He couldn’t risk her falling and cracking her head on the concrete, could he?
He could see her weigh the possibility of refusing, but finally, she accepted his hand.
Firmly on the ground, she tried to pull her hand back, but Sam didn’t let go. He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her to the front door. Vi had run ahead of them and, without thought of prying eyes, retrieved Allie’s spare key from under the frog tile in the flower bed and handed it to Laney, who hastened to open the door. They all stepped in—save for Meredith, who remained seated in Sam’s car, watching them carefully.
“Thanks for driving, Sam,” Allie said.
Laney quickly echoed it, staying close to her sister’s side, almost protectively. “We can take it from here.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” His arm was still at her waist.
“Of course. I’ll send Laney for Gatorade, and I’ll be back to my old self again in no time.”
He cautiously withdrew his arm. Her legs didn’t buckle—a good sign—and she made her way slowly to the couch. From the sounds of laughter floating down the hallway, the girls were already in Vi’s room.
“Don’t worry, Sam,” Laney said. “I’ll stick around for the rest of the night. She’ll be in good hands.”
He glanced to his car idling in front of the house—he did have a date waiting for him—then turned his gaze back to Allie. “Let me know if I can do anything else. You have my number.”
She and Laney managed to give him looks that said, “Not on your life,” and, “Why are you still here?”
“Sure, Sam. You should get going,” Allie said. “I wouldn’t want to take you away from your date any longer than I have.”
He knew a losing battle when he saw one. He nodded.
Now to finish up his date.
How the hell had he gotten himself into this mess?
Again?
…
“How you holding up?”
“I’m fine. I just overdid it.” Allie appreciated the concern. She did. But she just wanted to get on with her day.
“I meant about…” Laney nodded her head in the direction of where Sam and Meredith were driving away.
Allie forced a laugh. “Why would I care about them? It’s not like I’m even interested in Sam. He was just a jerk I liked in high school. That’s all.”
Laney just smiled, a little sadly. “Sure.”
“Mom, it’s for you,” Vi said running in with Allie’s cell phone. “It’s Grandma Peg.”
Darn. That kid needed to be taught the beauty of letting calls go to voicemail.
“Hello?” she said tentatively, hoping that the call had been disconnected by accident.
“What is this I hear from Vi about you passing out? In the middle of the afternoon? Where’s Laney? I thought you girls were hanging out together?”
“We were. We went to my church’s spring carnival, remember? It was nothing. Probably just the sun.”
“I wouldn’t say it was nothing. Vi tells me that man Sam was there and gave you all a lift home. Really, Allison.” Peg’s voice was shrill. “You should have called me. There is no reason to keep bringing that man into your life. And to have a seizure, right there in front of him and everyone. I hope you were wearing pants, at least. I wouldn’t want to think of giving him and the whole world a view of your lady parts.”
Allie rolled her eyes at Laney who was flipping through a magazine on the couch, a small, satisfied smile on her lips. “First, Sam was already there, and he offered. Second, it wasn’t a seizure. I just felt a little faint. And third, yes, I was wearing pants.” This earned a chortle from Laney. “As for Sam, he just left. With his date.”
“Ah. Good,” Peg said, sounding entirely too satisfied. “Now, are you going to listen to me and call the doctor? At your age, Allie, you have to start taking better care of your health. Is it possible you experienced a hot flash, dear? It’s never too early, you know. I left those vitamins in your cupboard. Try them. They’ve done wonders for me.”
That was a matter of opinion. “Don’t forget,” she said to get Peg off the subject, “Vi’s party will be on Sunday. I’m thinking about three. Have you heard whether your sisters can make it?”
“I imagine so.” Peg paused. “Are you expecting…a lot of people? You know, so I can tell everyone how much to bring?”
“Just the usual group. Our family, Evan and his family, Ryan and Chelsea, my friend Claire and her fiancé. And Molly, of course.” Allie was certain it was Molly’s presence Peg was trying to fish out. “But no one has to bring anything. I’ve got it covered.”
“Hmm. Well, seeing as how this is going to be a family event, you’re not serving alcohol, are you? There’s really no place for that kind of stuff at a little girl’s seventh birthday party—especially not on the Sabbath.”
Oh, Lord. A dry party? No way was that going to happen. Allie would need all the liquor she could consume to get through the day. What she did for her daughter… “Well, I should be going. I need to lie down for a bit,” she said, though she had no intention of sleeping.
“All right, dear. By the way, you’re not inviting that obnoxious author fellow on Sunday, are you?”
Okay, maybe Molly hadn’t been the only object of Peg’s fishing expedition.
“Not a chance,” she assured her. “So rest easy.”
No way. She had definitely learned her lesson.
It had only taken a decade to sink in.
…
The Crimson Press room was swathed in warm morning light, making the first interview of the day on Monday deceptively cozy. As Allie expected, Jeremy arrived promptly. Not entirely unexpectedly, Sam arrived a minute later. He sat down behind a computer, where he’d be able to observe Jeremy from over the top of the monitor as he pretended to prepare for his first class.
