28 Days: a romantic suspense (16 page)

4
:20am

A
lex rubbed
his chest and wished that things had been different for him and Christina. Even as he craved to have his arms around her, he knew that they weren’t meant to be because of the main obstacle keeping them apart—her marriage. It didn’t stop his heart from aching though.

He watched a tired Saige walk back into the room and glance around. “Where’s Dad gone?” she asked as she slumped down into the chair she’d occupied since she brought them all together.

“He’s gone to dress,” Christina replied, her legs folded under her on one end of the sofa.

Watching Saige fight a yawn behind her hands, Alex suggested, “Why don’t you both go back to bed.”

“If I thought I’d be able to get back to sleep, I would, but I think I’m awake for the day now.” Saige yawned again and settled back down.

“I’ll go back to bed soon.” Christina glanced toward the stairs and then at him.

He knew she wanted to avoid Richard, but he needed to talk to Saige and he wasn’t sure how Christina would take what he had to say. He’d just have to chance it because he needed to get it off his chest now.

He cleared his throat and paced. “I need to tell you both something.” He glanced from Christina to Saige and back again. “The night Fern died she told me that she found something to do with Quinten’s case that she knew hadn’t made it to court.”

Saige sat up and focused her gaze on him.

“There were witness statements as to Quinten’s whereabouts during the murder of each of the college girls,” Alex continued. “Three of the dates in question he’d been fishing alone. But one of the other dates he’d been on business in Chicago. A couple that we used to do carvings for in Tampa had moved there and wanted us to work on the banister in their new house. Quinten had gone to take a look and to give them a quote for the job. He was there when the girl was taken and he didn’t land in Tampa until an hour after the girl had been found. She’d been dead approximately two hours. So there is no way he could have taken her since he was on a plane or with our clients for the entire time. Another date he was in Miami and the water pump on his truck had gone out, so he stayed an extra two nights to get it fixed. There are credit card receipts and witnesses who saw him, including the garage that repaired his truck.”

Saige frowned and looked thoughtful. “I don’t understand why witnesses weren’t there during the case. Surely the investigation uncovered the same information Fern found. It sounds like there were a lot of things hidden that could have cleared Quinten’s name. But why?”

“I don’t know.” Alex dropped onto the sofa beside Christina, who’d stayed silent throughout everything. “What do you think?” he asked her.

Christina’s eyes flickered around the room before landing on Saige. “I think that Quinten is innocent and that someone wanted him out of the way for a reason,” she whispered. “I’d try and figure out why.” Christina stood the minute the words left her mouth. “I’ll see you both later.”

Alex frowned as he watched her leave the room, but Saige’s next words made him swivel to stare at her.

“What’s going on between you and my stepmom?”

He thought about lying but there were enough lies running around, and that had to stop. “I was in love with her a long time ago, and seeing her again has thrown me off. I’m like Quinten, unable to switch my feelings on and off like a faucet.”

“I’m guessing that means you’re still in love with her, huh?”

“I wish I wasn’t, but there you have it.” Alex shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweats and moved to the window.

Saige followed.

Standing together they watched the sun start to rise over the ocean when Saige said, “You had an affair with Christina before.”

Alex felt his heart drop to his toes.

“I overheard my father shouting at her for being with you. He told her it had to stop, otherwise there would be consequences, which doesn’t make sense considering he didn’t fire you.”

“I’m not sure why he kept us working at the house, although it would have been hard to find someone else to finish what we’d started.” He shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about Christina, although, I do think that you have the wrong idea about her.” Alex turned Saige to face him. “So why don’t you find a time to chat with her and see what she has to say. If you push her, you might get her to talk more than I can.”

Saige shook her head lightly and chuckled. “I’m sure you’d be able to get her to talk if you really tried.”

He tilted his head to the side, studying her. “Why aren’t you bothered about Christina and me?”

Saige bit her lip. “I didn’t only find out about Christina’s affair with you that day. I also learned about my father’s
numerous
affairs. Apparently, he only married Christina for her money, which I have to say, I had no idea she came into the marriage with any. I feel sorry for her really. I’m also upset that I’m discovering a different side to my father.” She shrugged. “I always thought he was a pleasant, caring guy. I’m not sure anymore that that’s who he really is.”

Alex wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close, wanting to offer her comfort, and maybe, have some comfort for a change.

Sighing, Saige settled against him and he wondered what she was thinking…or remembering.

He’d had a soft spot for her when they first met, and more so after she’d put a smile back on his brother’s face. She’d made Quinten happy, and Alex had finally started to believe that she would again. He had hope for the first time in a long time that everything would work out for his brother.

