Trust No One (Devlin & Falco), page 17
“I apologize for missing your earlier call, Detective,” Mr. Abbott said. “If you still need to meet with us, we’re home. Feel free to come at your leisure.”
“Headed there now, sir.”
Kerri had a good many questions for Abbott, and not all were about his son or the missing wife.
Daniel Abbott and T. R. Thompson had obviously been close for most of their lives. There was no way Abbott didn’t know Janelle Stevens or at least about her case.
Abbott Residence
Saint Charles Drive, Hoover
As promised, Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were waiting when Kerri and Falco arrived. Mrs. Abbott’s eyes weren’t so red and swollen as they had been the last time they’d visited, but it was clear she was deeply enveloped in grief. Judging by the glazed look of her eyes, she was medicated as well.
Falco started the questioning. “How well do you know Sela’s family and history? Would your son have conducted a background search before becoming involved with her?”
Mrs. Abbott simply stared at Falco. Her expression didn’t change, and she said nothing.
Mr. Abbott did the talking. “Ben generally had a background check done on anyone with whom he interacted. Employees, associates, and certainly the women he dated. He didn’t allow anyone close to him who hadn’t been properly vetted.”
“So there was a background check on Sela.” Kerri was surprised Abbott’s people hadn’t found the connection to Janelle Stevens.
“I questioned him about her when he brought her home for the first time. My son said he knew everything there was to know about her. He trusted her. She made him happy.”
“Did Sela ever mention her older sister?” Kerri popped this question to see the man’s reaction. Surprise? Confusion? Those were the two she expected. Instead, his face remained clean of emotion as he shook his head in answer.
“I was under the impression Sela was an only child like Ben. He talked about that being one of the things they had in common.”
So, the husband hadn’t known Sela’s big secret either. At least not in the beginning.
“Have you found her?”
This question came from Mrs. Abbott, and she stared at Kerri with such blankness that she wondered if the lady realized she had said the words out loud.
“No, ma’am,” Kerri said, “but we are doing everything we can to change that.”
Mrs. Abbott nodded and drifted back into silence.
“She had an older sister, Janelle,” Kerri explained, her attention shifting back to Mr. Abbott. “She moved to Birmingham right after college and went missing. Her case is still unsolved. Are you certain Sela never mentioned this? It seems odd that she would move to Birmingham and never mention the family tragedy that happened here. Surely her mother mentioned it.”
He shook his head. “She never mentioned it that I can recall, and I certainly believe I would remember such a thing. As for her mother, we rarely saw her. Sela said she suffered with a mild case of agoraphobia and didn’t deal well with social activities.”
“But you did see her on occasion,” Falco countered.
“Of course.” He shook his head, as if the continued line of questioning was immensely annoying. “But she never spoke of another daughter.”
“She watched us.”
All eyes turned to Mrs. Abbott.
Her head moved up and down. “She did.” She turned to her husband. “She watched you most of all.”
Mr. Abbott patted her hand and offered a smile to Kerri. “You’ll have to forgive my wife. She is, as you’ve probably guessed, heavily medicated. No matter, she insisted on sitting in on this meeting.”
Kerri smiled, but the older woman quickly looked away. “I can understand why.” She turned her attention to Mr. Abbott once more. “I’m surprised you don’t remember her sister. She worked with Mr. T. R. Thompson. The two of you attended college together. You’re close friends, are you not?”
Both the surprise and the confusion made an appearance then before he quickly banished the outward reactions. “We are friends, yes. There was a time when we were closer, when we were young and determined to take over the world. If there was a sister and she worked for T. R., it’s possible I met her at some point during her employment. However, you might not be aware, but T. R. had and still has a huge staff. I know very few of his employees. What did you say her name was?”
“Janelle Stevens.”
He shook his head. “The name isn’t familiar at all.” He frowned then. “You know, there was, as we told you before, that time a few months ago just before Ben and Sela learned about the baby that there seemed to be some tension between them. I suspected it was related to Sela or her past, but Ben explained it away with the idea that they had discussed waiting a few years before beginning a family.” Abbott shrugged. “But that odd tension was over very quickly. I wish I could tell you more, but honestly there is nothing negative to say. They were very happy. Devoted to each other.”
Funny how that same theme kept repeating itself.
Except the wife had bought a car for some purpose she wanted to keep from her husband, and it was possible she’d planted the evidence that made it appear she had been injured the night of the murders.
26
1:30 p.m.
Swanner Residence
Twenty-Third Avenue South
Robby hadn’t come home for lunch today.
Diana popped a load of bath towels in the washing machine. She added detergent and fabric softener in the appropriate slots, then closed the lid and hit the start button. She leaned against the machine as it filled with water. He rarely dropped in on weekdays but almost always on the weekends.
He worked too hard.
Today she was feeling particularly lonely. With the boys at summer camp and Amelia at a friend’s, it was too quiet around here.
But Diana had her laundry.
She sighed. Five more piles of clothes lay in the hall next to their small laundry room. She would be doing laundry the rest of the day, and tomorrow it would start all over again.