“Jackson Williams started teaching at St. Andrew’s a couple of years after I came on,” Jeremy said after she got the camera rolling. Allie hoped he’d relax soon. His shoulders were as stiff and straight as his black pinstriped suit. “I was a student counselor for the upper classmen. He was very well liked by everyone. The students, most of the faculty, and even Mr. Driscoll, the principal at the time, were impressed with his dedication.”
Allie nodded at the mention of Mr. Driscoll. He had been a very intense, religious man who’d never seemed particularly approachable. She glanced surreptitiously behind her to find Sam not even trying to disguise his interest in the interview.
“I suppose Mr. Williams had a way about him that drew people,” Jeremy continued. “He was really good at working the fundraising events for the school, charming the deep pockets, you could say.” Jeremy smiled, but for some reason, she got the impression this was said with more bitterness than appreciation.
“So, he was good at generating enthusiasm in our financial supporters,” she reworded and made a mental note to edit Jeremy’s mention of “deep pockets” out of the video, if they ever hoped to receive another donation.
“Absolutely.” Jeremy nodded. “He had the support of a number of parents on the board. Some actually thought he’d be a good contender for the vice-principal position that opened up. You remember Mr. Borrows? He left at the end of the year for a teaching position in Washington.”
“But you were given the position, if I remember correctly?” she asked.
“I was.” He preened a bit, sliding his hand through the thin hair at the side of his head. “It was a happy coincidence, really, and totally unexpected so early in my educational career. It ended up propelling me, fifteen years later, to my current role as principal here at St. Andrew’s.”
“You mentioned Principal Driscoll had considered him a candidate for vice principal. Was Mr. Williams interested in the role?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.” Jeremy seemed to shut down for a moment. “If I were to guess, I’d say no. An administrative position takes a certain level of… authority. The ability to make tough
choices, to run the risk of unpopular decisions. Mr. Williams liked to please people. He wouldn’t have been able to make those hard choices.”
Allie couldn’t argue that. Mr. Williams truly did care what people thought and would have taken that into consideration. She didn’t agree, however, that this trait meant he couldn’t have been a good or effective administrator. But that was an argument for another day.
“Any other observations or thoughts about Jackson Williams?”
“I was honored to have worked with him for the time he was here. I know he was an inspiration to so many of the kids, such as yourself, Allie. He’d be proud and happy to hear about the work you’re doing to preserve and honor his memory.”
A bunch of fluff, but it could be used. She turned off the camera. “Thanks for doing this, Jeremy. I should have enough to present next Thursday to the planning committee.”
Jeremy’s eyes seemed cool as he gazed at her, despite the smile on his face. “You can be quite determined when you want something. Good luck with your presentation. Be prepared for some objections. You know how Meredith can get.”
Oh, she knew, all right.
On his way out the door, Sam stopped him. “By the way, have the police told you anything about the progress of the investigation?”
Jeremy hesitated, then said, “I understand the gal they have looking at his remains—a forensic anthropologist—has been able to ascertain a high level of toxicity from the hair and bones. A level that indicates he was probably being poisoned. There was some breakdown of the—well, I can’t remember the exact term, but it indicated Mr. Williams had been exposed to arsenic in the months before his death. But oddly, that wasn’t what killed him.”
Wait. Poisoned?
Hearing it stated so bluntly like that, a large lump formed in Allie’s throat, and she blinked back tears. But why? And who…?
She managed to ask, “What did kill him, then?”
His eyes positively glistened with the excitement of being the first to give the news. “He was stabbed. In the heart.”
Involuntarily, her hand flew to her chest. Sam let out a curse.
Jeremy winced dramatically, totally oblivious. “Remind me never to piss off the cafeteria ladies.” He laughed heartily at his own joke. He never could be called Mr. Sensitivity.
Allie’s head was spinning as he left the room, but not from feeling faint. She dropped into a chair in front of the other computer.
“You okay?” Sam’s gaze was on her.
She tried for a smile. “Wow. It just…surprised me. Hearing it like that. So brutal.” She slid the thumb drive from the camera into the computer and uploaded the footage she’d recorded.
Sam took the seat next to her and watched. “Verdict?”
She didn’t have to ask what he meant. “I don’t know… Seems farfetched to think Jeremy would have killed anyone. Especially over a job he was likely to get anyhow. He’s so…by the book. You know?”
Sam lifted a shoulder. “People have killed for less. He had motive, opportunity—and he was married back then. His wife could have driven one of the cars. There’s also the fact that as vice principal, and later principal, Jeremy would have been in a position to ensure the vacant lot remained untouched for as long as possible. You said there were a few people who fought against the initial proposal of building the peace gardens on that land. Was Jeremy one of them?”
“Come to think if it, yes. And he was quite vocal about it. He wanted the money to go toward the roofing fund rather than something he considered so…impractical. But to kill Mr. Williams?” Goosebumps trailed down her arms, and she shuddered.
Up until that moment, she hadn’t fully appreciated what she was trying to do. Not really. And now she was pondering the possibility someone she’d known since she was fourteen, someone who’d later hired her and worked with her for eleven years, could actually have murdered Mr. Williams—stabbed him in the heart and buried his body. And then, years later, nearly killed her trying to destroy evidence of his crime.
