanks.”
Sarah poured him a mug and thought better of topping off her own. She set his on the table and motioned toward the chair in an invitation for him to sit down. She pulled out the opposite chair and sat, taking a sip of her cooling coffee.
Brett moved tentatively toward the chair and looked at Sarah in confusion before sitting down and reaching for his mug.
“I didn’t set you up,” she declared, breaking the silence.
“I know,” he asserted. “I didn’t kill him.”
“I know,” she echoed his assertive tone, before softening. “You just missed Kristen.”
His head looked up in surprise and he took a sip of coffee rather than answering.
“She told me about your research and about you looking for your father.”
“Oh,” he sighed.
“Have you told the police that?”
“Told them what?”
“That Kristen was helping you look for your father.”
“Why would I?”
“Because,” she explained, “it kind of throws a wrench into their ‘you only came back to town because of me’ theory. Don’t you think?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it,” he admitted.
“Well,” she ordered. “You need to think about it. Let your lawyer know. Wait, do you have a lawyer?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Cameron Corbin.”
“He’s one of the best defense lawyers in the state,” she couldn’t hide her surprise. “Last I heard he collected a hundred grand just for his retainer. The army must be paying pretty well these days.”
“A friend of mine hired him for me.”
“That’s some friend,” her astonishment grew as the conversation progressed. “Anyone I know?”
“No. He’s the father of a guy I was in the Army with who got hurt in Afghanistan.”
“Oh my God. What happened?”
“His Humvee got hit by an IED. I pulled him out of the vehicle.”
“Wow” She took a sip of her coffee to hide her speechlessness. “That’s, uh, impressive.”
“Just part of the job,” he minimized.
“Brett,” she spoke softly. “Don’t play it down. That was a very brave thing to do. You could have been hurt.”
“I was,” he replied sadly. “I took some shrapnel in my back. It’s why they discharged me a year early. Medical release.”
“Are you okay, now?” She asked with sincere concern.
“I’m fine, darlin’,” It was nothing compared to Nick’s injuries.”
“Is he okay now?”
“Yeah. He went through year of recovery,
but he’s pretty much back to normal.”
“And to show his gratitude, his father hired you a lawyer?”
“Well, it was more than that,” he explained. “When George came to the hospital to pick up Nick, he stopped by my room to thank me. He asked where I’d be heading since being released from active duty. When I told him I wasn’t sure, he insisted I go with them to Dallas. I spent a year with them, first on my own recovery and then helping Nick with his.”
Clarity found her. “And that’s why you decided to find your father?”
He took a drink of his coffee and thought about her question.
“Yeah, I guess it was.” His face had a softness, a wistfulness Sarah had never seen on him before. It melted her heart.
“I,” he continued, “I guess being with them, being part of their family made me realize that I wanted that, too.”
His eyes found hers and seemed to peer right into her soul. She once again wondered if his father was the only reason he came back. Sarah had to pull her eyes away.
“I uh, I need to use the restroom,” she stammered as she rose from her chair. “I’ll be right back.”
She hurried down the hall and turned into the powder room, closing the door behind her. As she moved to the sink and stared at her reflection, her mind raced. He’d looked so different sitting there talking about wanting a family. Her thoughts jumped back and forth between the present and the past. She thought of how much she had once wanted to be with him. How much she had loved him back then. Then she thought that maybe Kristen had been right. Maybe, she was still in love with him.
Her emotions were still all over the place and she wasn’t thinking rationally. Ever since Chad’s death, she didn’t know how to act, how she was supposed to feel. She forced herself to appear to be okay, to show everyone that she was a strong woman who would overcome this difficult time. She fought hard not to lean on anyone else. She didn’t want to show that weakness.
But with Brett sitting across from her, looking so vulnerable, she felt her own vulnerability rise up and all she could think about was his arms wrapped around her.
She took another deep breath, tried to put her emotions back in check and reached for the door. As she pulled the door open, she was surprised to see Brett leaning against the wall across from the door.
“I need to get going,” he explained. “I have an appointment with my lawyer.”
“Don’t forget to tell him about working with Kristen,” she advised, tamping her emotions back down.
“I will, but I still don’t see how much good that would do.”
“Like I said before, she can give the police an alternative reason for your return to town.”
“Okay,” he agreed and their eyes held for a moment before he turned toward the door.
“Wait, Brett, listen to me. I don’t know what’s going on, how you got mixed up in this mess, and I don’t believe you had anything to do with Chad’s death. But, you shouldn’t have come here. The police are saying that we are in this thing together so if someone saw you here, they would just use it against us both.”
Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the front door swinging open.
-18-
“What’s going on here?” Amber demanded as she closed the door behind her and walked through the foyer into the living room where Sarah and Brett were standing in shock.
“Hey Amber! What are you doing here?” Sarah recovered quickly.
Amber looked pointedly at Sarah and then turned her head to give Brett the same look.
“I had to drive up to file a motion at the courthouse and thought I’d stop by.” Her tone was a mix of curiosity and admonishment. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
“I was just leaving,” Brett announced and turned to Sarah. “I’ll follow up with my lawyer like you suggested and I’ll let you know what he says.” He headed back toward the kitchen.
