“Because we aren’t just dealing with Pocher. It’s the Society. And Dad’s part of that.”
“He called me and told me he had the charity event called off. He wasn’t happy.”
“It was necessary. And of course, he called you and not me. Considering he had no remorse talking to me about my attack. Makes you wonder why he doesn’t want to talk to me now. Maybe he thinks Kane’s crash will get me thinking about Mom’s.”
“You really think he was a part of killing Mom?”
“I have no proof, but if I ever get it, I won’t kill. I’ll put him in jail where he will rot for the rest of his life.”
“And I’ll help you.”
My cellphone rings and Murphy is on the caller ID. I think about my mother being with Lucas’s father that night, about the thoughts Lucas and I had about them having an affair. And yet, Murphy says he was the one having an affair with her. I glance at Andrew. “Something about my boss I didn’t tell you,” I say. “Kane says he was involved with Pocher before Mom died, but he says he was in love with Mom. Let’s find out.”
Andrew stands up. “Lilah—”
I answer the call. “Director.”
“I managed to get to the right person in the right spot of government, and with the right clearances. They’re digging around to find the origin of the weapon we’re dealing with. They also gave me a list of the contract suppliers they use and I’ve gotten that to Tic Tac to begin research.”
“Perfect. That should help. Tell me, Director Murphy, why exactly were you involved with Pocher for the months leading up to my mother’s death?”
I glance up to find Kane standing in the doorway and there is no judgment on his face. He knows what I know. When the evidence is slim, sometimes being direct is all you have left.
“And why didn’t I tell you?” he asks, and he sounds unfazed. “Let me answer both questions. I was investigating your father. That’s how I met your mother. And Pocher was trying to save him. And right or wrong of me, you’d lost your mother. Dirtying up your father more than he had himself didn’t seem necessary.”
“Investigating him for what?”
“I’ll send you the file. Share it with Andrew if you wish. And if you want to know why Lucas’s father was killed right along with her, that’s an easy answer. He was going to turn on your father. Read the file. Let me know if you want to talk. And perhaps my judgment to keep you in the dark was poor, but it was in the proper spirit of protecting you. Anything else?”
“No. I’ll watch for the file.”
“Goodnight, Lilah.” He hangs up.
“What just happened?” Andrew asks.
I grab my bag that is still at my hip, pull it over my head, and sit at the desk, removing my MacBook and powering it to life. The file hits my inbox and I open it and begin to scan. I turn the MacBook around to let Andrew read what is there. “Murphy was investigating Dad. And Lucas’s father was going to testify against him. Pocher was trying to intervene with Murphy. That’s how he met Mom.”
My eyes meet Kane’s. “We both have an immediate situation to handle. Then we get married. And next comes this. We deal with my father once and for all.”
“Yes, beautiful,” Kane says. “We will.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Andrew stares at the documents Murphy sent for a few more beats and then straightens, scrubbing the dirty blond stubble there. “I just sent the file to myself. I’m not going to look at it any further until this case is done or I’ll lose focus.”
“Agreed,” I say.
Andrew rounds the desk and pulls me to my feet, holding me close. And for once I don’t hate it. “Damn him,” he whispers in my ear.
“Yes. Damn him.”
He pulls back and studies me a moment. “You okay?”
“You know I’m tough.”
“I know you’re human, but I’m glad you have Kane, Lilah. He won’t let them take you, too.”
“Then you can come to a New Year’s Eve wedding?”
“Where?”
“Boston,” I say. “I’ll email you details. A few people and us, away from all of this.”
“I’ll be there. I’ll let you work. Let me know what Marilyn does.”
I nod and he heads for the door. Kane backs out of the doorway to allow him to exit. Andrew says something to him that I can’t make out and then Kane is back. He closes the space between me and him and rounds the desk to stand in front of me.
He cups my face. “You are not another version of your father. Decide that right now, the way I did years ago.”
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s not even my father.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Sunday morning, I wake up on my belly to rain pitter-pattering on the window and Kane’s leg draped across my legs. I want to stay here forever. But alas, the murders. I have to solve the murders. So instead of luxuriating with my husband-to-be, I grab my phone to find about a hundred text messages. Bottom line, everyone is working hard. One tidbit I grab from the messages immediately: Marilyn dumped the disposable she was using and is now at her cabin in New Hampshire, alone it seems.
I set the phone down and roll over to face Kane. “What are you going to do about Miguel?”
“Good morning,” he says. “How did you sleep, Lilah?”
“Good morning. And fine.” I press my hand to his face. “He tried to kill you.”
“I’m going to replace him, but it will take some time.”
“So he just gets to carry on?”
“I could get rid of him now and take over the cartel, but neither of us wants that.”
“He tried to kill you, Kane. That’s my answer to anything you say about him staying.”
“I need coffee. You need coffee.”
He and his naked self get up and leave me in bed. And unfortunately, I have to pee too badly to follow right now. I hurry into the bathroom, pull on a robe, brush my teeth, and head downstairs. There’s a fresh cup of coffee waiting on me.
“I have a plan,” he says, setting it in front of me. “Trust me.”
“Tell me the plan, Kane. This is one of those times when I need you to trust me.”
“After we’re married.”
“You really think I’d ever testify against you?”
“I don’t, but I’m also never going to put you in a position to lie under oath for me, Lilah. Ever. I know what I’m doing. And it’s what’s best for us. In fact, I need to take care of a few things this afternoon. What is your plan?”
“I have an army working this case. I think I’ll go look for a wedding dress.”
His eyes warm. “That sounds like an excellent plan. And tomorrow we can go get our license.”
“That works,” I say, claiming a barstool. “But this morning my gut is telling me to go to Boston. Maybe the missing piece of the puzzle I need to stop the killings is there. Any chance you can leave after we get the license? And we can check out the hotel and the island? Wait. Do we need a license in Boston? I’m not sure how this works. I’m a marriage virgin.”