Page 47 of Mine to Hold
“Okay.” Emmerson shook out his hands. “Please fill me in because I feel like I’m missing part of this story.”
“When I left Safe Harbor Café with Stacey, we went down the street to Oscars and got a table outside. We watched you and Rumor get in your patrol car and drive off. I was so mad at you because you wouldn’t help me, and her for what she said to me, that I didn’t want to be out anymore. It was fifteen minutes later when I was hit. I knew it couldn’t have been her.” Tessa pointed. “Regardless of my feelings, I would never accuse anyone of wrongdoing. I’m not like that. Besides, the person driving the car was obviously wearing a wig.”
“Um, while appreciate the fact you’re defending me, how do you know that?” Rumor asked.
“I own a salon. I know these things and it was the worst wig I’ve ever seen,” Tessa said.
“What about the passenger?” Emmerson asked.
“That’s the worst part about this whole thing,” his mother said. “According to Tessa here, the man was wearing what appeared to be a Lighthouse Cove police uniform.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Emmerson said.
Rumor went to sit back in the chair but missed it altogether and fell backward into the pool.
Splash.
“Shit.” Emmerson raced to the side and dropped to his knees. He reached for Rumor, pulling her from the water. “Are you okay?”
“No,” she said.
He lifted her out of the water and into his arms, carrying her to a chair. “Someone get her a towel, please.”
Rhett jumped into action.
She wiped her wet hair from her face. “I think we need to talk about what I really know about Tony and Tom.”
10
Rumor stood in the middle of the pool house with her heart hammering in the center of her chest. She had no desire to be honest. To relive what had happened fifteen years ago and why she’d been running her entire adult life.
But this was no longer only about her.
People had died.
And now a good man was also being set up.
She couldn’t allow this madness to continue.
If she ran, not only would Tony find her, but the cops would be looking too. That was no way to live.
Knock. Knock.
“The door’s open,” she said.
Emmerson stepped inside. “Tessa and Johnny are gone.”
“I’m sorry she got hurt.” Tears burned her eyes.
“It’s not your fault.”
“You don’t know that because you don’t know what I did.” She glared.
He closed the gap between them, taking her into his arms. “You’re right. I don’t. But you didn’t hit her with your car. You didn’t murder two innocent people. Whatever happened in thepast, you’ve been trying to put it behind you. What I need from you now is that truth and we can figure out what to do next.”
“Even if that means you have to slap handcuffs on me?”
“I told you, I’m not into that kind of kinky thing.” He winked.
