Chapter 12
JULIA
J ulia’s heart clenched with the same dread that coursed through her when she’d watched the police drag him away in handcuffs that first time only days after their wedding.
Her stomach quivered at the latest twist in the death of a woman who had nearly cost them everything over the last two years, including her life.
She dug her cell phone from her pocket and placed a call to Mitchell Caldwell.
“Julia,” he said as he answered, “I assume this has to do with the investigation into Lydia’s death.”
“It does. They arrested Grant.”
A sigh sounded on the other end of the line. “I’m heading to the station.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“I will.”
She ended the call and shoved the phone into her pocket as she made her way to the stairs.
“Mrs. Harrington, have you been able to contact Mr. Caldwell?” Worthington asked.
“Yes,” she answered. “He’s on his way to the station now.”
Worthington shifted his weight, his brow furrowing.
She squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll head down there to see if there’s anything I can do as soon as I check on Sierra and Kyle.”
The man wrung his hands in front of him as he nodded.
“It’s okay, Worthington. We’ll get through this.”
“Of course, Mrs. Harrington.”
She offered him a reassuring smile, reading the worry in his face. He’d been through several of these false arrests. None of them seemed to disturb him like this one. “Are you okay?”
He sucked in a sharp breath, flicking his gaze to her. “Of course, Mrs. Harrington.”
“Worthington, we’ll get through this. They only arrested him because he didn’t want to go to the station for questioning. He’s not under arrest for murder.”
Worthington offered her a fleeting smile. “Yes.”
“I’ll keep you informed.”
“Thank you,” he answered before he strode toward the kitchen.
Julia blew out a breath as his footsteps receded. He seemed nervous, but maybe Lydia’s death had affected him in a way she didn’t realize. She hoped everything would settle down once the investigation ended.
With a deep inhale, she hurried up the stairs and snaked through the opulent halls toward Kyle’s room.
She found the siblings arguing over the movie they’d watch. She knocked on the door and poked her head in. “I assume you’ve told him?”
“I did. If he wasn’t on pain meds, we’d have cracked a bottle of bubbly.”
“Right,” Kyle agreed. “My ribs still hurt from what she ordered. Forgive me if I don’t shed a tear over her death.”
“I understand,” Julia answered, still hovering in the doorway. She needed to break the news about Grant, but in a way that didn’t upset Sierra.
“Want to break the tie on the movie, step-mommy?” Sierra asked.
“Uh, no, I’ll let you battle it out. But before I go, I have some…news.”
Sierra arched an eyebrow. “What now?”
“The police came and took your father to the station for questioning. They–”
“What?” Sierra barked as she tossed the remote on the bed and stared at her with wide eyes. “Why? No! He couldn’t have killed her.”
“I know. Try to calm down,” Julia said as she stepped into the room and eased Sierra back onto the bed. “They’re just asking him some questions, okay? Mitchell’s already on his way. And I’m going to head down there, too. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“But–” Sierra began, her features twisted with worry.
“Sierra, it’s going to be okay. Your father is going to be fine.”
The woman’s shoulders slumped as she leaned back into the pillows. “Even dead, she’s still causing trouble for us.”
“It’ll all be over soon, okay?” Julia said, cupping her face.
Sierra nodded as Julia glanced around her.
Kyle seemed to be in pain. Julia furrowed her brow as he shifted around with a wince. “How are you feeling?”
“A little sore, but I’m fine.”
“You sure? You took some pain meds when you got back, they’re not helping?”
“They’re helping fine,” he said with a groan. “I just…overdid it with the walk.”
Julia crinkled her brow as she skirted the bed and pressed a hand against Kyle’s forehead. His skin was clammy. “Okay, let’s check your temperature.”
“No, Julia, I’m fine.”
“Then, you won’t mind me checking.”
“I do mind. I’m busy watching this terrible movie with my sister.”
“You’re not. You were arguing over which movie to watch,” she answered as she crossed the room to grab the digital thermometer.
“Julia, I’m fine. I’m a doctor, remember? I know when I’m sick and when I’m not.”
She approached the bed with a shake of her head when she caught sight of a streak of red on his t-shirt. She leaned closer, setting the thermometer on the nightstand. “Is that blood?”
“No,” he said, sliding his arm across his abdomen.
“Kyle,” she said, her voice a warning as she tugged at his arm.
He tried to hold it steady, but he finally let her pull it away.
“It is blood. You’re bleeding.”
“A little blood is normal,” he answered.