He also had an idea on where to start looking for the man who assisted Jocelyn with Saige.

1
0
:30am

“
H
ey
, Quinten.”

He looked up as the guard stood in front of the cell but stayed silent.

“The warden has been called to a meeting with the governor, first thing tomorrow morning while they consider a stay.” The guard shrugged. “Thought you’d want to know.” He walked away.

Quinten clutched Saige’s book in his hand and held it against his chest while he absorbed the shock. As much as he’d hoped, he didn’t really believe that his case would get as far as being heard.

He moved slowly to his bed and laid down, the book still clutched against his chest.

A stay didn’t mean he would be free. It meant that he’d have time…and the doubts that were being cast would put things in the right direction toward a new trial with a new jury. The case had been a mess. The supermajority vote shouldn’t have happened. He always believed there should be an all juror vote on a death penalty case. Something that still wouldn’t happen unless the law was changed within the state.

He’d think about all that later and just pray that the governor’s decision was in his favor.

6
:15pm

S
aige had been
restless for most of the day, which was why she’d decided to take a walk to the boathouse. The small jetty ran into the ocean and used to harbor her father’s boat, before he’d sold it.

Sitting with her feet dangling in the water, Saige looked out over the peaceful water and wished that her mind was just as calm. She just wanted it all over with so that she could get on with her life, hopefully with Quinten.

If only...

The creek of the first wooden plank drew Saige’s attention back toward the boathouse. She watched as Christina hesitated and then slowly moved closer. A slither of guilt crossed her mind, causing Saige to frown. She’d always had a love-hate relationship with her stepmother, but since she remembered what Christina and her father’s relationship had been like, she felt guilty for not giving the woman a chance, regardless of her father’s thoughts on the matter.

“Mind if I join you,” Christina asked, her hands fluttering nervously in front of her.

Saige nodded.

Once Christina was sitting beside her, silence followed until Saige couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s going on?”

Christina sighed and glanced back toward the main house. “Lots of things.” She swiped at one of her eyes.

“Christina?”

“You know about Alex and me, don’t you?” Christina looked at her.

“Yes.”

Christina smiled and left the tears that ran down her face. “I married your father to get away from my controlling family. I was in my twenties and still jumped when they told me to do something. I hated it. Except I jumped from the frying pan into the fire.” She gave a mirthless laugh. “Then I met Alex. He was everything I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to, but I couldn’t stop it and, for the first time in my life, I was in love. I was stuck between being with him and staying here for you.” She shrugged.

“I don’t understand. Why would you stay because of me?” There was no reason that Saige could think of.

“Your father is very possessive, Saige. I didn’t think that he’d ever hurt you physically, but he wanted you under his control to do what he wanted. When I was around, he wasn’t as bad with you, but, other times, he would irritate you and you’d fight back. That frightened me.”

“I remember you always trying to defuse the situation when we’d argue...What you’ve said though throws it all into a different light.”

“I’m sorry to be the one to burst your bubble about your father, but I can’t stay around any longer, Saige. I will until all this with Quinten is over with, but then I’m leaving.”

Saige took hold of Christina’s hand, and rested her head against her shoulder. “I wish we could have been friends.”

“Me too.” Christina sniffled and grabbed a tissue from her bra.

“Can I ask you something?” Saige asked once Christina cleaned herself up.

Christina frowned. “You can ask me anything. I hate that I was never there for you.”

“My father kept you away from me. I heard that from his mouth when neither of you knew I was around.” Saige shrugged. “What I wanted to ask was about Alex. Do you still love him?”

“I don’t even need to think about the answer because I do. I always will. I said some pretty bad things to him back then to make him leave. I was so worried about what Richard would do if I continued seeing him. I was afraid. At the time, I had no idea that Richard had already talked to Alex though. He’d told him that he was one in a string of affairs. It really hurt that Alex believed him. In the end, it was easier to let him think it was true because that would mean he’d stay away from me. My heart broke that day.”

Saige shook her head and pulled Christina into her arms, letting her cry as her anger with her father grew. He’d been the guilty one for having numerous affairs, not Christina. Saige’s heart broke now that she was learning and remembering another side of her father that she’d forgotten about.

He’d certainly been loving, especially since she was in the hospital. But before she was taken, they’d argued and had many a disagreement about how he thought Saige should live her life, as opposed to how she wanted to live it.

