Isip my coffee, wrapped in just the hotel robe, still under the covers in my ridiculously sized suite for one. I’m not sure what it says about me that I slept harder the last two nights than I have in a very long time. Not that I feel refreshed, considering the weight of my reality woke me up with a start.
Flipping to a local news channel, my heart freezes when I see the reporter standing at the end of my driveway. The banner below her readsLocal Businessman Murdered in His Home. I try to suck in a breath, but it feels like a cement block is on my chest.
I don’t know why I’m caught off guard. Obviously, this would be newsworthy. I turn up the volume as a picture of Blake and me from a charity gala last year appears on screen.
“Blake Bennett was found dead Saturday morning, we aretold, by his wife, who was taken to the police station for further questioning. No arrests have been made at this time.”
I turn off the TV, and my shaky hand drops onto the bed. Closing my eyes, I focus on taking deep breaths. I let the rhythmic rise and fall of my chest calm my system. Taking one final breath, I open my eyes. There’s nothing I can do to change the narrative the news may spin. All I can do is take care of myself.
With the help of my new attorney.
The scene from the news slowly transforms into Chris standing in the hotel room, smiling at me, and my body’s visceral reaction changes.
The twist of my stomach now has more to do with the smoldering, dark eyes of a certain attorney. These feelings of excitement and attraction are unfamiliar. It’s been many years since I felt genuinely positive feelings for a man. Not since Blake and I were first dating, before things got bad.
I flip the comforter back and swing my legs out of bed to walk to the bathroom. I don’t have clean clothes, but at least I can take a quick shower.
I need to go see Vernon today. He called me yesterday, but I didn’t have the capacity to talk to him. But I can’t put it off. It’s embarrassing to admit that I’ll need to figure out all the things I never had access to. Like our mortgage and Blake’s cars. I’m hoping Vernon can give me some information on some of that.
By the time I make it down to the lobby, I’ve regained all of my composure. I’ve slipped back into business mode, as that is the default I’m much more comfortable with. It helps that I had sunglasses in my bag to help give myself the guise of anonymity, just in case any of the other guests watched the news this morning. I also prefer to cover the bruises as much as possible so as not to draw attention to myself.
My ride arrives just as I step outside, and I quickly climb into the backseat, greeting the driver. Thankfully, he seems as uninterested in making small talk as I am during our drive. But as the miles pass, a slight tendril of fear prickles into my skin. My hands start to tremble as we get closer to Vernon’s office. I’m surprised my legs even hold me up when I step out of the car.
On the walk into the building, I work to calm myself, knowing I need to keep my wits about me. I don’t know how Vernon is going to act around me now that Blake is gone.
Oh, and the fact that I’m being investigated for his murder.
Vernon has been loyal to Blake for so long that he even made the move to Nashville with us. If Blake and I had a different kind of relationship, I probably would’ve thought it was cute that his attorney moved with us. Maybe would’ve teased him about it good-naturedly.
But we didn’t. So I kept my mouth shut.
Now, I’m having to face a man who will undoubtedly be suspicious of me.
I should have had Chris come with me.
I pull the door open and step inside the small office. Vernon’s receptionist smiles at me, then as her eyes travel over my face, her smile starts to evaporate. She recovers slightly and says as cheerfully as possible, “Hi, can I help you?”
“Yes, I need to see Vernon. My name is Lily Bennett.”
Her gaze moves from me to her computer. “Do you have an appointment?”
My eyebrows push together in confusion.Does Vernon even have other clients besides Blake?
“Uh, no. But I think Vernon will make time for me if you let him know I’m here.”
Surely, he’s heard about Blake, since the news stations were already outside our house.
She continues to stare for a moment, and I contemplate just walking the three feet to his door. Finally, she picks up the phone and pushes a button. I can hear ringing, then a gruff, muffled voice comes through the line before she says, “Yes, there’s a Mrs. Bennett here to see you.”
Something’s said, but I can’t make it out.
“Yes, sir.” She hangs up the phone and gestures to the door. “You can go on in.”
I take the few steps to the office door, and with a hand on the cool doorknob, I take one last steadying breath before turning it and stepping inside. Vernon looks up from his computer and frowns as I approach.
Once I sit carefully in the chair in front of his desk, he points at my face. “You didn’t think you should cover that up?”
I decide to go with the truth. “I don’t have access to the house to get my makeup. The police haven’t released it.”
