Page 78 of The One for Forever

Quinn is mesmerized. “Then you drove her back to the house.”

“Yeah.” He pushes his plate of fries away. “We walked in and found the house a wreck and Thompson dead.”

“Yet you didn’t tell the police about seeing Amber leave the spa?” I say.

“They said it was a burglar! I didn’t think she’d killed him. Not then.”

“Did she know you’d seen her in that alley?” Quinn asks.

“Well…I let it slip. I was trying to be there for her after Thompson’s death, offer whatever help I could, and she got all uptight.”

I read between the lines. He came onto her, and she rejected him harshly. As she had every right to do. Murderess or not.

“I might have gotten offended and said too much in the heat of the moment,” Pete goes on. “Dropped some hints that I knew she had a secret. That she hadn’t been where she claimed on the day of the murder. She started crying and begged me not to spread rumors about her. It was weeks before the detectives actually suspected Amber of the murder, and by then…” He suppresses a shudder. “By then I’d already gotten a glimpse of the real Amber Printz. Some goons in masks showed up at my door and threatened me. Said they’d mess me up if I said anything against her.”

“She’d already recruited some new fans,” Quinn says. “The murder was a sensation even before Amber was suspected, and she was milking that sympathy on social media for all it was worth. She must’ve spread the word that you had damaging information.”

“I kept my mouth shut,” Pete finishes.

“Then why leave that note for Quinn?” I ask. “Why come forward at all?”

“Because it’s not right. Thompson was a good man. And the closer the trial gets, the more she’s milking it for fame. Do you know how much money she’s making through her YouTube channel? Amber’s using his murder to become a star. Who needs an Oscar-bait movie when you’ve got millions of followers hanging on your every word?”

“Sounds like you’re envious,” I say. “You came to Hollywood to make it, and Amber succeeded where you failed.”

Pete glares, and Quinn gives me a small shake of her head.

“What about Christian Hayworth?” Quinn asks. “How does he fit into this? Why did he send you off to Nevada right after you contacted me a few weeks ago?”

“I think Amber’s blackmailing him. With what, I don’t know. Christian hates her, so he wouldn’t lift a finger to help her otherwise. All I know is, Christian tried to get me out of the way. I got spooked. I was afraid some thugs were going to come after me in the night and shut me up for good. So I took off and came back to West Oaks to keep my head down until the trial. I have no idea how you really got my new number, but I’m glad you did. I just want to make this right. See justice done for Thompson.”

Quinn studies him. “Are you willing to repeat what you’ve told me? Without you speaking the truth, Amber might get away with it.”

“Yeah. I’ll testify. If you can guarantee my safety. I don’t want Amber’s psycho fanboys to track me down.”

“I know how you feel. I’ll make some calls. In the meantime, keep the low profile.” Quinn holds out her hand, and Pete shakes it. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow.”

22

“What did you think of his story?” Quinn asks. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

We just got into my truck after leaving the diner. On the nearby boulevard, evening traffic streams by.

“You’re the one who has to decide that,” I answer. “This is your case.”

“But I trust your opinion.”

Quinn seemed confident and self-assured with Pete, but now that we’re alone, she’s not afraid to show me the lack of surety underneath. I’m glad she can be herself with me. The same way I can be myself with her. I reach across the console and tangle our fingers together.

“His story has some holes in it. The defense will point out every one. They’ll make him seem like a rejected suitor who wants revenge for Amber turning him down.”

“There’s something else that bothers me,” Quinn says. “It’s odd that he actively contacted me before, slipping that note into my purse the night of the gala, then went silent for so long. He didn’t fully explain why. He could’ve found some way to contact me from Nevada. Or after returning to West Oaks.”

“I agree.”

“But the substance of what he told us matches. The anonymous source promised eyewitness evidence that Amber wasn’t where she claimed to be on the day of the murder. And that’s exactly what Pete is providing. He promised to testify.” She purses her lips. “But the part about Christian Hayworth bugs me too. He claims he wants Amber to go to prison, yet he tried to hide the one eyewitness against her? Is she really blackmailing him, and why? What does Amber have on Christian?”

“What are you going to do?” I ask. “The trial is in two weeks.”

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