“It started back in college,” Tony said. “I knew her behavior was strange, obsessive. No one else could see it. She acted normal around you all. Like a different person. I was flattered by the attention at first, but then she killed Lily and everything changed. My life hasn’t been the same since.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police?” Ava asked.
He looked at her defiantly. “You think I didn’t want to? She threatened to hurt Blair. After what she’d done to Lily, I couldn’t take that chance.”
“I always knew she was crazy,” Jane said. “She slipped something in my drink once and almost caused me to wreck my car. I think she did the same thing to Lily. That’s why she was acting so erratically before she died.”
They were all seated around the great room. Tony and Blair were huddled together on the sofa, Jane had taken an armchair and Dylan leaned against the wall, arms folded as he stared out the window watching the storm. Ava perched on the hearth, watching Dylan watch the storm.
Even as she listened to the explanations, she wondered how long it would be before they could be alone. So much had happened and there was still so much to say. So many secrets to share…
She shivered and tried to focus on the conversation.
“Blair was her leverage,” Tony explained. “She knew that I would do anything to protect her. And as long as she could pretend to be Blair’s friend, she had a connection to me.” He squeezed his wife’s hand. “You have no idea what it’s been like. The trouble she’s caused for me personally and for my businesses. She was convinced that I was in love with her and everything I said and did to get rid of her was just to protect our secret. There’s a name for her affliction. Erotomania. Sometimes she’d move on to someone else. There would be long periods of calm and then she’d turn up again, ingratiating herself into Blair’s life. When she found out we were trying to get pregnant, things got worse. She threatened to kill Blair. I knew I had to do something then. The police couldn’t stop her and so I had to.”
“That’s why you suggested Whispering Springs for the reunion,” Ava said. “It’s remote and you know the terrain.”
“You mistook Ava for her in the canyon,” Dylan said. He didn’t look at all impressed with Tony’s revelations.
“I told her to meet me on the trail at the bottom and then I pretended to leave.” Tony turned to Ava. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I can see how you’d be at your wit’s end,” she said. “I’ve prosecuted stalkers. I know how devious and persistent they can be, but there isn’t much you can do legally until a line is crossed. By then, it’s too late.”
“I’m just glad it’s over and done with,” Jane said. “And now Lily finally has justice.”
“In no small part thanks to you,” Ava said. “That was quite a performance earlier. I think it may have tipped Celeste over the edge.”
“I didn’t mean for her to snap. I just wanted her to admit what she’d done.”
“Mission accomplished.”
“The storm’s moving on,” Dylan said.
They all got up and went over to the windows.
He checked his phone. “Still no service.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” Tony said. “When the roads clear, I’ll turn myself in.” He hugged Blair close. “No more secrets.”
* * *
A LITTLE WHILE LATER, Ava joined Dylan on the patio. “What a night. I’m exhausted and yet wired at the same time.”
He propped a hand on a post. “I know what you mean. I don’t feel the least bit sleepy.”
“How’s the arm? And the head? God, all these injuries. We’re quite a pair.”
He met her gaze in the dark. “I agree.”
She shivered as she stepped up to the railing and searched the sky. “I see a few stars twinkling out. It really is over, isn’t it?”
“It’s as over as you want it to be, Ava.”
She turned to face him. “It’s up to me, then?”
He slid his fingers through her hair. “I’ll call you when we get back to the city.”
“You’d better.”
He smiled, making her pulse race. “It’s late. We should probably try to get some sleep.”
“My room or yours?”
“As easy as that, huh?”
“As easy as that.” She pulled him to her. “I let you go once, Dylan. I’m hanging on for dear life this time.”
“You’d better,” he said against her lips.
* * * * *