by Jill Cooper
Lara was just a girl when she died. Donovan would’ve just been a young boy. It wasn’t possible for Don to know her, but he does.
It seems we all do.
Chapter Fourteen: Lara Crane
Rick barely speaks in the morning as we prepare for Jax to swing by. I dress in a pair of comfortable jeans and a stretchy blue top. It’s the dressiest thing I seem to own. I wash the dishes and Rick busies himself tidying up the apartment to avoid talking.
The tense night before replays in my mind and his angry voice loops like a resounding echo trapped inside a cave. “How could you do this? You’ve thrown away both of our futures! We’re supposed to be married, Lara. Married!”
But he’s not the one who’s a cold-blooded murderer, that all falls on me. Or a version of me I could’ve become and now I’m stuck here for the time being—or maybe forever. The pain and remorse of realizing what I’m capable of under the right set of circumstances leaves me reeling.
Today I have to pull it together. I need to search for an answer, stretch my powers.
Find a way home.
When the knock comes, I turn off the facet and turn to Rick. He stares me down, a stack of magazines in his hand. The knock comes again, more urgent.
“Can we get the door and at least pretend that everything is all right?”
Rick storms over and pulls the door open. “Sorry,” he apologizes to Jax, “things have been hectic this morning.”
“It’s all right, Mr. Miller.” Jax shakes his hand as he steps inside. “I understand things are tense and overwhelming right now.” He puts his briefcase up onto the counter and snaps it open. “Morning, Lara.”
The nonchalant way in which he addresses me isn’t surprising but it throws me. “Morning,” I twist the dish towel in my hand. He glances at me and for a brief moment pushes my short hair to the side. “He bruised your neck in the attack? Are you all right?”
Donovan. Just the mention of what transpired between us, awakens my nerves. It’s like being punched in the stomach.
“I’ll live.” I grimace—what a poor choice of words those were.
“We’ll need to get you to the police station so that can be documented.” Jax pauses and waits for me to agree before continuing. “The police spoke with the lawyer for the James family. Donovan will be arriving at the station for questioning later this afternoon. I’ll escort you both there to make your statements.”
“Statements?” Rick rolls his eyes. “He should be arrested. He broke the door off its hinges and slammed Lara against the wall.”
“I know,” Jax sighs and puts his hand in his pocket. “It’s not fair, I get that, but the way this town works…The James’s have money. They contribute to the police, to the community. His mother was a senator for God sakes.”
“So that’s it then?” Rick snorts and shakes his head. “Lara will be rail roaded and it won’t matter what he does to us?”
“No,” Jax says firmly. “It does matter and I’ll make sure his lawyer understand that if he does this again, he won’t get off so easily.”
“Right,” Rick says dryly and walks away. When he slams the bathroom door, I jump.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “This is hard on him. His brother went to jail and…” I shake my head and let my thoughts trail off.
“Everything okay between you two?” Jax’s eyes narrow as he studies me and it triggers my nerves. It’s like growing up in his house all over again.
“Just stress, like you said when you came in.”
“Shelf it as soon as you can. The more unified we can make you seem as you confront this injustice by the James family, the better. Today when we get to the police station, I need you both to hold hands when you enter.”
Slowly, I nod. “We can pull it off.”
“Good.” Jax glances at my neck one more time. “Wear your hair up. The cameras will love that.”
My eyes widen as I realize what he’s saying. “Did you tip the press off about what happened? Won’t that get you in trouble?”
“Cases are won and lost in the public courts, Lara. The public is just dying to see something about you they can get behind. No one likes the little person being railroaded by the wealthy, powerful family.” Jax picks up his briefcase and heads to the door.
“You really think I can win this?”
“If we play our cards right. Let’s start today.” Jax smiles. “Your attitude already seems a lot better than it has in previous days. I know it’s hard to keep that chip off your shoulder, but good work. I’ll see you this afternoon once you get off work.”