She shook her head. “No, it’s not. Let me see your stitches.”
“It’s fine. I already checked them. I’m fine.”
She set her hands on her hips. “Then you won’t mind if I look.”
“I do mind,” he answered.
She arched an eyebrow, offering him an incredulous glance as she crossed her arms. “Really? Why?”
He lifted a shoulder in the air. “I haven’t been working out. I’d rather you think I have washboard abs.”
“Are you kidding me? Lift up your shirt,” Julia said with a flick of her finger.
“You’re being a baby,” Sierra said. “She doesn’t care what your abs look like, duh. She’s not dating you.”
“I just…can I have a moment alone with Julia?” Kyle asked.
“Oh, whoa,” Sierra said, her nose wrinkling. “That seems borderline inappropriate.”
“I’m not going to do anything inappropriate. I just…need to talk to her alone about some personal stuff.”
“Uhhhh–” Sierra murmured her gaze flicking between Kyle and Julia.
“It’s fine, Sierra,” Julia said.
Sierra centered her gaze on Kyle. “Don’t kiss her.”
He held his hands up in defeat. “I’m not going to kiss her, I promise.”
Sierra slid off the bed and, after one final glance, disappeared from the room.
Julia heaved a sigh as she stared at him. “Okay, what did you need to talk about?”
He tugged his lips into a grimace. “I, umm…yes, I’m bleeding. I broke a stitch. It’s fine. It’s nothing to worry about, okay?”
“You what? How?”
“Julia, please, I just…overdid it on the walk and…”
She narrowed her eyes at him. He wouldn’t look her in the eye. “You’re lying.”
“I…” He pressed his lips together. “It’s fine, okay? There is no reason to worry.”
“I think we should go back to the hospital and have you checked, just in case.”
“No!” His voice, laced with heat, startled her. He squeezed his eyes closed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. But, please, Julia, leave it alone.”
She eased onto the edge of the bed. “Kyle, I don’t want to take any chances. I think we should have this checked. Why don’t you want to go to the hospital?”
“Because there is no need to have it checked. I’m a surgeon, and I checked it myself. I’m fine.”
“Then why can’t you look me in the eye? And why are you so defensive?”
Kyle kept his eyes trained on his lap. “I just feel stupid for taking that walk. That’s all. I’m a doctor, I should know better. Hey, did you happen to get the samples for me to have tested?”
“Stop changing the subject. I have them, but you’re not getting them until you level with me.”
He pressed his lips together, still refusing to meet her gaze.
“You know, Grant and I spent years not being honest with each other. It was the worst thing we could have done. If something happened, you can tell me.”
He shifted in the bed again, blowing a breath as he winced, a shadow of guilt flickering across his face. “Okay, fine. But…please don’t judge me.”
“I have never judged you,” she answered.
“Good point. Okay…I…didn’t go for a walk.”
“Okay?” she prodded.
“I went to see Lydia.”
Julia leapt from the bed as if jolted by an unseen force. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide as a surge of questions flooded her mind. What had driven Kyle, still wounded from his ordeal, to seek out the woman responsible? “You what ? Kyle! That woman nearly had you killed.”
“I know that, Julia. I was there, remember? After what happened to you in the fire, I just…I had enough and…I don’t know. I went there to confront her. I wanted to have my say. But I didn’t kill her. When I left her apartment, she was alive. I need you to know that.”
“I do,” Julia said.
“Thank you,” Kyle said with a glance at her. “I’m really glad you believe me. But the last thing I need right now is a hospital report about my stitches the night Lydia was murdered.”
“I know you didn’t kill her. But you’re right.”
“Thank you.”
“We still need to keep an eye on it,” Julia answered. “So, let me see.”
She reached for his shirt, but he blocked her hand.
“Kyle!” Julia exclaimed. “There’s no reason not to show me now.”
“I…still want you to think I have washboard abs.”
She shook her head at him as she lifted his shirt. “Stop.”
With the bandage peeled back, she assessed his wound. “It doesn’t look too bad. Okay, if it doesn’t get any worse tonight, we’ll wait.”
“It’ll be fine,” he said as she covered his incision site again. “Do you think Dad did it?”
Before she could answer, Alex knocked on the door, sticking his head inside. “Sunshine, do you have a minute?”
“I do.”
“Awesome. Everything okay there, Junior G?”
“Couldn’t be better,” he answered as Sierra slid under Alex’s arm and entered.
“Sorry, Julia,” she said with an eye roll, “but I couldn’t stop him from butting in.”
