“What else did he say?” Bruce swirled his chair around and shoved it back under the table.
“He has a new assignment for you.” Sebastian held out his hand and clamped it around his partner’s. “Hopefully, we can work together again.”
“You got it. Just let me know, and we’ll make it happen.” Bruce offered Lily a little nod and walked to the back door. “See you around.”
He disappeared outside.
Still feeling unsteady by what she’d seen at the cabin, she turned her attention back to Sebastian. “You don’t really believe Devin killed Cain, do you?”
“What I believe doesn’t matter. The police found bullets in Devin’s apartment, which proves he must have a gun stashed somewhere. Seeing as we haven’t found it is disturbing, but again Devin admitted to being a murderer. The case is closed.” He stepped forward and paused at the table as she rose to her feet.
Accepting Devin as a killer had her rethinking her ability to judge people. She’d known him for years and hadn’t known him at all. Fighting the urge to walk straight into Sebastian’s arms and bury her face into his chest, she straightened her shoulders and drew in a deep breath. With the case over, she needed to get things back on track and let him go.
Maybe, if her life wasn’t so fucked up, they might have had a chance. Instead, she had to consider his happiness and allow him to go on without her. “If you’re hungry, there’s pizza in the refrigerator.”
“First, I’d like an explanation for what you and Bruce were talking about.” He clamped a hand over her hip and drew her close. “Because I thought I’d already made it perfectly clear I’m not going anywhere.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. He was just saying this so she wouldn’t fall apart. After all, she’d not handled seeing Devin’s body very well. She’d screamed like a little girl, and he’d had to help her to the car. He probably thought she’d fall apart if he mentioned leaving.
Diverting her thoughts from a confrontation with him, she blurted out the first thing to pop into her head. “I believe Karen killed Cain.”
“What? Wait, didn’t I just tell you the police believe Devin committed both murders?” He stared at her as if she’d lost her mind.
Easing back, she broke free of his grip and walked to the refrigerator. “Yes, but I can’t believe Devin would have fired a gun at me. He had nothing to gain by killing me, but Karen did.”
“What would she get from killing you?” Sebastian stepped to the kitchen counter and eyed the box she set on the granite top.
“Mark’s money. All of it. Remember Zane told us, Mark left the bulk of his assets to Karen and I. But if I wasn’t around, she’d get everything.” She lifted the pizza’s lid and turned the box around for him to take a piece. “She’s also the only person we know who owns a gun.”
“Yes, but we can’t pin this on her without proof.” He folded a slice of pizza in half and bit into the end.
Frustrated by her inability to convince him to look further into Karen’s motives, she paced to the sliding glass door and stared out at the pool. She slowly reviewed every detail of their visit with Karen.
Jenkins had opened the door with a butler’s standard greeting. Yet, a vague sense of familiarity had washed over her. She pictured him in her mind—early thirties, blond hair, glasses, slightly chubby, and a nondescript personality. At the time, she’d simply smiled back at him because Karen had shown up and hustled them off to the back patio. Now, she searched through her memory for a connection to the man. Where had she met him before?
The lab. Mark had hired him to fix a computer problem, something involving their server.
She spun around and stared at Sebastian. “Did you happen to do a background check on Jenkins?”
“Jenkins? You mean the guy who works for Karen?”
“Yes, I think Mark hired him to do some work at the lab.” She walked back across the room and opened the fridge for a bottle of water.
“He wasn’t on the list Cain gave me. But there’s nothing to say I can’t do a background check on him now.” He grabbed for a napkin to wipe his hands. “Do you mind if I use Mark’s computer in the den?”
“Sure.” She studied him, wondering how she’d managed to get through a whole afternoon without seeing him, touching him. Her gaze fell to the counter and her body heated. She wanted to beg for a repeat session of lovemaking in the kitchen.
