Not What She Seems (20 page)

Emily’s face brightened. “Do you think he will want to be a part of Connor’s life?”

Pain stabbed at Steven’s heart to see Emily so hopeful. “Well,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “he didn’t exactly come out and say he wanted to see Connor.”

Vincent smiled. “Theodore is a good man. He has always been kind to me, and I’m not just saying this because he’s my boss.”

Emily turned her head. “Do you still work for him at the country club?”

“Yes, I now manage the whole club. I work directly under him. He is a reasonable man. His wife will come around once you’re found innocent.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” Steven said. “Your attorney told me he found an eye witness who saw you leaving your house early that afternoon.”

She smiled at him, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Michael told me. It was just a passerby. None of my neighbors were home. I’m so relieved he found her.”

Vincent nodded, keeping his hand on Emily’s shoulder. Steven leaned forward, trying not to let his disdain for Vincent show. “Thank you for taking care of Emily, Vincent. I appreciate it. We really should be going now, though. I promised Connor a trip to see Santa at the mall.”

******

The mall hadn’t changed much from when Emily was young. It was small, only eight or nine stores and a restaurant. However, for the people in Stapleton, it was a big deal. She held onto Connor’s hand, following Steven to the glass doors.

“Looks like Santa is here today,” Steven said as he held the door for her.

Connor’s eyes widened.
“Santa?”

The mall was alive with the bustle of people. A large gingerbread house made out of plywood stood in the middle of the floor. Children waited in line with their parents to enter. Sizable cut out windows allowed passersby to see Santa smile and wave at them.

Connor hugged her legs and buried his face in the fabric of her pants.

“What’s the matter, sweetie? Don’t you want to go see Santa?” She knelt down beside him and put her hand under his chin so he would look at her. He peeked over his shoulder and shook his head, putting his hands up to his face. Her heart went out to him. She remembered being scared of Santa when she was a little girl.

“It’s okay, buddy,” Steven said. “We can go eat right now, and maybe you’ll want to see Santa later. Would that be all right?”

He nodded.

Emily stood and took his hand again. “The restaurant’s that way.” She motioned toward the stairs. Steven put his arm around her shoulders, sending her heart to the bottom of her stomach. Could he possibly feel something for her after what she did to him? A moment later he took his arm off and put his hands in his coat pockets. She glanced at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. Maybe he was simply being a polite escort.

At the restaurant they were immediately seated at a table and placed their order. Emily was surprised they were able to be seated so quickly, the place was quite full. The hum of chatter and clinking of glass almost overpowered the elevator music coming through the speakers. Connor fidgeted in his seat, waiting for the food.

“Do you mind watching Connor for a second? I need to use the restroom.”

Steven motioned with his hand. “No, go ahead.”

Emily headed to the back of the restaurant. Someone opened the ladies room door and almost ran into her.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” A tall woman with fiery red hair stopped short. Her mouth formed a small ‘o’ shape and she backed up.

Emily stared, her pulse quickening. “Samantha?”

******

Samantha almost swallowed her tongue. “Emily.” She pasted on a smile and backed away from the restroom door, but Emily didn’t go past. Instead, she stepped closer.

“I need to talk to you.”

Samantha shook her head. She dodged around Emily, and walked to the front of the restaurant as briskly as she dared without attracting attention to herself.
Forget this. I’ll drive through a burger joint on the way home.

She slipped outside and realized she had left her coat on her chair in the restaurant. She cursed and turned around. Pushing the door open, she almost ran into Emily again.

“I’m sorry. I can’t talk now. I’m in a hurry.” She started to brush past her, but Emily caught her arm.

“Samantha! I have to know what happened between you and William.” Emily’s lips pressed together and her grip tightened.

Samantha yanked her arm away. “That’s none of your business.”

“I think it is.” Her eyes narrowed and she lowered her voice. “Did you kill William?”

Fear coursed through Samantha. “No, I—” She looked down, unable to speak.

“You were at our house the morning he died. What was going on between the two of you?”

Samantha knew she would have to say something to pacify her.
“Nothing.
I was just upset at him. He was being a jerk as always.”

Emily folded her arms across her chest. “How was he a jerk? What do you mean?”

“He loaned me some money, back when we were dating.” She sighed, gazing at the ceiling. “He wanted larger payments than I could afford. I couldn’t see how paying him a hundred dollars less each month was going to bankrupt him, but that hundred meant a lot to me.” She couldn’t force herself to look Emily in the eye.

“So,” Emily said while studying her face, “you were repaying a loan?”

“Yes.” She glanced at the marble floor.

“Why didn’t he tell me?”

“I have no idea,” she snapped. “If that’s all, I really need to go now.”

Emily nodded, and Samantha turned on her heel.
Forget the coat, I’ll get it later.

******

Steven checked his watch. Emily was taking way too long in the bathroom. Something was wrong.
Surely she wouldn’t leave…
His stomach knotted.

“Sorry it took me so long.” Emily slid into her seat, and Steven decided he had better start breathing again. “I ran into Samantha.”

He raised his eyebrows.
“Really?”

“Yes. She took one look at me and ran the other way.” A smile spread across her face. “So I followed her.”

He stared at her. “What happened?”

