Her Dark Lies

by J. T. Ellison

  “Mr. Compton, oh my God, I’m so glad I caught you.” Cay Evans, the firm’s chief legal counsel, sounds breathless, and Jack stops his pacing to listen. He’s never heard Cay so rattled before.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Flair is about to drop an article online. It’s a damning piece, claiming that Jackson killed Morgan Fraser and the family covered it up.”

  “Fuck,” Jack says under his breath.

  “Sir, they want a comment and they claim they’re going live with the piece in five minutes. I told them you are in Italy and they have to give us the appropriate amount of time to respond, but they’re insisting. Apparently, they’ve been working on the piece for several weeks, and they claim they have a quote of denial from the family.”

  “I am going to kill that girl,” Brice growls just as Ana says, “What’s the quote?”

  “Hold on, I have it here. ‘When asked about the series of deaths on Isla Isola, the Compton family home, Brice Compton dismissed the claims out of hand. Quote: “The idea that my family was involved in any deaths, much less covered them up, is preposterous.” End quote.’”

  Ana and Brice shoot knowing glances at one another. First rule of crisis management—don’t talk to the press. The quote is a fake.

  “Who is the byline?” Jack asks.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Brice says. “We know exactly where that quote came from. Harper Hunter. Because she asked us about it an hour ago.”

  Jack drops into a chair. “What the hell is happening?”

  Brice holds up a calming hand. “Cay, you have to get it stopped. I don’t care what you have to do. Threaten them with everything we’ve got. We’re being set up. Claire, and Hunter, were approached by a woman calling herself Ami Eister. She’s an imposter, and I believe behind all this nonsense.”

  “Sir, I don’t know that it matters. They’re running it with or without the comment. I’m sorry. If I’d had any idea... I was blindsided. We all were. It’s horribly unethical of them not to give us time to craft an appropriate response. I’ve told them we’ll take immediate action if they don’t drop the story, but they don’t seem to care.”

  “They think they have the better angle. Regardless of the publication, word gets out and we’ll be tried in the court of public opinion. That’s the game here.”

  “Cay? It’s Ana. You tell them Ami Eister impersonated an editor at Flair to gain access to our family and drum up spurious charges against us. We will sue them into oblivion if they don’t drop this inquiry immediately.”

  “Ma’am, they claim they’re passing the information along to the feds. If there’s any whisper of truth to this, the FBI could get involved.”

  Jack can hear exactly what Cay is really saying. If you did this, I’m not going to jail for lying for you.

  “If law enforcement wants to get involved, we will be happy to cooperate.” Brice says. “Whoever this Ami Eister woman is, she’s trying to blackmail us into action on something that is patently false. It was a mistake, that’s all. A huge misunderstanding. Handle it. Fix this, right now. That’s what I pay you for. Get the story pulled. If they insist on running it, slap an injunction on them immediately. And you get me in touch with Florio Cedar. He owns Flair. If his people balk in the slightest, I’ll pull the plug from higher up.”

  Jack casts a glance at his father, pacing, roaring in frustration, and knows this is a mistake. In the face of such a massive breach, putting their kind of pressure on someone they’ve been spying on isn’t a good idea.

  Cay’s voice is sharp. “Yes, sir. I’ll...do what I can.”

  * * *

  While Brice gets on the phone with the owner of the magazine to ensure the story is spiked, Jack listens to Ana’s description of the interview with Harper with incredulity.

  “She got an anonymous tip, an email, suggesting there have been deaths on the island. I’ll give her some credit, she did her research, put together a whole story that is as unlikely as it is salacious. When we set up the Flair piece, it was all legit, and then Harper was approached by an ‘editor’—” his mother makes little quotes in the air “—by the name Ami Eister.”

  “Ami Eister, again. Who the hell is this woman?”

  “I don’t know, Jackson, but she—or the people she works for—is clearly out to get us.”