Tightening her grip on the water bottle, she chose instead to break the habit of wanting him every second of the day. He had a life outside hers. She walked away and only stopped after reaching the doorway to the dining room. “I’m on my way upstairs to take a shower. I’ll check in with you when I’m done.”
Not bothering to glance back at him, she gave a little wave and managed to take a few steps before he closed his hands around her waist.
“Don’t think by distracting me, our earlier conversation is over because it’s not.” He dropped a kiss on the side of her neck. The soft caress melted her heart, and she slumped against him. His warm breath brushed over her ear. “Like it or not, you belong to me. And I plan to never let you forget it.”
“Sebastian.” She moaned and used every ounce of energy she had left inside to move forward. “True or not, we still have a number of obstacles to overcome.”
“Wrong,” he growled but released his grip.
She didn’t bother arguing but walked away without looking back. Sooner or later, he’d come to the realization that being involved with a science geek just wasn’t much fun.
****
Checking every database he had access to, Sebastian slowly tracked down Jenkins’ connection to this case. With a degree in computer science, he had the skills to hack into Cain’s notes, which explained why his best friend had encrypted his files.
Jenkins also had a connection to Karen because his father had, at one time, worked with her father. The two men had worked for the same law firm. Even though Jenkins’ dad hadn’t been a lawyer, he had been a loyal legal assistant for over thirty years. Now, with the man’s health failing and the high cost of medical care, he probably needed additional funds to help pay his expenses.
Had Karen hired Jenkins to do her dirty work?
Sebastian didn’t find any criminal record or anything to indicate the man had ventured outside of the law in his life. He also had a degree, which would allow him a better salary working a full-time job than Karen paid him as her butler. Then why deal with her?
Unless he had plans of scoring a big payoff?
Wanting to talk to Jenkins face to face, Sebastian looked up the man’s current address. Noting the place was located right next to Karen’s house, Sebastian figured Jenkins must be living on her property.
After shutting down Mark’s computer, Sebastian elected to write Lily a short note and leave while she was still in the shower. Otherwise, he’d have to convince her to stay behind.
****
Lily stepped out of the bathroom, expecting to see Sebastian sitting on the bed waiting for her. She’d thought of nothing but their future together since she’d come upstairs to shower.
Although, she had admitted to him and herself she loved him, she couldn’t imagine them making a marriage work. She didn’t have the wife gene required to place his needs above all else. Her research absorbed hours of her time, and when she became involved with her work at the lab, everything else in the world ceased to exist.
He wouldn’t be able to tolerate not being a top priority in her life, even if his boss wanted to know everything about her work. Men didn’t like to share, especially Sebastian with his “you belong to me” attitude.
Still a little amazed by his absence, she walked across the room and noticed a note on her dresser. The strong masculine strokes offered a challenge to read. After several attempts, she realized he’d left on an errand and wouldn’t be back for a few hours. Where he had disappeared to, the note didn’t say.
Wondering if he had uncovered something while resear
ching Jenkins, she dug her clothes out of her dresser and debated what she wanted to do for the next couple of hours. Again, her thoughts returned to Karen. Snippets of the woman’s house plagued Lily. The few rooms they had passed on the way to the back deck held none of the artwork and treasures they once had.
Why? Had she sold them to support herself?
No, she had the money from her father’s trust fund and a large chunk of Mark’s investments. Why wasn’t that enough?
Why kill me?
Greed?
Sitting on the bed, Lily tied her shoes and considered making a return trip to see the woman. What would it take to get her to tell the truth? Lily weighed her options. If Karen didn’t know Devin was dead. Maybe, Lily could insinuate he’d implicated her in Cain’s murder. The more she thought about the idea, the better she liked it.
Walking to the dresser, she turned over Sebastian’s note and wrote one back to him.
Will return soon.
Love you,
Lily
****
Driving past Karen’s driveway, Sebastian found another entrance about half a block down the road and turned onto the gravel path. Unlike the manicured lawn in front of Karen’s mansion, this area had tall weeds and overgrown brush. In some spots, the path narrowed so much that branches scraped the sides of Lily’s car.
