“Maybe it’s time everyone left,” Lilly said, as she prayed for sanity to replace the cold hatred in Zach’s eyes. “It’s been a very tiring day.”
Zach looked at her and softened slightly. “I have to say this, honey.” His attention shifted back to Patricia. “Victoria was so perfect, she lied about being pregnant. Then, she carried on an affair with Curtis Crandall the last four years of our marriage. She refused to divorce me without an enormous payout, and I was too stupid to have her sign a prenup. So you’re right, Mother, my relationship with Lilly is nothing like that.”
Tommy stood up. “Victoria was with Curtis? What are you talking about?”
Zach spared a look of pity for his brother. “I’m sorry, Tommy. I never wanted you to know about it. I know he’s your friend, but watch him around your fiancée. He’s a bastard. At the party the other night he—”
“—really helped me out,” Lilly interrupted, placing a hand across Zach’s chest. If Zach voiced his suspicions here, someone might say something to Crandall. She couldn’t risk Crandall convincing the family she was in the wrong and provoked him by flirting with him. “We’re thankful he found me, but you should still stay away from him.”
Bridget put her arms around Tommy and whispered something in his ear. Regardless of what Lilly thought about Bridget personally, she’d help Tommy get over whatever betrayal he experienced.
Patricia sank into a chair and hung her head in her hands. “I didn’t know. Lord help me, I didn’t know. I thought you picked Lilly because it was too painful to date women like Victoria.”
Zach’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “I know you didn’t,” he said. “I didn’t want you to. But I am in love with Lilly. I know you’re scared. I’m scared, but I’m going to protect her.”
Lilly exhaled heavily. Zach wasn’t going to say more about Crandall, and it looked like he would forgive his mother. At least this rotten day wasn’t about to become worse.
Patricia caught Lilly’s eye. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound so...” She shrugged.
“Don’t worry about it.” Years of Stewart’s indifferent treatment taught Lilly to ignore small hurts. “I know you’re worried about Zach’s safety. It’s okay.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about Curtis before?” Tommy asked. He seemed composed once again as he sat back in his chair, looking steadily at Zach. “There’s something wrong with him, isn’t there?”
Zach’s body thrummed against Lilly’s with renewed tension. “What makes you say that?” he asked.
“It’s just the way he is with women.” Tommy shook his head. “I’ve been worried about him lately. He keeps talking about this woman, how she’s perfect for him. He doesn’t talk about anything else anymore, and he gets this funny look on his face.”
“What woman?” Zach snapped.
This conversation headed in a dangerous direction. She needed to stop it before things got out of hand. She knew how convincing men like Crandall were. Charles once convinced her best friend that Lilly’s bruises were from her own clumsiness, even though Sherry knew better. Zach’s family would never believe that she wasn’t the one flirting with Crandall but the other way around, if he got a chance to speak with them.
“Well,” she said, “it was nice of you to come, but—”
“What woman?” Zach repeated, his icy voice cutting off Lilly’s words.
Tommy shrugged. “He won’t say. It scares me a bit, though. Reminds me of the time he tried to get with a girl right after Victoria’s death. We attended a party, and Curtis kept coming on to this one girl, even though she refused him several times. She finally threatened to call the cops, and I managed to get him away from her. Later, I found out he went to her house, made some threats when she refused to go out with him. She called the cops and they arrested him. He spent two weeks in jail.”
Zach glanced at Lilly, his eyes steely. “And you say he’s fixated on a new woman?”
Tommy nodded.
Lilly cringed away from Zach, fearing he had put everything together. Crandall said he wanted to be with her, but Lilly hadn’t understood he was crazy enough to mean it. If he had a history of this type of behavior, perhaps he had been serious about his threat to Sarah. She had to keep Sarah safe, no matter what.
“Everyone should stay away from Crandall,” she blurted. “Don’t talk to him at all. The man sounds like a creep.”