Work? Someone would actually still employ me with the murder charges hanging over my head?
“Right.” Nervously I ask, “and that’d be where, exactly?”
Jax laughs and shakes his briefcase at me. “Incorrigible. You’re still going with that amnesia thing?”
“Amnesia thing?”
“I’ll bite.” Jax sighs but his eyes say he thinks I’m playing with him. “You were unconscious when the police found you. You said you remembered going to see Patricia James but nothing else. Remember now?”
I nod. “Sure, yeah. I’m a real character.”
“The hospital seemed to think so.” Jax bids me farewell and as he leaves, I shut the door and lean against it.
Maybe there’s more to the story. Maybe there’s a way out of this after all that proves something else was going on other than my rage at an injustice system. Time to find out, but first, I knock on the bathroom door.
“Are you ever coming out of there?” I cross my arms.
Rick pulls it open and his face is a cross between angry and contrite. “It was probably pretty immature of me to lock myself in the bathroom.”
At my feet Sparky barks a passionate yes.
It makes Rick smile. “I can’t say I’m happy, but I’ll drive you to work on my way to school.”
“School?”
Rick blinks at my blank stare. “Community college. I’m working on my bachelors. You’ve been supportive of it….in the past.”
“Still am.” I force a smile and pat his arms. “Great job!”
“You are acting so weird. I guess murdering someone—.” He sighs as I gasp and back away from him. “Sorry, I just thought…you were supposed to be better than that, Lara. I was the screw up. I was the mistake, not you.”
With mournful despair, Rick walks away toward the bedroom and leaves me staring at him. I swallow hard. I’ll make it up to him, somehow, to everyone here. If this Lara Crane really did have amnesia, then someone set her up.
And I’ll figure out who did and if it was really me…
Maybe it’s time to finally live with some consequences.
****
Toilets.
I flush the toilet and toss my brush into my cleaning pail. Sitting back on my heels, I pull off the orange rubber gloves and wipe my sweaty brow. Being a cleaning lady to the wealthy wasn’t exactly on my bucket list of jobs to hold but here I was, cleaning a giant home a few streets over from where the James lived. Here I was, scrubbing toliets and corners. Exhausting work, but I was nearly done for the day.
I grab my bucket and put the booties back on my shoes so I can walk through the immaculate hallways toward the grand staircase. The walls are yellow at the top with a white wainscoting to waist level. The chandeliers throw off a prism of colors on the hardwood floors and the framed pictures on the walls.
Downstairs there’s natural light from the many windows and I put my supplies away in the hall closet. Noises of lunch being prepared brings me to the kitchen where the two chefs are busy at work. The tall African American woman turns her nose to me only slightly. “She wants to see you. She’s waiting for you, in her personal study.”
This could be my walking papers.
At the French doors leading into the study, I pause. Wiping sweat off my forehead I fidget with my low bun, to make sure it’s as put together as possible. My hair is so short, pieces around my face and eyes, h
ang free.
“Come inside,” a familiar voice rings out.
Moment of truth, I step forward onto the soft blue area rug in take in another yellow room with white wienscotting. This time, there’s a fireplace and several blue sofas in the center of the room. A bay window overlooking a garden rounds the room out and a patio with yellow umbrellas and wicker furniture.
“You’ve never been this timid before,” Delilah Chase sits in a yellow chair while sipping a delicate cup of tea. Her eyes twinkle at me. “Come sit, Ms. Crane, before I have to come fetch you myself.”
“Delilah,” I gasp in surprise.
Her eyes widen slightly as if I’ve done something wrong and I probably have. “Tea, Lara? Since we’re on a first name basis, it seems.”
“I’m sorry. It just came out.” I perch myself on the edge of the sofa and take the cup of tea when she offers it to me. I blow on it before taking a sip.
“It’s all right. Long time coming.” Delilah folds her hands on her lap. “Stressful times. What happened to your neck, you all right?”
