Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Harrington is missing,” Alex huffed. “Matthew Harrington. We hadn’t expected him to show, weren’t prepared.”
Alex was pacing the floor, his tension evident in every step. They’d lost the chance to capture him, lost the chance to find some answers, but Stephen couldn’t bring himself to worry about that right now.
“You’ll find him,” Stephen assured him. Half-heartedly.
“What’s your problem?” Alex finally said after the silence had stretched. After he realized Stephen wasn’t really paying attention.
The fucking clock wasn’t moving, Stephen thought. Every second, every minute torture as different scenarios—each one worse than the last—ran rampant through his head for the past few hours. From Kat changing her mind to—
He shoved the thought out of his head, refusing to picture her with Ethan. He sucked in a breath, turning toward Alex. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
“Did you see what she did?”
“What who did?”
“Katie.”
Oh, God. What now?
Alex handed Stephen his phone. Kat’s image was on the glass, standing behind the podium Stephen instantly recognized from last night’s conference room.
“‘Stephen Chandler is a hero…’”
He couldn’t keep his eyes off the screen as Kat recounted the events of that terrible night. She answered Genevieve’s questions with professionalism, never taking her eyes from the camera, sounding so strong even though he knew how incredibly difficult it must have been for her to stand before a cameraman, recounting how Stephen Chandler and Ethan O’Rourke, with the help of his brothers, had worked together that night to save her. How Stephen had risked his life to save her own. And the Stephen nearly stopped breathing when she began verifying the authenticity of the video that was currently going viral on social media.
And then the video was playing. The same one he’d watched the other night. She’d edited out most of the torture, cut out the judge by zooming in on herself hanging by her arms, so the audience would see Stephen saving her from burning to death in a hotel room.
“What did you do, Kat?” he whispered, never taking his eyes off the screen.
“They were crucifying you. I couldn’t let it continue.”
Stephen jerked his head up and there she was, standing on the threshold of the cabin. He opened his mouth to speak, but words escaped him.
“Alex called.”
Which is why she was there. Slowly, he dropped the phone on the couch and stood.
“Are you angry?”
Angry? Jesus, no. He was…shocked, for sure. Amazed that she would put herself out there when he knew how hard the press had been on her after her parents’ death. Astonished and awed that she’d go this far to clear his reputation. And then he repeated all those thoughts out loud, scooping her up into his arms as he buried his face in her neck.
“Please tell me it’ll help,” she whispered.
It didn’t matter. It was enough that she’d tried.
***
“You couldn’t find a closer restaurant?”
Kat forced a smile she didn’t feel. They’d been in the car for nearly ninety minutes. And though it hadn’t been uncomfortable, she was feeling a little raw. A little? More like devastated…like she’d lost her best friend. But as much as she hated hurting Ethan, she couldn’t bear losing Stephen. “This one looks like a castle.”
She’d been sure to keep her sunglasses on so Stephen wouldn’t see the devastation on her face, but she knew she wasn’t kidding anybody. She glanced over at him and her heart pounded against her rib cage with a hard thump. He was so utterly beautiful, so big and strong and all her doubts melted away. And she couldn’t believe he was hers.
He’d made her feel alive again, had made her laugh when life seemed impossible. Had ignited her body into a passion she never dreamed would be so all consuming. He looked at her like he’d devour her, that connection between them she was powerless to fight against.
Stephen parked. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Kat said, when they pulled into the parking lot. She hadn’t admitted to Stephen why they were here. Undoubtedly, he was going to be pissed, but she’d deal with that after.
“It is,” Stephen said, coming around the passenger side and opening the door for her.
Kat threw her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes to press her mouth against his. He hadn’t asked what happened with Ethan and she knew it was probably killing him, but she wasn’t ready to rehash it. She’d probably never be. But she’d whispered the words he needed to hear before they left. “I’m yours.”
And with a whispered, “Thank God,” he crushed his mouth to hers. Which Alex had rudely interrupted, just as Stephen was taking her back to bed.