It was an endless cycle.
Like making the beds in the mornings and loading and unloading the dishwasher. Figuring out meals for a family of five two and three times a day. Keeping the studio going, the dancers and their mothers happy.
It was too much some days.
But it was her life, and she loved it. A smile tugged at her lips. Every frantic, crazy minute of it.
What if she hadn’t met Robby and she’d gone on to Juilliard the way she’d dreamed from the first time she slipped on a pair of toe shoes?
She closed her eyes and thought of the hours and hours of intense discipline. The music and the dancing . . . the hard work. It had been like the very air she breathed.
But if she’d gone to Juilliard, she wouldn’t have had her kids.
And she wouldn’t have Robby.
Memories of their young bodies entwined. Of the way he’d stared at her so reverently. The awe on his face when he’d laid eyes on Amelia when she was born. The way he had beamed when the boys were born, even though they had both been terrified they couldn’t afford three kids.
And somehow they’d always managed to get by.
She wanted better for her kids, and Amelia was on the right path. She smiled and sent her sweet girl a text.
Hope to see you tonight!
Definitely!<3
A sense of happiness flooding through her, Diana decided to surprise Robby at the shop. She hurried downstairs. After a quick survey of the options in the fridge, she made him a ham-and-cheese sandwich and grabbed a bag of chips and two bottles of water. She packed it all in a neat little basket and found her keys.
She’d stopped being spontaneous two kids ago. It was time she infused some of that back into their marriage. Starting right now.
She’d reached for the door, when the bell rang. Kerri and Jen were both working today. Who in the world? She checked the security viewfinder and abruptly drew back.
Lewis York?
She pressed a hand to her throat and reached for calm. He’d visited her plenty of times at the studio. At least once a week when he’d dropped off or picked up his daughter. Sometimes an assistant dropped her off or picked her up, but Lewis always did one of the two. Still, he had never been to Diana’s home.
The idea that there could be some sort of issue with Amelia had her clutching at the doorknob. She drew the door open. “Lewis? Is everything okay?”
He smiled. “Everything is great. I had to drop off some papers to a client in the neighborhood, and I thought I’d stop by and tell you again how much we love having Amelia at the firm. I’m not sure I’ve passed that along to you since she started.”
Diana’s smile stretched so wide she was certain she looked a bit goofy. “Please come in.” She set the basket aside. “I was on my way out, but I have some time.”
He held up a hand. “I don’t want to keep you.”
“Don’t be silly. Come in.”
When he stepped inside, she closed the door behind him. He surveyed her home. She had only seen the outside of his when she’d dropped off his daughter once, but she hadn’t gone inside. The man lived in a megamansion. This house likely wasn’t even as nice as his garage, but it was home.
His gaze landed on the framed photos gracing the top of the table next to the door. “You have a beautiful family and a lovely home.”
“Thank you.” She felt herself blush, and she crossed her arms over her chest, as if that would somehow conceal how nervous she suddenly felt.
He looked around again. “Is Amelia here?”
“Oh no.” Diana tucked her hair behind her ear. “She’s spending every minute she’s not working with friends. I can give her a message.” She frowned. “I’m sure you have her cell number.”
“I do.” He leveled his gaze on hers. “But I don’t actually need to speak with her. It’s you I wanted to talk to, but I didn’t want Amelia to overhear.”
Her pulse jumped. “Me? Okay. Would you like to sit down?”
He glanced at the basket she’d set aside. “No, that’s not necessary. I just wanted you to know that we’re planning to make a sizable donation to Amelia for whatever she might need when she leaves in August.”
Diana pressed a hand to her throat. “Oh my goodness, that’s so generous.” She shook her head. “You really shouldn’t. You’ve done so much already.”
He touched her arm, gave it a squeeze. “You and Amelia are like family to me. I want to do this.”
Diana did something then that she had not done in all the years she had known this kind man. She gave him a hug as she thanked him profusely.
He smiled and gave her a nod. “Enjoy your afternoon. I’ll see Amelia at the office tomorrow.”
Diana watched him drive away, and she wondered how she could have been so lucky to have such a good friend. Jen was right; it was too bad Lewis wasn’t her type.
The drive to Robby’s shop took only ten minutes. The shop he’d inherited from his father was on the south end of the boulevard. The clientele had dropped off, and the place had fallen into disrepair just before Robby had taken over and turned it around. Diana had been terrified, but he’d managed. He’d worked seven days a week, like he did now, but he’d never missed an important event at the kids’ schools. He’d never failed to be the great dad they all three adored.
And he was a great husband too.
Diana tightened her fingers on the steering wheel as she pulled into the shop parking lot. She didn’t have to see him to know he would be hunkered over his desk, doing the accounting. Trying to keep everything in balance. He always did that on Sundays.
She used her key and let herself in, locking the door behind her. As she had known, he was at his desk. The calculator buzzed under his quick fingers. He grabbed his pencil and made a few notes, then rubbed at his chin. He looked tired and old, like her, but he also looked strong and loving. He looked like home.
