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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 13
“Don’t wake him, okay. He’s been really fussy and I just got him to sleep. I think a tooth is hurting him.” “My boy will be happy to see me.” “You’re probably right. He loves his daddy almost as much as I do.” Todd smiled at her. He hated to admit how much he loved it when she said things like that to him. Every comment, every phrase was like a gift that he stored away for whenever the bad times came again. He gently stroked Jack’s back. His son was safe and sleeping like an angel. At least part of his family was safe. “Starr’s staying over at Dorian’s tonight?” “Yes.” “Good.” “Remember you promised not to ….” She whirled around and faced him. “Hey, wait a minute. Did you just say ‘good’?” “We have some things to talk about and I don’t want Starr to get wind of any of this on any level.” “What’s wrong?” He let his gaze drift along her face. “You tell me, Blair. Are we in trouble? I can handle it. Will take care of it but I need to know the truth.” Blair bit her lower lip then frowned. She took his hand and led him out of the nursery then closed the door. “What’s going on, Todd. You’re scaring me.” “We need to talk but I want to get out of here. Call Heddie and tell her we are going out for a while. I’ll meet you out front with the car.”
“She’s really dead?” “I had Duke Wilson confirm it for me. Stabbed multiple times and once straight to the heart.” He studied her for a minute as she chewed on her inner cheek. The truth of the matter was that she didn't seem nearly as surprised as she should have been. A hint of dread threatened to creep into his consciousness but he pushed it away. “So she’s truly dead?” “Absolutely dead,” he said. “And they think Heather did it?” “Yeah, but I’m not counting on that staying the case for too much longer.” “What? You don’t think she did it?” “I just know who her father is and even if she did it I doubt if it'll ever be recorded as such. I suspect they'll be looking for new suspects within the day.” “And?” “Where were you tonight, Blair?” “I met Cassie at The Palace for dinner. I told you I was going out, remember?” “Did you see Carmen?” “No." Damnit. He gripped the steering wheel. She had waited a beat too long to answer. She was lying to him. He could feel it. "Why would I see Carmen at The Palace?” “Because she had a room there,” he said evenly. “How could she afford….” “See my dilemma? It would be a mystery to me too if I didn’t know my wife so well. You gave her the money and she celebrated by moving on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky.” “Hey, Renee, supposedly had no rooms available. Toni has been all but hounding her…” “Stay focused here, Blair.” “Okay, so Carmen was at The Palace. Are you saying that’s where she was killed?” “Most assuredly.” “I’ll be damned.” “Didn’t get to enjoy her ill-gotten gains for long, Blair. On one hand, I wish we could stop payment on the check but then I do hope you were smart enough to use a cashiers check through a third party or two.” “I do have some experience in such matters.” “And they say I haven’t enriched your life.” She smiled at him and touched his face lightly. He ignored how her fingers felt on his face and pushed away the thought of what he'd do to make sure she was always around to touch him like that. “How long did you stay after Cassie left?” She moved her hand and her eyes widened. “What do you mean? Wait a minute. How did you know Cassie left before I did?” He glanced away. “You were there? If you knew I was there… Testing me?” “Working on this trust thing, babe. Not as good as I need to be.” “Trust my ass. You were at The Palace, too. Afraid I saw you?” He sighed loudly and sucked his teeth. “Not going to play this game, Todd. Too much at stake. I love you enough to take the fall for you. That’s a stupid thing to have to say but it’s the truth. But if I’m going down it’s with my eyes wide open.” “You think I’d ask you to do that?” “No," she said softly and then looked him in the eye. "Momentary lapse. What I think is that you are scared to death that I did it and now you have me scared to death that you did it and nothing about that can lead to any good. Not going to play that game, Todd, where I try to protect you and you try to protect me and we both end up digging a hole halfway to China.” “You didn’t kill her? Not that I care mind you.” “No, I did not. Don’t care that’s she’s dead but didn’t do it." He exhaled. Whatever that was about earlier, she was not lying to him now. She had not killed Carmen. Blair leaned close to him. "Did you kill her?” “Probably would have if I had the chance but I didn’t.” “Are you lying to me, Todd? Don’t lie to me about this. All I ask is that you covered your tracks.” “If I did it there would be no tracks, but I didn’t do it. Now, are you lying to me, Blair?” “No.” “Do you love me?” “Yes.” “Well, that answers all the important questions.” “Good then," Blair said, "we’ll let the wheels of justice grind their way along. Poor bitch Carmen Duvet is dead but it has nothing to do with us. You and I have more important things to worry about like RJ and Toni’s wedding. And, hey, maybe a room has just opened up at The Palace.” Todd smiled. Then he remembered RJ.
“I did this with my wife and it worked so well, I decided to try it with you. I didn’t kill Carmen.” “And?” “Did you?” “You have got to be the craziest mother…” “Just answer the question, RJ. My wife wants to get back to worrying about nothing more serious than your wedding. I don’t want her wasting her time and energy if everything is about to blow up in your face.” “Thanks for the concern.” "No problem, but you need to know I left my wife tonight feeling all warm and fuzzy and protective of me. Left her wanting to show me how she feels to come over here and talk to you. Don't make me regret that more than I already do." RJ reached below the bar and brought up a bottle of Scotch. He filled his glass and topped off Todd’s drink. Todd studied him for a moment. Why was RJ drinking Scotch? He cleared his throat and then took a sip of his drink as he watched RJ drain his glass then fill it again. Todd rested his elbows on the bar top and tented his fingers. “Now, see, Blair didn’t do it and I didn’t do it…” RJ paused with the whiskey glass half way to his lips and arched his right eyebrow. “Why would either of you?” “We hated her name.” “I see. Somehow this translates into my having a motive?” “I know your motive. I want to know if you found an opportunity and took advantage of it.” “I have got to stop drinking when you're around.” “And camels have got to give up walking in the desert. Did you do it?” RJ placed his drink on the bar then leaned forward. “I would have given it a thought if I had the chance but the fact is I never had the chance.” “If you say so.” “Look, the truth is I never could have hurt her. Despite everything, I was permanently in her debt.” “For what? Jacking you around?” “You have no idea what that relationship was all about.” “I think I have the basics: blackmail, backstabbing, maybe a little something-something on the side. Did I forget anything?” RJ gritted his teeth then exhaled. “There is nobody I know who could understand better than you how a little piece of truth can mask the whole. You get my drift?” “Are you saying you loved her?” “Never. But what was between us was more intense than love.” “Hatred?” “Obligation.” “Damn, I smell a story coming on. And, RJ, I’m just not in the mood for a story. I just want a straight answer.” “Ain’t life a bitch? We rarely get what we want.”
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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