Chapter 22
Vee
“Vee, are you all right?” Preston asked as our phones connected.
“I am. Thanks for taking my call.”
“I was surprised to see your name. Is this about the pillbox?”
My forehead furrowed. “What pillbox?”
“I figured Graham would have told you.”
“Are you talking about the pillbox they found in Dad’s car? How would you even know about that?”
There was silence.
“Preston, how do you know what they found in Dad’s car?”
“Grant told me.”
Shaking my head, I leaned back in the chair and exhaled. “I never realized how buddy-buddy you two were.”
“I couldn’t imagine what would happen. You have to believe me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Months ago, before the start of the season, you and I were with your family at the house in the Smoky Mountains. Do you remember?”
It was an annual event. In the early summer, before training camp and the beginning of preseason, the Hubbards and Marshes spend a long weekend in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at our family’s twelve-bedroom cabin.
The cabin belonged to everyone. It was part of Grandpa Carroll’s estate that he left equally divided between Dad and Aunt Rachel.
“I remember. Is that when yours and Grant’s bromance started?”
“We’d spent a lot of the day hiking in the mountains. When we were back at the cabin, I was hanging out by the firepit. I think you were with Leigh in the hot tub.”
“Preston, what does this have to do with the pillbox?”
“I’m getting to it.” He continued, “We were sitting outside drinking whiskey, and Grant started sneezing. He blamed it on the budding trees. I forgot what I did until I heard about the pillbox.”
My skin felt tight as I leaned forward. “What did you do?”
“I went to our room. I knew you carried that pillbox with Benadryl for your allergies. I found it in your purse and took the box to Grant. I told him to hold on to it. I meant for the weekend. I can’t recall him returning it.”
My mind was short-circuiting. “You got into my purse?”
“Vee, you usually left your leather bag open. I wasn’t rifling through your panties. I was helping your cousin.”
“You’re saying the last time you saw my pillbox, Grant had it.”
“Yes.”
“When Grant told you about the find, did he say it was mine?”
“I asked if it was. He sort of laughed and said it could be. When I asked if he’d returned it to you, he said he thought he had. He said he wasn’t going on car rides with Reid. The two of them weren’t close.”
Trying to swallow, I realized my mouth was dry.
My eyes weren’t. New tears streamed down my cheeks.
“It was my pillbox in his car? What if Dad died because he took some of my Benadryl?” Another thought materialized.
“Grant said… one day after a home game… he was pretty drunk. He told me the note wasn’t supposed to be there.
He said it would all be different. Preston, was he trying to frame me for Dad’s death? ”
“I don’t want to believe that.”
“Fin asked me about the pillbox, but he didn’t tell me what you just said.”
“I didn’t tell him the story. I hoped if I told you, you’d understand I didn’t give it to Grant for any other reason than to help his allergies.”
The reason I called came back to me. “Did you know our fathers were working together on a business deal?”
“Thoroughbred football. A lot like cricket. I don’t think it will catch on.” He paused. “I didn’t, Vee. I’m trying to joke.”
“Sorry, I’m not in a joking mood. I saw a picture of my dad with your dad at an upscale steakhouse in Lexington, taken two days before his accident. According to the detective, eyewitnesses said their dinner was contentious.”
“Do you have any more to go on than that? What were they talking about?”
“I don’t know for sure. However, I think it was about Dad’s dream of hosting a Super Bowl.
Crystal Light is more than adequate. The NFL has specific rules regarding a host city.
Lexington needs more hotels. The detective thought they were meeting because your father offered a substantial investment toward a new hotel in Lexington. ”
“Dad,” Preston said, “is working with a private hospitality firm on a hotel near Meadow Farms—The Meadow Farms Inn. The hospitality industry is making a fortune. People want to travel, but not overseas as much. Dad has the idea of a hotel with wine and bourbon tasting, an upscale restaurant, and tours of Meadow Farms. He has set his sights on a piece of the Bourbon Trail pie.”
“You haven’t heard that he was looking to invest in Lexington?”
“I haven’t. He’s had me working on the property he bought for the inn. It’s rundown, but the people he’s working with have a vision for what it could be.”
“You never said anything about this before. Is it a new endeavor?” I asked.
“Vee, whenever I talked about Meadow Farms, you zoned out. Everything was always about the Coopers.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, “about the pillbox. I don’t know how it got from Grant to Reid. Maybe he gave it to Reid to give to you?”
“It would be just as easy for him to give it directly to me.” I shrugged.
“This is just another piece of a puzzle I don’t think will ever be a complete picture.
” I remembered about Preston’s hospital stay.
“Hey, are you all right? I heard you checked yourself into an emergency clinic and you ended up staying in the hospital. Did I hear from Grant it was a stomach bug?”
“I’m better.”
“Thank you for answering my call,” I said.
“If I find out anything about Dad meeting with Reid, I’ll call you. If you’ll answer.”
“I’d appreciate any information.”
“You know,” Preston said, “Reid never said anything to me about it. It must have been something that took place after you broke up with me.”
I paused. “Bye, Preston.”
“Bye, Vee.”
After disconnecting the call, I turned off the lights in my office and walked toward the living room.
Fin was stretched out on the sofa, his tablet lying face down on his chest. His air pods were in his ears, yet by the evenness of his breathing and the way his right arm was flung over his eyes, I believed he was sound asleep.
Today was his first practice in ten days, not to mention the strengthening exercises with the trainers. I understood how tired he could be.
Gently, I lifted the tablet and hit the power button.
“Hey, you,” I whispered as I brought my lips to his.
The next thing I knew, Fin had me pinned to his chest with his right arm. My giggles filled the air.
“I wasn’t sleeping,” he said before kissing my forehead and loosening his grip.
I pushed up to see his face. “You were just resting your eyes?”
He nodded. “My eyes were tired. Not me.”
“Let’s go to bed.” I stood and reached for his right hand. “Come on. You worked hard at practice today.”
Fin stood and stretched before taking my hand.
We walked toward the bedroom. “It’s the Bills’ defense.
I’ve played them before and years ago it was different, more traditional.
Now, they have a new defensive coordinator.
He’s changed things up. It reminds me of Atlanta’s defense—more aggressive and attacking.
I wasn’t seeing the similarities at first, but now I am. ”
“You played for Atlanta for four years.” I stepped into the closet and began to disrobe. “Does that give you insight?”
Fin was standing at the vanity brushing his teeth. “I think it might. It isn’t exactly like Atlanta’s, kind of a hybrid. I’ll talk to Pratt tomorrow morning before practice.”
Wearing my panties and one of Fin’s Coopers t-shirts, one that hung to my thighs, I went into the bathroom. “Let me help you with the sling to get your shirt off.”
“Is that a proposition?”
Grinning, I took in his handsome face with the stubbly beard growth on his chiseled jaw, his high cheekbones, and his messy hair. “That depends on you.”
He shook his head. “My answer is always yes.”
“You’re not too tired? I mean you were napping.”
His sexy grin quirked. “Power nap. I can keep going all night.”