“This could be what we need,” he said. “But don’t think this is your get-out-of-jail-free card. It helps, but they can always come up with more bogus charges.”
I leaned against the bedroom windows, taking in the city lights. “How are you certain they’re bogus?”
“You reported fifty-three dollars in interest on one of the returns. The rest of the interest transactions far exceeded that amount. It would’ve been very easy for you to skip that one.”
I was aware of exactly which account he spoke of. It was the remainder of a bank account my mother had set up in my trust. Over the years, it had dwindled to an amount that barely earned any interest, but I couldn’t close the account on principle. I’d never even taken her name off of it.
And I was mildly impressed Zegas had noted such a minute detail. There were pages of documents for that section alone of my returns. The knowledge that he picked through even what seemed to be insignificant bolstered my confidence.
“How can we use this to our advantage?” I was ready for him to charge the authorities so they’d have to let this investigation go.
“We sit on it until the time is right. If we aren’t strategic, they can come up with a way around it.” A chair creaked in the background.
“How? They support us with their own audits.”
“And you don’t think they’d say those were incorrect? Or come up with some other charges in addition? We aren’t playing with some namby-pamby schmuck slapping you with a bogus lawsuit.”
“If they’re just going to keep charging me until something sticks, what’s the point in fighting?” I turned my back on the city I loved.
“Because if you’re innocent, we can win.” Then he snorted. “Actually, if you’re not, I can make that happen too.”
Smug bastard. Though he’d earned the right to be. His reputation supported his statement.
“My freedom is the most important aspect to concentrate on. I’m aware there are many battlefronts, but don’t let the faulty title work become a distraction.”
Talking with Lexie had reminded me of that. I’d become so bogged down in the chaos of the situation, I’d lost sight of that.
If I were behind bars, everything else was irrelevant. What purpose did it serve to own all those properties if I wasn’t able to tend to them?
“I’m trying to keep you that way,” he said confidently. “And send over the records you have regarding the audits.” He groaned. “With all of your paperwork, I’m going to have to get a bigger office space just to store it.”
I started to remind him we had digital storage capabilities in this century to alleviate problems such as that, but decided to keep the snide comment to myself.
“Keep me out of prison.”
“That’s the plan.”
I hung up and tossed the phone on the nightstand. Lexie lay partially on my pillow, watching my every move.
“Can it help? she asked hopefully.
“Maybe.” I wasn’t as confident as I’d been before the conversation, but I had no doubt Zegas was already formulating a plan to use the information.
I climbed back in bed, careful not to disturb Muffy, who was peacefully sleeping. This was what I wanted. This was what I had to lose.
I wasn’t ready to let go of it. I wouldn’t ever be.
I hesitated before I switched off the lights. My view was gone, but feeling Lexie beside me was as good as seeing her.
She was here.
She hadn’t run.
And I needed her to give me strength.
Because as soon as I closed my eyes, there wasn’t peace. Dark red was all I saw. Blood. A river of it. Flowing from my mother’s lifeless body.
Zegas and his damn questions.
The nightmare replayed in my mind. I’d been late. I’d done nothing but stand by and watch helplessly instead of screaming or following the gunman.
My eyes flew open.
How had I not realized it before?
I’d only seen the back of the shooter. He’d worn a long black trench coat with the hood over his head.
I could conjure up his form in a split second at any given time. He was ingrained in my memories and frustrated me because I’d never seen his face.
I scrambled for details as I desperately tried to go back to the scene. I’d always focused on the raised arm and gun gleaming in the afternoon sun.
The coat had given the illusion the arm was wider around than it seemed. That combined with my assumptions had led me to make a mistake.
I tried to see beyond that arm and back. In my head, I scanned down the body, trying to recollect details I’d missed.
The murder may have happened over thirty years ago, and I recognized that traumatic events had a way of altering the mind.
But I had no doubt, the murderer wasn’t what I’d thought for all this time. The height and lack of focus had thrown me off.
My mother’s killer wasn’t a man.
It was a woman.
And she’d been wearing stilettos.
Why was this coming back to me now?
And how the hell were they related?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lexie
“Where have you been, stranger?”
Beau sat at the kitchen island, smoothie in hand and dressed for work. I hadn’t seen her last night. She seemed to come and go at odd hours, though I imagined if we weren’t here, Lincoln would do the same.
“Working like crazy.” She glanced away.
I had a feeling that was only partially true.
“Lincoln should go back to work to help you. We can figure out how to make our deliveries.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I’m so sorry, Lexie. I should’ve driven you yesterday.”
Thank goodness she hadn’t. Half a day with her behind the wheel had been harrowing enough, though I appreciated the gesture.
“You’ve helped so much. We can’t ask any more of you.”
“Is it because I almost ripped off your side mirror?” She flashed an apologetic smile from behind her glass.
“I’m pretty sure it was the parallel parking that did it.” I grinned. She really was an awful driver.
She made a face at me before she turned serious. “How are you feeling?”
I opened the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of water. “Better. My head still has a dull pain but it’s nothing like it was.”
I rubbed the tender spot on my skull where I’d hit the concrete floor. It was truly a wonder I hadn’t sustained a fracture.
“That’s good news. Hopefully, the doctor’s report in a few days will be all clear.”
It had to be. I didn’t have more time to be so hands off in our business. The sip of water didn’t settle well at the thought of how we were going to keep it together. We needed to get back to a schedule instead of this winging it arrangement we were doing.
“Hope so.”
“Where’s Lincoln?”
I blushed thinking about Muffy delivering her my tank top. “He needed to go to the office for a while before helping us with our route today.” Guilt washed over me. It wasn’t fair he was having to work twice as hard to cover for my shortcomings.
“I have a few things to do this morning before I head that way. If you talk to him, will you tell him I postponed the closing on the Ludlow property? I’m waiting for an inspection report.”