Page 83 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

The old fury overtook her again. “Hold on.” She’d put the phone down and gone into the next room and screamed. After a moment she returned to the call. “I need you to meet me in Colorado and tell the sheriff everything you know. Right away.”

“Just a minute, Daisy Ann. Before I betray my wife in such a shameful manner, I need something from you.”

That’s when he told her the whole scenario. “Amber’s stolen millions from me. She’s the reason I went to prison and while I was there, she found a way to transfer everything into an offshore account. And it may interest you to know that she’s trying to take over your company. Wade Ashford has already agreed to sell her his shares.”

“Why would Wade do that?”

“She has something on him. A patent he stole. Point is, he’s going to sell his shares and then before you find out, he’ll try to convince you to sell your shares to a man named Hugo Bennett of Delancey-Flynn, who will take your designs to Europe. But Hugo Bennett and Delancey-Flynn are a front. When the deal is done, Amber will be the one who owns the majority voting stock, and then she’ll turn around and sell all the shares to Valene Mart who will then have controlling interest in the company. They’ll be able to do whatever they want with the designs.”

It was a brilliant plan, and one that might have worked. “So what do you want?”

“Pretend to sell to Bennett. Delancey-Flynn is the LLC she and I set up together. I’ll transfer the four and a half million to yourcompany, and you’ll issue fake certificates to us. Afterward, you’ll return the money to me, and we’ll both stick it to Amber. Then I’ll testify.”

When she’d pressed him further about her father’s shooting, the details didn’t add up. The time of day was wrong, the weapon, everything. That’s when she’d known he was using her to get his money back from Amber.

“Give me a day to think about it.”

When Meredith had called and told Daisy Ann all about Jackson Parrish and his history of abuse, her instincts where proven correct. She’d been appalled to learn how he had committed Daphne to a sanatorium against her will years ago and held the threat of taking her children away to keep her from leaving. So together she and Meredith had hatched their own plan. Daisy Ann pretended to work with Jackson because the idea of helping Daphne was irresistible. An added bonus was getting back at Amber. And that’s when Daisy Ann decided both Amber and Jackson could kiss those millions goodbye.

She pulled up to the hotel and parked. Once inside she headed to the bar and took a seat at the table closest to the entrance and on the cushioned seat. After ordering a scotch, she leaned back and took a deep breath. Amber was finally going to pay. Daisy Ann had been carrying this burden for so long she didn’t know how to lay it down. But this would be the start of the healing. With the evidence they had now, she was certain Amber would be convicted. There would be the wait for the trial and the emotional journey of walking through everything again, but Daisy Ann would be there in that courtroom every day until Amber was put away for good. She finished her drink and pulled out her phone. A text from Mason. She went cold as she readit.

Just heard from my friend. Amber checked out yesterday. They’re checking the airlines. No update yet.

Daisy Ann threw a twenty on the table and left.

– 52 –

AMBER

Jax was still asleep when Amber tiptoed to his crib. In the short time she’d been gone he looked so much bigger to her. Watching him sleep, she pondered the wisdom of taking him on this journey. There was no question that he would make everything more difficult, not to mention that Amber would be solely and completely responsible for him. At least until she settled somewhere permanently and hired a new nanny. The romantic visions of her as the doting mother were beginning to fade. On the other hand, leaving him here would make Jackson think he’d won. Just the thought of how crushed he would be to lose his precious son gave her strength.

“Mommy,” Jax said, sitting up and smiling.

“Hi, monkey. Did you miss me?” she said, picking himup.

As she changed his diaper, Chloe came into the bedroom.

“Oh, you’re both up. Shall I get him dressed and fed for you?” she asked.

“Yes, that would be great. I still have some things to finish up, and then I’ll be down.”

As soon as they left the room, Amber began to gather clothes and supplies to pack for Jax. There was a creepy sense of apprehension settling over her, and the more she thought about Jackson, the more she worried he’d set a trap for her. Why would he have gone to Dallas? It didn’t make sense. He would be here in Bishops Harbor waiting for word about Daphne’s whereabouts. Maybe Daphne hadn’treally run away at all. Maybe she and Jackson were conspiring together to get Amber. To try and get their hands on her offshore account. Chloe could have lied for him. After all, she’d never really liked Amber. Her gut was telling her to leave right away, and her gut was usually right. She quickly took Jax’s things and carried them into the guest room where she’d slept, packing them with hers.

The clock on the nightstand read eight o’clock. They didn’t have to leave for the airport until six tonight, but it wasn’t safe to stay here until then. She sat down, thinking what to do, and then picked up her phone.

“Remi,” Amber said before she even heard hello.

“Amber.Ça va?You are back?”

“I am, but listen, Remi, I need to leave. I’m scared. I have to get away from Jackson. He’s dangerous. I don’t have time to tell you everything right now, but I need a place to stay. Just till tonight. Can I use your apartment in New York?”

“Of course. But tell me, is there some way I can help you? Is he there with you? Threatening you?”

“No, but he might come at any minute. That’s why I need to get out of here now.”

“I will call the doorman and he will let you in. You must call me when you get there and let me know you are all right. Should I call the police, Amber?”

“No, don’t do that. I’m going to leave very shortly. I’ll be okay. And don’t worry. I’ll call you when I get to the apartment.”

---