I met with Luca and Ariana and told them everything that had happened with Ellie. I told them how someone was stalking me and how Andrew was convinced it was her.

“Yesterday, when she approached me at Starbucks, she looked very nervous.”

“What do you mean?” Luca asked.

“She told me she needed to talk to me, but the way she said it, it was almost as if she was frightened or something. I can’t really explain it.”

“Andrew said he was at the club last night. We looked at the security footage and saw him enter the club around seven o’clock, but then he left at eight,” Luca spoke. “What time did he get home?”

“Around ten thirty.”

“He told us that he went to Central Park to do some thinking. Without any witnesses, this is going to be difficult to prove he was there. Unless the security cameras pick him up.”

“He didn’t do this, Luca.” I pleaded.

“I know, Addison. Please trust us,” Ariana spoke. “I know exactly what you’re going through.”

“How?” I cocked my head.

“Because Luca was arrested and accused of murder.”

“You were?” I looked at him.

“Yes, and I don’t like to revisit that, but Ariana was my attorney and she proved my innocence.”

“Is there anyone that would want to frame Andrew?” Ariana asked.

“No. Not that I can think of.”

“We better get going,” Luca spoke. “His hearing is in an hour.”

“You take Addison and go,” Ariana spoke. “I’m going to do some digging around.”

Luca and I went to the courthouse and Andrew’s bail was set for one hundred thousand dollars. As soon as he was released, I ran into his arms.

“Are you okay?”

“God, I’ve missed you. I’ll be fine once I get home.” He hugged me tight. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

As soon as we stepped out of the courthouse, reporters charged at Andrew, sticking microphones in his face and blinding us with the flashes from their cameras.

“Please respect the privacy of Mr. London during this difficult time,” Luca spoke on his behalf.

After we got to the Escalade safely, Andrew and I climbed in and shut the door.

“I can’t even believe this,” Andrew sternly spoke. “I did not kill Ellie, Addison.” He looked into my eyes. “You have to believe me.”

“I do believe you.” I grabbed hold of his hand and laid my head on his shoulder.

Philip pulled up to the curb of Andrew’s apartment building and we climbed out and scurried into the building. The moment we stepped inside the apartment, Andrew went into the bathroom for a shower. My phone was ringing non-stop with calls from Madeline, Emma, and Jasper. Not to mention Lucas, Sam, Maria, and Cody. As soon as I ignored all their calls, I did a three-way between me, Emma, and Jasper.

“What the hell is going on, Addy?” Emma asked in a panic.

“He didn’t do it.”

“Of course he didn’t,” Jasper commented.

“Do you need us, because we can be over there in a second?” Emma asked.

“No. We just got home from the courthouse and we want to be alone. I’ll keep you guys updated. I have to call Madeline.”

“Okay, baby girl. We’re here for you and Andrew,” Jasper spoke.

The moment I ended the call, Andrew stepped out of the shower.

“Did I hear you on the phone?” he asked as he walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I was talking to Jasper and Emma. I have to ask you something, Andrew.”

“What?”

“You told Luca that you went to Central Park after you left the club.”

“I did go to Central Park, and I went there to meet Charlie, but my private jet had to make an emergency landing due to some mechanical difficulties. But I couldn’t very well tell the police or Luca that, could I?”

“Why were you meeting with Charlie here?” I asked as I cocked my head.

He sighed as he took a seat on the edge of the bed.

“I don’t know. He called me yesterday morning and told me that he needed to come here, and he’d explain when he arrived. I told him it wasn’t a good idea, but he insisted. I told him I’d have Philip pick him up from the airport and he said no, that it would be best if we met in Central Park. After my pilot called to tell me that he had to make an emergency landing, I came home. Then I was arrested.”

“So you still have no idea why?”

“No. But he didn’t want you to know he was here.”

“What the fuck!” I spoke with irritation as I got up from the bed.