And even if it wasn’t Jeremy, it could very well be one of the other people on her list—all of whom were, in one way or another, her friends and coworkers.
It scared the living daylights out of her.
Sam must have realized her sudden fear because, in a move that seemed out of character, he stroked his hand over her arm. It felt warm and strong, just like it had the other day. And so nice.
“You sure you’re all right?” he asked gently.
She nodded and took a steadying breath. “And what about that arsenic? My God, before he was stabbed, someone may have been trying to poison him. Slipping arsenic in his food.”
Sam nodded slowly. “It seems incredible. Of course, it’s possible he could have accidentally exposed himself somehow. You’d be surprised how much arsenic is all around us, in the water we drink, the food, the air. Besides, why slowly poison someone only to stab him to death in the end?”
“Unless…”
He met her gaze. “Unless there were two different killers.”
The lump reappeared in her throat. No. This was too much. Could there have been two people who wanted Jackson Williams dead?
But why?
Was there something about him she was missing? Something big? And ugly…?
She grabbed the mouse and clicked the back button on the computer to scan the icons of all the interviews she’d conducted to date. “I’m close to being finished—at least interviewing people. The next person on the list may not take my request very well. I was hoping, maybe, since you two are so close and all, she might do it as a favor to you.”
Sam dropped his hand, and she resisted the urge to ask him to return it. She glanced up at him. He looked uneasy. “Who did you have in mind?”
“Um. Meredith Sanders?”
His face relaxed. “Why Meredith?”
“She hated Mr. Williams, so I’m not expecting anything useful for the video. But she may know something about his death. Meredith is really good at ferreting out everyone’s dirty little secrets and hearing every whispered rumor here at St. Andrew’s…then and now.”
He leveled a skeptical gaze at Allie. “And why do you think she’d do it for me? Especially since she’ll be gunning to ax this project next week.”
He had to be kidding. Was he really going to make her say it? “Well, I just figured since the two of you are dating again that—”
“Whoa.” He held up his hands, palms out. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Meredith and I went for coffee. Well, coffee that got a little waylaid. But nothing more. We’re not dating.” He paused. “And what’s this bit about dating again? Meredith and I never dated. We may have been at the same parties occasionally in high school, but no more.”
Now it was her turn to look doubtful. “Uh-huh. Rumor had you two doing a lot more than attending a few parties together. If you get my drift.”
His lips parted. “You think I slept with Meredith?” He looked appalled.
“Who didn’t? It was all over school how you two hooked up at this party and—” She halted. He was looking even more horrified. She tried to think back to the source of that rumor. She didn’t have to think too hard. “Meredith told me so.”
“Believe me, Allie. I was no saint back then.” His lips twitched, as if he was remembering something, and she tried not to sigh in exasperation.
“Big shocker.”
He continued like he hadn’t heard her. “But I do know who I did and did not sleep with. I unequivocally did not sleep with Meredith Sanders.”
His eyes didn’t flinch as he met her gaze. Didn’t even blink. They were so light and translucent today, almost…turquoise, like the color of his short-sleeved shirt. Her gaze drifted to the dusting of dark hair on his forearms that—
Focus, girl.
She jetted out a breath. Unfortunately, she believed him.
God. What a sucker she’d been back then. All this time, she’d bought Meredith’s story, hook, line, and sinker
. Why would she lie about something like that? Allie supposed a materialistic girl who hoped to move up the school social ladder could have thought she’d improve her standing by bragging that someone with Sam’s stature—the hot captain of the varsity soccer team—found her desirable. Even at the price of breaking Allie’s heart.
It was ridiculous how buoyant Allie felt knowing the truth.
“Don’t act like it’s the craziest idea I’ve come up with,” she said. “Meredith is tall, slim, beautiful… Exactly the type of woman every man dreams of dating.”
He looked at her incredulously. “I don’t know about all men, but for myself, Meredith is not the type of woman I dream about. I like a woman of more…substance.”
She looked away, heat flushing her cheeks. He wasn’t referring to her. Was he…?
He continued, his voice taking on a teasing tone. “Besides, why were you such an expert on my dating life in high school? We hardly knew each other.”
Was he serious? He really didn’t know?
Surely, Meredith would have said something to him by now. If only to humiliate her. But from the perplexed look on his face as he studied her, she could assume he was being truthful.
“Can’t you guess?” She started to cover her face with a hand and stopped. No. Don’t let him see how much it still plagued her. She placed her fingers on the mouse again and tried to act nonchalant. “I had it bad for you back then. It could hardly have been a secret. The stalking and googly-eyed glances didn’t tip you off?”
His chair creaked as Sam sat back more comfortably, his head tilted to one side as he considered her, a wide smile stretching across his face. “Really? The impervious Ms. Allie McBride had the hots for me back in high school, huh? Interesting.”
She scowled. “Why is that so interesting? It’s pathetic, really. I can’t believe I told you.”
“Not pathetic. Cute.”
“Right. Really adorable, having the nerdy, fat girl stalk you.” She focused on the computer screen, hoping her tone was flippant. But even to her ears, it sounded bitter.
You Again Page 13
