CHAPTER 27
A lex stood at one side of the kitchen, leaning against the counters, and I stood on the other. The silence that stretched between us deafened me. It also made me keenly aware of even the most trivial things. The clock on the oven blinked. The whirling of the ceiling fan in the living room. The slow drips from the faucet in the sink caused by Betsy leaving the valve partially open. It was so quiet I could almost hear Alex breathing. The silence overloaded my senses.
“The house looks great.” Small talk. Alex hated it, still it’d slipped out.
To my surprise, he smiled. “Thanks. God. How did we get here?” He turned and opened the refrigerator and pulled out two beers. He opened mine and handed it to me and then sat down at the table.
A second later, I did the same.
“Sorry I don’t have any lime.”
“This is fine.” I swigged from the bottle. Strangely, even under these circumstances, it felt nice sitting here with someone who knew me so well. I’d need to bring this up in therapy. The emotion couldn’t be healthy. I sighed and set the bottle on the table. “Alex, we have a serious problem.”
He finished his bottle in a few long, loud gulps. “Don’t I know it. The woman I married lied to me about being pregnant with my child. Lied to me about loving me. Lied to me about everything. God, I don’t even know if I was in love with her. She was like a hurricane, you know. One minute we’re dating and having fun with glorious peaceful skies and the next she swarms over me, engulfing and destroying everything. She dropped the baby news on me after we had a huge fight. Even showed me one of those test thingies. I don’t even want to know how she got a positive one of those. Then she said we had to get married, for my child’s sake, knowing I’d do the right thing.” He got up and got himself another beer. “Now, she’s dead and I can’t even be pissed off with her. And the kicker is, I was about to end it before the baby, and she knew it.” He sat back down hard on the chair. “I don’t know if I’m coming or going anymore. And the fool who took her life decides to infect all the areas of my life by dumping her body on my ex’s porch.”
The lump that developed within my throat felt like a stone. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for from me, and I didn’t have the luxury of time to figure it out. “Alex. This situation goes way beyond you being tricked into marriage. I mean, I’m brokenhearted about you losing your wife. I wouldn’t wish any harm to come to you or yours. Ever. But something really odd is going on here.” I debated divulging what I knew. Sharing it with Alex could blow up in my face.
He was in a real raw place, and I needed to heed the warning within my gut. Plus, I saw the flicker of Mama behind him. She kept shaking her head, and that settled it for me. Not the time.
I reached across the table and took his hand. “Alex, someone terrible is wreaking havoc on our island. They’ve taken your wife, flawed as she was. That was heinous, and I’ll be darned if I’ll stand by and allow her to go unavenged.” The strength in my tone no longer surprised me. When it came to the wronged deceased, I was empowered by the level of vengeance that overtook me.
Alex, however, appeared surprised. “I thought you hated Lucy.”
“Hon, she wasn’t kind to me, and I wasn’t her biggest fan. None of that matters. She didn’t deserve her end. And I won’t stand by knowing she isn’t resting peacefully. Her voice has been silenced. Mine has not. And I will speak for her. Stand for her. And do whatever is necessary to bring her killer to justice.”
Alex held tightly to my hand. “My Lord. You look like an avenging angel. You mean that, don’t you?”
I squeezed his hand. “I do. And as God as my witness, neither Betsy nor I had anything to do with her death or the robbery. And we certainly don’t have Paul stashed somewhere with a bomb around his neck.”
He stared into my eyes for a long few moments. “I know I should care that Paul was abducted. If not for him, for you. You love him.”
“Paul and I were finished before someone decided to use him as leverage. And I never said I loved him.” I waved my hands in the air in an erasing motion. “Not that it matters. We need to rescue him. Save him, no matter what it takes.
Alex’s eyes hardened. “The Carmichaels think I had something to do with it.”
So does Detective Thornton.
“They’re probably just hurting and looking at the most obvious.” It came out wrong, and I wished I could take it back. I’d opened my mouth to utter an apology when he snorted and let go of my hand. “That’s not what I meant. They don’t know you.”