Emily picked up her fork. “I confronted her about her fights with William. Get this, she says she was repaying a loan and William wanted more money than she could afford.” She stabbed the air with her fork. “But
Will
never said anything to me about a loan. Why would he hide that? And all the while I was talking to her she was fidgeting and wouldn’t look me in the eye.”

“Why would she say she was repaying a loan if she wasn’t?”

Emily frowned. “I don’t know.” She reached over and started cutting Connor’s meat. “But I did pay attention to her feet.”

Steven blinked, not knowing what she meant.

“She wears at least a size nine.”

Chapter Twenty Five

Emily trailed behind Steven as he walked through the hotel lobby with Connor tugging on his hand.

“And when I sat on his lap, he asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I said I wanted a tyrannosaurus rex, and he said that was a good idea, and I said I also wanted a train, and he said he would see what he could do.”

Emily’s heart swelled as she watched Steven rumple Connor’s hair. Steven grinned, and the corners of his eyes wrinkled in that familiar way. She bit her lip and turned her gaze to the elevator. She didn’t want to think about how she felt when she was around Steven. He didn’t feel the same about her, and even if he did, she could never be with him. His reputation would be ruined if her past came out. She shook her head. What was she thinking? He couldn’t possibly have feelings for her.

Steven lifted Connor up so he could push the elevator button. Once they were on the lift, Steven leaned close to Emily.

“Is it all right if I help you get Connor ready for bed? I need to speak with you about something.”

Her insides twisted up. “Sure.” She almost asked what he wanted, but decided she didn’t want to know. However, it only took a few minutes of dressing and brushing teeth before she closed Connor’s door and stood face to face with him in her suite.

“Would you like to sit down?” She motioned to the small pull-out couch.

“Thank you.” He sat on the edge of the seat. “How much money did Theodore Grant give you?”

Emily took a deep breath. That was Steven; get to the point, and don’t beat around the bush. “I don’t know. Do you want me to count it?” She didn’t mean for that to come out sounding so sarcastic.

“No, that’s not the point. There must have been several thousand dollars in there. Why is he giving you cash? And don’t tell me it’s to help pay for your attorney. I don’t buy it.” His eyes searched her face.

She glanced down at the carpet. “I don’t know.” Deep down inside she knew it wasn’t for an attorney.

Steven frowned. “He said you would know what to do with it. Sounds like he thinks you know what it’s for.”

She stood up and walked over to her shoulder bag where she had stuffed the envelope. “I don’t know what he is talking about.” Jerking the zipper open, she grabbed the package and stalked over to Steven. “I don’t want it. Take it back to him.” She thrust it at him.

Steven stared at her for a moment before taking the envelope.

“He hardly said two words to me while I was dating William. Then, after we got married, he and Priscilla shut off all contact with us. I was stupid enough for one moment to think that perhaps he didn’t hate me, but you’re right. He isn’t supporting me. He’s paying me off for something.”

“What is the payoff for?”

“I honestly have no idea. You said he didn’t want me to contact him. Maybe he’s paying me to stay away from him.”

Steven looked pensive for a few moments. “I’ll take the money back to him. Maybe he can clear this up.”

Anger and annoyance started bubbling under the surface, and she put her hands on her hips. “You know, maybe I should take the money to him.”

Steven stood. “That’s not a good idea. I’ll speak with him tomorrow morning. You should keep your distance.”

Emily smiled. “You’re right. I might regret what I would say to him.”

He chuckled, and the wrinkles around his eyes returned. “Hopefully I won’t regret going to see him.”

Steven came up to her. He smelled of cologne and peppermint. He almost looked like he was going to kiss her, which was a ridiculous thought. She looked down at the floor. “Thank you for everything.”

He took her hand and squeezed it, holding on for a moment before letting go. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll just be down the hall. If you need me, ring my room.”

After he left, she clipped her hair on top of her head and started washing her face. She heard a knock at the door, and wondered if Steven had forgotten something.

Her peep hole revealed Michael standing in the hallway, his arms full of files. She opened the door to let him in.

“Sorry to bother you so late, Emily. I just had to speak with you about a few things.”

“Sure, come on in.”

Michael sat down on the couch and spread his files out on the coffee table. Emily pulled a chair over. She took the clip out of her hair, shaking the curls down while he sorted papers.

“Here’s the signature card for the joint checking account William had with you.” He handed her a photocopy.

Her stomach tightened. “That’s not my signature.”

Michael grinned. “I know. Someone forged it, probably William. I’ve got a phone call out to a handwriting expert, but I don’t think we would even need him in court. Anyone can see the differences in the signatures.”

“Why would he forge my signature?”

“I don’t know, but this proves you didn’t know about the joint account. Also, this account was opened sixteen years ago. Your name was added after you married William.”

Emily’s head started to spin.

“Look at these records. Your husband deposited six thousand dollars a month into this account. These were cash deposits. Do you have any idea where he was getting this kind of money?”

Her pulse raced.
“Just a minute.”
She crossed the room to the phone, punching in Steven’s room number.

“Hello?”

“Steven, how much money is in that envelope?”

“What?”

“Can you count it, please? I need to know.”

“Yes, hang on a second.” She heard him set the phone down. A few minutes later he came back on.
“Six thousand dollars.”

“I thought so.”

“What’s going on,
Em
?”

She gripped the phone tight. “You might as well come back over. Michael’s here.”

“I’ll be right there.”