Read Chapter 1 of Entwined Pair

Chapter 1
Fiona

With Tres’s arrest, Fiona’s nerves were on edge. Alex had told her he had new information, but even though Tres was at her house, she hadn’t expected he had killed her father or the nurse. Tres was a lot of things—spoiled, narcissistic, and a bad boyfriend—but a double murderer? Why? How?

She remembered the day of her father’s death when she walked in and found him lying in bed with a bullet hole in his forehead. And Susie Paulson, her lifeless body lying in a puddle of blood.

“Are you okay?” The sound of Silas’s soothing voice brought her head around. He had been with her at the guesthouse all afternoon after the memorial golf tournament had taken a turn for the worst. “Here, drink this.” Silas handed her a cup of coffee that she hadn’t realized he’d gotten up to fix. “You’re so out of it, you’re scaring me. You’ve stared at the same spot for the past twenty minutes.”

“I guess I have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry I’m so freaked out.” She sat forward on the couch to take a drink and put the steaming mug down to cool.

Silas eased down beside her. “It’s no wonder, considering all you’ve been through lately. But if it helps, you can always talk to me and tell me what’s bothering you. Not that it’s not obvious, of course, but you know what I mean.”

Fiona didn’t want to shut him out. She was getting used to being all she had with their last fight. “I was just thinking about my father and his nurse. I found them both in that room. My father looked so normal, but then I saw the nurse’s blood. She was lying on the floor like a ragdoll. It was so shocking and such a contrast.” There was something odd about it, and looking back, Fiona still couldn’t quite place what it was.

Silas brushed his hair back with both hands and rubbed his face with his palms. “I wish I could take that scene out of your head.” He turned to look at her. “I hate that you had to go through that. Losing your father was bad enough, but for him to be murdered and for you to have to relive that over and over? It’s just not fair.”

She took the warm mug and held it close. “Sadly, I’m growing used to it. I have seen it over and over again so much that I’m beginning to dissect it in my mind. My father looked so peaceful. It was like there wasn’t much out of place with him. And yet, on the other side of the room, there was this horror show with so much blood.” She blew the steam from the cup and took a sip, thinking about the woman’s scrubs being soaked with blood.

“You’re so much stronger than I give you credit for. But I guess that’s just because I don’t think I could take it. I’d be a basket case. When my father died, I had to keep busy, or it was all I’d think about.”

She angled on the cushion toward him. “Well, I know one thing. I’m stronger when I have you in my corner. I’m glad you were there with me today. You are all I really have in this world.”

“What do you mean? You have your company, and you’re wealthy, and you’re in the prime of your life.”

He just didn’t get it. “Aside from the maid and my hired secretary, I have no one that I can even call a friend. And let’s face it. I don’t pay them to listen to my troubles. There’s no one I can turn to, or trust, or confide in anymore but you.”

Silas gave her an apologetic look that was tinged with just a tad of pity. “I guess I can see why you were so upset with me. You thought I had been dragged to the dark side with Lucy, didn’t you?” He nudged her with his foot as if she should know better.

“Yeah, I thought I lost you, for sure. It’s like you’re the only family I have, even though we’re not related.”

“Are you kidding? I feel the same way about you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved and ever will love. I can’t even call you a sister because I’ve seen you naked, but you’re my closest friend, Fiona. I hate that I hurt you. And I’m sorry I didn’t handle that situation with Lucy the right way.”

“No more worries about that. We’ve said our apologies already. I’m just glad it’s behind us. And that you’re here now.” She reached for his hand.

He took hers, giving it a squeeze. “I won’t let you down again.”

“I hope not.” She took in a deep breath and let it out as she leaned back with him. “I don’t know what to think about what happened today. I need to talk to Alex. At the country club earlier today, he told me that they had new information. I just wasn’t expecting it to be Tres. I thought he was hiding something by not talking to the cops, but I can’t see him doing it.”

“But if Alex arrested him for it, he must have had some proof, right? Alex wouldn’t do that for no good reason.”