“It’s okay, we were finished. Sierra, keep an eye on him, please. If he has any trouble, fever, more pain, call an ambulance.”
“You can count on me, step-mommy! Now, sit back and relax, Kyle. You’re going to love this movie.”
He groaned as he slouched in his pillows.
Julia left them behind for their sibling time and stepped into the hall with Alex. “What’s up?”
“What’s up is the Iron Lady took a header off her balcony.”
“I know. And the police think it’s suspicious.” Julia pressed her palm against her forehead.
“No kidding. I can see why.”
She flicked her gaze to him, her eyebrows pinching. “What do you mean?”
He tilted his head down the hall. “Come with me. There’s something you need to see.”
She followed Alex, her mind racing, piecing together fragments of everything that happened in the last few hours. Each step took her deeper into a labyrinth where the truth was hidden in the shadows. She glanced at her phone, finding nothing from Mitchell yet.
Alex pushed open his door and motioned for her to precede him. He swung the door shut behind them and skirted around her to plop in his chair. His fingers deftly whisked across the keys as he brought up a video.
Julia leaned closer over his shoulder. “Is that Lydia’s apartment?”
“It is,” he answered. “The moment I heard the news about the Supreme Witch, I checked her building for any cameras. I found several, including one with a view of her door. Don’t worry, I already pulled all the footage off their servers. No one will see this but us.”
Julia’s heart thudded and her stomach twisted into a knot as she stared at the screen. She licked her lips, her features pinching. “Alex, I can explain.”
“Explain what?” he asked.
“I…she was…”
Julia bit her lower lip as she collapsed against the desk, tears shining in her eyes.
“Kid…I know you were there.”
Julia’s eyes met his, her lips tugging into a grimace.
“I also know you weren’t the last one there. So, if she was alive when you left, you’re not the killer.”
Her eyebrows knitted as she flicked her gaze back to the screen.
“Watch and learn, kid.” Alex’s thumb smacked the space bar and the video played at double-speed. He tapped the key again as a face appeared on the camera. “First, the Junior G-man arrives.”
With another tap, he played the video. “He stays for about…fifteen minutes, then leaves, clutching his stomach.”
“He pulled a stitch. I don’t know what happened in that room, but I know he didn’t kill her, because she was alive when I got there…after him.”
“Buuuut you didn’t come next. We have another candidate who also couldn’t be our winner.” Alex advanced the video. “G-Force himself appears looking ready for revenge. He stays a little longer than his mini-me, but leaves looking just as riled.”
She stared at the screen as Grant emerged, his expression disturbed as he pressed a palm to his mouth before he hurried away from the apartment.
“He couldn’t have done it.” She pointed to the time stamp. “I was there after.”
“Yes, you were.” Alex played the video. “Here you come.”
Julia swallowed hard as she watched herself arrive and enter the apartment.
“And there you go,” Alex said, “after a fifteen-minute stay.”
She slid her eyes closed before she sucked in a breath. “Alex…”
“But wait, Sunshine, there’s more. The love keeps coming. After your visit, we have three more people who show up.”
He played the video. Julia’s eyebrows knitted as she leaned closer when a figure appeared on screen. “Is that…”
“Yep,” Alex said with a nod of his head, “the Gatekeeper of Harrington House. He visits for only a short period before he leaves, followed quickly by the Rideshare Rookie himself.”
“Alexander Knight,” Julia whispered as he appeared on screen, ducking into the apartment, then leaving a few minutes later.
“Wait, there’s more.” Alex played the video. Seconds later on the speeded footage, a woman entered the frame. She paused at the door before she knocked and entered the apartment.
Julia’s stomach twisted as she recognized her. “Sierra.”
“The Peak Princess is the last person to leave that apartment. I played the footage until after the news footage reporting the Wicked Witch’s death.”
Julia curled her fingers into fists as an upset-looking Sierra slid into the hall, glanced down it, and fled toward the elevator. “Oh no.”
“The evidence casts a long, unsettling shadow over the Harrington Heiress, doesn’t it?
The world will believe she’s the prime suspect, but given the location of the body’s final resting place, we can only effectively rule out Grant 1.
0 and 2.0. And possibly you…” He flicked his gaze to her.
“So, the question is…was the Duchess of Destruction still alive when you left the apartment?”
The knot in Julia’s stomach tightened at the words. She blew out a shaky breath as she slid her eyes sideways to glance at him. Her features pinched. She had to answer him, but how?