Piper snorted but let him continue his explanation.
Inspector Samuels took a long sip of his black coffee. “Aiden told Larry to give Marilyn an offer she couldn’t refuse.”
Piper tucked her phone away. “I guess he didn’t think of offering money,” she said sarcastically.
Marilyn picked up her teaspoon and began to fidget with it. “Well, he did. He offered me a hefty sum. But it didn’t feel right, what with Mr. Caldwell already building us this new place. So I turned him down.”
“Aiden felt that if Larry knew about his plans for the new center he would try to lowball Marilyn,” Inspector Samuels said. “So you see where the miscommunication happened.”
“Of course,” Piper said. “When Marilyn refused the money, Larry assumed that meant she was refusing to leave.”
“Larry Williams then took matters into his own hands. It probably isn’t the first time he’s done business this way. I’m sure he has a few skeletons hidden in the company closet. We’re digging into it. Years’ worth of deals and community complaints. It will be a headache, but Mr. Caldwell has offered to assist us in undoing any misdeeds done on behalf of the company.”
“So Aiden had nothing to do with the attacks on the center?”
“No,” he said. “Up until your visit to his office yesterday, Aiden had been clueless.”
She recalled part of the conversation she overheard from Aiden’s closet. What’s important is getting rid of those damn dogs, Larry had said.
And I’ve done just that, haven’t I?
At the time, Piper had thought that meant Aiden was responsible for the fire, for forcing the dogs out. She thought she’d caught him red-handed. But he’d gotten rid of the dogs by building them a new home. She’d gotten it all wrong. She’d been so blinded by her anger and humiliation, the fear of betrayal. Guilt tore through her like a Tasmanian devil on a rampage.
“And what about the other stuff?” she asked him.
“You were right about the graffiti on your car and apartment window. Laura from the SFAAC was responsible. She confessed to it right away when we told her about everything else that she could be implicated for. But she didn’t break your car window. That was Barney.” His voice changed when he said the postal worker’s name, like he was picking gum off the bottom of his shoe. “He’d been stalking you for some time, so he knew where you worked and where you volunteered, but he had yet to learn where you lived.”
“I’m unlisted,” she said. “I’m subletting from my aunt. Or, at least, I was. So he broke into my car to get my address. I take it he vandalized my apartment then?”
“That’s right.”
An image of her underwear dangling from a pen popped into her disorganized brain and she cringed. So far her instincts about those involved had been right, more or less. Only she hadn’t expected the guilty party to be, well, all of them.
“And the attempted hit-and-run? That was obviously Tamara.” When she saw the Prius at Aiden’s office, she thought that he’d tried to help cover it up by lending her his own car. “Officer Tucker said that she had an alibi. That she was tied up at work.”
“Ah yes, her alibi.” His mustache turned down. “That was corroborated by Larry Williams.”
Piper’s eyes widened. It was starting to sound more and more like the conspiracy theory she’d first suspected. “They were working together?”
“No, but protecting Tamara worked in Larry’s interest. It kept any investigators clear of Caldwell and Son Investments and from focusing on Aiden. He hadn’t been wiped off our persons of interest list.”
She straightened in her seat at the news. She’d had no idea they were investigating him. Then again, why would they share that with her? She was too close to be objective. Thinking of all the things she’d gotten wrong along the way, they were right not to tell her. Hell, they’d probably been investigating her too.
Colin grumbled next to her ankle until she scratched his belly. “I had no idea.”
The inspector took a sip of coffee before continuing. “Apparently, Tamara had been following you during your date with Aiden. When she saw the two of you together, it seems something just”—he spread his hands—“snapped.”
“Oh, it snapped a long time before that.”
His eyebrows twitched up like he agreed with Piper’s statement but was too professional to voice it. “She’ll be going under a psychiatric evaluation. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about her for quite a while.”
“Well, that’s good.” She’d thought that once somebody finally believed how crazy Tamara was she’d feel vindicated. But she only felt pity for the girl. “I hope she gets the help she needs.” Piper stared at her hands. “So, you’re saying … Aiden didn’t actually do anything wrong?”
“I know it’s a lot to take in after everything that happened yesterday.”
Marilyn set her teacup down on the table, watching Piper. “He’s here now, you know. Aiden.”
Piper’s heart skittered in her chest, proving that it was still working. “He is?”
“He’s out back being interviewed by Holly Hart. The Holly Hart. Can you believe it?”
“I can’t believe it,” she replied flatly.
“Are you going to be okay?” Marilyn asked.
Yes and no, Piper thought. She wasn’t sure what to think anymore. “Yeah. I just … I just need a minute, I guess.”
“Of course.” Marilyn cleared her throat and stood up. “Inspector Samuels, may I show you around the grounds awhile?”
“I’d like that. And please, call me Bob.”
“Oh, all right.”
Piper wasn’t too distracted to miss Marilyn’s expression. This time, Piper was certain that was a blush lighting up Marilyn’s face.
Before she left the room, she gripped Piper’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Piper.”