“If I were investigating this case, I would take a hard look at me too. I don’t know who or why someone is trying to lay this at your doorstep.” He picked at the label from the bottle. He knew something, and he was having one of his inner debates on whether to tell me. “I’ve been in a bad place. Making sense of all of this hasn’t come easy, and I’m still doing my best to figure it out. I’m not allowed back on the job until the case is solved and—” His eyes went wide. “Oh hell, I didn’t even ask about the sheriff.” He went to his knees in front of me and wrapped his arms around me. I stiffened as he held on tight. “I’m sorry. So sorry. You know I love Eddie. He’s been like a father to me, and I’ve been lost in the minutiae of this nightmare. Is he doing all right? Since you’re here, I take it he’s going to make it.”
Alex held on as if I were his lifeline. Mama’s head dropped as if she believed I was going to be sucked in again. I wasn’t, and I shook my head to attempt to signal such as I wrapped my arms around one of my oldest friends. “He’s doing well. I won’t lie, I was terrified, but he pulled through, and he’s on the road to recovery. I came down with a cold and thought it wise to keep my distance.” I patted his back softly, the way I did to sooth Olivia.
“Alex, did someone dye their hair in your bathroom? Your mom perhaps?”
He let go and leaned back to face me. “What an odd question to ask.”
I shrugged. “When I went to use your restroom, I noticed hair dye on the floor. I was just curious.”
“I can’t believe y’all searched my place.” He retook his seat. “Like I could do any of this.” He shook his head, as if his brain was misfiring. “I don’t know about the hair dye. Maybe Lucy did.”
“Did she ever color her hair dark? Because I’ve never seen her as anything but blonde.” I treaded carefully.
“No.” He folded his arms and glanced away. “This is like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. If they’d let me work this case, I’d find out who was behind this, and I’d kill the bastard.”
“Then the wisdom behind you staying out of the investigation should be crystal clear.”
Detective Thornton would be watching Alex. And how ironic that was. Since he’d enlisted the man’s help in the first place. I slumped down in my chair and realized he was probably watching me too. He’d know I was here if he had surveillance on this house. Probably betting on me coming here. Darn. Stupid, stupid mistake.
“Hey, did Lucy talk about ex-boyfriends, childhood friends, her life before moving to Peach Cove?” I kept my tone placating, bordering on soothing.
He shrugged. “Not really. She didn’t like to think about her past.”
“Not even her parents? From what I saw on the news, they were wrecked by her death.”
He nodded. “Yeah, that part doesn’t make much sense. They’re both devastated beyond belief about losing her. It doesn’t fit the image Lucy portrayed. Her parents loved her. And her mom is the most docile woman I’ve ever met. And I’m a good judge of character.”
I refrained from pointing out he might not be the best judge around. It seemed he and I both struggled in that area.
“This whole case is riddled with holes. Who would want to murder Lucy? What’s their motive? And I know they’re linking the crime with the robbery, that someone used it to throw the authorities off their scent. I don’t buy that.”
“What about the bombs at the wedding? Someone knew enough about them to use them in both crimes.”
He thumped his elbows on the table and massaged his temples. “People are saying the man on a Harley that showed up at the wedding was a disgruntled ex of Lucy’s.”
This was all too much for him. I shouldn’t have said anything. I kept silent. He picked a girl who got around.
“If we took a hard look at the biker, with the working theory that he killed Lucy because she chose to marry me, he had to be onsite to take her body after we found her. And we all saw him drive away. But say we missed it and he came back. Why leave her to be found, only to take her minutes later? And how would he know the tent would be cleared? And there’s no way he could haul a body away on a Harley.” He shook his head. “Doesn’t make sense. This sort of crime takes planning. That profile fits more of a crime of passion. A man gets angry and lashes out and someone dies. That I get.” He held out his index finger. “Add to the case the attempt on your life and the attempted robbery at Lucy’s place of employment. A lousy botched attempt.” He scratched his head and his eyes widened. “Don’t forget, someone would have to inform the guy that Lucy was marrying me in the first place. That didn’t happen. Lucy was a private person. She didn’t even tell her parents about me.”
