“Don’t mention anything about this to anyone yet, alright?”
There was another long pause. “Okay, Sheriff. See you in twenty.”
The phone line went dead, and I sat there in my truck, staring down Main Street and wishing against all odds that I hadn’t been duped. That this entire affair with Xavier hadn’t been a lie.
I wasn’t sure I could survive such a thing.
Chapter 19
Marcus
The front door to the office opened and Lucas stepped inside. I’d been waiting for him, watching the road from my window. Mrs. Baxter barely got a chance to say hello before I beckoned him inside.
“Take a seat,” I said, pointing to the chair in front of my desk. “I’ve got some questions for you.”
“I figured as much,” Lucas replied, his shoulders tense. “What’s going on, Marcus? Is Xavier in trouble or something?”
I took a seat and stared at Lucas for a long moment, trying to figure out how to approach this. He was Xavier’s best friend, had known him for years. If anyone could tell me whether Xavier was capable of theft, it would be him. But I also had to be careful not to reveal too much about my personal involvement.
“I’m investigatin’ the series of thefts that have been happening around town,” I said carefully. “And Xavier’s name has come up in connection with some of them.”
Lucas’s eyes widened. “You think Xavier is stealing?”
“I’m not saying that,” I replied, though the evidence was screaming it at me. “I’m just followin’ leads. Xavier has been present at multiple locations where items have gone missing. He had access to Dolly’s apartment where some expensive itemswere stolen last night. His stature fits the footprints found at the scene as well. I need to know if he would have any motivation to do something like this or a history of theft.”
Lucas leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “Marcus, I’ve known Xavier for almost ten years. He’s a lot of things. He can be difficult, he’s definitely high-maintenance, and he’s got a sharp tongue. But he’s not a thief.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because he doesn’t need to steal,” Lucas said firmly. “Xavier is one of the most successful wedding planners in New York City. He’s done events for celebrities, politicians, millionaires. He charges a minimum of fifty thousand dollars per wedding, and he books at least twenty weddings a year. Do the math, Marcus. The man makes over a million dollars annually. What reason would he have to steal?”
I felt some of the tension in my chest ease slightly, but I couldn’t let myself off the hook that easily. “Money isn’t always the motivation for theft.”
“I know that,” Lucas said. “But Xavier isn’t the type to steal for thrills either. He’s a perfectionist, Marcus. Everything in his life is carefully controlled and planned. Stealing would be too messy, too risky. It would jeopardize everything he’s built. If there’s one thing Xavier doesn’t risk, it’s his career.”
I wrote that down in my notebook, though my hand was still shaking slightly. “What about his history? Has he ever been in trouble before? Any financial problems, gamblin’ debts, anythin’ like that?”
Lucas shook his head. “Nothing like that. His only vice is designer clothes and expensive wine, but he can afford both on his salary.” He paused, studying me with those perceptive eyes. “Marcus, you can’t seriously be thinking Xavier is doing these things. You two seemed to be getting along so well.”
I swallowed hard, doing everything I could not to show just how well Xavier and I had been getting on. “Like I said, I’m just followin’ all the leads. I can’t leave any stone unturned when there’s a thief in Sagebrush.”
“I’ll tell you anything I can,” Lucas replied, sitting back in his chair. “But I can tell you right now that Xavier didn’t do this. I’d stake our entire friendship on it.”
I nodded. Lucas was a good judge of character, that much I knew. But I still had to ask.
“Beau told me Xavier is doing your weddin’ planning for free,” I said, trying not to sound accusatory. “As a gift. But he regularly charges tens of thousands of dollars.” I let the statement sink in for a moment. “And you said he has a penchant for designer items. Everythin’ that’s gone missin’ is designer or one of a kind.”
My tone was steady, my words were chosen carefully, and I did everything I could to make it sound like a simple statement. But the moment those words left my lips, Lucas crossed his arms over his chest, and a scowl filled his face.
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing from you, Marcus Webb,” he said, no small amount of irritation in his voice. “Xavier came to Sagebrush to plan my wedding as a gift, he’s managed everything, he’s thrown bachelor parties, and he’s even gone out of his way to be damn friendly to you since you’re having such a hard time with beingyourself.”
The words stung, there was no denying it. And clearly there were no secrets between Beau and his fiancé. Lucas knew full well what I was trying to hide, and he had every right to be angry.
I felt my face flush hot with shame. Lucas was right. Xavier had been nothing but kind to me, had helped me start to accept myself in ways I’d been running from my whole life. And here I was, ready to throw him under the bus based on circumstantial evidence because… if I looked deep down, I was too scared tobelieve someone like him could actually care about someone like me. There had to be a catch.
“Lucas, I?—”
“No, let me finish,” he cut me off, leaning forward in his chair. “Do you have any idea what it took for Xavier to come out here? He hates small towns. He hates rural living. He’s miserable away from the city. But he came anyway because I asked him to. Because he cares about me and Beau enough to sacrifice his own comfort for weeks.”
