I spent my life fighting for a place to belong. I ignored the whispers and my needs and focused on the beauty of this town. On the openness and goodness of many of the residents. On Jeremy because of course I did and because I worried if I didn’t, if I faltered at all, Xavier would swoop in and take him.
I fought and worked and staked out only a fewdo not cross this linepositions to survive. But, standing there, I had no idea what to say to Cam’s revisionist history about supporting me.
Cam leaned in. “I couldn’t protect Xavier. I will make sure no one hurts his son.”
“You couldn’t...” Cam’s insinuations had me whispering and stunned and totally confused. “What are you implying? He died of a heart attack. He was almost eighty.”
“He was fit with the best doctors and best medicine.”
My mind refused to venture in the direction of another murdered Tanner. Xavier died from natural causes. No one but Cam suggested any different. “He wasn’t superhuman.”
“He lost his family. He was determined not to lose you and Jeremy—”
I snorted because I couldn’t help it. “That’s not the way I remember it.”
“Then Aubrey appeared.”
A sobering thought. “You think she, what, poisoned him? Did he even know she was in town?”
“Just be wary. She’s smart. Don’t let her fool you. She’s also ruthless.”
I watched Cam walk away, more confused than I was before we talked. He wanted me to be skeptical of Aubrey. I was too busy wondering what he was trying to hide.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Stella
We stood in the entry of Xavier’s sprawling house. Make that Jeremy’s house. Either way, Hanna, Marni, and I waited for our invited guest with more than a little apprehension. The tight band closing over my chest made it difficult to breathe.
“This is a terrible idea.” I’d mentioned that four or five times in the last twenty minutes.
“Do we have any other type lately?” Hanna asked with her gaze locked on that closed front door.
She’d texted us from the police station earlier, ready to fight. Questions about the possibility of Jeremy torching the café set Hanna off. Understandably. The idea sounded ridiculous, as if blaming him was easier than finding him.
Hanna’s rampage included a lot of yelling and plans to confront anyone who might have a clue as to Jeremy’s whereabouts. Her arguments avoided logic. She operated on pure emotion.
I couldn’t blame her, but I could rein her in. That meant clearing my patient schedule. Again. With little warning, I grabbed Marni and dragged her over here with me. But we were a beat too late. Hanna had already acted.
“I can’t believe you called him,” Marni said.
Hanna snorted. “He left his contact card. I used it.”
The doorbell tolled its dignified bong a second time. We still didn’t answer. My body froze to the floor. Every brain cell begged me to throw the lock and shut all of this out.
Hanna had other ideas. She walked to the door with slow, unsure steps. Her usual confidence had abandoned her. Under all that rage, all that determination and will, her worry had her fumbling. She’d spent days without Jeremy and every hour took a toll.
Her shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath as she reached for the knob. One pull and Gabe filled the doorway... Or whatever his real name was.
His smile faded as he glanced over Hanna’s shoulder. To me. To Marni. To our army of reluctant and unqualified crusaders.
“I thought this was a one-on-one interview.” His fake smile immediately returned. “But hearing from all of you will be better.”
Little did he know.
“Come in.” Hanna gestured for him to head for the family room and moved around him to lead the way.
With each step his gaze wandered. He took in the walls and the paintings. Peeked into the rooms. We traveled in a small group, then sat down, leaving Gabe alone in the middle of the couch. Marni and I took the chairs across from him. Hanna stayed on her feet. She probably wanted to keep her balance in case she decided to take a swing at him.
