After seeing physical proof of the pain the Claremonts had suffered all these years, were still suffering, it was one of the hardest things Raine had ever done to speak to Mrs. Claremont on the phone without breaking down. But Callum had insisted they leave the house and that she tell the Claremonts they could return before she made her confession.
Confession was supposed to be good for the soul. But Raine feared it was going to destroy her. Still, not confessing would be even worse, because someone else could be hurt.
She ended the call and slid her phone into her purse on the console between them. “Done,” she said. “They finished dinner in town and were driving around the area waiting for my call. They’re heading home right now. She was so sweet, so worried about me, about us.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand how she does it. And I certainly don’t deserve it.” She clutched her hands together in her lap. “Can we pull over now, so we can talk?”
“Just a few more minutes. I don’t want to be sitting on the side of the road and the Claremonts pass by and stop to check on us.”
“Oh, gosh, no. Good thinking.” She finally focused on their surroundings. “You’re going into town. My house isn’t far from here. We could go there. Eat later, assuming you still want to be around me.”
“I’m sure whatever you want to tell me isn’t nearly as bad as you think. And, yes, I was already planning on going to your place first.”
“You know my address? Wait, of course you do. You looked me up online, accused me of living in a mansion.”
“What’s good for the goose—”
“Is good for the gander. I know, I know. I followed you, searched for your information online. It’s only fair that you do the same. I get it. Doesn’t mean I like it, but I get it.”
He turned down the lane that led to only one place, the gated community where she lived.
“Do you have a key fob or something so we can get through the guard gate?”
She smiled, vaguely amused in spite of the stress that was ready to tear her apart. “We won’t need a key fob, or a sticker on the windshield, anything like that. Just slow down and use the owner lane when we’re at the guard shack. And roll your window down.”
He gave her a puzzled look but nodded.
When they arrived at the gate, he stayed to the right, avoiding the few cars lined up in the visitor lane speaking to the guard.
“Excuse me for a sec.” She unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over him toward his window. A few seconds later, a beep sounded and the gate began to swing open.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Callum glanced at her. “Some kind of facial recognition, right? There was a camera hidden somewhere?”
“In the bushes, so we don’t have to look at an ugly pole with a camera on top as we smile and go on through.”
“Rich people.” He shook his head. “Eccentric and strange. But kind of cool.”
“Rich people? If I’m wealthy, what are you? Your salary at UB—”
“Is none of your business.”
“And readily available, at least the range, if you search hard enough. Calling me rich like it’s a bad thing is pretty lame when you earn close to what I do, maybe more. And neither of us needs to apologize for what we have. We both rose from modest backgrounds and worked our butts off to create opportunities. No one ever handed me anything I didn’t earn, that’s for darn sure.”
He smiled as he made a right turn onto her street. “My apologies for apparently being a snob and not realizing it.”
She clasped her hands together again. “You’re not the one who owes anyone an apology. And you’re never going to forgive me once I tell you what I did. I just pray you’ll please, please think about it before you react. My brother shouldn’t die because of my mistakes. I need your help, desperately, to help him.”
“You honestly think whatever this thing is that you’ve done, this secret, is going to make me quit the investigation?”
She winced. “If I was in your position, yes. But I’m banking on you being a better person than me.”
He chuckled and motioned toward the windshield as he pulled into the circular brick driveway at the front of her house. “Honey, we’re home.”
Raine led the way up the front walk with a mixture of dread and anticipation. She dreaded their upcoming conversation. But she was looking forward to being home. It had been weeks since she’d last been here and she was tired of living out of a suitcase. Having a hot shower in her own bathroom would be a treat. And getting to sleep in her own bed, heaven.
But first, a little hell. She had to face the consequences of what she’d done.
At the door, he stopped beside her. “Let me guess, facial recognition again?”
“Actually, no. I’ve never been that great with electronics. And the idea of being locked out of my home because of a power outage or computer issue scares me. I prefer the old-fashioned method.” She pulled a key out of her purse.
He grinned. “Good to know that I’m not the only one.”
“Who uses a key?”
“Who has trouble with electronics. Don’t tell Asher that I admitted it. He teases me enough as it is.”
She smiled and pushed open the door, then sucked in a shocked breath at the devastation inside.
Callum swore and pushed her behind him, a gun suddenly in his hand. “Get in the car and lock the doors. Call 911. Do it. Now.”
She took off running toward his SUV.