Amber went on the offense the second they heard the French doors close.
“What the hell was he doing here?” She demanded.
“What is your problem?” Sarah questioned. “We were talking about his case.”
“What does his case have to do with you?”
“Pretty much everything,” her voice held firm. “He’s the prime suspect in Chad’s murder because the police think we were having an affair. It’s only a matter of time before I become a suspect in this little conspiracy theory as well.”
“Yes,” Amber agreed. “That’s why having him at your house is borderline insanity. What if I had been someone else?”
“Look, Amber,” she defended. “I didn’t invite him over here. He just showed up. There were a few things I needed to talk with him about, so I did. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Sarah,” she lectured. “It IS a big deal. This is your life, your future. It’s your daughter’s future. You can’t take risks like this.”
“Why can’t I?” She argued. “I’ve always been the level-headed rule-follower. I’ve never taken risks and look where that’s gotten me.”
Amber stared at Sarah before rolling her eyes and moving toward the kitchen. “Jesus Christ,” she muttered. “I need a drink.”
Sarah went after her best friend and entered the kitchen as Amber was pulling open the fridge. “It’s 11:00 AM.”
“Yeah well,” Amber replied, twisting off the top of a bottle of Bud Light. “It’s noon somewhere.”
Amber headed toward the table and fell into the chair Brett had previously occupied.
“What was your suggestion?” Amber asked.
“What?”
“Brett said he’d call his lawyer like you suggested. What was he talking about?”
“Oh, that,” Sarah replied without hesitation. “He apparently came back to town to try to find out who his father is. I told him he should tell the police since they are going under the assumption that I was his sole purpose in returning to the area.”
Amber rolled her eyes again and groaned.
“Sarah, are you buying into his shit again?”
“What do you mean?
“What do I mean?” Amber broke out laughing then glared at Sarah. “Are. You. Buying. His. Shit. Again?”
“Amber…”
“Don’t ‘Amber’ me, Sarah. Don’t be an idiot. This man broke your heart. He left town without a word to you. Then he came back to town years later and murdered your husband, and still you are defending him? You are making recommendations for his defense? Are you fucking crazy?”
“Stop it, alright?” Sarah yelled. “Brett didn’t kill Chad. I know he didn’t.”
“You know? You know? Really, how, Sarah? How do you know he didn’t do it? Because he told you?”
“For starters, why would he?”
“Who knows, Sarah? It could be for any number of reasons. Why does anybody do anything? Maybe he still had a thing for you. Maybe he was jealous of Chad. Maybe he hated you and wanted to hurt you. Who the hell knows and, quite frankly, who cares? He killed your husband!”
“And how do you know that, Amber?” She mimicked Amber’s tone. “Because the police said so? What, now the police never get it wrong? They have zero evidence against him other than some stupid surveillance tapes from a hotel where I happened to be staying. Oh wait,” she mocked, “I forgot they have that key piece of evidence that is just too damning to overlook. He got a fucking parking ticket two blocks away. Well, hell, lock him up now. Who even needs a trial?”
“They found the gun, Sarah,” Amber announced, ending her tirade.
“What?” She sat back stunned.
“They found the gun that shot Chad,” She repeated. “Last night. It was apparently some kind of an antique that belonged to Brett’s grandfather.”
“What? That can’t be…”
“It’s true, Sarah. An arrest warrant was issued this morning. That’s the real reason I came over here today. I wanted you to hear it from me rather than on the news.”
Sarah got up and pace
d the kitchen floor.
“There must be some kind of mistake,” She muttered.
“Dammit, Sarah,” Amber rose and moved toward Sarah. She took her best friend by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “There’s no mistake. That bastard killed Chad.”
Sarah looked up at Amber as tears tipped over her eyelids and ran down her cheeks.
“Oh Christ,” Amber muttered and turned away. “You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”
“What? Why does everyone keep asking me that? I’m not in love with him!” The denial rang false and they both heard it.
“Wow! Sarah,” Amber said solemnly. “You really are an idiot. Did you sleep with him, too?”
“No, of course not,” Sarah answered and Amber saw the confusion written all over Sarah’s face.
Amber pulled another beer out of the fridge and handed it to her. She gratefully took a swallow as she fell back into her chair.
“God, I don’t know what is going on with me,” she murmured. “I really am an idiot.”
“No you’re not,” Amber offered as she plopped down next to her. “But he’s apparently a master manipulator. What the hell happened?”
“I don’t know. Not really.” She sighed. “I’ve been such a mess and I ran into him at the river by my parents’ house the other day. I was really mean to him and then he showed up here accusing me of being the one who set him up.”
“I can see how that would make you fall in love.” Amber’s sarcasm only made Sarah feel worse.
“No, I don’t know. That was last night. He was drunk and slinging accusations at me. Then, this morning, Kristen came over and told me about helping him find his father. I felt so bad for him, looking for his dad and then getting accused of this. He came to apologize and… well… he seemed so vulnerable, you know?”
“He’s playing you, Sarah, just like before.” Amber announced, but her eyes were sympathetic.
“I can see that now,” Sarah cried. “But when I’m in the same room with him, my emotions just go all over the place. Besides, why would he do this? I mean, why kill Chad?”
Killer Desires Page 12