“I’m fine. Never better.” I slide the teacup and its saucer onto the coffee table in front of me.
Delilah watches me like she’s studying me. Maybe she notices there’s something different about me that wasn’t there before. I hope that’s not true as her mouth parts as if she’s going to say something, but when she doesn’t, I rush on.
“If this is about my employment…I understand. You can just tell me.”
“Pardon me?” Delilah asks with an arched eyebrow.
“I’ve been arrested, I’m going on trial. If you don’t want me in your home, I completely—.”
“That’s not it at all. Lara,” Delilah sighs with exasperation. “You were in pain with losing your father, I know how hard things are for you, but you would never have shot Patricia. Not in this lifetime.”
I smile at her word choice.
“I simply asked you in here like I do every Tuesday. So, we can catch up. Rick is still going to classes, I hope?”
I nod that he is.
Delilah smiles with delight. “Excellent! I’m sure this will just be a blip on both your lives. You’re smart and go-getters. I see so much in your future, just as I see in his.”
Her words are so kind, the kindest I’ve heard since entering this timeline. I can’t help the overwhelming feelings mounting in my chest. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing is required other than to live your life. Fight these charges and accusations with all your might, dear. They won’t color my perspective of you which may be exactly what the Jameses want.”
“You don’t trust them?”
“Heavens no,” Delilah laughs. “Once Patricia went into politics, which was after your dear mother’s death…” She sips her tea again. “Let’s just say, she wasn’t the woman I once knew and her son…well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Be careful with that one.”
I pause, my finger tense on my lap as they dig into my knee. She’s not telling me anything I don’t know and my heart sickens with grief.
“Enough about so much unpleasantness. A blip in your life, like I said. Your wedding is coming up soon, and I want to help with a…contribution.” Delilah opens the purse sitting on her lap. She stretches over to hand me a check.
“You really don’t need to…” I unfold the check and gasp in surprise with all the zeros I see. “This is too much. I can’t accept this.”
She holds up her hand when I try to give it back. “It’s a gift. For your wedding and a bonus for your hard work these last few years. I should’ve given it to you sooner, but I wasn’t thinking, caught up with work. I owe you, let’s put it that way.”
“But…Delilah…”
“No, buts. You need it more than me. Look at this place.” Delilah gazes around with a shrug. “I won’t miss the money, so you keep it.”
“What if the courts think I’m running off?”
Delilah waves off my complaint. “Then deposit it later. Give it to Rick.” She sips her tea again.
“Thank you.” I’m reluctant to accept it, but what else can I do? I don’t want to anger her so I fold the check and slip it in my pocket. An instant later, I’m hit with pain as a memory comes at me.
It’s night and I’m crouched behind a dumpster. It’s raining and I bundled up in my rain jacket, I shiver in the cold. Two woman step out of the back door of the Rewind Agency. They’re under an umbrella.
“You make this problem go away,” the voice is unmistakable. It’s Patricia James.
“This problem is yours in the making. If you hadn’t killed the girl’s father…” My stomach sinks and rage bubbles up as I realize it’s Delilah Chase. She was working with Patricia? She knew everything Patricia had done to me and my family?
“You let her get too close. You employ her. Get her to leave me and Rewind alone. Or I’ll make sure I’m not the only one who goes down. You’re in it up to your neck, just as I am. Maybe more now that you’re CEO.” Patricia laughs as she starts away.
Delilah doesn’t move away and I slink backward to hid behind the steel dumpster. Delilah sighs and I feel the rush of anger coming off of her. “Oh, I’ll take care of it all right, senator. I’ll take care of her.”
The memory rushes from me. Slowly the sight of Delilah’s study comes back into view. She wears a worried expression as she pats my hand. “Dear, you’re flushed. What’s wrong?”
I struggle to take a calm, even breath. “I’m fine, just I’m feeling a little stressed.”
“Well, I’m sure that’s perfectly normal, given the circumstances.”
