Worth the Risk (24 page)

The sounds and scents that would normally comfort Hannah were gone, replaced with seared wood and wet ash. The rain that had been a blessing left a soggy, smoky mess. The acrid odor of the melted plastic barrels that once held sweet feed added another layer. Everything felt sad and ruined.

Her cell rang again and she glanced at the unknown number. She’d been on the phone all morning. Answering calls. Making calls. Reporters looking for the how and the why, owners wanting arrangements to retrieve their horses. Roma had already been picked up. Lady was scheduled for later today. Everything was falling apart.

There’d been no feed left to salvage. Only a few pieces of tack left. But the last four stalls closest to the back still stood solid. Zach had been out, verified that what was left was structurally sound. That was something at least. And with no other clear direction, she’d thrown herself into cleaning. After an hour the stalls still looked pretty much the same, the walls still black with smoke. Exhaustion crept in and her entire body ached like it hadn’t in a very long time.

Gazing out the small window to the low pasture, she watched Winnie and felt the tears gather along with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. It could have been so much worse. She’d go for a ride later, get away from the entire place that smelled like the smoky remains of an abandoned campfire. And from the memories of last night.

Had it really only been a day since she and Stephen made love out there beyond the trees? When she’d lain with her head on his chest while the wind played through the leaves above them? A breath away from saying she loved him? Did he still love someone else? Would he always?

Trace. Tracy.
She didn’t want to be jealous of a dead woman. Couldn’t blame him.
Didn’t
blame him.

The flower doesn’t have to mean anything.
So why was she so afraid it did?

“Hey, sis.”

She turned at the sound of Luke’s voice, forcing a weak smile and rubbing at her right forearm.

“You’re doing too much.”

“What else can I do?”

He stood with her, scanning the depressing remains. “You’re holding up.”

She was trying.

“You’ve held up under all this. And the land thing too.” He slung an arm around her shoulders, squeezed. “You really are stronger than any of us gave you credit for.”

Hannah smiled up at her brother, warmed by his sudden praise.

“I’m taking off, but I’ll be back.”

“Thanks.” He stepped away and she picked up her shovel.

“Oh, yeah. Your boyfriend was out looking for you earlier. Said he’d be back.”

She wondered why Stephen had come out so soon, knowing she was going to the hospital.

“He’s turned out to be okay.” Luke turned back, gave her a wink. “You’re okay too.”

Two more hours of scooping ashes and she was done. Past done. Hannah dropped her head in exhaustion.

The sound of a car drew her attention. Not Stephen’s new truck. Not one of her brothers. She stepped out and watched the doors of a cherry-red sports car open simultaneously.

The driver worked with Stephen, Dave something. A woman exited the passenger side. The same one who’d wobbled in her heels to hurry Stephen along the first time he’d been out here.

The two murmured between themselves until they got close.

“Dave Pietro.” He stuck out his hand, saw Hannah’s, black with soot, and dropped it back to his side. “Stephen’s partner at Trace Development.”

“Yes. I remember. Hi.”

“I don’t think we’ve formally met,” the woman said. “Though I believe I’ve seen you once before. The day Stephen and I drove out to look at the property? Camila Tovarez, legal counsel for Trace Development.”

Drove out to look at the property?

“I was sorry to hear about your trouble,” Dave said, interrupting her thoughts as he turned and took in the mess.

“Thank you.”

“Though it could actually be seen as a good thing, silver linings and all that.”

Huh?
“How could it be a good thing?”

He faced her, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, as were the woman’s. “Less to bulldoze, less cost. And good for you as well.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not following you.”

“Well, the insurance. It’s not much, a pitiful amount really, and technically it should go to us since it was under contract before the fire. But we’re willing to defer to you. Help you relocate.”

His smug smile said he was pleased with himself, though she didn’t understand why. “Under contract?”

“Well, yes. You did know this property had fallen under intestacy laws and would be sold by the city? And you knew— Wait a minute. Stephen didn’t tell you?”

Hannah wiped the damp hair back from her forehead. It was hot, she was tired, and she wasn’t processing. “Tell me what?”

“Shit. I’m sorry. He should’ve told you. We bought the property, signed off on the deal weeks ago, though it just went through this morning. Frankly, I was surprised it didn’t cause trouble between you.”

Stephen bought the land? Stephen bought the—

“You look surprised, darling,” the woman crooned. “What did you think he was doing out here?”

Her fingers still gripped the rake, but she didn’t feel it. Everything in her focused on making sense of something that made no sense. She shook her head against the faint buzzing. “No. Stephen said they wouldn’t sell. He said we’d change their minds.”

