Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Imogene
I breathed in the cool ocean air as I made my way up the succulent-lined path and onto my front porch, pulling my suitcase behind me.
A few weeks ago, I welcomed the perfect climate here in California, if for no other reason than because it was symbolic of my fresh start.
Now it only served as a reminder this wasn’t the fresh start I thought it would be.
Instead, my past followed me here.
I still wasn’t sure what to do with the truth about Gideon…Samuel.
I almost wished he hadn’t told me. Wished I never knew.
One minute, my heart ached for Gideon.
The next, his story seemed too farfetched to be real.
Did Liam really shoot Samuel all because he didn’t want to sell Cloud Hero to ImageScape, like Liam wanted? Granted, Gideon’s claim that Alton bought up a bunch of stock in anticipation of the sale was certainly believable.
But Liam? A murderer? I still struggled with that.
Hell, I still struggled with everything.
I wanted to believe Gideon, but I couldn’t forget all the lies he’d told me. Was all of this yet another lie? Was any of it real, even all those years ago?
How was I supposed to reconcile the man I thought I loved with the man he was now?
With the killer he was now?
Approaching the front door, I entered my code into the keypad, wanting nothing more than to crawl into my bed and pretend the past week never happened, if only for a few hours.
But the instant I walked inside, I was greeted with an unexpected reminder of Samuel.
Ollie barreled toward me, his tail feverishly wagging as he jumped up to greet me. All the tears I’d kept at bay since yesterday afternoon rushed forward, especially as I recalled each and every time Gideon had interacted with Ollie.
I said from the beginning that Ollie seemed to take to him much quicker than any other man. Now I knew why.
Allowing my purse to slide off my shoulder, I dropped to the floor, wrapping my arms tightly around Ollie as he showered me with kisses.
“You knew all along, didn’t you? You knew your daddy was still alive.”
He barked excitedly, continuing to lick my face.
“And you still forgave him? Didn’t care that he’d been gone for years?”
Ollie nuzzled into me almost in apology, his nose wet against my skin.
“I get it,” I said with a heavy sigh. “You missed him and were just happy to see him again.” I leaned against the wall, extending my legs in front of me, scratching the spot behind his ears that he loved so much. “I wish I could be as happy as you, Ol. I just… I don’t know whether to trust him. Or believe him.”
I clutched his adorable face in my hands, some of the tan fur around his nose and brow turning white with age.
“Can you tell me what I’m supposed to do? How I can just trust him again?”
For a fraction of a second, I truly believed Ollie was about to impart some pearls of wisdom on me.
Instead, a knock sounded, followed by a familiar voice.
“Ginny? You home?”
Ollie’s formerly excited expression fell, and he growled, baring his teeth.
For the first time in all the years I’d known Liam, my reaction sort of mirrored Ollie’s.
My pulse quickened, a bout of nerves washing over me at the idea of talking to him after everything Gideon shared with me. I wasn’t sure if I could face him without letting on that I knew something.
Then I remembered what Gideon asked of me. That if I had any doubt about his story, all I needed to do was mention the police had reached out regarding Samuel’s death. That Liam’s reaction would tell me everything I needed to know.
Although I had a feeling I’d known all along.
Drawing in a deep breath, I pulled myself to my feet, doing my best to fix my expression into a mask of indifference.
“Liam,” I greeted cordially after opening the door and slipping onto the front porch, not inviting him inside as I normally would.
I could only pray he didn’t read too much into my demeanor. After all, we hadn’t spoken since our argument in Pebble Beach. At least I had that to help explain any changes in my behavior.
“Hey, Gin.”
“What are you doing here? I?—”
“Is it too late for an apology?” He gave me a sheepish smile, shifting from foot to foot.
It was hard for me to imagine Liam being capable of all the things Gideon accused him of.
But people probably could have said the same about my sperm donor. He was a genius. A well-respected college professor.
Yet that didn’t stop him from ending the lives of dozens of innocent women.
Or making my mother’s life a living hell for years.
Or kidnapping me and forcing me to witness the worst of humanity.
“An apology?” I crossed my arms in front of my chest and leaned against the exterior siding.
