Page 58 of Married to Murder
“I know.” I believed him. He’d always protected me—that was why he was in this mess now.
There was movement by the door, and with horror I realized Tanner stood there, his face pale and his eyes wide. I knew from the expression on his face that he’d heard everything Gordon had said.
Gordon faced him, looking mortified. “Tanner—”
“Shut up,” snapped Tanner. “I need to think.”
“Oh, God, Tanner.” My voice was faint.
Tanner of course had every right to be furious with Gordon. But I loved Gordon, and I knew he’d only acted out of love for me. I moved around the counter and approached Tanner. His face was hard and his jaw clamped as he watched me coming nearer.
“Did you hear all of it?” I asked. I had a faint hope that if he’d heard it was an accident, maybe he’d be less angry.
“Yes.”
“I just wanted you and Seth to be happy.” Gordon hung his head.
“You murdered my father and then just left him out there like a piece of trash,” Tanner growled.
“No. It wasn’t like that. I just didn’t know what to do.” Gordon’s lower lip trembled. “What can I do to fix this, Tanner? I’ll turn myself in if that’s what you want.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I will. I swear.”
“Then why haven’t you already done that?” Tanner stepped forward, his hands balled into fists.
“Because I’m a coward. I’m afraid of going to prison. But I’ll do that if that will make you feel better.” Gordon leaned wearily on his cane. “I never meant any harm to you or your family. I was simply trying to protect Seth, and it spiraled out of control.”
Tanner walked closer to Gordon, and I followed, half-afraid he’d attack my friend. “You must not have thought much of me if you thought I’d dump Seth because of anything my dad said.”
“I didn’t even know you, Tanner.” Gordon wiped his sweaty brow. “All I knew was for once Seth was happy. I wanted that for him. I didn’t want that to be ripped from him because of something that happened long ago. I just wanted to explain to Douglas that he didn’t need to threaten Seth. I’d give him the money if he wanted that.”
“Am I just supposed to not care that you killed my dad?”
Gordon’s lower lip trembled. “Of course you care. But I swear on my life I just wanted to talk to him, but then he came at me. All I did was push him off of me and he tripped and—” He swallowed, looking sickly. “I’ve never hurt another person in my life. I’ve always tried to be a good person. I would never have touched him if he hadn’t come at me first. I swear on my life.”
A muscle worked in Tanner’s cheek. “I… I don’t think you’re a monster… but my dad isdead.”
“And I’ll never be able to forget that. Never.” Gordon wiped at his eyes. “But me going to prison won’t bring him back. All it will do is destroy my life. I’ll be ruined, and all I did was push him off of me.” He sighed. “But like I said, if it will bring you peace for me to turn myself in… I’ll… I’ll do that, Tanner.” His eyes were filled with fear. “I don’t want to go to prison for a horrible accident, but I will if that will give you closure.”
My gut clenched at the thought of Gordon in jail. I gave Tanner a pleading look. “What do you want to do, Tanner?”
His expression was frustrated. “I don’t know. I don’t fucking know what to do.”
I jumped when someone knocked on the doorjamb of the shop. A man in a ball cap and black jacket walked into the store. I gathered myself and took a step toward him. “I’m sorry, I’m about to close for the day.” I forced a stiff smile.
“Is that right?” the guy said with a smirk. “Well, I wasn’t really here to shop.”
I frowned. His demeanor was odd, and little alarm bells went off in my head. I’d never been robbed in the shop before, but I’d been robbed plenty during my time on the streets. I recognized the shifty-eyed, nervous energy a crook gave off when I saw it.
“Maybe you can come back another day.” I smiled again, wishing I was closer to the cash wrap area where I kept a baseball bat.
“Nah. I think I’ll take care of what I need to right now.” He closed the door behind him and slid the CLOSED sign into place. Then he faced us, zeroing in on Tanner. “So you’re the famous Tanner Trenton.”
Tanner frowned. “I’m sorry?”
“Rich kid born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Must be nice. Me? I’ve had to work for everything I ever got.”