I chewed on my bottom lip but said nothing.
He narrowed his eyes. “Oh, I see what y’all are thinking. And no way! If Lucy wanted me bad enough to trick me, why would she take up with an ex?”
I sighed and decided he needed to know. I decided to use Miss Glenda’s account over Trixie’s. It would carry more weight with Alex. “Miss Glenda said she saw the biker and Lucy kissing.” Alex bristled as his dark eyes flashed hot. Jealousy proved he had deep-rooted feelings for his late wife, whether he believed it or not.
“When was this?”
“Not long before the wedding.”
“Then he has to have something to do with all of this! God! I’m such a fool. What else am I missing?” Alex hit his forehead with the heel of his palm.
“That’s not all. Detective Thornton said she had something going on with Paul too. While he and I were together. Paul confirmed they had toyed with the idea.” I rubbed my brow.
He gaped as if it were ludicrous for anyone to believe a woman could prefer Paul to him. Then his eyes bugged. “Then maybe Paul killed her. You know, jealous because she chose me, and enacted revenge. He was there. Had time and motive.”
I gave him a level look. Sure, blame the victim who was strapped to a chair with a bomb around his neck. “Paul is the most unassuming man I’ve ever met. He doesn’t fit the profile of a murderer. Not to mention, he’s been abducted. If the crimes are linked, Alex, how does that make any sense?”
Alex leaned forward. “I hate to burst your bubble about that guy, but he probably isn’t what he seems. What do you really know about him? Nothing, right?”
I matched his posture. “I know enough to say he isn’t a killer! And someone is using him as leverage, and I won’t let him end up dead. And right back atcha, buddy. What did you know about Lucy? Obviously, not nearly enough and you married her.” It was a low blow, and I instantly regretted it. “Alex”—I reached out and tried to take his hand, but he snatched it away and got up—“I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry. I’m all discombobulated.” I pulled a tissue from my pocket and wiped my nose.
Alex paced the kitchen. I’d said too much. Alex wasn’t ready to hear any of this, and I’d been selfish to throw his issues right in his face. I had to get myself together and put my feelings aside for the greater good.
Alex braced his hands against the counter and lowered his head. I couldn’t handle seeing him so distraught.
“Alex, please, what can I do? I hate that we’re at odds. Hate that you’ve seen me as your enemy. I would never intentionally hurt you. Ever.”
He shook his head and then, a moment later, he turned around. “I know that. And I’m sorry for the horrible way I behaved at the department. I was way out of line. My life is a mess of my own making. Not what happened to Lucy, but with us and the family. Forgive me?”
“Yes. Certainly. Always.”
Our gazes locked in shared pain and desire for normalcy. For closure.
“I have a favor to ask. It’s a big one.”
I waited.
“Would you be willing to have a conversation with the Carmichaels?”
I leaned back farther against the chair. “I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”
He closed the distance between us, pulling a chair close to me as he sat. “I can’t stand the idea they believe I’d do something like this. She was my wife. And despite the deception surrounding our marriage, I would have done right by her.”
“Of course you would have.”
“See, you know that. Because you know me. If they hear it from you, the kind of man I am, they’ll focus on pushing the detective to focus his effort on actually solving the case, instead of wasting time looking at me.” Alex’s eyes were wide, pleading.
On one hand, this could be disastrous. On the other, I might gain some insight into who Lucy was before she reinvented herself in Peach Cove. It might aid me in seeing what was hidden. Plus, Alex’s predicament disturbed me. The detective did have his sights trained on him, or at least he wanted me to believe he had. And if the Carmichaels made their suspicions known, it was highly probable Detective Thornton had been on the up-and-up with me.
“Well?” Alex wrapped his hands around my tissue-stuffed ones. “Will you do this for me?”
His demeanor and tremulous tone reminded me of myself and the other people at my support group when they first arrived. It was desperation mixed with an out-of-control feeling. Life had become an overgrown monster who had us by the throat and refused to release us. No one should have to experience such turmoil or fear. “I will.”