Finally reaching a point where the lane opened up, he stared at the two-story building ahead. Two garage doors stood open on the bottom floor with a staircase running up the side, indicating living quarters above.
Coasting to a stop, he caught sight of a man working on Karen’s car inside the garage. Sebastian turned off the engine and stepped outside, the late afternoon heat scorching him with its intensity.
Drawing his jacket forward to hide the gun situated at his side, he walked forward, hoping to catch the man in an agreeable mood. “You Carl Jenkins?”
The man dressed in dirty overalls looked around the hood of the car and smiled. “Yes, how can I help you?”
“I was wondering if you have a few minutes to talk.” Scanning the area, Sebastian didn’t see anyone but paused after stepping through the open garage door. The place looked rather remote. Comparing the man in front of him with the man he’d seen a few days earlier, Sebastian judged Jenkins to be in his early thirties. His dishwater blond hair and thick black-rimmed glasses gave him an air of intelligence. A computer geek, no doubt, and he didn’t appear the violent type, not with his slightly round belly and lethargic movements. Still, Sebastian didn’t want to underestimate the man.
“Sure, what’s up?” Jenkin’s open smile helped ease some of Sebastian’s worries of dealing with a killer.
“I’m Sebastian Berlin.” He walked farther into the garage and noticed the tools spread across the back counter. A coat rack held a white dress shirt and a pair of dress slacks. Did Jenkins have to change clothes before answering Karen’s summons?
“You were at Karen’s house a day or two ago.” Jenkins picked up a rag and wiped at the grease on his hands.
“I was wondering if you know anything about Mark Winslow’s murder.” Sebastian studied the man’s expression.
Jenkins offered a nonchalant shrug. “No. I’m sure you know more about it than I do. You’re part of the security team working for Lily Winslow, aren’t you?”
“Yes. What about Cain Platero? Did you ever have a reason to hack into his computer or review his security files?” Sebastian expected the man to balk at his questions.
“No. I met him once at Mark Winslow’s lab. He asked me a few questions about Mark’s computer system. Wanted to know what had caused the server problems, but other than that, I didn’t know him.” Jenkins threw the dirty rag on the counter and leaned against the side of Karen’s car.
“Do you know anything about his murder? Why someone might have wanted to kill him?”
Jenkins lifted a brow. “No, but if Karen is involved, I’d like to know more.”
“Why?”
The man ran the back of his hand over his sweaty brow. “Karen is the sole heir to her father’s fortune. He named my father as the backup recipient if she fails to stay out of trouble. The problem is, she can’t live within her means. Never could.”
“And how’s that your problem?”
“It’s not really, except her father made one stipulation in the trust fund, which allows her access to additional funds. She can share some of the money to help my father should he need it. The problem is, she demands I be her slave as the price for her generosity.” He grimaced at the use of the last word.
Sebastian nodded, the dots suddenly aligning. “Sounds like the perfect reason to frame her for murder.”
Jenkins chuckled. “I’d have to get in line.”
“Behind who?”
“Not to speak ill of the dead, but Mark Winslow. She was constantly hitting him up for money until he finally cut her off.” Jenkins stepped to the worktable and uncapped a bottle of water. He took a swig and then wiped the excess moisture off his mouth with the back of his hand. “Those two had a major battle the last day he was here.”
“When was this?” Sebastian tuned in with his special senses. Not once had the guy even stretched the truth.
“A few weeks ago.” Jenkins stared off into space for a few minutes, as if he were remembering the event. “Karen sulked around the place for a while, calling every man she knew a jerk until the other man, Mark’s son, showed up.”
“Devin Fleetwood?”
Jenkins nodded.
“What did he want?”
