“At the end of your father’s life, Elliot was supportive of both of us. More than his own children ever were.”
“I saw my father just before he died.”
Courtney’s eyes sharpened. “When? I was with him every day.”
“Right before he went to Dublin.” A muscle twitched under Courtney’s eye, and the Doctor raised horrified eyes to Cara’s stepmother.
“Dublin?” Courtney’s intense gaze met the older man’s.
“You weren’t there, and I found my father in his bedroom.” Cara left out the part about asking for a job. “He was very ill. That’s why I was so surprised to learn he was planning a trip.”
“Who told you that?” Courtney looked accusingly at Elliott Keller, who gave a faint shake of his head. Cara’s stomach sank. She hadn’t wanted to believe that the man she had always viewed as an uncle played a role in what happened.
Cara ignored the question. “Why did my father think he was being poisoned?”
Courtney’s jaw fell open. “What are you talking about? Your father wasn’t poisoned!” She gave a dramatic sigh, and then continued in a pitying voice. “I know it’s difficult to accept when someone as powerful as David dies. It’s natural, I suppose, to want to blame someone, and I guess as your father’s widow, I’m the easy target.” She made an exaggerated pout. “Particularly when things were so difficult between the two of you. I’m sure you hoped to show your father someone he could be proud of, and now it’s too late. At least he never saw the humiliating mess you made after he died. I can’t imagine how devastated he would have been if he’d known what you had done. How could he show his face knowing all of his friends had seen his daughter’s tits.”
“That’s enough!” Dr. Keller snapped.
“My brothers and I know what you did, and we are going to prove it.”
Courtney rolled her eyes, but Cara pushed on. “For a long time, I thought Declan was just bitter about Bloom Communications, but after what Mrs. Woodson revealed, I think he’s right.”
“The housekeeper? I can’t imagine what she thinks she knows.” Despite Courtney’s tone, the twitching muscle was back.
“She worked for my father her entire life, and Declan has taken care of her since. Did you know they still meet for lunch?”
Courtney shrugged, but Cara didn’t miss the worried glance she shot the Doctor.
“She told Declan that my father refused to eat anything that wasn’t prepared by her and only drank from water bottles opened in front of him. Certainly sounds like he thought he was being poisoned. Who knows what she’ll remember next?”
Courtney’s skin paled. “David never mentioned that to me.”
“Why would he? You were the one poisoning him!”
“Keep your voice down, you little bitch. Haven’t you embarrassed your family enough?”
Dr. Keller took Courtney’s arm but addressed Cara.
“This is your mother’s wedding. The last thing she wants is a scene. I know you are upset, Cara, and if you or Declan have questions about David’s last days, I am always available to you.”
Courtney yanked her arm away and, without a word, stalked off. His eyes followed her as she made her way into the house.
“Crystal comes across as cold and uncaring, but she loved David in her way. She never left his side.”
“I know. She made sure we couldn’t get near him,” Cara said bitterly.
Dr. Keller frowned. “I know it’s hard to hear, but it was difficult for him to be around Declan. James and Luke had no interest in their father for the last decade. It’s not a surprise that he didn’t turn to them.”
“My father and I didn’t have any problems!”
“At the end, the last thing David needed was to be upset. We knew he was failing, but we were all hoping that the specialists would find a diagnosis. That trip might have been what finished him. He was supposed to go in for some more extensive tests, but he never showed up. None of us knew where he had gone.”
“Exactly. He didn’t tell anyone where he was going because he felt like he was in danger!”
“Then why return to the house?” His expression seemed genuine, and Cara couldn’t deny that was a sticking point. If her father had believed his wife was poisoning him, why go back? Why not stay in Dublin or one of his other homes?
“I don’t know why he did that, but I know someone killed my father.”
