As she got closer, the smile faded from his face and his gut twisted into knots. She had a tissue clutched in her hand and kept dabbing at her eyes and her nose. Her rounded shoulders made her look about two inches shorter and her hair hung on either side of her face, practically hiding it as she kept her gaze pinned to the ground.
Connor jumped from the Lexus and jogged toward her. “Savannah? Babe? What’s wrong? What happened in there?”
Lifting her head, she raised her eyes, flooded with a fresh set of tears to join the ones rolling down her cheeks. “I learned the truth.”
He swallowed and gritted his teeth, bracing for the worst. What could be more terrible than killing a man in self-defense? He dug his shoes into the asphalt. Killing a man in cold blood.
“What is the truth?”
“My own mother killed Manny—and she set me up and made me believe I’d done it.” She emitted an animallike wail and dropped into a crouch at his feet.
A white-hot rage engulfed him like a wave and he staggered back. His hands clenched into fists.
Moaning, Savannah doubled over, wrapping her arms around her waist.
Connor’s breath came out in gusts, and then he knelt beside Savannah and took her in his arms. He stroked the hair back from her hot face, damp with a million tears, and whispered in her ear, “It’s all right. It’s all right. You’re free.”
“F-free?” The word came out muffled against his shoulder. “My own mother. My own mother.”
Connor’s eyes locked with those of a woman heading into the office building, and her gait slowed.
“I’m going to get you in the car. Is that all right?”
Savannah nodded against his chest, and he tucked an arm around her waist and rose to his feet, half dragging her with him. He lowered her to the passenger seat and then lifted her legs inside.
When he was behind the wheel, he reached into the back of the car and plucked a handful of tissues from the box on the seat. “Here you go. You had me so scared.”
She bunched up several and blew her nose. “Why would she do that, Connor?”
“To save her own skin. That shouldn’t surprise you, Savannah. In fact, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself.” He wedged a knuckle beneath her chin. “Georgie has always been about Georgie first...and you second. This doesn’t mean your mother didn’t love you. She did. That was clear to anyone who saw the two of you together. She just didn’t know how to be the best mother. Her needs always came first. She was the same with my father. I know she loved Dad, too, but she loved herself more—always.”
“I have to confront her.” Savannah shredded the used tissues, creating a snowstorm in her lap. “I have to make sure she knows that I know the truth.”
“Of course you do.” He brushed the bits of paper from her lap. “But not now.”
“Oh, my God. The meeting.” She flipped down the visor and studied her puffy eyes and red nose in the mirror.
“Cancel it. Do it another day. You need time to process this.”
“There’s no way I’m going to cancel this meeting.”
“Delay it a few hours. Get yourself together.”
She aimed a grimace at the mirror. “Maybe I should go into the meeting looking like this. People will think I’m really broken up about Niles and figure I never could’ve killed him.”
“Whatever you want, Savannah, but I think you need more time.” He trailed his fingers down her arm. “It’s still early. You can delay the meeting until later this afternoon. You want to go into Snap App looking like a million bucks. You’re the CEO of the damned company now.”
She sniffled and ran her fingers through her hair. Then she gasped, “Do you know what this means?”
“It means you didn’t kill Manny...or anyone else.”
She dug her fingernails into his thigh through the light wool of his slacks. “I didn’t kill Manny, Connor. I mean, I still went along with Mom’s story, which ended your father’s life, but I didn’t pull that trigger. I didn’t black out because I’d murdered someone. I blacked out from the shock of knowing my mother had.”
“My father was an adult, a police officer. He should’ve known better than you or your mother. He made the decision to take the blame and then paid the consequences.”
“He would’ve done anything for Georgie.”
Connor leaned over and kissed Savannah’s damp cheek. “I can’t blame him. That’s the kind of love I can understand.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “It’s all so messed up.”
“It’s not messed up. It’s all straightened out now.” He started the engine. “And we’re going to straighten out this other business, too.”
“Not by going to the police.” She put her hand on his arm. “I told you. I’m not putting you in that situation.”
“We’re getting close to the truth on our own. Maybe we can hand those homicide detectives a done deal, a solved case.”
She gave him a watery smile. “If anyone can do it, you can. I have faith in you, Connor Wells.”
“I wish I’d had faith in you, Savannah.”
“I gave you no reason to and you still had my back.” She squared her shoulders. “I’m going to delay the meeting for two hours, have lunch with you and fix my face.”
“Don’t do anything to that face.” He touched her cheek. “It doesn’t need fixing. Nothing about you needs fixing.”
She snorted, “Now you’re just getting carried away.”
A phone rang in the car and Connor reached for his on the console. “It’s yours.”
“If it’s my mother, you’re going to have to restrain me.” She glanced at the display and her jaw tightened. “Unknown.”
“If it’s your blackmailer, you’re going to have to restrain me.”
She tapped the display and answered. “Hello?”
“Savannah?”