“It just doesn’t add up. My father’s murder was clean. It was a single bullet to the head, but the nurse was brutal and bloody in the same room. I can’t see Tres shooting my dad. It was so clean. It looked professional. Tres is sloppy and high all the time, and he would have had to be standing over him for it to happen that way. My father would have fought back. With his dying breath, he would have struggled.”

Silas narrowed his eyes. “I believe it. He was a fighter, and you have a point. Two murders, both too different but happening at the same time? Have you talked to Alex about it before?”

“Yeah, I’ve tried. But he’s more concerned for my safety than letting me help. And he’s technically not even working the case. Or so he says.” She couldn’t tell Silas about the way Alex had been keeping an eye on her while she was keeping an eye on Jack and his minions.

Silas put his arm on the back of the couch behind her. “So, if you don’t think he killed your father, who do you think did?”

“Jack. I think he hired a hitman. Probably the same one he hired to kill Ethan Spade and his family.”

Silas paled. “Do you really think Jack would do that? I mean, he’s done some bad things, but murder? Do you think he’s capable?”

“Hell yes. Where is your mind? I think you’re the one in outer space now. Jack was upset with Ethan over him wanting to marry me, and let’s not forget that he’s a miserable jerk, so yeah. Besides, he might act like he loved my father now that he’s gone, but I know things were strained between them. I know that better than anyone.”

“So they had some problems?” Silas shrugged. “Parents and kids always do, but you can’t think they were bad enough to warrant an action like that. And Ethan was one of his closest friends.”

“Exactly. Jack was supposed to be at the party, but he went to some business meeting instead. I think he didn’t want to be around. Now he’s hired Lucy for some mystery job, he’s hired Rona, he wants my property, and Tres is arrested? It’s all so weird.”

“You are just full of theories.” He put his arm down on her shoulder and drew her close. “I think you’re wrong, but I hope they figure it out soon.”

Fiona agreed, but she was trapped in the middle of a yawn and unable to respond.

Silas smiled as she stretched. “You should get some rest. I can stay if you want, but I have to be in early, so you’ll have to set the alarm.”

“Thank you, but I think I’ll be fine.” She wanted to talk to Alex alone but didn’t want Silas to know she was sending him away for the comfort of another man. “Will you text me when you get home?”

“Yes,” he said, standing from the couch. “And you can text me back if you want to chat. I’m going to go do some laundry and look over next season’s catalog layout before I turn in. I have some new stuff that you’ll like. You should drop in and check it out sometime. I’ll make sure my pig of a brother isn’t around.”

“I’d appreciate that,” she said, getting to her feet to show him out.

He hugged her again at the door. “You call if you need anything. I’m always here for you, Fiona.”

“Back at you,” she said as she kissed his cheek. “Drive safe, and thanks again.”

He gave her wink and turned to go to his car. She watched until he drove away, and shut the door and locked it.

Fiona went immediately to the phone and tried to call Alex, only to get a busy signal. “Dammit.” Afraid that he would shut her out, she tried again and would call all night if that was what it took.

She continued to call as she got comfortable for the night and when she went to the kitchen for a snack. Fiona was busy munching on crackers when she was surprised by a knock at the door, so she brought the box with her to the door, expecting Helen was checking on her. The news of Tres’s arrest for the murder of her father and Nurse Paulson was bound to be around town by now.

But when she opened the door, she found Alex standing there with a tired look in his eyes. “Hey, Fiona. I wanted to come by and give you an update on my way home.”

She stepped aside and waved him in. “Well, come on. I’ve been waiting for one all damned day.” She led him back to the couch, hoping he’d sit where Silas had been, but he remained standing next to the couch.

“I’m sorry,” he said, stretching his back. “I’ve been busy with interrogation and waiting for processing. Sometimes, especially with a case as big as this, it takes time.”