  “I want to talk to Harper. I want to hear this for myself. I want to be sure she’s not the one behind this. She and Claire have a long history. They haven’t always gotten along.”

  Ana shakes her head. “Harper is busy. She’s talking to Karmen, detailing everything that’s happened, all the contact she’s had. She’s being very cooperative. Once she understood the situation...that she’d been duped... No, she’s not behind the plot, I’m certain of it. She’s being used.”

  “Yet someone went ahead with this story, and the damn media has it now.”

  “Cay will shut it down. Don’t worry. This is bigger than Harper. Bigger than Claire, too. They’re pawns. Karmen found the imposter on a traffic cam, and is running facial recognition. We’ll know the identity of this woman soon. Once we know who she is, we’ll go from there.”

  Jack watches the waves crashing against the rocks below the cliff. Relentless, again, and again, and again. They’re missing something. They are all missing something.

  “We need legal protection here,” he says finally. “Counsel. With Henna’s death, with this imposter playing with Claire and Harper, these allegations can get blown out of proportion. We can’t—”

  “I think we need to pull the plug on the wedding,” Elliot interrupts, striding into the room. “This is just out of control. These texts, the threats, and now Henna’s dead? Mother. Please.”

  “How dare you? This is my wedding. It’s my call.”

  Ana holds up a hand to stop their argument.

  “Perhaps he’s right, Jackson. Claire seems to be the center of the storm, and the catalyst here. It’s only prudent for us to question the situation. Do you want to marry her, Jack? With all that’s happening, are you certain this is the right course of action?”

  The thought of bailing on Claire, on his life, his happiness, is impossible. “Yes, I’m sure. I love her, and I want her protected. But we’re under attack. We’ve already had one death in the family, and threats that will take all our efforts to combat. An imposter is using Claire and Harper to take us down. I won’t fight if you feel we should cancel. The family comes first. Always. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

  “So you think,” Elliot mutters, but Ana nods once. Jack has said the right thing. The decision is made. The marriage will go on, come hell or high water. And maybe even then.

  “If you’re set on this course, I suggest we consolidate. Let’s leave off the rehearsal and jump straight to the ceremony. We were scheduled to be on The Hebrides for the rehearsal dinner, we’ll simply make that the wedding reception. We’ll stay there, and the moment the weather clears, we sail. It’s a controlled environment. We will see every person who walks on board. That way, we can keep everyone safe until this Ami Eister character is unmasked. And we can decide how to approach Harper Hunter’s egregious breach of trust. I already have an idea.”

  Not to mention being on The Hebrides in international waters will put the family out of reach of the FBI, just in case Brice can’t apply the appropriate pressure and they come calling. God, his mother is a force to be reckoned with. Ana always was five steps ahead of everyone else in the room.

  “Agreed. It has to be someone close, Mom,” Jack says quietly. “It has to be someone here.”

  “Perhaps. But we’re on alert now. No one will be able to take advantage.”

  If you’re set on this course. If anything, he is more set than ever. Marriage will provide Claire with a significant amount of protection, both financially and otherwise. Someone is after him, and he wants her completely pr
otected. Especially if whoever is targeting the family succeeds in taking him out. Though she’s already signed the NDA, until the marriage license is signed and witnessed, she won’t get anything. Not that he thinks he’s about to die. But still...

  “Should we really wait? Should we not focus on getting the family off the island? Claire and Jack can get married on the mainland, we don’t have to do it today,” Elliot says.

  Thunder answers his query. Their gazes move to the windows, to the billowing clouds, another storm surging over the mainland and headed their way.

  “We do it today,” Jack says, brooking no argument.

  “I agree,” Ana says. “There’s no reason not to do it now. I don’t think The Hebrides can handle the channel crossing in these storms. Besides, we have safety in numbers, right? No sense panicking our guests, but we can up our local security. Tie the cameras into the generators. Shift house personnel to security.”

  “Henna wasn’t safe,” Elliot snaps. “You’re risking everyone’s lives to satisfy his whim.”