“Given the circumstances,” I echo and rise to my feet. “I should be going. We have an appointment today with my attorney.”
“Of course. I hope things goes your way.” Delilah smiles.
I return it as I head from the study. I glance back at her one last time before leaving. Seems Patricia James wasn’t the only one with secrets. If I’m going to figure out what was going on, I’m going to have to watch my back.
From one of my oldest friends.
Chapter Fifteen: Lara Crane
We sit on either side of Jax as we wait for the police to question us in one of their interrogation rooms. I’ve been to this party way more times than I’m comfortable with, but I stay calm and center myself as the minutes tick by.
“Be calm and answer their questions and this will go in your favor.”
I wish someone who tell that to the nerves fluttering in my belly. I can barely sit still, my leg bouncing up and down, and I seem unable to stop it. Jax lays a hand on my shoulder and gives me a compassionate smile. “Relax, it’ll be all right.”
When the door opens and the police detective walks into the room, I attempt to stand, but Jax keeps light pressure on my shoulder to tell me to stay put.
“Ms. Crane, Mr. Miller.” He gives Jax the once over, “Mr. Montgomery. Sorry if I kept you waiting.”
“We’re used to it,” Rick says, but Jax counters with a gentle, “it’s no problem. We’re just here to make sure our client is safe. As your photographer saw from her injuries, she was attacked in her home.”
The detective nods before pulling the metal chair squeals along the floor. “Seen and documented. We’re sorry for what happened to your client. The police working her detail have been removed and we’ve assigned new officers to her case.”
“I hope they’ll be punished. If they looked the other way because of who Patricia James is, they don’t deserve to be part of the police force, detective.”
The detective chuckles. “You do your job and I’ll do mine, all right? Patricia James made contributions to this police force that went beyond money. There’s a sense of loyalty there that can’t be easily governed away, but regardless, we talked to everyone. There will be no further misunderstandings.”
A funny way to talk about my life. Rick sighs and I raise my eyebrows at the detective. “What about Donovan?”
The
detective glances at me like I shouldn’t have spoken. “He’s been spoken to. He won’t approach you again.”
“Spoken to?” Rick stands up and Jax grabs his wrist tightly, yanking on his arm until he sits back down again.
“He lost his mother, her company is on the brink of closing permanently. He acted…rash.”
“Detective,” Jax says, “I want him arrested. He violated the terms of his restraining order again. You can’t turn a blind eye to his behavior. He broke into their home and if Mr. Miller hadn’t been there…”
“The James family guarantees that Donovan won’t be left alone again until this goes to trial. I have their word. Mr. Miller is lucky Mr. James doesn’t want to press charges against him. If I were you, I’d count my blessings and get out of here before I change my mind.” The detective nods his head at us before he rises up from the table.
I’m dumbfounded, but shouldn’t be surprised. The James have money and power. Here in this timeline, I’m no one. I don’t even matter.
“I should’ve known,” Rick fumes as he shakes his head. “We’re nobodies. He has money, the name, probably the judge in his pocket. Why’d I bother trusting the system at all, huh?” He storms from his seat and takes wide strides toward the door.
“Wait, Rick!” I stand and rush after him.
He holds up his hands. “No offense, Lara, but give me a few minutes, all right? I’m sorry, girl. I thought if we did the right thing, it would work out in our favor. Now I don’t know what to do.”
His dark eyes fill with sadness as he leaves the room and it leaves me feeling despondent and afraid. If Rick is losing hope, what’s left for me?
“He’ll come around,” Jax says and the callousness of his voice jars me. “We have a real chance of beating your murder rap now. Donovan getting off easy with the police without even a slap on the wrist? All of this is going to make you look like the bullied underdog.”
I glare at him. “Well, you don’t have to sound so upbeat about it.”
“It’ll work in our favor. All I care about is getting you off so you can go on and live your life. The idea of that, excites me, as it should you.” His eyes narrow as he lectures me.
