“We weren’t really fighting, you know. Sara and I, I mean. It was more like a battle of wills. I had a gun, yes, I won’t deny that, but I wasn’t aiming it at her. I was holding it out, handle first, trying to get her to take it with her.”
“Really?”
She wasn’t sure of his tone, but his eyes told her something. He was watching intently like any good cop, looking for signs of innocence or guilt. If that was what he wanted—the truth—then she would be more than happy to give it to him. He’d know it when he saw it and that gave her comfort.
Annie approached the table with a pot of coffee. “Would you like some, Aiden? More for you, Lily?”
Lily pushed her cup toward Annie, frustrated by her bad timing. She was just getting into the meat of the story, her story. The one she’d been longing to tell someone who was willing to listen. Though she didn’t fully trust Aiden, he was still her best chance at clearing her name and maybe even finding Sara’s killer. So she swallowed the animosity she was still feeling toward him.
Annie filled Lily’s mug, then looked to Aiden for his reply.
“Sure thing, Annie. I’d love a cup.”
A huge smile spread across Annie’s face as she filled his mug to almost overflowing, stopping just before it spilled onto the table.
“Thanks,” Lily said dismissively, sending Annie scurrying off. “Look, I already told you how Zander threatened Sara’s baby.”
Aiden ripped open a packet of sugar and emptied it into his coffee, stirring. “But she didn’t seem scared enough to take the gun. You argued over it, right?”
“Sara thought I was overreacting and said I just didn’t know Zander well enough, and that he’d never hurt her or their baby.” Lily sighed. “Where are you going with this?”
Aiden grinned. “Right now, I’m just on a fact-finding mission. What you’ve told me fits well with Philip Kemp’s version, only he didn’t have the luxury of actually hearing any of the conversation between you and Sara. But there’s something nagging at me.” He sipped his coffee. “Zander’s a married man with a grown daughter, and if his wife found out about the affair and pregnancy, I imagine she wouldn’t be happy about it. It would complicate matters, wouldn’t it? I mean, Zander Lyons is a wealthy man.”
Aiden’s statement hung heavily in the air. The baby would have been an heir, an heir not just to Zander’s fortune, but to Sara’s as well. Was he feeling her out? Wanting to see how she’d react? If she’d mention the money? It always came down to the damned money. Any way you sliced it, all those millions were right there in the middle of things.
“I never wanted the money, Mr. O’Rourke. I made it clear to my sister she could keep it all. She offered me half, you know. She wasn’t a selfish woman. I told her if she wanted to give me something then let me have the diner.”
His brows lifted, but she was unsure of his expression. Was he surprised Sara offered her half of the money or that she called him Mr. O’Rourke?
Then she remembered something. Something she hadn’t the heart to tell her sister. “Zander came here, to the diner. He sat right over there.” Lily pointed to the largest booth in the restaurant, the one big enough to seat eight. “He was alone. I walked up to him, smiling, but he glared back at me. I tried to start a conversation, telling him what I was sure he already knew, that I was Sara’s sister, and even held out my hand. He left me hanging, sneering as if I was something dirty he didn’t dare touch. For Sara’s sake, I ignored his rudeness and asked what he’d like to order.
“He told me he wasn’t here to eat and that I shouldn’t put ideas into my sister’s head. Then he said something I’ll never forget. I remember his exact words. ‘She’s having that abortion even if I have to do it myself.’ He ordered a coffee, left it untouched, threw a fifty-dollar bill on the table and left. Maybe if Sara knew what he’d said, she would have been more careful. She might have even wanted to take the gun.”
Aiden stared at her for a moment, then leaned back, spreading his arms across the back of the booth. His eyes narrowed and he tilted his head, making him look exactly like what he was—a hard-boiled, cynical detective. What was he up to, some cop trick? Waiting for her to continue, to maybe say something incriminating? She felt her insides drop with disappointment.
He didn’t believe her.
She shook her head, then stood and peered down at him. “You son of a bitch. I loved my sister more than anyone in the world. I would never hurt her. Never!” With hands planted on her hips, she yelled, “Get the hell out of here. I’m done with you. I thought you wanted the truth and that’s what I gave you.”
A smile played on his lips as he looked up at her.
“Why the hell are you smiling?”
“Because I believe you. It makes sense. Things are falling into place. And, well, I’m glad.”
“Glad?”
He sighed. “I’m sorry if I upset you. That wasn’t my intention. It’s my job to ask questions and to be suspicious of everyone, but to be honest, I never wanted you to be a suspect.”
Anger still burned in her, but she sat back down. Was he being sincere or just shoveling cop bullshit at her to lull her into a false sense of security? She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and pressed her lips into a thin line of displeasure.
“I believe you,” he said again, adding a measure of emphasis to his tone, “but we’ve got more to talk about. Like where the gun is now. Do you have any idea what might have happened to it?”
Lily stiffened.
Aiden seemed to catch the movement, or rather, the lack of it. “What? What’s wrong?”
She turned away, not wanting to answer.
He splayed both hands on the Arborite and pushed himself to standing. “I can’t bloody well help you if you don’t talk to me. I know you’re still upset about last night and I’m sorry. I was an idiot. I made a mistake, but I need your help. Do you, or do you not want your sister’s murderer found?”
His anger startled her. It was a side of him she hadn’t yet seen. But if the murder weapon was found and it was her gun, Wilkins and Deluca would have the evidence they needed to arrest her. “I don’t know where it is, and I’m not sure I want it found.” Her voice was almost a whisper. “If the bullets that killed my sister came from my gun, they’ll charge me. The gun was registered. It’d be easy to match the slugs to the weapon. Even I know that and I’m no cop.”
“Not unless it has Zander’s fingerprints on it. We’ve got to find that gun.”
Lily’s heart beat hard against her ribs. Was he right? Could it be a good thing to find the gun? “What if it was wiped clean? Then I’d still be a suspect.”
“It’s a chance I’m willing to take, Lily.”
Sure, it was easy for him to gamble with her life, but was it a chance she was willing to take? “Like I said, I have no idea where it is.”
He nodded and chewed on his lower lip. “OK. Then we have to find it.” He flipped through his notes and looked up. “They tested you for gunpowder residue when you were first brought in for questioning and you came up clean, right? That’s a very good thing you’ve got working in your favor. Don’t be afraid.” He sounded so much like a detective now, so distant and businesslike.
“Think it may be time to pay a visit to the Lyons household.” Aiden stood and gathered up his notes. “Thank you for your time, Miss Valier.”