“I guess so. Given the circumstances, I don’t really care how much I like her. I only care about her getting me out of this nightmare.”
“What is she saying?”
“Nothing really,” Sarah answered as she set the two steaming mugs on the table and took the chair opposite Amber. “I’ll talk to her again on Monday.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“I’ll be okay,” she smiled. “I’ll let you know if I change my mind. I tried to call you last night.”
“Yeah, I got your message, but when I called back you didn’t answer. Then Jack called and said you’d been arrested. Was that why you were calling?”
Sarah fidgeted with her mug. “I really just wanted to apologize, you know, for yelling at you. I know you’re just worried about me.”
Amber leaned over the table and squeezed Sarah’s hand.
“It’s not without reason,” Amber said.
“I know you think he’s guilty, Amber, but I honestly believe he had nothing to do with Chad’s death. He isn’t responsible any more than I am.”
“Stay away from him, Sarah,” she warned. “If somebody were to see you two together, it won’t be good for you. Regardless of what you want to believe, the man killed your husband.”
“No, he didn’t,” Sarah argued.
“Why do you insist on believing that shit?”
“I’m not an idiot, Amber, and I know him. I know he isn’t capable of murder.”
Amber sat back in her chair, incredulous. “Are you fucking kidding me? You know him? You know him? Really? What’s he been doing for last eight years?”
“I’m not saying I know everything about him,” Sarah admitted. “But, I know, without a doubt, he isn’t capable of murder.”
“Sarah, I’m your best friend. You aren’t thinking clearly right now,” Amber cautioned, her voice filled with exasperation. “You knew this guy for, what? A month? Eight years ago? You don’t know him.” She paused looking down at her hands and her voice softened. “I was talking to a friend of mine in the DA’s office. The evidence against Brett Williams is tremendous. That doesn’t happen when someone is innocent.”
“But,” Sarah interjected. Amber didn’t let her finish her thought.
“But nothing, this guy you know, well he’s been in the Army Rangers for the past eight years. He specializes in killing people, Sarah. And well, the police have him on video. He was seen in surveillance footage following you. A waitress and parking ticket place him at the scene. One of your neighbors even identified him as a man she’d seen parked out on your street a few weeks ago. Seriously, Sarah, stop being so naïve. You know nothing, and I mean nothing about this man. You need to stay the fuck away from him.”
“I think someone’s setting him up.”
Amber’s jaw dropped and she burst into laughter. “Well, there’s a new one. ‘No, officer, it wasn’t me, I swear someone’s setting me up’,” she mocked.
“Please, Amber,” Sarah implored. “Just keep an open mind for a minute, okay?” Amber rolled her eyes. “Please, just trust me on this one,” her voice broke as she repeated the words. “I really need you to trust me on this one.”
“Hey,” her voice was much softer now, as though she regretted her outburst. Sarah knew better. “It’s all going to be okay. Samantha is a great lawyer. You’ll get out of this mess. Just, please, Sarah, for me. Just use some caution, okay?”
“I will,” Sarah promised and then changed the subject. “Hey, I ran into Cole Johnson the other day. He asked about you.”
“So?”
“So, whatever happened with you two?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I seem to remember you mentioning that the two of you were dating, and then all of a sudden you weren’t. What happened?”
“Nothing ‘happened’, I just wasn’t very into him. He’s a little weird, a little too possessive. Why are you really asking?”
“I was just curious.”
“Did he ask you out?”
“No, why would ask that?”
Amber laughed, it was quite a contrast to her serious tone five minutes before. “He’s had a thing for you since high school.”
“No way. We only went out once.”
“I know that,” Amber explained, “And you know that, but I’m not sure Cole ever really got the message. Once, when I was over at his place, I found a note you’d written him in high school tucked into an old yearbook. He swore he didn’t know it was there, but you never know. Anyway, listen, I have to get going,” Amber explained as she rose from her chair. “I have to go home and pack for a quick trip to Chicago and then drive down and check on my dad.”
The name effectively changed the subject. “Oh my God! I’m the worst friend ever. With all my own drama I didn’t even think about all the shit you’ve got going on.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Amber said sincerely. “You’ve got a lot on your mind.”
“How is he?”
“About the same, I guess. His recovery is slow going, but the doctors are optimistic.”
“And how are you getting along?” Sarah inquired, brow raised.
“Same ole, same ole,” Amber smiled. “You know how it is, how it’s always been.”
Sarah frowned and sipped from her mug. She did know. Jackie, Amber’s mother had married Tom right out of high school. Their marriage was great for a couple of years. They had begun trying for a child right away, but Jackie had difficulty conceiving. When they found out she was pregnant with Amber, everything seemed like it was going to be okay. But, Tom couldn’t hide his disappointment with not having a son and after several more years of trying – and countless fertility specialists – things took a turn for the worst.
