Chapter 9
Fin
The truth will come out. Reid won’t stop it—what the fuck did that mean?
Soft breaths through the darkness and the warm body curled at my side let me know that Vee was asleep. I should be too, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what her cousin said, saying Vee had motive to kill her father.
That was completely insane.
Her father’s death upended Vee’s world.
I thought about Clark’s concerns. If Vee’s uncle or cousin thought they deserved a piece of the Coopers, killing Reid before he signed the new will was counterproductive. Bre also had nothing to gain from Reid Hubbard’s demise.
The whole thing was like a puzzle, and too many pieces were still missing.
There were Clark’s ominous warnings and his text message about the pillbox, the flowers with the strange note, and Grant Marsh’s accusation. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that Daphne and Reid had an open marriage.
I kissed the top of Vee’s head. Now that I have her back, the idea of any other man touching her was unthinkable.
Moving in together was the next logical step.
However, we weren’t the kids we were in college.
I’ll wait until the end of the season, but I want more permanent monikers than boyfriend and girlfriend or roommates.
I wanted Vee to be the new and last Mrs. Graham.
Hell, she could keep her last name; I only cared that we were legally married.
Even with the sound turned off, the vibrating on my wrist let me know my phone was ringing. The face of my watch lit up with the caller’s name: Bre Stanton.
I eased away from Vee, who rolled to her other side, and I slipped from the bed. I was all the way to Vee’s home office before I answered. The clock on the screen of her desktop said it was nearly ten o’clock.
Before answering, I hit the record icon.
“Hello.”
“Fin, I’m sorry to call so late. I saw I missed a call from you earlier. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“I’m not sleeping.”
“I have been. My internal clock is as messed up as my hormones. What did you need?”
I closed the office door. “I called because of some information that’s come to light. Vee and I were wondering when the last time you saw Reid Hubbard was?”
She took a gasping breath. “I think about that night often.”
“Which night?”
“The last time we were together was Saturday evening—the night before the Raiders game. He came to my place for dinner.”
“You didn’t see him on Sunday?”
“No, game-day Sundays were always for family. I imagined that one day it would be me with him and the others watching the game from the suite.”
Vee might know the answer to my next question, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ask Bre. “Have you ever been up to the family suite?”
“Oh yes. Many times. You see, the suite isn’t available for rent, but whenever there’s an event at Crystal Light, well, other than a Coopers game, it’s available for family. Reid asked family members to RSVP before each event. In many instances, if no one else was attending, we would.”
“How many times would you say you went there?”
“Gosh,” she said, “I can’t even begin to guess.”
“Wasn’t Reid concerned with being seen?”
“Our relationship wasn’t all secretive, if that’s what you mean. I work—worked—for the Coopers organization. The people on the suite level were used to seeing me, seeing us.”
“Where were you Sunday night, the night before Reid’s accident?”
“Home.”
“Can anyone verify that?”
“Fin, the police have already asked me these questions. The only proof I have of being here is my cell phone signal. I never left my place. I didn’t even go to the Raiders game at Crystal Light.
Honestly, at that time, my morning sickness was affecting me twenty-four seven. I watched the game on TV.”
“Do you know where Reid went that Sunday evening?”
“I would assume home. He called me as I was going to bed. We spoke for a few minutes and said we’d see one another in the morning. We didn’t.”
“Just a few more questions,” I said. “Was Reid usually punctual?”
“Overly so.”
“Was he ever late for his day-after-game meetings with Coach Tilson?”
“Those meetings weren’t on his schedule.”
“When you arrived at Maker’s Mark and he wasn’t yet in, did it alarm you?”
“It didn’t. I assumed he was with Coach Tilson in the coach’s office. It wasn’t until everyone—all the Marshes—asked to be let into his office and closed the door that I even began to imagine anything was awry.”
“Now, my question.” Bre said. “What are all of these questions about?”
“All I can say is that Vee is getting conflicting information. She wants to get to the truth.”
“The truth is that I loved and still love Reid. I don’t trust Daphne.
No one should. If anyone had reason to hurt Reid it was her.
She could have done something with Reid’s medications.
I don’t know, put extra sleeping pills in his coffee.
Reid told me that he and Daphne often argued about divorce, saying she threatened to fight it—fight him.
She told him she wouldn’t be pushed away like Olivia. ”
“Olivia?” I questioned.
“Reid’s first wife.”
It felt wrong to push, but this might be my only opportunity. I knew so little about Vee’s mother. “Reid pushed Olivia away?”
“No. He wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t handle having a child. Reid said she totally changed after Vee was born. She was unpredictable. He couldn’t trust her around their own daughter. He hired nannies because he didn’t feel safe leaving Vee alone with Olivia.”
“And he told you that?” I pushed.
“It was a long time before I met Reid. How else would I know about her?”
Good point.
“Is Vee well?” Bre asked.
The small hairs on my arms stood to attention. “Vee is well. She’s asleep.”
“I want to reach out to her, but I’ve been advised against it.”
“She received similar advice. That’s why I called you. I appreciate you being frank with me.” I paused. “Why are you asking about Vee?”
“Friendly concern, I guess. Tell her I said hi and congratulations on the Coopers’ great season.”
“It’s not over yet.”
“No, it’s not. Reid would be so happy.”
“Thanks again,” I said. “Goodbye.”
I watched as the screen of my phone went dark. Bringing it back to life, I ended the recording and tried to reason with myself. Friendly concern, that was the only reason for Bre’s question.