Dave laughed softly. “Yes, well, even I was surprised at the lengths he went to, involving himself with your little horse fair. Gotta give him credit, though. You know Stephen.” He smiled, speaking to both women now. “Always gets what he wants. The man just doesn’t lose.”

Camila looked pointedly at her. “In this case, it was the land, honey. Not you.”

“It took some work, though the information you provided was helpful, maybe even essential,” Dave said. “The fact that there was no actual will.”

This wasn’t right. She wanted to tell him to go to hell, but she couldn’t move, had no choice but to listen.

“It’s going to be an airport,” Dave went on. “That’s in the contract, stipulation of sale and all that.” He waved it away like she wouldn’t understand the details. “Stephen will head up development and design. I think it’s just the kind of thing he could get creative with, don’t you? I know he’s been looking into new challenges, beyond buildings.”

She took a shaky step back, remembering Stephen’s soft bedroom eyes one morning as they’d talked about the future and those exact words had come out of his mouth. “But I just saw him.”

“That’s right,” Camila said, swatting a fly. “Did you sleep well last night? I always sleep like a baby in that big bed under the skylight.”

But he’d never brought anyone to his house before. Isn’t that what he’d said? Her hand tightened around the wooden handle. “But he was just out here. He wanted to…”
Oh, God.
He wanted to talk to her. Needed to talk to her. In person.

Dave adjusted his glasses. “It was signed just this morning. Ink’s not even dry. He must have wanted to tell you himself.”

This morning. The business at the door. This woman who knew she’d been there. Who said she’d also slept in that bed. She was going to be sick. Her mouth was so dry she couldn’t swallow, the air hot, and sweat slid down her spine.

She opened her hand, let the rake fall to the ground and started walking. Faster and faster, not looking back.

Not true.

That’s what Hannah repeated to herself the entire way to Stephen’s office. She’d find him. She’d ask him and he’d tell her it wasn’t true. Because she couldn’t have fallen for an illusion again. She couldn’t have.

She parked, and numbly entered his building. Trace. His glass tower. His most important thing. A tribute to the woman he loved.

Was there anything he wouldn’t do to make it stronger? She scanned the ornate placard for his name and floor, walking past the receptionist as if in a dream. But she wasn’t disconnected. She was painfully aware.

She followed the long hallway, instinctively going all the way to the end.

An older lady at a desk called to her. “Ma’am?”

His office would be the biggest.

“Excuse me? Do you have an appointment?”

Hannah kept walking. “I’m looking for the person in charge.”

“Well, that’s Mr. McKinney, but—”

Hannah didn’t hear the rest. Stephen was in charge. He had the power here. He would know the truth and she’d talk to him and her chest would stop feeling like it was being crushed. Dave was lying. She knew it, had gotten a bad feeling from him the first time she met him.

“Hannah.” Stephen rose behind a giant desk, looking surprised. An entire wall of glass served as a backdrop behind him.

He’d figured a way to keep it from the city. He’d bought it for her. That’s what he’d wanted to tell her. It would be just like him. He’d smile, a little embarrassed, and she would thank him and kiss him and—

“Is it true?”

He stilled where he was coming around to meet her.

Why was he leaving so much space between them? He never wanted space between them. Why didn’t he touch her? “Dave came to see me. Tell me it’s not true.”

“Hannah.” The muscles in his face tensed, his expression pure misery.

“Is it true?”

“He told you.”

Three words, spoken softly, evenly, and her heart broke into a thousand pieces. Just shattered right there on the office floor like a piece of glass. He didn’t even look surprised.

She couldn’t speak. Her head spun. So when Zach appeared in the office doorway, it took her confused mind a second to wonder why.

“Hannah.” Her brother’s voice was firm and he held out his hand. “Come here.”

She shook her head. At her brother. At the truth written across Stephen’s face. Just standing there, eyes fixed on hers. Sad. Sorry. And guilty.

“Hannah,” Zach repeated, his voice unusually hard. Not Zach’s sweet-natured, all-is-good face. Why was he even here?

Stephen finally spoke. “This isn’t a good time, Zach.”

Zach bolted forward, exploding. “Shut the fuck up!”

Already shocked, she jerked at Zach’s reaction. Then she noticed more people in the hallway. Another man in a blue uniform stepped into the doorway, dressed like her brother except for the shield on his pocket.

“Zach? What are you doing?”

