Chapter 8
I slapped a hand over my mouth to hide another yawn that slipped out. Bernie noticed, of course. She raised a brow in inquiry, which I chose to ignore. "When Pen arrives, could you please have her come upstairs? I want to make sure she's okay without an audience."
“Sure. Would you like me to bring up a couple raspberry scones when they’re out of the oven?”
"Oh, that would be amazing! Thanks, Bernie."
In no time at all, I was sitting on my sofa waiting for Pen to arrive. Carlisle had wanted me to stay and have breakfast with him, but he immediately understood when I explained that I wanted to check on Pen.
I'd forgotten about all my troubles while I was with Carlisle.
I just wished they hadn't all rushed back into my head this morning.
I could have done without that. I concluded that, after Pen told me what was going on, we would discuss Detective Riley's death.
I couldn't help but ponder whether Pen and Riley's deaths were connected.
I'd never experienced double vision before, which made the idea of a connection more plausible. Although, I suppose I did see the mayor and Tate dead. I wasn’t sure about seeing the mayor though. Nothing happened to him.
When I heard the clunk of Pen's booted feet on the stairs, I jumped up and went to greet her at the door.
Her complexion was pale, and when she met my gaze, I had to fight to hide my sorrow.
I gave up, and pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly.
Seconds later, her body shook with uncontrollable sobs.
She clung to me, and I clung to her. Bernie started up the stairs but backed away when she realized what was happening.
I moved further into the apartment and kicked the door closed.
I helped Pen to the sofa, then rushed back to the door and locked it.
"There will be no interruptions," I thought as I sat in my favorite chair.
The armchair by the window. Today, my focus wasn't on the town square, but on my best friend. "Talk to me, Pen. I want to help you."
She kicked off her boots and curled her legs under her before finally meeting my gaze.
"I screwed up, Talla." She blew out a breath.
"My only excuse is that I was angry with Aiden.
Very angry. To be honest, my marriage had been over for a long time, and I had started the process of getting a divorce.
But knowing that I had been married to someone who raped and killed Monica turned my stomach. "
I reached for a tissue and wiped my cheeks and eyes. As I listened to Pen, I realized that in my own grief over the loss of my brother, Tate, I hadn't realized just how badly Pen suffered.
"There was a small mortgage on the house, so over the past few months, I've been paying nine thousand dollars.
I'm debt-free. Then I went and spent the rest on useless crap, to be honest. I just wanted all the money gone.
Now it is. He sent word through a creepy guy that he wanted his money back.
I'm guessing the guy checked the car and realized I'd found it.
" Pen cried into a tissue, and it took all my strength not to rush over to her.
When she was upset, she always needed her own space. It was difficult for me, though.
"Oh God, Talla, the money wasn't Aiden's.
I don't know who it belongs to, but I'm in trouble.
My house is bugged because the creepy guy told me so.
He said they'd know if I breathed a word about them to anyone, especially Jessop Hallen.
I'm supposed to keep the Hallen brothers out of it, or people are going to get hurt.
I don't have the money to give back to them. "
"Oh." I gave up and rushed over to my friend. I kicked off my shoes and curled up with her. We didn't say anything while I let her cry. A good cry always did me a world of good. Other than going to Carlisle and Jessop to help, I didn't know what else we could do. What was I thinking?!
"Pen, I have the money. It'll take some talking, but I have it. We'll tell the creepy guy to come get it."
"No way!" Pen shook her head. "I'm not taking your money. Besides, I'll never be able to pay you back."
"Don't worry about that." I pulled us both up into a sitting position. My inheritance wasn't endless, but I had enough to help Pen out without going broke. I knew Pen, though. She wouldn't take charity.
"Not happening," Pen stubbornly retorted. "I'll go to the sheriff. Oliver is a good man, right? Maybe he can arrest the creepy guy."
"But what about the money? It's probably there because they did something illegal, which means you could get into serious trouble with the police for spending it."
"Oh God! I think I'm going to puke." Pen leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes. I slipped my hand into hers and held on while she settled down.
"That is why," I said, as she opened her eyes and locked with mine, "I am going to get the money.
We'll put it in a bag and take it to Oliver.
He doesn't need to know you spent it as a 'fuck you' to Aiden.
" I grinned. "I'm not going to let you refuse, because otherwise, I'll just go behind your back.
You're my best friend. Like a sister. I'm doing this.
You can look at it as a gift for the baby. " I raised a brow.
Pen snorted. "Talla, I didn't tell you about the money or the baby because I didn't want you to think I was asking for your help. I mean financial help. It was a dilemma."
"Oh, fiddlesticks, Penelope! I know you better than that. From now on, you better not keep any more secrets from me. Well, at least dangerous ones."
"I'll pay you back a little each month," she said.
"No way! It's a gift from me to you. I won't take it." I grinned. "So, a baby, huh?"
"Yeah," she said, looking down and rubbing her belly. "It sure was a surprise."
"I'm guessing Aiden doesn't know."
She hesitated. "He'd kill me, so no. You're the only one who knows." Pen sighed heavily. “Do you think the plan will work?”
"Of course it will work. I thought of it, didn't I?" I snickered.
After a moment of silence, Pen asked, "Has the big bad wolf made his move?"
I glanced at my friend, and she raised her eyebrows. Mine shot up at the sudden change of subject and question. Pen gasped and got in my face.
“Tallulah James, did you sleep with that sexy, dangerous man?”
I giggled. "There wasn't much sleeping going on."
"Oh my God! I'm suddenly hot."
The look on her face was priceless.
"I love him, Pen. You know that."
"I know, Talla. I'm happy for you." Biting her lip, she asked, "You won't tell him about the trouble I'm in, will you? Or Jessop. Don’t mention the baby either."
"They'll be able to help."
"No, I mean it. I don't want them involved. If you tell Carlisle, he'll tell Jessop. You know he will."
Against my better judgment, I once again, agreed to keep silent.