Page 66 of Carnal Risk

“Oh she’s the best all right. She stole top secret information. Do you realize that you can go to jail for this?”

“Now hold on a second,” Lars interrupted.

“No, Lars. I didn’t do anything wrong. This is the exact reason why I didn’t tell you.” Selby faced Garrett and pulled her robe protectively around her. “That night in his office. The picture. I recognized him, all right. But you have to look at this from my perspective. The reason I didn’t tell you is because he was asking me things…things that someone asks when they are trying to get me to hack for them. It’s not the first time. I know how this works.”

“I bet you do.”

“Would you shut the hell up and give her a chance to explain?” Lars yelled.

“Lars knows. He doesn’t hack as much but he knows. You’re at a party. People start asking you this or that…how you can get into things. It’s always something small. They have a parking ticket they want to go away. They joke about changing a grade. It’s never funny, though, because what they are asking for…indirectly, is for me to do something illegal. This was what Patrick was doing that night. I got up and left the table and never saw him again. It was over a month ago.”

“Okay, let’s assume any of this fantasy you have going is true. Why didn’t you say something? Two people have been murdered and you said nothing.”

“I tried to tell you last night. You didn’t want to talk about it.”

“You could have told me before then. Besides, I’m not buyin’ what you’re sellin’.”

“You know what? If you don’t believe me, go ahead and pull the security video. Where’s my cell phone?” Selby scanned the room and went over to where she’d laid it next to the refrigerator. “Just wait.” She ran her finger across its screen and flashed it to them. “March eleventh. That’s the night we met at the club. March twelfth. That’s the night we went out to dinner. Carlinos Café. Go ahead, check the security footage.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My building records everything. They store them up for a year. At least they were supposed to, before they got disabled. As for the restaurant, I’m sure you can track down city cameras, maybe the restaurant even has them. He paid for dinner. He paid at the club. Check his bank records.” As Selby said the words, she remembered that he’d charged the expense. “But why?”

“Why what?”

“If he was trying to hide, to conceal his identity, why pay with credit cards that could be traced? Maybe he used a stolen identity. I can search his laptop,” she suggested.

“No fucking way. You aren’t touching another damn thing in this house.” Garrett blew out a breath and crossed his arms. “I don’t want you anywhere near my data.”

“Garrett. Please. I’m telling you the truth. I had no idea he planted that drive at my place. I don’t know why he would give it to me, of all people. It doesn’t make sense,” she insisted. Selby went to reach for him, and Garrett backed away. As he glared at her, her heart shattered. He didn’t believe a word she’d said. No matter what they’d shared, none of it had meant a thing.

“Selby, I’m sorry. I just can’t be with someone who lies to me. You’ve got no fucking idea how much I want to believe you. What’s been happening between us, I thought we had something, but this?” He held up the drive. “I can’t believe you’d keep all this from me. I think maybe you and Lars need to move to the other wing of the house while I follow up on everything you’ve told me.”

“You don’t believe me,” she whispered. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked to him and then Lars. “I want you to know that I would never do this to you, do you hear me? This thing we have…it’s not just a thing. I care about you. Obviously a helluva a lot more than you do about me. You ask me to trust you…”

“But…” Garrett attempted to interrupt but she continued.

“No, you asked me to trust you. How many tests did I pass, Garrett? How many more tests do I need to pass before I’m worthy? I’ll never be good enough for you. I’m done. Go ahead and fucking tell Dean. Have him arrest me. But I did not do this. That little trinket you have there. Somewhere on it is Evan’s DNA. He did this. Not me,” Selby cried. She could feel her anxiety rising, her chest tightening as she realized the implications of what she was saying. Walking toward the bedroom, she grabbed her tote bag and then paused to add, “You know, it’s pretty ironic, isn’t it? You demand my trust. I give it to you, but when I ask for it in return, you don’t trust me.”

“Where do you think you’re going?” he yelled as she disappeared into the hallway.

Selby heard him call for her but she didn’t care. She darted into a guest bathroom. After dressing in a pair of jeans and t-shirt, she slipped on her sneakers and dug through the bag, praying she’d find her keys. At the very bottom, she fingered the tog. Relieved, she slung the tote over her shoulder and strode out toward the foyer.

“You can’t just go.” Lars rushed after her, grabbing her by the arm.

“Really? Says who? Are you going to call the police?” Selby scanned the room but Garrett was nowhere to be found.

“Of course not. Listen, Garrett’s just upset…everything that’s happened. You have to give him some time.”

“No, Lars. I don’t. You know…you were right about one thing. You said he was going to hurt me.” She swiped the back of her hand against her weeping eyes. “You were right. Just let me go.”

Selby tugged out of his grip and ran out the door. She struggled for breath as her anxiety attack mounted. Spotting her car, she ran to it and opened the door. She put her foot on the brake and pushed the on button, starting up the engine. As Lars approached, she locked the doors. He jiggled the handle, attempting to open it, but she put the car in gear. Holding up her hand to him, she slammed her foot on the gas and tore down the driveway.

Selby’s vision blurred as the panic set in, her heart palpitations beating out of control. Her hands began to shake, and she knew she could no longer drive. Her car veered off into a gully. She should move the vehicle, she knew, but it’d lodged deep into the earth. Chills broke across her skin and she began to gasp for air.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door, stumbling out into the grass. As the cars whizzed by, she fell onto the stones. As she lay on her back, she heaved for breath. The sweet tunnel of darkness claimed her and she surrendered to its will.

Chapter Twenty-Four