Now Kat glanced at the time. Two o’clock. She looked over at Stephen, wondering if they’d recognize him, hoping his presence wasn’t going to hinder her investigation. Originally, she was going to ask Ethan, but after this morning, well that wouldn’t have worked.
Stephen took her hand, leading her into the restaurant. There was no hostess yet, so they stood by the Please Wait to be Seated sign. But they didn’t have to wait long. Kat recognized Claire Henderson by her picture from the website.
“First customers of the day,” Claire said with a smile, though Kat saw the signs of grief etched into her face.
“Hello, Miss Henderson. I’m Katherine Collins. We spoke on the phone about your mother’s case.”
The smile dropped from her face as if it had never been. “Of course. Why don’t you sit at the bar while I get Peter?”
Her brother. Kat followed her to the bar, taking a seat on the stool. “Lunch?” Stephen growled. “You, baby girl, are in a shitload of trouble.”
“So you keep threatening,” Kat returned, keeping her expression neutral. Before she could continue, Claire came back with Peter in tow. She could see the grief on his face too. He was on the shorter side, about the same height as his sister, with a little bit of a belly, probably from sampling the food as he cooked. And when he looked at her, she saw the hope and gratefulness in his eyes and she really, really hoped she wasn’t on a wild goose chase. Because if she was giving them false hope…that was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Investigator Collins, thank you so much for coming.” Kat took the hand he offered before turning to Stephen. Who was not happy. But he did a pretty good job of hiding it. “This is Assistant District Attorney Stephen Chandler. He’s also interested in hearing your concerns about your mother’s case.”
And she waited for the shock, for the suspicion and questions, but they never came. Perhaps it was because they were two counties away, an entirely different news network area. Or perhaps it was simply because the Hendersons didn’t care where the help was coming from. Peter held his hand out to Stephen with a simple thank you and she felt the tension in Stephen’s body slowly ease as he shook the man’s hand.
“You said on the phone that you suspected foul play,” Kat began.
“Foul play? Is that a politically correct word for murder?” Claire snapped.
“Take it easy, Claire.” Peter said, placing his hand on her shoulder. In warning or comfort, Kat wasn’t entirely sure. “Please excuse my sister’s rudeness. We’re all a little frustrated right now. We’ve been given the runaround for weeks. Nobody has any answers for us.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. “Talk to any of my mother’s friends and business associates. Hell, talk to the entire town.” He handed her the paper, a list of names, addresses and phone numbers on it. “My mother didn’t do drugs. Ever. I’ve relayed this information to Investigator Robinson. I know she says she’s working on it, but it’s been two weeks.”
“We are taking your doubts seriously.” At least Kat hoped they were. “Which is why I’m here. Do you know if your mother spoke with Emma Anderson recently?”
“The name doesn’t sound familiar. Who is she?” Claire asked.
“A reporter out of Albany. She was murdered a few days ago,” Peter explained to his sister before glancing at Kat again. “How would her death be connected with my mother’s?”
“It’s an avenue we’re investigating. I’m sorry I can’t give you any specifics, but anything you could tell me would help.”
Peter accepted her explanation with a nod. “I don’t remember my mother mentioning Emma Anderson. And I don’t remember seeing her name on my mother’s calendar. I can ask my brother, he should be here in a few hours.”
“That would be great.” Kat took out a leftover business card, doing her best to ignore Stephen’s irritation, and wrote her cell phone number on the back. Handing it to Peter, she said, “That’s my cell. Had your mother ever mentioned a woman named Karen Young?”
“No,” Peter and Claire said in unison before Peter asked, “Who is she?”
“Your mother’s old college roommate. She was—”
“Murdered,” Peter gasped, holding up his hand.
Kat closed her mouth, anticipation causing butterflies in her gut. Don’t get excited, she warned herself.
“My mother never mentioned her by name…” Peter began, letting his sentence trail off.
Claire glanced up at Peter before turning her attention to Kat. “Her roommate, she’s the reason my mother didn’t want me going away to school,” she explained slowly, her voice almost a whisper. “Not that I would have. We have the Culinary Institute in our back yard.” Just two miles down the road, in fact. “She was forever warning me about college parties, alcohol and drugs.”