“For the way I behaved in Pebble Beach. I was angry and confused, and I said some things that hurt you. I just care about you, Imogene. That’s all. I want what’s best for you. And Gideon Saint…”
At the name, I swallowed hard, my pulse kicking up. I hoped he didn’t notice my sudden intake of air or the way I fidgeted with my hands.
“I know you have feelings for him,” he continued, his jaw clenching. “There may be nothing I can do or say to make you change your mind, but as your friend, I can’t just stand aside and remain silent. And it’s not out of jealousy or whatever my actions may have led you to believe. It’s because I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t say something and you ended up like Alton.”
“This again? Liam, I?—”
“I know.” He dug his fingers through his hair in frustration as he paced the short length of my front porch. “But between the attack at the club, the body on my boat, and now Alton’s sudden death? There’s something going on.”
“You’re right. I think there is something suspicious going on.”
He straightened, darting his eyes to mine, obviously surprised by my response.
“You do?”
“Why else would a detective contact me yesterday?”
“They…did?” he stammered.
If I didn’t know Liam this well, I wouldn’t have thought anything of his reaction. But I knew him. Knew his tells. And the way he repeatedly swallowed and blinked told me he was nervous.
“Yesterday.”
“About what?”
“Alton’s death.” I chewed on my lower lip. “Although I guess it was more about Samuel.”
His face blanched. “Samuel?”
I nodded. “He asked if I could remember the last time he may have visited Alton’s cabin.” I feigned confusion. “Do you know why that would matter?”
He forced a smile, but didn’t look directly at me. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
I knew for a fact Liam was more than aware of why the police might want to find out the last time Samuel Tate had been at Alton’s cabin. That Liam would easily lie about this told me he’d have no problem lying about other things, too.
“He also asked about Samuel’s death,” I continued when he didn’t embellish further.
“He did?”
“He said they may have uncovered some new evidence about what happened to him. To Samuel,” I clarified.
“Did he say what this evidence was?”
“Only that it was an ongoing investigation,” I replied coolly, a complete juxtaposition to Liam’s unease. “Which is why I wanted to ask you. See if you knew anything more.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in several more hard swallows, his expression becoming paler by the second.
“Sorry to say I don’t. But if I hear anything, I’ll be sure to let you know. What did you say this detective’s name was?”
I squinted, pretending to wrack my brain.
“I can’t remember. You know how bad I am at remembering names.”
“Right.”
He ran his fingers through his hair for what seemed like the tenth time, then cleared his throat.
“Well, I’ll let you get back to your evening. I’m behind on work after everything that’s happened, but I wanted to stop by. Make sure you were okay. That we were okay. Maybe we can have a movie night sometime soon when life slows down a bit.”
“I’d like that.”
“Me, too.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss on my cheek.
It took everything inside me to keep my cool. But I somehow managed to mask my emotions as if my life depended on it.
In a way, it did.
When Liam finally pulled back and started down the stairs, I rushed inside. His retreating voice sounded from the other side of the door and I moved toward the bay windows, watching him hurry toward his car with his cell glued to his ear, his posture rigid.
I held my breath, straining to listen to what he was saying over the clicking of Ollie’s nails against the hardwood floor. I gestured for my dog to come to me, and he eagerly obeyed, allowing me to make out Liam’s side of the conversation through the slight opening in my window.
“I’m flying out there tonight,” Liam barked into his phone. “We have a problem. Some detective called Ginny and is asking what happened to Sam. You need to fix this. I am not going down for his murder.”
When he reached his luxury SUV and looked back at my house, I quickly ducked down, not so much as breathing until I heard the familiar sound of his car rumbling down the street.
The reality of everything Liam just confirmed instantly sank in, shattering my world into a million pieces. Liam really did it. He planned to kill his best friend and business partner, then conspired with James and Alton to cover it up.
And being the trusting, na?ve girl I’d always been, I never suspected him. In fact, I invited him into my bed. All along, I was sleeping with the person who’d taken away the man I loved.
My entire body shook uncontrollably as my sobs overtook me, a heart-wrenching wail echoing in the house. Sensing my distress, Ollie whimpered beside me, trying to offer comfort in any way he could.
“He did it, buddy,” I managed to choke out. “The bastard really did it.”