She wrapped herself up in the throw that was on the back of the couch for comfort. “So, what happened? This new information you had led you to Tres? Or was it his lack of consideration by not giving a statement that finally made you look at him?” She knew they couldn’t pick Tres up and arrest him for that alone, but she wanted to remind Alex how uncooperative the man had been.

Alex shifted on his feet. “I know you’re frustrated, Fiona. Trust me. I get it. I just need you to understand that I have to do my job first. And I couldn’t tell you what happened earlier and have you ruin the arrest by making a scene.”

“I wouldn’t have made a scene.”

“Yes, you would. I know you, Fiona. You’re a force when someone lights your fuse.”

“Okay, stop stalling and tell me.” She was dying to know what happened. “What did you have?”

“I have him on tape saying he was in the house, and he also indicated that the woman was alive while he was there.”

Fiona let it sink in, even though it still didn’t make any sense. It had to be true. Tres Ellington was in her house. He had been the only person in the house with them when she got back home and found them. It must have been him she heard rummaging in the house. “Well, between the time when he left and I walked in, she was killed. They both were. And I know I didn’t do it.”

“I know,” said Alex. “And Lucy is sticking to her guns. She says she doesn’t know what happened.”

Fiona huffed. “Well, they left in a hurry, remember? And when I arrived, Lucy said they were already fighting, and that’s why he was in the car. They fought all the time. I don’t know why she was even moving in, but she claimed it was the way they made it work. She loved him. They’d fight. They’d make up. I didn’t understand it.” She and Alex had never played games like that. They were too busy sneaking around.

“Well, he wandered in the house at some point for sure, and he’s admitted to that much.”

“But?” She patted the space next to her, and Alex gave in, keeping more distance between them than Silas had.

Alex eased back against the cushions. “He says they were already dead when he went inside.”

“It’s possible, you know? I mean, it’s possible that he just found them that way, just before I went in.”

“It’s possible but unlikely. And the evidence says otherwise.”

“And he’d be bloody, right? Lucy would have seen something. So the killer came and went before they got there.”

“But you said they’d been there a while, right?”

“Yeah.” She let out a breath. “You’re right. Tres could have done it way before I got there. We both know he lies, so he has to be lying. You said the woman was already cold.”

Alex looked away and nodded. “Yeah. She was already losing heat. But that could be a lot of different factors contributing to that.” He angled in his seat, turning to face her. “Did Lucy say how far into the fight did he leave Lucy to pack alone?”

“I can’t remember. But I know it had been a while. Lucy didn’t have a lot of stuff, but it was scattered enough that it could have taken her a couple of hours. Especially if they got there just after I left.” She moved her cover over his lap, moving a bit closer.

Alex didn’t push her away. Instead, he pulled the covers over his arms. “I think I might need you to help me figure that out.”

“Lucy and I are not on the best of terms, remember?” She didn’t think they would ever make up the way she and Silas had.

“I know, but I’m in a bind.”

“How so?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. His posture sagged a bit, making her wonder if he was in trouble. “Is everything okay?”

“The proof I have wasn’t exactly obtained legally, so I need someone to talk to make it stick. Either Tres is going to or Lucy. I can’t let it go to court the way it is. It could be thrown out, and he could walk. If you can get Lucy to tell you anything at all, it would save me a whole hell of a lot of problems.”

Fiona nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. But you’re saying this was probably all for nothing? It’s not going to stick if I don’t?”

He let out a breath and nodded. “It’s not going to be admissible. But I think you can get her to talk. You two used to be so close.”

“Yeah, that’s the keyword. We used to be. Now? Not so much.” She closed her eyes a minute and sighed. 

Alex took her hand beneath the blanket. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner. I know I could have called, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Thanks.” Everything she wanted to say went out the window with him taking her hand. And she searched her brain for the question she had. “You said you had proof that the woman was alive?”

Alex nodded, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. “I have him on tape saying the nurse screamed at him. Last I checked, dead women don’t scream.”

“I’ll do what I can, but no promises.” She wanted to help but wished she could help in any other way. If she messed it up, not only would she blow things for Alex, but her father’s killer might go free.

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