Zach’s mouth tightened at the corners, but he didn’t say anything.
James leaned forward in his chair. “I’m more worried about keeping you two safe from the stalker. You’re convinced it’s Lilly’s fiancé?”
Zach turned to his father. “The threats seem too specific to be anyone else.”
Lilly closed her eyes against her weariness. She didn’t want to deal with this anymore. It was all too much.
Zach’s arm curved around her shoulders, and he pulled her against his chest. At least he didn’t seem angry with her. She kept her eyes closed, listening to the rumble of his voice and the sound of his heartbeat.
In the end, no one came up with a better plan than engaging the security system at all times. Patricia finally calmed down when Zach explained about the undercover cop assigned to them and Sarah. They ran out of things to say eventually, and Zach’s family finally made their way to the door.
Sarah leaned down as she passed to pat Lilly’s arm. “I’m a phone call away if you need me.”
Savannah wrapped her arms around Lilly’s neck. “I love you.”
“Love you, munchkin.” Lilly kissed Savannah’s cheek and watched as she ran to Sarah.
Everyone else filed out the door, more words of sympathy on their lips. It was kind of them to come, but she was glad to see them leave.
Zach plopped onto the couch next to her. “I’m sorry Mom said those things. You shouldn’t have had to deal with all that today.”
She kissed his cheek. “It’s okay, lover. Please don’t worry.”
“Weird what Tommy said about Crandall, huh?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lilly shrugged. “Some people are crazy.”
“I suppose so.” He pulled her onto his chest and kissed the top of her head.
Lilly relaxed against him, breathing in his warm scent. He’d apparently decided to let go of the Crandall situation, for which she was grateful.
A tear slipped down her cheek and she wiped it away. Charles cheated her out of so much already. Today, he took away the only family she had. She wrapped her arms around Zach’s waist and clutched him to her.
What would she do if he hurt Zach?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Zach held Lilly’s cold hand as they sat by the graveside. The priest had long since dedicated the grave, and a man stood near a backhoe, waiting for them to leave so he could lower Stewart Price into the ground.
They’d sat in the little plastic chairs under the moveable awning for more than twenty minutes. It surprised Zach the man hadn’t asked them to leave.
“Not many people at the funeral.” Lilly looked at him for the first time since they’d stepped out of the car at the cemetery. “No one even bothered to come out here.”
“It was a nice service, honey.”
“The flowers Margaret sent were lovely.” She looked toward the backhoe. “It’s time to go, I guess.”
He kissed her cheek softly. “Your father’s in a better place now. He’s not really in that box.”
Her fingers twitched against his and she sighed. “I know you’re right, but it’s hard.”
Lilly stood and walked to the casket. Kissing the white rose she had clutched all through the service, she dropped it on top. “I love you, Daddy—and I forgive you.”
Zach stood to toss his flower on top as well, but Lilly shook her head and grabbed it out of his hand. She stooped down next to the headstone on their left, kissed the flower, and set it on top of the marker.
Robert Stewart Price.
Zach handed Lilly’s cane to her as she st
ood up. “Your grandfather?”
She nodded and threaded her arm through his. “He was the only man to ever show love to me, until I met you.” She looked at the headstone and sighed. “He died when I was eight.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy for the time I had with him. The memories made my life tolerable.”
Zach didn’t know how to respond, caught once again at how horrible Lilly’s life had been. She didn’t seem to want a response though, and turned to walk slowly to the car.
Sitting in the stiff chairs all afternoon had obviously taken a toll on her. Lilly limped horribly, relying on the cane and Zach’s arm as she walked.
A man leaned against their rental, waiting for them.
“As if my day could get any worse.” Lilly’s spine straightened, and she marched toward the road.
Zach eyed her cautiously, trying to judge her mental state as he struggled to keep up with her. A person would never guess how much pain she suffered from right now, emotional or physical. “Who is that?”
Lilly snorted. “Not many people rude enough to trap me here. I’ll give you three guesses.”