Her father hadn’t agreed with her choice in men either. To their face, he’d been polite, but she remembered hearing him ranting on and on to Christina about every boyfriend she’d brought home. She remembered how violent those arguments had become when he talked about Quinten and how he wasn’t good enough for her.

She’d hated that.

About to ask Christina about Quinten, raindrops landed on Saige’s bare shoulders. She glanced at her stepmom, who’d glanced back at her. “We better hurry,” Christina suggested.

Scrambling up, they jogged along the jetty toward the boathouse as the drops became a lot heavier.

“I have to be somewhere soon so I’ll see you in the morning,” Christina said as she continued jogging up to the house. She’d be soaked by the time she got there.

“What were you talking about?”

Saige jumped a mile and laughed. “You scared the crap out of me, Alex.”

“Sorry.” He grinned, although it was clear from the mischievous look on his face that he wasn’t sorry at all.

“Hmm.” Saige stood under the overhang above the door to the boathouse and watched Alex as he watched her. She smiled and shook her head. “She told me what my father told you about her, which was a lie in case you were wondering.”

Alex blinked and his eyes had lost all humor. “She told you that?”

Saige tipped her head to the side and realized Alex had been hurt just as much as Christina had. “I overheard it, first out of my father’s mouth. He hit her and told her to end your affair and if she didn’t, he’d end it for her, and not in a way that she’d like. He threatened you, and at that point, Christina agreed to end it. She loved you, Alex, and wanted you safe. It hurt her that you believed what my father had told you.”

Alex shoved his hands into his pockets. “It was obvious that she needed me to leave her alone, so I chose to let her believe what she did. I went away and got drunk. Just when I decided I wasn’t willing to give her up and intended to fight for her, all the shit with you and Quinten happened.”

Saige waited until he met her gaze. “Don’t let her go this time.” Once her words had been received, she decided against the boathouse and went back up to the house.

3
:00pm

U
nable to sit
at home any longer, Saige headed into town with the plan of going into the pharmacy again. With a bit of luck, Paul would be inside stocking the shelves. She wanted to talk to him because the last time she’d been inside she’d gotten the feeling he was nervous and she wanted to know why.

She’d gone to school with Paul but had never really spoken to him. He’d been a loner and others had been cruel with the name calling. Back then, his mother, Agnes, used to make the best milkshakes anyone had ever had.

A lot had changed in Port Jude over the years and the town was more geared toward tourists passing through than for the people who lived in the area. It was a shame to see some of the changes from what she’d held as fond childhood memories.

Some things would probably never change and that was the barbershop quartet. Mr. Matheson was the eldest and had held his chair from when she’d been in high school, and he never missed a thing. As she started across the street now, he watched her—so did the others.

“You stepping inside?” Rosa asked, pulling her out of her reverie.

Rosa was forever fifty, but was probably close to ninety now. Her hair was pure white and her brown wrinkled face had aged well, and she always had a welcoming smile. Although she smiled now for Saige, the elderly woman had a frown marring her brow.

Saige smiled. “I am. How are you today?”

“Just fine.”

Saige went to step past Rosa but paused when the other woman took hold of her wrist. “I never believed that young man had anything to do with your abduction,” she whispered before skittering away like a scared mouse.

Saige frowned after her as she continued into the pharmacy. Did Rosa know something?

Rubbing her brow, Saige turned and met Paul’s gaze. The minute she did, Paul looked away and continued with his work. His hands shook the closer Saige got to him.

Saige glanced around and noticed he was alone, which was good. If Agnes had been there, then Saige’s chances of talking to the man would have been zero.

“Afternoon, Paul,” she said, hoping to put him at ease. “It’s too warm to be outside and I started reminiscing about the milkshakes that your mother used to sell here. Do you remember? They were so popular that the kids would grumble when she closed that down during the winter months.”

Paul smiled. “I remember,” he mumbled. “You used to like the strawberry, peanut butter one.” He screwed his face up. “I remember trying that one and it made me sick.”

“It was my favorite back then. I don’t think I could drink it now though. Now I’m more of a coffee drinker than anything.” She smiled. “How are you doing?”

He hesitated. “I’m doing well. Still hoping to get away from small-time life, but it isn’t easy,” he whispered. “Everyone knows something about someone else that can get them into trouble. I know it’s what happens when you live in a place like Port Jude, but I hate that. At least, no one knows my secret.” He grinned but it didn’t reach his eyes. A chill raced down her spine forcing her to take a step back.

“Paul,” Agnes snapped, coming through the front door, “get back to work.”