“I missed you at lunch,” she said, announcing her presence before she reached the open door to his office.
His head snapped up in surprise, and those wide lips slid into a smile. “You snuck up on me.”
“Good thing you didn’t have another woman bent over that desk.”
He laughed. She did too. Robby would never ever cheat on her. He wasn’t like Kerri’s jerk of an ex.
She entered the office as Robby stood. Before he could say another word, she placed the basket in the chair in front of his desk, walked around to him, and slid her arms around his neck. She kissed him. She kissed him the way she used to when it was just the two of them. His arms tightened around her.
She drew back and looked into his eyes. “I love you, Robby.”
“I love you, Di.”
Without another word, they made love right there on his desk, uncaring of the paperwork he’d been trying to balance. They made love the way they had twenty years ago, with complete abandon. And when they were finished, they held each other for a long while, then helped each other back into their clothes.
“As much as I hate to say it”—Diana smiled as she watched him devour his lunch—“I should get going and let you get back to work. Otherwise you’ll never get home.”
He reached out, squeezed her hand. “Thank you for this.”
“My pleasure. Before I go, is there any way I can help?”
“You already have.” He grinned. “I feel like a new man.”
While they gathered the scattered papers, his cell rang. He checked the screen. “I gotta take this.”
To Diana’s surprise he hurried out of his office and out the door to the parking lot. She could still see him since the entrance door was glass. He paced back and forth, back and forth, looking serious and perhaps a little worried. He wasn’t happy about the call or with the caller. She finished tidying his papers as best she could while she split her attention between the task and watching her husband.
Now he was angry. His face had reddened, his jaw hardened, free hand planted on his hip.
What in the world?
Deciding she wasn’t going to keep playing this guessing game, she wandered toward the entrance. Just as her hands came to rest on the door to push it open, he glanced her way and then ended the call.
She pushed out into the warm afternoon and watched him for a moment. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just a jerk customer.” He glanced at her but immediately dropped his gaze.
“People can be jerks sometimes.” She walked over to him and rubbed his shoulder, felt the tension in him.
He worked up a smile and met her gaze. “I won’t be much longer.”
She went up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “See you then.” Before she turned away, she said, “Oh wait, I forgot to tell you that Lewis York dropped by the house.”
The look that claimed her husband’s face was something between fear and outrage. What in the world was that all about?
“What did he want?”
His words were cold and hard.
Confused, she explained, “The firm is planning to make a sizable donation to Amelia’s needs going off to school.” Another of those giddy smiles spread across her face despite her husband’s strange reaction. “Isn’t that great?”
He nodded, but the move was hardly noticeable. “Yeah. Great.”
“Robby.” She took his hand in hers. “Are you sure you’re okay? Is there something going on that I should know about?”
“I guess I’m angry at myself since I can’t do all those things for our daughter. The firm gives her a job. The firm gives her fringe benefits.” He shook his head.
Diana hugged him. “Don’t be silly. We worked hard to raise Amelia, and she has worked hard in school. It’s not like we’re accepting charity. We’re reaping the benefits of hard work.”
“You’re right.” He flashed a half-hearted smile. “See you at home.”
Diana left, feeling torn. That phone call nagged at her. His reaction to Lewis’s visit made her uneasy.
If Robby was in real trouble, would he tell her? Were they going to need an attorney?
At least she had an in with the best attorney in Birmingham, and God knew he had friends in high places.
27
4:30 p.m.
Law Office of Keith Bellemont
Third Avenue North
Daniel Abbott had shown up at Keith’s home.
Keith’s wife had called to warn him. She was concerned since the older man had seemed overly agitated. She’d apologized for telling Abbott that Keith was at work. He imagined his wife had bemoaned the fact that he worked long hours, seven days a week. Abbott had likely pretended to care.
But he didn’t, not at all.
He didn’t care where Keith was as long as he found him.
Keith heard him in the lobby. Martha attempted to greet him, but he ignored her. Instead, he barged past her, his footfalls heavy on the old wood floors, and appeared at Keith’s door.
“Mr. Abbott.” Keith rose from his chair. “Is everything all right?”
Abbott slammed the door behind him. “Of course everything is not all right. Are you mad?”
Keith let go a weary breath and gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. “Please have a seat, and let’s talk about what’s going on.”
Obviously struggling to maintain his composure, Abbott crossed the room and sat. Keith took his seat and waited for the other man to begin. He had never felt more tired in his life.
“Those detectives came back to my house again today.”
Keith pursed his lips and gave a succinct nod. “They’ll likely do that from time to time until the case is closed. They have a responsibility to try their best to find Sela and the person who hurt Ben and her mother. As unpleasant as it is, sometimes it’s necessary to go over information a number of times. We all want justice for Ben and a safe return for Sela.”
The man had to know this would happen. Did he think he was above the law? Exempt from the steps necessary to conducting a thorough investigation? Fury detonated in Keith’s belly, and he tamped it back. He couldn’t afford to lose control.