  Ana flinches again but stays stoic. “You’re out of line, Elliot. We’re clear about the danger now. We can keep everyone safe, and we can fix this.”

  “We’d better,” Elliot says.

  Ana ignores the crack, stays focused on Jack. “You let Claire know. She’ll need time to get ready. I’ll handle everything else.” She touches Jack’s cheek. “We’ll get through this together, Jackson. Let’s get you married, and we can work from there.”

  Elliot huffs, peels off from the conversation. Jack can hear him inside with Brice, still arguing. But Brice won’t give way. When Ana makes a decision, it is sacrosanct.

  “Do you need to go help Dad?”

  “I do. But first, I need to tell you something. Come with me.”

  He follows her into the suite, into her bedroom. She closes the door behind them.

  “What do you have to tell me?”

  “I’m afraid I wasn’t entirely honest with you, Jackson. I’ll beg your forgiveness now, though I don’t know if you’ll be able to...” She takes a deep breath.

  “The body they found yesterday was not Morgan’s after all.”

  51

  The Plot’s Afoot

  Jack shakes his head, ready to throttle his mother. “What are you talking about, the body isn’t Morgan’s? You said it was her. You said the bones in her hands confirmed it. How could you make a mistake that big? What have you learned?”

  “I didn’t... Oh, Jackson, I was trying to protect you. I wanted you to have some peace of mind. I wanted you to be able to face the future with a clear heart and clear mind.”

  “She’s not been found?”

  “No.”

  Jack doesn’t think he’s ever heard a “no” in his life that resonates so deeply.

  “I can’t believe this. You lied to me? About finding my wife’s body? I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

  She reaches for him, trying to draw him in for a hug, but he whirls away. “No. You don’t get to comfort me right now. What were you thinking?”

  “It was a mistake. A terrible misunderstanding.”

  “I can’t believe you.”

  He goes to the window, watches the rain lash the panes. Normally it would be soothing, knowing he is safe inside against the elements, but now, all he can think of is that night, how the rain pounded down on his skin until he was convinced he would never feel dry and warm again. Of her scream as she went over the ledge. How she shrieked his name, the sound fading as she fell to her death. That cry would echo in his brain through eternity, sending chills through his body whenever he allowed his mind to touch upon the memory.

  “Jack, I am so, so sorry.”

  “If it wasn’t Morgan’s body, then who the hell was it?”

  “We don’t know. Not for sure, anyway.”

  “Who do you suspect?” Jack spits out the words. This isn’t happening.

  Ana lights another cigarette. Jack wants to slap it from her mouth.

  “If pressed, I suspect it actually is Elevana, but without DNA or dental, there’s no way to know for sure.”

  “And if it’s not? How many young women will we dig up? How many more will wash up upon our shores?”

  “I don’t know the answer to that, Jackson. But if you want to protect your Claire, I suggest we stop arguing and move forward. I will get in touch with the priest and get the staff moving. Tell Claire. She’ll understand.”

  Jack collapses back against the wall, running a hand through his hair.

  This is insanity.

  And yet...he needs to let Claire know they’re moving up the wedding. Pray that she goes along.

  Jack stalks the halls of the Villa, looking for anything else amiss. He is more comfortable now with the weight of the gun in his hand. Henna was murdered by someone in the house. Possibly someone he’s invited to his wedding. Someone he knows.

  The question is, who?

  Fatima is with Claire, and Fatima can take care of the two of them with no problem. Malcolm is standing guard as well.

  He hesitates at the split, then decides. Might as well rule his grandfather in or out. He walks the quiet hall to his grandfather’s rooms. He stashes the gun in the waistband of his jeans and knocks on the door. Will’s nurse answers.

  “Buon pomeriggio. Signore Compton is napping.”

  “Has he left the room today?”

  “We had breakfast in the kitchens, like normal, and took a walk earlier, with the dogs. Since then, he’s been here with me. We didn’t come to the brunch. Your mother thought it would be best, with so many strangers, that we stick to his routine. You know he was upset yesterday.”