Saige hesitated before she moved further away from Paul and turned to Agnes. “I’m sorry. That was my fault. We were just talking about the milkshakes you used to make. I’m sorry, again.” Saige made her way outside and sagged in relief.

Paul had looked at her strangely and the chill she’d felt had been real. Which begged the question as to what secret did he have that no one else knew about?

She bet at least one person knew his secret, and she knew where to start as she glanced across the street.

Mr. Matheson watched her watching them. It was a surprise when he stood and said something to his friends, then disappeared around the side of the store.

Saige darted across the street and down the side of the hardware store, heading toward where Mr. Matheson disappeared.

“You’re going to get into trouble if you keep asking questions, especially if you keep going over there.” Mr. Matheson pointed toward the pharmacy.

She ignored him. “You wanted me to come after you?”

“I couldn’t very well talk to you with the others around, now could I?” He shook his head. “Please stay away from there. Paul isn’t...right in the head. I don’t trust him and you shouldn’t either.”

“Do you know what’s going on? How I can help Quinten?” He looked around and started to back away from Saige. “Tell your detective friend to look closely at the locals…”

“But who?” Saige asked.

He glanced toward the pharmacy and said, “Paul.” With his final word, he returned to his friends.

Slowly walking back the way she came, Saige was confused about Paul. He had given her chills, but surely she’d know if he had been the one to take her. Wouldn’t she? She’d gotten the sense that Quinten was innocent when she saw him on TV, so why wouldn’t she feel something was more off than normal with Paul?

She would go crazy before this whole damn thing was over with.

Back on Main Street, Saige was about to step off the sidewalk to head back to her car when Coulter pulled up in front of her. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you,” he stated, climbing from his car.

Saige quickly checked her cell and realized she somehow managed to switch it to silent. “Sorry. Have you heard anything?”

He nodded, his face solemn. Her heart sank.

As she felt the tears burning her eyes, Coulter grinned, and said, “The governor and the rest of the committee agreed on a stay. The official stay for Quinten James Peterson was signed about an hour ago.”

Saige burst into tears and felt Coulter’s arms wrap around her. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

She shook her head. “These are happy tears...I think.”

He laughed. “C’mon, get in. We’re going to the prison to break the good news to Quinten. The warden has agreed to hold off.”

She didn’t need telling twice and practically jumped into Coulter’s car. When she was strapped in and Coulter was navigating his car toward the prison, she told him about what Paul and Mr. Matheson had said.

“From what I remember, Paul wasn’t around back then. He certainly wasn’t questioned like the rest of the people in town. I think he was away at school.”

“That would make sense because so was I. I’d have stayed there as well if I hadn’t missed Quinten so much.”

“I’ll check out Paul when we get back from Harlington. The sheriff has been helpful and is allowing me to work out of their offices, which is better than the car.” Coulter grinned. “I promise if there is something to find, then I’ll find it.”

Saige nodded. “Have the missing witness statements been found?”

Coulter glanced at her then back to the road. “Alex told you about them, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Daniel Sterling had them, but he received them only recently. He has no idea where they came from and seems to have been busy. He tracked the witnesses down to confirm the statements were, in fact, originals, and they were. He presented them to the governor this morning along with everything else.”

“Oh boy. How could they have disappeared?” Saige rubbed at her brow, which seemed to be in constant pain these days.

“I honestly don’t know and I find it annoying as hell. I never even knew they existed…although Quinten did say he was out of town on two of the dates in question. The reports I saw all stated Quinten had been fishing when the girls had been taken, the same for estimated time of death...unfortunately, the detective who took the statements died of a heart attack during the investigation. Makes me wonder why he didn’t verbally tell someone about them. He obviously had time to write them up.” He shrugged as a dark frown formed across his brow.

“Quinten used to fish a lot to get away from life in his house. He owned that house and refused to let Jocelyn have it, which was why he still lived in it with her even though he’d started the divorce process. I used to go fishing with him sometimes.” Saige softly smiled. “I wouldn’t go anywhere near the bait and Quinten was good about that. He didn’t tease me or anything, and he’d leave the bait a few feet from where we sat on the bank.”

“He loves you, Saige, and I hope, really soon, that you both get that life back.”

“Me too.”

6
:10pm

H
e had a belly
full of nerves as he waited in the visiting room for Detective Robinson. That was all he knew—that the detective was on his way. Quinten had been too afraid to ask the guard if he knew why, which was something he’d usually have asked.

Sweat glistened on his forehead when footsteps could be heard moving closer to where he waited, and then, when the door opened, he felt as though his heart had stopped altogether.
Saige
.

