Chapter 42
I’M BACK INSIDE SPENCER HOUSE. WET FROM THE RAIN, MY SUITCASES, purse, and laptop bag sit forlornly on the foyer floor. I’m shaking with cold, teeth chattering. Alex brings me a brandy as I sit by the fireplace.
“I’ll call my mechanic, Emma. What you really need is a new car. We’ll get your old one fixed, but then I’ll take you car shopping.”
I sip my brandy. I don’t know what else to do. Alex is prattling on like the good father, like I hadn’t just tried to run away. My heart has stopped pounding, my fear for my immediate safety ebbing, and I almost feel sleepy.
“I understand you’re upset by all that’s happened,” he says, going to the window, where the rain, heavy now, is beating against the macadam road. “But promise me you won’t try to take off again. Okay? And that you’ll talk to the detectives.”
“Of course. I panicked, I guess. The thought of facing the police.” I’m telling him what he wants to hear. There’s no way I’m staying here.
“Nothing to worry about. I’ll be with you every step of the way. Relax today. Tow truck is on the way. I’ll call the detectives and tell them that we’ll be in in a day or two to talk. That gives us time.”
Time to get a good story put together? I think to myself.
Alex the storyteller. That’s literally what he is.
I think of what Noah said about him. How he expects everything to go his way.
Reality doesn’t stand in the way of a good yarn.
Carol and he broke up. She packed up and left.
She was perfectly fine when she drove away from Spencer House.
Neat and tidy. Alex goes on with his perfect life.
I settle back into Mary’s room, hoping I can get away before the trip to the police station.
What am I going to do? I text Noah. I need to know what he found out that’s got the police zeroing in on Alex.
But my text goes unanswered. Then I notice that a text had come in while I was downstairs. Another unknown number. I click on it.
You are not safe! Leave Spencer House!
My breath catches and my hands shake. It occurs to me that maybe this isn’t from Sunny.
Not this time or the original warning either.
It can’t be Noah. He’d use his own phone, and he’d just call me or send a text that actually made sense.
But who? Then my mind goes to Aubrey. Did she leave because she felt unsafe?
Is she hiding out somewhere using a burner phone so she can’t be found?
I text back.
Who is this? Aubrey?
There is no answer. I see that the text came in a couple of hours ago.
I pace the room. Without my car, I’m trapped.
The walk into town is many miles. We’re out in the middle of nowhere here, isolated in the countryside.
I’m going to have to play the dutiful, grateful daughter until I get my car back.
I should be safe as long as Alex thinks I can help him. And maybe Noah will be back soon.
Later, I make my way downstairs and look out the window. My car is gone, towed away. Alex is still in his office. A black Lexus pulls into the driveway. Sunny. Just what I need.
She gives me the evil eye as she walks past me and hammers on the office door.
Alex opens up, smiles. “I didn’t think you’d be back tonight, Sun.”
“We’ve got some issues, Dad.”
Alex’s gaze shifts over her shoulder, lands on me. “I think everything will be sorted out in short order. Let’s not panic.”
“Have you seen any of the coverage?”
“Haven’t looked.”
“It’s not good. The cops are talking to the press about Simon and how their suspects are all out here at the lake.”
“We knew that already, and it’s come to nothing so far. It has nothing to do with me anyway. I wasn’t even here when Simon was killed.”
“Still, it’s a bad look. And now they’ve shifted to Carol Lawson’s disappearance and they’re trying to link the two incidents together. Not to mention Jeffrey’s grandmother’s death.”
Alex shakes his head. “There’s nothing linking any of those things, Sunny.”
“They’re putting it all out there to see what might come out of the woodwork. They’re poking the bear, so to speak. Dad, this isn’t good. I’ve had two of the bookstores on your tour reach out wondering if you’re going to cancel on them.”
“Why would I cancel?” He smiles at me. “Everything will be fine.” He cups her chin in his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got to get back to work.” Alex turns and heads into his office.
I head upstairs before Sunny has a chance to turn on me.