Jackie struggled with depression and alcoholism and eventually took her own life when Amber was six. Sarah knew Amber blamed Tom for her mother’s death and only lived with him until her eighteenth birthday because she had no choice. A week after graduation, Amber packed her things and moved to St. Louis. She claimed she just wanted to get a head start on college, but Sarah knew there was more to it than that.
Tom sent Amber monthly checks and paid her tuition for St. Louis University, even though the two seldom spoke. Amber reciprocated by making the journey to Farmington for various social functions and, more recently, because of his declining health.
When Amber graduated from SLU Law, she was immediately offered a position as an associate at Layton, Stone and Williams. Everyone knew it was Tom’s doing. Tom had been a partner in the firm prior to his appointment to the bench.
“Well, tell him I said ‘hello’,” Sarah added.
Amber nodded in agreement as she walked toward the door.
-21-
On Monday, Sarah left Samantha’s office and headed toward her house. A quick glance at the clock told her they’d spoken for nearly four hours and Sarah was exhausted from the emotional roller coaster. She had shared with Samantha the list of names that she and Brett had put together as well as their reasons for making the list. While Samantha shared Amber’s concern about Sarah and Brett being seen together, Samantha didn’t lecture her about it like Amber had. Samantha only warned her to be careful.
Samantha had also promised to have her investigator look into the people who had rented out Brett’s place, after Sarah implored her to look into the idea that both she and Brett were being set up. She had also agreed that Kristen might be of some help, but warned Sarah repeatedly that it was a long shot.
In less than an hour, Sarah had her things packed and was headed back through the reporters, slowly making her way through the neighborhood and toward Farmington. With everyone in Florida, she knew the house would give her both the solitude and security she needed. As she turned onto the interstate, she noticed the sky darkening to the South.
She rushed into the house practically dragging her suitcase. If the heavy clouds and high winds were any indication, they were about to get quite the downpour.
She
still felt chilled after she dropped her suitcases on her bed so she lit the fireplace in the living room. She headed back to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine and looked out over toward the tree line.
She hadn’t spoken to Brett since she’d been arrested, as Samantha had warned her that there was little doubt the police could easily get a warrant for their phone records and numerous calls between them would only look bad. This was no small part of her reason for coming to stay at her parents’ house. The path through the woods offered a less traceable way to meet and talk, but with the storm, it would have to wait.
She heard a car door close and looked over to see Shane stepping from his Cadillac.
He pulled his jacket over his head as he raced for the door, but was still drenched by the time he was inside.
“You got anymore wine?” He nodded toward her glass as he shook out his jacket and hung it on the rack.
“Of course,” she answered as she moved to the cabinet. After pouring Shane a glass and refilling her own they moved to the living room.
“I’m supposed to tell you hello for Kristen and to remind you to call her to set up lunch. She’s apparently been trying your cell but kept getting voicemail.”
“I’ve had it turned off,” Sarah explained.
“We figured as much,” he smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. I was worried about you being alone up there.”
“I’m by myself here, too,” she retorted.
“Are you?” He asked and she could see the suspicion in his eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Sarah warned. “There is nothing going on with Brett and me. We’re simply working together to figure out how to keep us both out of jail.”
Shane gave her a look of disbelief but didn’t respond.
“I’m serious,” she asserted.
“Even if there is nothing else going on, do you really think it’s a good idea to be working with him on this?”
“He’s the only other person who can understand what I’m going through, Shane. He’s also being wrongly accused.”
“You’re 100% certain that Brett has nothing to do with this?”
“99.”
“Is that logic or emotion talking?” he wondered.
“It’s logic, Shane. I’m serious about nothing going on between us. What happened was a long time ago and I’m over it.”
“The case against him is pretty solid,” Shane argued. “Maybe it would serve you better to side with the police on this.”
“He didn’t do it, Shane, and I’m not going to help the police convict him of a crime he didn’t commit.”
“I just don’t see how you can be so sure about that.”
“For starters, he had no reason to kill Chad.”
“Is he still in love with you?” The question took Sarah by surprise and she couldn’t cover. “You haven’t even considered that?”
Sarah looked toward the window. How could she not ever have asked herself that? She’s spent all of this time wondering how Brett had felt back then, but she never really considered how he felt now. She remembered the concern on his face when he learned she was going to be arrested. Was that love?
“Oh my God,” Shane read her expression. “Kristen was right. You’re still in love with him.”
“I am not,” she said defiantly.
“Clearly,” he answered in sarcasm, but then softened when he saw her eyes moisten. “Listen, Sarah, I know everything Chad put you through. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“He’s not going to hurt me,” she stressed. “He can’t.”
“He hurt you once before,” he pointed out.
“That was a long time ago. I was in love with him then. I’m not now.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Sarah,” he laughed. “Maybe you’ll eventually convince us all. Whatever happens, I’m only ten minutes away if you need me.”