“Hannah.” His hand was still outstretched, his face etched with concern like she’d never seen it. “The fire was arson. I’m sorry.”

“What?” Her already spinning mind spun faster. “Who would do that?”

Stephen took a step toward her. “Hannah—”

“Don’t you talk to her, you piece of shit!” Zach was in his face. “
You
own her land!
You
bought her land, you
motherfucker
!” Zach lunged, but two of his fellow firefighters grabbed him before he made contact.

Another man, one with a badge, took Stephen by the arm. “You’re wanted for questioning in an arson investigation. You’re not under arrest at this time but you are required to come with us.”

“Get off me.” Stephen jerked away, using his size and strength to easily shake him loose, and catching him in the face with his elbow in the process.

The man came back harder, Zach with him, her brother erupting into a string of curses and threats.

Her pulse pounded in her ears. The room was like a house of mirrors and everywhere she looked something was wrong. Stephen with both powerful arms locked behind his back. Zach losing his cool. Men she’d known for years from the firehouse standing in the middle of Stephen’s office.

“Okay! All right!” Stephen stopped fighting against the men’s hold. “Take care of Hannah,” he said, looking at Zach. “Someone needs to stay with her.”

“Fuck you,” Zach spat.

Then Stephen’s hot, brown eyes pinned hers until that was the only thing she could see. But she felt like she wasn’t seeing him at all. The blood drained from her face and she felt herself sway.

“I didn’t set that fire, Hannah. You know that.”

No. She didn’t know anything. Not about him. Not about herself. She didn’t know people at all. Seconds passed; the only thing marking time was the pounding of her heart and the pain of it being broken.

A warm drizzle dampened the steps of the courthouse as Hannah walked stiffly past a horde of reporters. Numb and unseeing, eyes straight ahead, nestled protectively between her brothers. Luke’s hand tightened around hers, Nick’s arm at her back. Cameras flashed, reporters lobbed questions.

A crowd of more than fifty had turned out to show public support for her. But, not wanting the public to think they had anything to do with trying to burn her out, the city was doing its best to put their own spin on things. And doing a good job, as was evident by the cruelly aimed questions.

Did you know Stephen McKinney owned Trace Development?

Did you know they wanted your property?

Did you know the horses were in the barn when you set it on fire?

She felt every hit and realized she wasn’t numb after all, only wished she was.

This evidentiary hearing would determine if the state had enough to move forward with charges against Stephen and/or Dave. Or herself. She had no doubt she was under suspicion as well.

The sudden cold air of the government building had her hunching deeper into her sweater.

Luke peeled off to speak to Zach talking off to the side with the fire chief. Nick led her to a cushioned bench outside Courtroom Two. She sat, her legs weak and watery. “Wait here.”

Ridiculous that her nerves were more about seeing Stephen for the first time in two weeks than about taking the stand. Her empty hands brushed at her sides, no pockets. She pulled a piece of hair around her finger.

“Ready?” Nick appeared beside her.

“Yes.” She didn’t have a choice.

“You’re still holding up,” Luke said. “It’ll be over soon.”

Her brothers had faith in her. That was something. The room was oddly odorless. Not musty. Not clean. The thirty or so rows of wooden benches were half full. She took a seat in the third row on the right. The judge’s platform was still empty. The jury box was also and would remain so.

No one was on trial here today, not formally, but witnesses and all involved parties would be called. She’d already been warned their defense attorney would be allowed to ask her questions. That even though she wasn’t accused, it might feel like she was. There was a spotlight shining on this entire affair, thanks to her, trying to make the city out as the bad guy, and they wanted a swift end.

The ADA and defense attorneys sat at opposite tables both with files and folders. Camila, the woman Stephen had brought out with him that first time, probably the one he’d mentioned a few weeks ago, sat behind them next to Dave.

Hannah covered her mouth and swallowed hard against the sudden urge to vomit. Had that been part of the plan too? His own personal lawyer whom he’d slept with? Was still sleeping with?

She was going to be sick. She stood, tripped over Nick’s feet trying to get past. A second before she stepped into the aisle, her eyes flicked up and the bottom seemed to drop out. Stephen, striding purposefully down the aisle. His face hard and dangerous, and still made her heart turn over with want.

Her eyes met his for a fraction of a second before she stumbled back into her seat. The shock at seeing him knocked back the nausea.

Nick put his arm around her. “You okay?”

No. She wasn’t okay. And she remained not okay for the next two hours as the depositions were read. The crime was described to everyone by the fire marshal. The judge asked questions, on and on, repetitive and tiresome. She willed it to be over.