“Not sure, but after he left, Karen brightened right back up and started planning a cruise around the world.” Jenkins shrugged and dropped his hands into the pockets of his overall. “Can’t say I’d care one way or the other as long as she keeps paying my father’s medical bills.”
Damn, maybe Devin really did commit both crimes.
“One last question, does Karen own a gun?” Sebastian kept his gaze on Jenkins’ relaxed posture in case he had a weapon stashed in his pockets.
“I can’t say, but my dad said he purchased a few for her father back before you had to register them with the state.”
A bell rang.
“Got to go. Mrs. Winslow has a visitor.” Jenkins unhooked his overalls and allowed them to drop to the concrete floor. In only a T-shirt and running shorts, he walked to the back counter and picked up a clean rag.
“Is she expecting someone?” Something about this unexpected visitor gave Sebastian’s senses a heads-up. Who could be visiting her? Perhaps the police?
“Not that I know of, but people come and go all the time. She has a lot of friends.” After stepping to the coatrack, Jenkins tugged a clean, white shirt off a hanger and slipped it on. Next, he grabbed the pants draped over the rack and dressed.
“Mind if I follow you up to the house and get a look at her visitor?”
Jenkin shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me as long as you stay out of sight.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lily waited for Karen to open the door. The decision to come here without calling first had been an easy one. After all, Karen couldn’t say no if Lily was standing on her front porch. Could she?
The deadbolt clicked, and Karen peered out. Once she recognized her visitor, the door opened wider. “Lily, what are you doing here?”
Now, the hard part. She had to convince Karen to let her inside. “I talked to Devin earlier today. He mentioned you and I might need to talk.”
Karen frowned. “I don’t know why he’d say that. Other than us both being Mark’s heirs, we have nothing in common.”
“Yes, well, he seems to think you might like to have the house and all the items inside instead of the money from Mark’s stock portfolio.” Lily had no idea what the will said as to who got what, but she needed an excuse to convince Karen to invite her inside. “After all, if I remember correctly, you’re the one who helped Mark pick out all the colors and furniture for the entire house.”
With a little wave of her hand, Karen lured her into the house and shut the door. “Yes, but that was more than ten years ago. I’m sure Mark had it redecorated after you two got married.”
Lily glanced around the foyer and noted the curtains over the doorways that led into the main rooms. When she’d walked through the house earlier, she hadn’t paid much attention to the heavy drapes. Karen had explained it helped keep the rooms cooler as she hustled them quickly down the hall and out onto the deck. Lily had managed a quick glimpse into a few near the back of the house. “Oh, no, Mark didn’t want to change a thing. Said you did an excellent job and he had no desire to go through the process again.”
“Really?” Karen puffed out her chest. “I guess it’s just been too long since I’ve visited his house. We normally would just meet for lunch or dinner if we had anything to discuss.”
Turning, she led the way to the back porch. Her three-inch heels tapped out a steady rhythm and she seemed anxious to be outside.
Instead of following her, Lily gathered her resolve and strolled toward the curtains that blocked what she remembered being the main sitting area. Brushing aside the heavy material, she stared at the large empty room.
Shocked by the large void, she turned to Karen for an explanation. “My God, Karen, where is everything?”
Like a bulldozer, Karen stomped toward Lily and shoved her away from the doorway. She closed the curtains and pointed down the hall. “It’s none of your business what I have in my house. Now, if you want to discuss Mark’s, we’ll head outside. If not, leave.”
Lily turned toward the back porch. Questions raced through her head, but she didn’t pause until she reached the chairs closest to the pool. The warmth of the sun eased her nerves, and she settled onto a bright floral cushion.
Karen settled into a chair a short distance away. “What’s your real reason for coming here today, Lily? Did Devin develop a conscience and decide he couldn’t live with the fact he killed Mark?”
Surprised by Karen’s admission of knowing of Devin’s plan, Lily struggled to hold back her questions. “Why did he want to kill Mark?”
The Warrior In Me Page 24