She patted her hand. “It’s not your fault.”
Piper smiled as the two of them left the room, but she didn’t exactly feel relieved. She was confused. Since the day before, she’d become used to feeling mad, to the anger that was justified by Aiden’s heinous actions. But now that those actions had been nullified, where did that leave her anger?
It turned out, the only one to blame was her, for jumping to conclusions, for not talking to Aiden about them first. After everything that had happened, could it be so simple as to chalk it up to a misunderstanding? Could they move forward after this?
“Well, Colin?” she asked. “What do you think?”
But for once, he kept his opinion to himself. This was something she would have to figure out for herself. Well, she supposed there was only one way to find out.
Gathering her strength, she drew a deep breath and headed for the door Zoe and Addison had disappeared through. As she passed the reception desk, she noticed the wall behind it. Well, not so much a wall as the largest fish tank she’d ever seen in place of an actual wall. The fish swam by, glaring at her like she’d accidentally wandered into their home. There were so many that Piper could only name half of them off the top of her head.
She could hear Zoe and Addison giggling somewhere deeper inside the house. She followed the sound of their excited chatter, through a room with wall-to-wall shelves holding every kind of dog toy, treat, and accessory that Piper could imagine. It was like walking into doggy heaven. Colin paused in front of them, taking mental stock of all the items he would deem his.
At the other end of the house, a door opened onto the back porch, where the afternoon sun outlined the girls’ silhouettes. She stepped outside to join them and saw the expansion that she’d noticed when she first drove up. A long, narrow building, the same style and color as the house stood at a right angle to it. It reminded her of a stable, but instead of horses, dogs wandered in and out of private doggy doors to play in an enclosure that took up practically the entire property. A chain-link fence wrapped around the clearing to where the privacy trees began.
Zoe laughed at Toby, who was ru
nning off some of his pent-up energy. “Isn’t it amazing?” she asked Piper.
“It is,” Piper agreed, her voice hushed.
Grass swished rhythmically as someone wandered next to the house. Muffled voices grew closer.
“—get you out here, in front of the grand opening banner. Just stand over there so we can get a clear view of the house and play area.” Piper recognized Holly Hart’s voice as she rounded the corner, ordering around her cameraman with nothing more than a snap of her fingers.
And then Piper heard his voice. “Over here?”
The hole inside Piper ripped wide open until it felt like a gaping chest wound. She found it hard to breathe and clutched at her chest. The pain, the panic on hearing his voice, of being so close. What was she going to say to him? What would he say in response?
A million possible scenarios flooded her mind, threatening to drown her. Her whole body shook with the instinct to run, and that hole throbbed worse than ever. She held a hand to her chest, half-expecting to find it had eaten right through her flesh. But despite the fear and uncertainty, without conscious thought her legs carried her closer to his voice.
Aiden had his back to the house. He positioned himself in front of the camera, Sophie rolling in the grass at his feet. He picked her up, brushing out her long hair with his fingers, picking out pieces of grass.
He wore a pair of khaki shorts and, was that…? Yes, it was. A Hawaiian shirt. Piper would have laughed if she’d had the breath to spare. Colin padded out onto the porch to join her. She reached down and plucked him up into her arms and held him tight, breathing in his familiar, comforting scent.
Holly positioned herself a little too close to Aiden so that she brushed up against his shoulder. Hey, You counted down with his fingers and Holly brought the mic to her lips.
“This is Holly Hart for Channel Five News here at the brand-new San Francisco Dachshund Rescue Center to give this tale a happy ending.” She laughed at her own joke. “I’m standing here with Aiden Caldwell, CEO of Caldwell and Son Investments, and he’s really got something to howl about. Aiden, can you tell us more?”
Piper’s eyes locked on to Aiden, unable to notice anything else but him, that is, until he shifted and she could see Sophie in his arms. Colin noticed her too. Every muscle in his body tensed. He let out a querying bark, almost deafening Piper’s right ear.
Sophie?
Sophie responded immediately, Colin? Is that you?
It must have been the answer he was looking for, because he launched himself out of Piper’s arms. He dashed down the porch steps and around the corner, stubby legs surging him forward as fast as they could.
The second Sophie saw him, she squirmed in Aiden’s arms until he put her down. Colin’s tongue lolling out of his mouth, Sophie’s luxurious copper locks flowing in the wind, they raced into each other’s paws like a slow-motion scene from a cheesy romance movie.
Aiden spotted Colin and spun around, his eyes scanning the house, the windows, the porch. His eyes finally rested on Piper, and she found herself unprepared for what she saw.
The expression on his face was so pained, so tortured, that he might have been in true physical pain, so much like her own. And she realized it was because of her. She’d caused his beautiful face to look like that.
Her own features contorted in response. The rest of the yard grew still, expectant, and Piper was conscious of the audience. The camera still rolled and Holly was holding her breath expectantly.
Knowing whatever they had to say needed to be off the record, Piper tilted her head toward the house. Aiden understood and began to move her way.