Her gaze fell on the rail dividing the benches from the front. She wondered if Stephen had been in a courtroom since that day he’d told her about. Even after everything, her heart hurt for him.

The ADA spoke to the judge, read the facts aloud. Barrels of fire accelerant had been found in the woods near Stephen’s house, which had led to his original questioning, but it wasn’t holding up. No fingerprints, no record of sale, and even the fire chief admitted they couldn’t be certain it was the exact accelerant used.

Didn’t mean he was innocent. A lot of people, including her brothers, were convinced that Trace Development’s somewhat devious buying scheme made him suspect.

Then she was called.

Nick stood to let her out. He gave her hand a last squeeze. “Don’t look at him.”

With her pulse thundering in her ears, she walked slowly to the front of the room. She wiped her damp palms on her skirt, then swore to tell the whole truth.

The courtroom was daunting from this position. All eyes on her, bracing for whatever question they threw at her. Way worse than it looked on TV. It took everything she had not to look at Stephen. He was her support. He was the one who made her feel strong. It killed her not to reach for it now.

The slightest turn of her head, a tiny shift of her eyes would lead them to his. But no matter how much she avoided him, she still felt his burning gaze. So hot she was sweating. For two weeks all she could see when she thought of him was his face when she’d asked for the truth. His silence and the answer in his eyes couldn’t have been more clear.

Once again she’d misjudged, only this time it hadn’t been her bones crushed, but her heart.

The assistant district attorney came first. Zach had explained that because the city had taken legal ownership of the land before the fire, they needed to pin this arson on someone and get out of the shit storm before they got dirtied.

And the media, fickle as a horny rabbit, was clawing for a story. Love gone wrong, or big government burning out a citizen over a land dispute. They’d swing whichever way proved juiciest.

The ADA was a tallish woman, mid-forties. Her black skirt and jacket were offset by a Christmas-red blouse. She smiled at Hannah, asked if she was comfortable, and the questions started, easy at first. What did she do, how long had she been there. Though she was careful not to lead Hannah into saying anything that might shine a sympathetic spotlight.

“When did you first learn that Trace Development had purchased the property?”

“About two weeks ago.” She sat perfectly still on the edge of the hard seat, held her hands tightly together. The urge to touch her hair was strong. She focused on her brothers, all suited up and serious. Took comfort from Nick’s nod, shoring her up, silently telling her she could do this.

“And who told you?”

“Dave Pietro, Stephen’s…um, Mr. McKinney’s partner.”

“That man?” She pointed to where Dave sat on the other side of Camila.

“Yes.”

“And what did he tell you?”

“Just that it had been sold, and his company had bought it.”

“Were you surprised?”

“Yes.”
Surprised. Shocked. Heartbroken.

“Did he say anything else to you?”

“He said…” It was one thing to be gullible, another to sit and tell a roomful of people. She took a breath, and another. “He said he was surprised I didn’t know. That he was surprised Stephen hadn’t told me himself. But then he laughed and said,”—she swallowed and looked down—“he said he really wasn’t, because Stephen always got what he wanted. That no matter what, he didn’t lose.”

There was a muttered “son of a bitch” from across the room.
Stephen’s voice.
But Hannah kept her eyes trained on the woman in front of her.

“That’s all the questions I have, Your Honor.”

Next came Stephen’s attorney, Andrew Stark. Tough. Relentless. She’d been warned his goal would be to throw a dark enough shadow over her that by the end of it the judge would have no choice but to throw out the case against Stephen.

She’d thought she was prepared.

“When did you meet Stephen McKinney?”

“About two months ago.”

“About the same time you learned that the property on which you currently reside and work was being absorbed by the city?”

“I guess.”

“Yes or no?”

She looked down at her fingers, one hand gripping the other, and tried to relax. “Yes.”

“And how long after you met before you began dating Mr. McKinney?”

“Um…we went to dinner that night.”

“That same night you met?” The lawyer glanced up at the judge, then back to her. “Pretty fast for someone who up to that point had had little contact with men?”

Her already pounding heart seemed to beat all over the place now. A painful and irregular bumping in her chest.

“And how long was it before you were in his bed?”

Oh God.
She glanced quickly at her brothers, then away, searching for a safe place to look. There was none. She was alone. Her heart raced and she forced herself to breathe. Did she have to answer?

Andrew Stark was just getting started. “Isn’t it true that you began a sexual relationship with the CEO of Trace Development in order to sway his intentions or possibly convince him to buy the property in question for you personally?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“This is ridiculous!” Nick stood, shouting, and was quickly silenced.