Peter glanced at his sister before looking back at Kat. “Her roommate was drugged and raped during a frat party. And later, murdered.”
Stunned, Kat gaped at Peter as everything she’d learned over the past few days came together. Everybody’s denial that Karen Young would cheat on Greg, their devotion to each other, their break up and reunion. And in her mind a scenario began taking shape.
“Could you tell us everything your mother told you about her?” Stephen asked when the silence had gone on a little too long as Kat tried, and failed, to find her voice.
“That’s all I know. My mother never gave us any details. Like Claire said, she used it as a life lesson, forever warning us about alcohol and drugs. Which is why we find it impossible to believe she died of a drug overdose.”
Stephen asked a few more questions while Kat figured out the next step. There were two people she needed to speak with immediately. Stephen stood, placing his hand on the small of her back. Kat stood as well. “Thank you so much for meeting with us today. I promise I’ll keep you updated.”
And after a few more pleasantries that Kat barely managed to get through, they were finally outside. She sucked in air, barely able to fill her lungs as Stephen guided her to his truck.
“First, you set me up. Second, you’re impersonating a police officer? Really, Kat?” he gritted out. “Alex would have a fucking field day with this information. How could you be—” Abruptly Stephen cut himself off. “Shit, you’re white as a ghost.”
Kat looked at him without really seeing him, her head spinning with the possibilities.
“Talk to me, sweetheart,” Stephen said, reaching over to pull her closer, leaving the truck running so they wouldn’t melt in the heat.
“She was killed. Their mother was killed because she knew the truth.”
“We don’t know that.”
“How the hell can you say that!” Kat yelled, so tired of everybody telling her she was wrong. Maybe not quite so much in words, but actions. “Everybody involved with this case is dead!” Or nearly beaten to death, Kat thought. But Jessica Adams…oh God.
And then she remembered she hadn’t told them about the party, hadn’t told them about her meeting with Blake. “There was a party,” she said after she swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “Thanksgiving weekend, or the Tuesday before the weekend. A frat party. Karen Young was there and Blake, one of Greg’s roommates, saw her leaving with someone. She was—” Raped, Kat thought, but couldn’t even bring herself to say the word aloud. And by the look on Stephen’s face, she knew she didn’t have to spell it out. “I’m pretty sure she got pregnant that weekend.”
Stephen sucked in a breath and then suddenly he was glancing around the parking lot, his body on full alert. He pulled the seatbelt around her, clicking it into place before buckling his own.
“There’s more,” he prodded once they were on the road.
“Eleanor, Karen’s foster mother, said she was despondent all weekend, barely came out of her room. She’d blamed it on missing Greg because he was out of town for the holiday. But that wasn’t the problem.” Kat took a deep breath. “Over Christmas break, she broke up with Greg, but never told him why. Blake said he saw Greg in a bar in January, said he was taking the breakup hard. Blake was the one to tell Greg that Karen cheated on him. After they were broken up. Within a month they were back together then married a month after that.”
“She told Greg the truth,” Stephen said.
“It makes sense,” Kat sighed. “By all accounts, Greg was devoted to her, they were both devoted to each other. Which is why I couldn’t understand why she cheated on him, even though I knew she did because the baby wasn’t Greg’s. But when Blake told me about the party, I was still…surprised, I guess.”
Stephen stopped at a red light, his unease obvious. “Who was the man at the party?”
“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Kat sighed, feeling nauseous. “When I spoke with Blake, he said he didn’t know, but I got the feeling he was lying. We should go talk to him again.”
“Or not,” Stephen said, glaring at her. “That’s where you disappeared to the other day?”
“He lives in Massachusetts. It took a while.”
“And what if he was the man who raped Karen Young?”
Kat ignored that even as it sent a chill through her. Because Stephen was right, he very well could be. “I don’t think he would have brought it up if he was one.” She could tell it took Stephen an incredible amount of effort not to snap.
“Jessica Adams,” Kat said softly. “She was with Karen at that party. She was also dating Greg first, before Greg met Karen.”
Stephen stared at her for a few heartbeats. “Who else knew about Emma’s investigation?”