She’d put her phone on speaker, and the man’s voice filled the car.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Brian Donahue.”
She jerked her head toward Connor. “Did you kill Niles?”
“No! And neither did you.”
“Damn straight. Who said I did and where are you?”
“I know what’s going on, and I can fill you in if you meet me tonight.”
“Tell me now, over the phone.”
“Can you be sure your cell isn’t bugged?”
Savannah held the phone in front of her face and studied it, as if seeing it for the first time. “No.”
“Give me another number to use and I’ll text the time and location.”
“Not the same place where I met Letty.”
Donahue made a strangled noise. “You met Letty?”
“You’re trying to tell me you didn’t know about that meeting?”
“Savannah, Letty’s dead.”
“I know that.” Savannah jabbed Connor in the shoulder. “But how do you unless you were there?”
“Where have you been? It’s on the news.”
Savannah gasped, “What do you know about Letty?”
“Nothing. Give me the number and I’ll text you the meeting info.”
Connor held up his phone and tapped it.
Savannah reeled off Connor’s cell number and ended the call. Seconds later a time and location for the meeting came through on Connor’s phone.
Savannah put her hands together as if in prayer, holding her phone between them. “They found Letty.”
“I’m glad they did, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but it makes that photo of me with her body a stick of dynamite now.”
“It always was, but I think it’s just insurance to use in case you get too close to the truth.” He pulled the car into a grocery store parking lot.
“I thought we were getting lunch befo
re the meeting.”
“We are.” He parked the car. “Here. We’ll pick up a few things and head to the beach, have lunch there and relax.”
She plucked at her navy slacks. “Dressed in office clothes? Even you’re dressed up.”
“We’ll be careful.”
She took his hand. “Thanks for putting my mom’s betrayal into perspective for me.”
“You’re not a killer, Savannah—self-defense or otherwise. But I’m not letting you off the hook.”
Her cheeks flushed. “You’re not?”
“You’re going back to see Thomas. You need a professional to help you process this. I’m just a bandage.”
She pressed a kiss against his palm and folded his hand over it. “Best damned bandage I’ve ever had in my life.”
* * *
CONNOR WAS RIGHT—as usual. The lunch, the beach and just being together all helped to set her spinning world back on its axis. But Savannah still felt a hole in her stomach—a hole where her mother’s love should’ve been. But she had work to do and that bandage had to do its job for now.
Later that afternoon, Connor pulled into an executive parking space beneath her building. “Are you sure you want me to go in with you?”
“I’d like to show you the office—what I helped build—even if it is all going to turn to ashes before my eyes.”
“If anyone can repair the damage, you can.”
“With the help of my CFO, Nick. He’s the money guy.” She slid from the car and shook out her jacket before putting it on.
Connor opened the glass door that led from the parking structure to the offices of Snap App.
Kelly, the receptionist, squealed and scooted around the desk. She threw her arms around Savannah. “Welcome back, Savannah. We’re all so happy you’re back in charge...but of course, devastated by Niles’s murder.”
“Of course. It’s been horrible.”
Kelly put a hand to her throat. “Do you think his housekeeper had anything to do with it? She committed suicide.”
“I have no idea. I’ll let the detectives figure things out.” She patted Kelly on the back. “I’m here to figure things out for Snap App.”
She and Connor took the elevator up to the seventh floor. When the doors opened, she said, “My office is up here, but the big conference room is on the first floor. We’ll be having the meeting there, but first I’m going to have my chat with Dee Dee.”
“Nice digs.” Connor turned in a circle, taking in the glass-walled offices with their views of the marina and downtown.
“Savannah.” Nick Fresco emerged from his office, straightening his impeccable tie, and took her hands in his long, bony fingers. “It’s good to see you back. This company needs you.”
“Needs something right now. I just hope I have the right words to say.”
“You will.” He squeezed her hands and then glanced at Connor, his dark eyes jumping to the curls at his hairline.
“This is Connor Wells. Connor, my trusty CFO, Nick Fresco.”
“Nice to meet you, Connor.” As he shook Connor’s hand he stooped slightly, a habit he’d likely developed from being six foot six. “New employee?”
“No, I’m just her chauffeur.”
Savannah poked Connor’s arm.
Connor tilted back his head. “Basketball player?”
“I’ve shot some hoops in my day.”
She tugged on Connor’s sleeve. “Do you want to see my office? I haven’t occupied it for a while, but I kept it intact.”
Dee Dee peered out of another office. “Hey, Savannah. Are we still meeting before the meeting?”
Savannah swallowed and curved her stiff lips into a smile. “Yeah, I was just going to show Connor my office.”
Dee Dee stepped into the corridor and flipped her dark hair over her shoulders. “Oh, this is the famous Connor Wells.”
Savannah introduced them and then showed Connor her corner office.
“I’m impressed.” He wandered to the window with his hands in his pockets and gazed at the view. “Are you going to be working here?”