Drawn to the drama, Holly began to follow them into the center, but Zoe and Addison blocked her path. Piper couldn’t help but notice the “We’ve got your back” look on Zoe’s face. And next to her, Addison’s face lit up with a “dreams do come true” expression.
Piper waited until Aiden was inside before closing the door for privacy.
“Aiden,” she began; she had to swallow the lump in her throat. “I … I shouldn’t have doubted you. I should have known you better than that. It’s just … it looked…”
“Bad,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion. “I know. I don’t blame you.”
“And well, Holly…”
“Yes. Holly.” He laughed. Not in a ha-ha kind of way, but the kind of laugh that makes you think you might be able to laugh at it one day. Like maybe fifty years later. “I’ll give her this, though. She had her facts straight. It was her drawn conclusions that needed a bit of editing.” Any humor vanished from his expression; those dark green eyes grew darker by the second. “But with what information you had, and then what you heard in my office…”
She shook her head, laughing humorlessly herself. “Oh God. Your office. I shouldn’t have been there. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“During my interrogation,” he said, “the inspector played your recording for me. I listened to it, trying to imagine what you must have been thinking. And, well, it was bad. Piper, I don’t blame you for thinking that I had something to do with it.”
“But I should have talked to you first,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He took a shy step toward her, causing her heart to leap in her chest. “Besides, you thought I was trying to kill you at the time. Not exactly the best conditions to sit down and have a chat.” He stared down at his hands. “I’m sorry for not telling you about my plans for the center sooner.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Marilyn explained everything to me. How she asked you not to say anything.”
“I kept trying to contact her, to get her permission to tell you about the plans once things started to get out of hand, but I couldn’t reach her. It wasn’t the way I was used to doing business. And then we started dating, and it all got so complicated. You know me, I hate mixing—”
“Business with pleasure,” she finished for him. “I know. But you were right. That was your business and not mine. I had no right to know those things.”
“That’s where I was wrong.” He took another step. Another leap of her heart. “When I asked you to be my girlfriend, you asked me to be a partner instead. And I didn’t treat you like one. What I did wasn’t fifty-fifty. I shouldn’t have let anything, business or otherwise, come between us. Nothing is worth losing you over.”
His hand rose, as though he wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, but then he thought better of it and reached for his tie. Discovering the lack of tie and a lot of Hawaiian, he ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up.
“There are some things money can’t buy.”
She took a deep breath, her numb mind flipping through the events of that morning, trying to find a path, a tangent that had yet to be explored. Could it be that simple?
“So, that’s it?” she asked hesitantly. “Neither of us did anything wrong? It was all a big misunderstanding?”
Had it been such a small error, a little mix-up, that had torn Piper’s life apart, created such a huge hole in her chest? That’s when Piper realized just what Aiden truly meant to her. That his mere absence in her life, if only for a day, could obliterate it, could leave a hole in her chest big enough to swallow her.
But now she was frightened to reach out across that hole, to fill it again with their love. Such a tiny misunderstanding, but such a wide gulf.
Humans thought of themselves as more evolved, with their opposable thumbs and their fancy brains. When she’d watched Colin and Sophie frantically greet each other like two loved ones reunited, running off to play without another thought, Piper figured it was because they couldn’t comprehend the reality of it. But now she wondered if animals didn’t have it right. Animals listened to their instincts. Maybe it was the brains that always got in the way.
Aiden reached out first. He held out a hand, palm upturned, his expression hopeful, pleading. And like it was instinct, her hand moved automatically to meet him halfway. Fifty
-fifty.
“Can I show you something?” he asked.
She nodded, and he led her across the toy room, to a door marked with a nameplate etched in swirling letters. She paused to read it on their way in and her mouth fell open. It said: Dr. Piper Summers.
Piper’s legs forgot how to move and Aiden had to steer her through the door. Once inside, she froze at the sight. It was a fully equipped veterinary clinic. No. Not just a clinic, she thought, scanning the pieces of diagnostic and surgical equipment, but a minihospital. It had everything a veterinarian could ask for. She could even perform emergency surgery if necessary.
“Aiden,” she breathed. “This is…” Her words tapered off.
“Do you like it?”
“Like it? Aiden.” Turning toward him, she flung her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect.”
“I may have been planning the new rescue center all along, but all this”—he waved a hand at the clinic—“I built this entirely for you.”
“For me?”
“It was an addition that I added on after we met. You’ll have everything you need to help the animals that come in now.”
He’d been planning this all along. Every time he kept his “business” to himself, tried to hide phone calls and meetings from her, every time she wondered about his advanced deadline—which was no doubt due to the fire—he’d been working on the center, the new home for her friends. And this gift to her.
Guilt took another nip at her, and she knew of only one way to pacify it. Rising on her toes, she leaned into Aiden’s embrace and pressed her lips against his, slowly, firmly, longingly.
He drew back just enough so that he could look into her eyes. “In case it wasn’t obvious by now,” he said. “I love you.”
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