“Thanks,” she said sincerely. “It does make me feel better to have you closer.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know you, Sarah. I know you have some kind of plan. Let’s hear it.”
“The obvious one, I guess: figure out who is setting us up. Since the gun they found belonged to Brett’s grandfather and had been in storage in his garage this whole time, we put together a list of people who had access. So far it hasn’t been much help.”
“Let me see the list,” he suggested and she pulled the paper from her purse and slid it over. He scanned the page and she could see the wheels turning. “Hmmm, Cole Johnson.”
“What about him?”
“He and Chad had that real estate deal earlier this year. I don’t remember any of the details, but I distinctly recall hearing that Cole was pretty pissed off at Chad when it fell through. I got the impression Cole lost quite a bit of money.”
“I remember Chad saying something about that, but we weren’t really talking much at the time. I apparently should have paid more attention.”
“Speaking of which, a few months ago you told me that you thought Chad was having an affair. Do you still believe that?”
“Yeah.”
“That was awfully quick,” he seemed surprised by both the speed and certainty of her answer.
“It seemed even more so in the weeks before his death. You know, working ridiculous hours, not coming home, that kind of thing. I had even talked to Jack about divorcing him the week before he was killed.”
“Did Chad know that?”
“No,” Sarah’s mind ran ahead. “And speaking of which, the police said that Chad had met with a divorce lawyer. I know that Jack wouldn’t have said anything about our conversation, so there must have been another reason for him to have filed.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Samantha’s supposed to get me a copy of the petition, but I’m not sure what I can learn from that. The police said he cited adultery and fraud as the grounds, which is weird. I wasn’t having an affair and I have no clue what he would have meant by ‘fraud’? Any ideas?”
“I’m not a lawyer, Sarah. Would Amber know?”
“Hmmm,” she thought about it. “She might, but she doesn’t do divorce law so maybe not. I’ll ask her about it when she gets back.”
“Back?”
“She’s in Chicago for work,” Sarah explained.
“Could it have been the girlfriend?” He wondered.
“What do you mean?” She didn’t follow his train of thought.
“The reason he filed.”
“It’s possible, sure, but I don’t know who she is so I can’t exactly ask her. Besides, I’m not 100% positive he was even seeing someone else. There could have been something else going on.”
“Yeah, but in my experience if you’ve got the feeling something isn’t right, it usually isn’t.”
“I know. That’s what I thought, too.”
“Thought? As in the past tense?”
“Well,” she stood up and started pacing. “Now, I just don’t know. Maybe, he just wanted out of the marriage and that was what I was picking up on. You know? I have some papers that need to go back to his firm. I’m going to take them over there tomorrow and see what I can find out.”
“Be careful, Sarah,” Shane warned and stood to give her a hug. “I need to get going. Kristen should be home from the library by now,” he chuckled again, “unless your little research project into the past keeps her late again.”
“Again?”
“Hell, yeah. She’s come home late after every shift, saying she dug up more info from that car accident that killed Brett’s mom.”
“I didn’t know she was even still looking into that,” Sarah admitted.
“Yeah, that’s why she wants me to remind you to call her.” He turned toward the door. “Speaking of which, keep her out of this new little investigation you’ve got going, will you? I’ll never see get to see her.”
She watched Shane run back to his car and start
down the driveway then she picked up the phone to call Kristen. The cordless didn’t have a dial tone so she placed it on the charger and headed for the corded phone on her father’s desk.
“Great! Lines must be down,” she muttered to herself when she couldn’t get a dial tone on that phone either. She was making her way back to the living room when a light rapping at the back door caught her attention.
“I didn’t think he’d ever leave,” Brett announced as she pulled open the door. He peeled off his wet coat as Sarah handed him a hand towel.
“How long have you been out there?”
“Only a few minutes, but that rain is really coming down.”
“How did you even know I was here?”
“I passed you earlier when you were driving into town. I figured you were headed here, but there were too many people camped out as the end of your driveway so I cut over through the woods. Then I saw the car in the driveway and decided I better wait. How you holdin’ up?”
“I’m okay, I guess.”
“I’ve been worried about you. I wanted to call but Cameron…”
“Yeah, Samantha gave me the same warning.” She said as she reached into her bag. “Which is why I wanted to give you this.”
“A phone?”
“Yes, it’s registered to McGuire. We use it as a spare in case someone in the company loses theirs. This way if the police pull my phone records, it will just show work calls.”
“Good thinking. Are you here by yourself?” he asked, looking around for the first time.
“Yes, my parents took the kids to Florida.”
“I don’t like you being here alone.”
“There’s a security system, Brett. I’ll be fine.”
“Sarah, whoever is doing this has already killed one person. I don’t like you being here by yourself. I, uh, could stay on the couch.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“If you don’t let me stay on your couch, I’ll just sit outside your house all night in the rain and worry about you.” She thought of the phone lines being down and considered the possibility that the power might be next. She would definitely feel safer with Brett there.
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