  “Are you sure he’s in his room? You need to go check. It’s very important.”

  “I’m happy to check, Signore, but he—”

  A deep voice comes from inside. “Who are you talking to, Petra?”

  “It is—”

  “Jackson! Good to see you, boy. Come in here and give an old man a hug.”

  Petra opens the door wide and Jack steps in. Will looks calm and rested. And, like last night, completely himself.

  Will grabs Jack and pulls him into a bear hug. His hand brushes the gun at Jack’s waistband, and he grunts. “Hardly need to come here armed, Jacky.”

  “We can let it be our little secret. How are you, Gran?”

  “Fine, fine. A bit bored. This one—” he jerks a thumb toward Petra “—doesn’t let me out of her sight. Ah, the trouble we used to get up to, you and I, eh Jacky? Maybe we can take a stroll through the labyrinth when the storm passes, like old times. You would let me if Jack was escorting me, wouldn’t you, dear?”

  Petra only raises a brow. “I wouldn’t dream of stopping you from taking a walk with your grandson, Signore Compton.”

  “Excellent. Now, when do I get to meet the bride to-be? She looks like a sweet girl in the photos I’ve seen. Much too sweet for a dog like you.” Will laughs and elbows Jack in the ribs, making him grin. This, this is the man he knows, the jokester, the ribald center of attention at every party, the man with the keen eye and even sharper business sense, a man full of life’s experiences and the stories to go with them. He is so very different than the man who punched him. And he doesn’t remember a thing about yesterday’s incident, clearly.

  He sees Petra shake her head slightly and touches two fingers to his sore cheek.

  “The rehearsal dinner is this evening, Gran. You can meet her then.”

  “You should bring her by before, let me get a look at her. I thought I saw her earlier, actually.” Will gets a faraway look in his eyes. “Yes, I’m sure of it. She was walking down the hall toward the staircase. She smiled and said hello but disappeared down the stairs before I could say hello back. You’ll have to teach her not to be so shy, Jack. She’s part of the family now.”r />
  “I will, Gran. Promise. I need to run. I just wanted to check on you, say hello, before things got busy with the wedding.”

  “Ah, don’t go. Have a whisky with me. Let’s toast the end of your bachelorhood, just you and me.”

  “While a whisky sounds delightful, Gran, I shouldn’t. But I’ll stop by later and bring Claire, so you can meet her properly.”

  “All right, all right. I yield.” He hugs Jack close again, then breaks away. “What do you say, Petra, how shall we while away the time? Gin rummy or a film?”

  “Cards sound good, Signore Compton. Let me see your grandson to the door. You shuffle, okay?”

  Will obediently sits at his dining table and pulls the deck of cards toward him.

  Jack stops by the door. “How long has he been this way Petra? Sometimes good, sometimes bad?”

  “It’s gotten worse over the past six months. The more we keep things at an even keel, the better he is. His medication works well, most of the time. I’ll give him some extra this afternoon, so he doesn’t feel unwell tonight. He is getting worse, though, I’m afraid. You saw him yesterday. He is...how do you say it? All over the place.”

  “I’m sorry to hear it.”

  “But this was nice, yes? Like last night, downstairs, he knew you, knew what was going on. He’s been so excited for the wedding.”

  Jack tears up, thinking of his strong grandfather being felled by the insidious disease.

  “You’re sure he was here all afternoon?”

  “Si. Especially after he slipped away from me last night. I stayed right out here. I would have seen him pass by me. I was relieved he slept at all, sometimes the medicine doesn’t knock him out, just makes him drowsy and cranky.”

  “Thank you, Petra. I’ll be back by in a while, try introducing him to Claire again. Keep the door locked, all right? Don’t let him wander alone. If he wants to go for a walk, you go with him.”

  Without asking why, she nods and shuts the door behind him. He hears the deadbolt snap into place and blows out a breath, heading toward the second floor.