“Calm down, Addison.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down. I’m sick and tired of all the secrets with you people.”

The house phone rang, so I walked over to the nightstand and picked it up.

“Hello,” I answered.

“Miss Belle, it’s Doug from the lobby. There’s a gentleman here to see you and Mr. London. Says his name is Bobby.”

“Send him right up.”

“Send who up? Who’s here?” Andrew asked.

“Charlie.” I looked at him.

He got up from the bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I went to the foyer and waited for the elevator to come up. As good as it was to see him, my nerves were shot.

“Dad.” I smiled as I hugged him.

“Hello, Rosebud.”

He looked different. He was wearing a wig, baseball cap, sweatpants, and a baggy sweatshirt with a hood.

“What the hell is going on? Why didn’t you want me to know you were here?” I asked in an irritated tone.

“I’ll explain everything. Is Andrew here yet?”

“I’m right here, Charlie.” He walked over to him, and they lightly hugged.

“Are you okay, son? You’re all over the news.”

“I’m fine.”

“Dad, come sit down. I want to know what’s going on,” I spoke.

We all went into the living room and Charlie and I took a seat on the couch while Andrew sat down in the chair across from us.

“I can’t believe I didn’t make it here in time,” Charlie spoke.

“In time for what?” I asked.

“I don’t think it was Ellie who was stalking you all that time,” he spoke.

“Why do you think that? And if not her, then who?” I asked.

“I believe it’s your co-worker, Cody.”

A sick feeling rose in the pit of my stomach.

“Jesus Christ, Charlie,” Andrew spoke. “You can’t be serious.”

“Listen, Andrew. Don’t forget that I used to be a high-powered criminal attorney. I’ve worked with these types of people before. After Addison started telling me about him, something wasn’t sitting right with me, so I did some investigating.”

“Dad, come on. Cody isn’t that type of person.”

“They never are, Rosebud. Anyway, about ten years ago, in Miami Florida, he was arrested for stalking a female co-worker. She turned up dead and the ex-boyfriend was arrested and imprisoned for her murder. I paid him a little visit. He told me that he and his ex had started seeing each other again, and that’s when the stalking became out of control. After Cody was arrested for stalking and released, a restraining order was issued. She turned up dead two weeks later from a blunt trauma to the head caused by the ex-boyfriend’s bat, which was found in his home covered in blood the next day with his fingerprints all over it.”

“Oh my God,” I spoke.

“They checked into Cody’s alibi and it was solid, so as far as the police were concerned, he wasn’t a suspect.”

Andrew got up from the chair and paced around the living room.

“If he had a criminal record, we never would have hired him!” he shouted. “This is fucking unbelievable!”

“That’s because you know him as Cody Wilson, not Jonathan Friedman.”

“What?” Andrew cocked his head.

“He changed his name before he left Florida, and somehow had all his documents doctored. His high school and college diplomas, birth certificate, social security number, driver’s license.”

“How the hell did you find that out?” I asked.

“I still have my ways, Rosebud.”

“So you’re saying you think he killed Ellie?” Andrew asked as he got up from his chair.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I think he wants Addison and he knew about Ellie and the restraining order she got against you, so it was the perfect opportunity to frame you for her murder and then move in on Addison.”

“OH MY GOD!” I placed my hands on my head.

“This is why I didn’t want you to know I was here. I was going to talk to Andrew and tell him my suspicions and then follow Cody around. I didn’t want to scare you or make you more nervous than you already were. Plus, I knew you were safe with the bodyguard Andrew hired.”

“I wonder if Ellie found out about Cody, because that day I saw her in Starbucks, she said she had to talk to me and it was important. She seemed really nervous.”

“It’s possible. She may have been trying to warn you.”

“So now what?” Andrew asked. “My paperweight with my fingerprints from my office was used as the murder weapon and I have no alibi. To everyone, I’m guilty as fuck!” he shouted.

“Andrew, calm down.” I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“I’m trying to, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of my head.