Her eyes swam with tears as she tried to control her unhappiness. He couldn’t look at anyone or anything else. She filled his vision and he knew that he’d love her until the day he died.

“Quinten,” Detective Robinson drew his attention, but almost immediately it was back on Saige. “The governor granted you a stay.”

He blinked and snapped his gaze back to the detective who nodded and smiled. “You heard me right. The governor has granted a stay. Your defense attorney put your case before the governor and the committee this morning. Daniel supplied witness statements, which had been sent to him anonymously. Apparently, they were received in his office the day Fern died.”

Quinten had no words and even, if he tried, he didn’t think anything would come out of his mouth. He was thankful to be sitting down because his legs felt like jelly as his whole body started to tremble...and then he cried—like a baby in front of everyone.

In the next breath, he felt soft hands that could only be Saige’s cup his head and bring him against her chest. She cradled him against her and cried with him. He felt her body shake and he’d give anything to be able to wrap his arms around her to keep her close. But that wouldn’t happen today, if ever again.

Her fingers were gentle as they massaged his scalp and now that he started to calm down, he could smell the floral body lotion she always used. It teased his senses and started to make him uncomfortable in all the places that had ached for her since he’d been incarcerated.

He coughed and lifted his head to meet her watery gaze. “I love you,” she whispered, causing his eyes to fill again.

He was an emotional wreck from the news they brought him but more so because of Saige’s touch and closeness.

“Here,” Warden Roscoe said, passing him and Saige each a tissue.

Saige stepped back and dried her face, which he also did, and only then did he allow his eyes to go to the warden. “What happens now?”

“You’ll be moved back to a death row cell in the morning, but I’m hoping you won’t be a resident here for much longer.”

“How?” He had no idea how that could be possible. Saige could speak on his behalf about her abduction, but he had still been convicted of murdering the college girls.

“The witness statements that have been discovered,” the detective informed him, “state you were in Chicago for one of the abductions and murder, and Miami for the other…like you originally stated. I’m not saying it’s going to be straightforward, but, eventually, we’re hoping your conviction is overturned and all charges dropped.”

Saige kneeled and took his large hands into her much smaller ones. “Don’t give up hope. I love you, Quinten.”

Rising up, she pressed a light kiss to his lips and smiled. “I promise to come back.”

He nodded, and whispered, “I love you.”

“I know.”

Detective Robinson wrapped an arm around Saige’s shoulders and led her from the room. It hurt not being the one to comfort her, but if he weren’t in prison, then she wouldn’t have needed comforting.

His head dropped to his chest with exhaustion. The stress and worry that he wouldn’t be alive to see day twenty-nine was finally over, but his mind wondered what next. Would he really be cleared of all charges?

1
1
:00pm

T
here had been
a lot to take in during the course of the day, and Saige longed to be closer to Quinten, which was why she decided to spend the night in the boathouse. It had been their secret place and she still planned on keeping it that way. Tonight, however, she felt that she needed to be where they’d been at their happiest because having to leave him in that place had hurt her deeply.

Slipping through the door, she paused when she saw the shape of a man sitting in a chair facing her. She gasped and his head snapped up at the sound, giving her a clear picture of his features as the moonlight cast him in its glow.

Paul.

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest as she stood, watching him. Paul clutched something in his hands. It looked to be a wooden box and when she flicked on the light, she realized it was a jewelry box.

“I thought you would be in bed,” Paul stated, unmoving.

“I couldn’t sleep.” Saige stayed by the door and slowly started to back out.

He seemed cool as a cucumber while he clutched at the box with one hand and tapped the lid with his fingers. “I often come and sit in here when I’ve had enough of my mother going on and on about gossip. I have no interest in her gossip when mine is much more interesting.” Paul smirked. “Bet you’re curious.”

Her first instinct was to turn and run back to the main house, but she wanted to know what he knew. What if he knew something that would help set Quinten free? Did she want to take that chance, and run?

“Okay, I’ll bite. What gossip is more interesting than what your mother has to say?”

“Murder of course.”

Her blood ran cold and shards of ice slithered down her spine. “Whose?” she asked, not sure she really wanted to know.

“Poor Quinten, the clock is running out for him. I can see him, sitting in a death watch cell, watching the clock, feeling every second slip by until he’ll have no seconds left. It must crush him…especially since he didn’t do it.” He grinned. “Quinten wouldn’t have harmed a fly and I’m sorry that he was the Peterson brother to end up in jail. That shouldn’t have happened.”