The rotund man looked as if he’d come from an audition to be a detective on some prime-time television show, wearing a cheesy suit and dark glasses. “Must be the famous Detective Spalding.”
“Got it in one. You’re smart, Mr. Woodbridge.” A smile crossed her face for the first time in days. “Must be why I love you.”
They’d put off going to see Spalding on purpose, planning to stop tomorrow morning on the way to the airport to avoid a lengthy interrogation. Looked like Spalding wasn’t content to sit back and wait for them.
They approached the detective and Zach put on his best ‘buy my book please’ smile. He thrust his hand toward the man. “Detective Spalding? I’m Zach Woodbridge. Today’s been a tough day, as I’m sure you understand.”
The detective pulled his sunglasses off. He looked at Zach’s hand and his lip curled at the corner. “I told Officer McMann you were to check in when you got to town four days ago.”
Zach dropped his hand to his side. Apparently, good manners didn’t dictate this jerk’s life. “Things have been rather hectic.”
“It’s okay, lover.” Lilly patted his arm in a soothing motion. “Mr. Spalding, unless you’re arresting me, I don’t feel like spending time in the police station today. You’re welcome to follow us to my father’s house. The pictures Officer McMann told you about are there, and I’ll answer any questions you have.”
She climbed into the passenger seat, shut the door, and looked out the front windshield at both men.
Zach clenched his teeth tightly and returned his attention to Spalding. “If you say anything out of line, I’m going to make your life hell. This week’s been rough enough on her. I won’t allow you to treat her like a criminal.”
Spalding’s pudgy face flushed. “Stay out of my way, Mr. Woodbridge. This is a murder investigation, not something you can buy your way out of.”
Zach’s hands balled into fists. How much trouble will I really get in if I punch him?
The horn of the car blared, which caused both men to jump. Zach looked over his shoulder to see Lilly glaring.
“Come on,” she mouthed.
He'd put up with Crandall’s crap. He could handle himself around Spalding. Zach brushed past the detective. “See you there.”
***
Lilly sat across from Detective Spalding in the formal living room. Her father’s long-time butler served coffee and discretely left. If only they could put off this confrontation until tomorrow. Exhaustion settled around her and all she wanted was a nap. She didn’t want to go through this again—the accusations, the certain knowledge that Spalding would love nothing more than to lock her away.
Spalding tossed the folder of pictures the stalker had taken onto the coffee table. “This doesn’t prove anything, Miss Price. You could’ve paid somebody to take these pictures.”
Lilly bit her lip and tried to maintain her composure. Beside her, Zach’s entire body thrummed with anger. It felt rather like sitting outside in the middle of an electrical storm, wondering when a bolt would strike.
She patted his leg and prayed he wouldn’t lose his temper. He had been in such a strange mood since the confrontation with his mother. Very protective of Lilly, which she loved, but she feared Zach’s urge to shield her from the world might get him into trouble here.
She looked at the detective. “I suppose an argument could be made that I set this whole thing up. Find some proof and lock me away.”
“Damn it, Lilly.” Zach jumped up and paced between the edge of the couch and her legs. “Don’t say things like that. You aren’t guilty so there’s no proof to find.” He turned to face Spalding. “You should be looking for Charles. He has to be the person behind this. You’re such a piss-poor detective, you never even knew he stole all that money before his supposed death until Officer McMann told you. Yet you still sit here accusing Lilly.”
Spalding’s piggy little eyes darted back and forth, and his breath came out in harsh gasps. Zach hadn’t really helped her case.
Lilly tried to affect a reassuring smile. Spalding had no proof, and this whole conversation was blatant harassment, but he’d badger her even more if she couldn’t convince him she had nothing to do with this. “Look, Detective Spalding, I want the person responsible captured as much as you do. I’m just not the person you should be looking at. I never was.”