She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I can do my work anywhere...even on a vineyard.”
His back stiffened and she held her breath. Had she gone too far, too fast?
He turned and smoothed a lock of her hair from her forehead. “Can I look around while you’re with Dee Dee? I’ll show myself out when I’m done and do a little work at that coffeehouse down the block while you finish with your other meetings.”
“Sounds good. I’ll text you when I’m finished for the day...or night, and then we can eat if we have time before that meeting with Brian.”
“We’re still on for later?”
Nick’s voice startled her and she spun around, jerking her hair out of Connor’s fingers. “Yes, we have a lot to go over.”
Nick rapped his knuckles on the door frame. “I’m going to go down to the conference room and make sure everything’s set up for the meeting. Nice to meet you, Connor.”
Connor held up his hand.
As soon as Nick left, Dee Dee took his place at the door. “Ready?”
“I am.” Savannah flicked her fingers toward the door. “Make yourself at home, Connor. I’ll text you when I’m ready to leave, and then I’ll meet you downstairs at my parking space.”
“Good luck.” He shut the door behind him.
Savannah took a deep breath and perched on the edge of a love seat against one wall. “Have a seat, Dee.”
Dee Dee pulled a chair across from Savannah and sank into it. “What a crazy week. You heard about Letty, right?”
“I did.”
“Do you think she killed Niles? Was blackmailing him or something and then took her own life?”
“I don’t know. That doesn’t sound like Letty, but then I guess you never know about people, do you?”
Dee Dee cocked her head. “I guess not.”
“Dee—” Savannah pulled a folder from her briefcase “—can you tell me why Niles made a lump sum payment to you that he was trying to hide?”
Dee Dee’s face dropped and she clutched the arms of the chair. “What do you mean?”
Savannah whipped out the sheet of paper. “It’s here in black and white, Dee Dee. What happened?”
“Are you going to tell the cops?” She pressed her hand against her heart. “I swear I didn’t have anything to do with Niles’s murder.”
“What’s the payment for?”
“Sexual harassment.”
Savannah’s mouth dropped open. “Niles harassed you?”
“We had a brief affair, Savannah.” Dee Dee dropped her head.
“While he was still married to me?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“It was consensual and mutual?”
“Aside from Niles being my boss, it was. I am sorry.”
“And then you threatened to sue him?”
“He was so arrogant, Savannah. You know that.”
“But he took money from the company to pay you. Did you know that?” Savannah smacked the file on her knee. “You should’ve just sued him for sexual harassment and settled with the insurance company.”
“I—I didn’t want my husband to find out. It would’ve killed Victor.”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t tell those homicide detectives.”
“I protected you, Savannah.” Dee Dee pushed up from the chair. “We all did. You don’t think you’re their prime suspect? You are. We could all tell that, and we tried our best to steer them away from you.”
“I didn’t do it.” Savannah shouted the words, with more confidence than ever. She hadn’t killed Manny. Someone had drugged her the night of Niles’s murder. She was no killer.
“Neither did I.” Dee Dee lean
ed against the window. “I was home with Victor. The police already checked my alibi.”
“Mine, too.”
“Then neither of us has anything to worry about.”
She wouldn’t go that far.
Dee Dee turned, clutching her hands in front of her. “And you have no reason to tell the police about my agreement with Niles, right? It has nothing to do with anything.”
“I wouldn’t say that, Dee Dee. As I mentioned before, you never really know anyone, do you? You’re fired.”
“Savannah. Is it because of the affair? It didn’t mean anything, and you were so over Niles by then.” She tipped her head toward the window, where Connor had appeared. “Because of him, right?”
Connor raised a pen and pointed toward the exit.
Nodding, Savannah waved at him. Then she turned back to Dee Dee. “It’s about trust, Dee. I’m sick of being betrayed by people I thought I could trust.” Savannah stood up and brushed off her slacks. “The good news? You don’t have to go to the meeting.”
Savannah walked out of her office and looked around the empty floor. Everyone must be at the meeting...waiting for her. Time for her to start acting like a CEO, and she’d just taken her first step.
When she walked into the conference room, it erupted in applause and then everyone stood up. Savannah crossed her hands over her chest. Maybe you never really knew anyone, but this felt good.
Nick ushered her to the front of the room with a grin. “Snap App’s founder and our new CEO, Savannah Martell.”
The applause swelled again, and Savannah strode to the podium to take her place in front of her employees.
For the next hour, she stuck to her script. She praised Niles, although the words stuck in her throat, and she put forth a plan going forward. She didn’t mention the funny business with the accounting, but she planned to address it with Nick.
The meeting seemed to fly by, but by the time she finished it was past quitting time for everyone, and then it got even later as half the company approached her to say hello, shake hands and even drop a few weird hints about Niles.
Finally, the room cleared, until she faced Nick, alone.
“Whew.” She dropped into the nearest chair. “How’d I do?”
Her Alibi Page 18