He took a sip of his coffee, apparently deciding to ignore Zach. “Why didn’t you tell me about the money before? I never even knew there was another motive for that whole scene in your house two years ago.”
She shrugged. “Would it have made a difference, had you known the truth? You practically convicted me before I got out of the hospital. You wasted months building a false case against me. I’m pretty sure you never spent a second looking for the real culprit.”
Okay...that probably wouldn’t help her much either. Maybe she should be a little more cautious, but she couldn’t stomach backing down to Spalding once again. Allowing him to steamroll her and send her fleeing the city, as she had last time, was not an option.
She stared directly into his black eyes and refused to drop her gaze. New York City held her worst memories. She hated this place. Lilly was finally in charge of her own life. She would not revert to the scared little mouse she’d been last time Spalding interrogated her.
He dropped his eyes to his coffee cup, not answering.
“I’m sure it wouldn’t have.” Zach flopped down next to Lilly. “You wanted her to be guilty. You didn’t listen to anything she said, did you?”
“Zach, stop.” She knew he was angry, but she needed to handle Spalding on her own.
Spalding’s head snapped up and he glared at Zach. “Charles’ murder isn’t what I’m investigating now.” He faced Lilly. “I need to know where you were the night your father died.”
Lilly gritted her teeth and took a sip of her drink. “Look, you know where I was. Surely your office isn’t so inept that you weren’t able to see what tower my phone pinged off when you called.” She needed to thank Officer McMann for explaining how all that worked. “I was in Serenity with Zach, just like I said. My cell phone proves that.”
“It doesn’t prove that you didn’t hire a hit man to kill Stewart.”
Zach sat forward. “You son of a bi—”
Lilly placed her hand on his arm and squeezed. “I’ve got this, baby.” She grabbed her purse from where it sat on the end table and fished out an envelope. Officer McMann had gone over every scenario with Lilly before she and Zach flew out, and she was thankful now she had taken his advice. She handed the envelope to Spalding.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“My bank statements for the last six months.” Lilly settled back into her seat. “They prove I never hired a hit man. After all, that takes money.”
Spalding tore into the envelope
and looked over each statement. “You only have three hundred bucks in your bank?”
She shrugged. “I’ve been out of work for a few weeks, given my stalker and my fall, and now my father’s murder. It takes its toll.”
He scratched his head. “But you are coming in to a lot of money. This means nothing. You might be planning to pay the hit man when you receive your inheritance.”
Lilly knew he grasped at straws now. There was no link to her having done anything, and her patience deteriorated further. “You really think I would kill my own father over money? I could have taken that money from him at any time with a phone call to my lawyer. It’s placed in a trust that he controlled, but it was still my money.”
The detective’s face no longer held its usual confident sneer. He looked incredibly tired. “And your lawyer can provide documents to prove this.”
Lilly nodded, knowing Spalding would have to back off. His only motive had just blown away on the wind.
“I’ll need those documents sent over.” Spalding rubbed his hand across his face. “If Charles did steal a bunch of money, and you really didn’t kill him, maybe he’s come back to get more.”
Lilly’s stomach fluttered uncomfortably. “So you think it’s possible he’s alive?”
“We never found his body.”
“And fingers are pretty easy to chop off,” Zach said, “especially considering he had an accomplice who tried to kill Lilly. The other guy probably did it for him and set the scene, while Charles hopped a plane to another country.”
Spalding took another drink of coffee. “You’d have to be a heartless bitch to kill your own father. That’s been bothering me.” His eyes narrowed and he stared at Lilly, as if merely looking would determine her guilt or innocence. Then again, maybe he believed it would—that method worked for him during his last investigation.
“I have no way to convince you, but I would never have hurt my father.” Lilly shrugged. “I didn’t have Charles killed either, even though he beat me continually. I’m grateful he’s gone. If he isn’t my stalker, I hope he’s dead.”
“Lilly!” Zach shook his head frantically. “She didn’t mean that.”
Always & Forever Page 28