“Another outburst and you’ll be removed,” the judge warned, and Nick sat.

“Isn’t it true that you knew of Mr. McKinney’s intention?”

“No.”

“You expect this court to believe that after twelve years of living a practically solitary life, you just happened to slip into bed with the man set on buying your property, excuse me, not
your
property, the
city’s
property?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know if we should believe you?”

“Yes.”

“Excuse me?”

She bit into her lip as her eyes filled with hot tears. “I didn’t know he wanted it.”

“Really?” He looked at the judge again, huffed out a fake laugh. “Did Mr. McKinney ever come out to see the land?”

“Yes.”

“Did he ask you about the property?”

“Yes.”

“Did he ask to go out and
look
at the property?”

“Yes.” Every yes was another nail in her heartbreaking reality.

“And why did you think he would do that?”

Her bottom lip trembled and suddenly she couldn’t
not
look at Stephen. He sat to her right, handsome as always in a black power suit and steel-gray tie. His face utterly unreadable.

“Ms. Walker? Why would he do all that?”

She shook her head again. She had no answers. Because he was interested in her? Wanted to spend time with her? “I don’t know,” she said, staring right at him as tears trickled down her cheeks and dripped onto her hands. “He told me he’d look into it. He said…he told me not to worry about it.”

“Do you believe everything people tell you?”

Yes, she thought, she did. Her brothers were right to treat her like a child.

“Did you set the fire in your barn?”

Her eyes shot to the attorney’s. “No.”

“Maybe you did it out of spite? When you found out your lover had betrayed you?”

“No.”

“Do you have a horse, Ms. Walker? A personal horse?”

Hannah tried to swallow against the knot looking at Stephen had left in her throat. “Yes.”

“And what’s that horse’s name?”

“Winnie.”

“And where was Winnie during the barn fire?”

She wiped at her cheeks. “She was out.”

“Could you speak up? I didn’t hear you.”

“She was out. In the pasture.” And Hannah had been nothing but grateful for it.

“Why was your horse not in the barn?”

“I decided to leave her out for the night.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. It was…it was a nice night and I thought I’d leave her out.”

“Were there any other horses left in the pasture?”

“No.”

“So on the night of the fire, your own special horse was the
only
horse not in the barn? Is that correct?”

Hannah looked down at her hands. “Yes.”

“I left that horse out.” A deep voice carried through the room.

Her head jerked up to see Stephen standing, eyes blazing.

“I left Winnie out that day,” Stephen said again.

The judge banged her gavel. “Sit down or I will have you removed.”

The ADA stood, slipping through this opening. “Are you saying Ms. Walker is lying?”

“No. I’m saying she forgot. We went for a ride and I left Winnie out.”

But he was lying. Why would he do that?

The gavel continued to bang until he sat.

His own defense attorney turned on him, visibly angry. “No further questions.”

Stephen exited the courtroom for recess without even getting a glimpse of Hannah. Her brothers had her so locked down, he hadn’t seen her since that day in his office. His stomach still hurt. He’d never forget the pain and betrayal he’d seen in her eyes. He’d been afraid of her trust, afraid he didn’t deserve it, didn’t know what to do with it. And now he’d lost it.

But Dave hadn’t told her everything. Unless she’d left out that part, Dave hadn’t told her the truth he’d feared. Instead he’d filled her head with lies. Lies he hadn’t gotten the chance to dispute and, seeing her on the stand, torn to pieces, he couldn’t blame her for believing them.

God, he needed to talk to her. Hold her. Watching her on the stand, struggling for composure, had damn near ripped open his heart.

“Stephen.”

He turned at his attorney’s voice.

“What the hell do you think you were doing in there?”

Trying to save the woman he loved. “What the hell do you think
you
were doing?” He got in the man’s space. “This isn’t about making an innocent girl look guilty.”

“It is if it saves your ass!”

Stephen crowded his attorney back another few steps. “You work for me. Remember that.” No way was his high-priced lawyer going to pin this on Hannah.

“Oh, I do. And that’s what I’m doing.”

Stephen gritted his teeth. “Don’t do it like that. Not again. Or I will perjure myself all the way to jail and this will be your first loss.”

“You’re insane.”

No, I’m in love.
“Are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

Stephen scrubbed his hands over his face, ran his fingers through his hair, wanting to pull it out over this entire mess.

Matt and the oldest McKinney brother, Tony, broke through the crowded hallway. “How you holding up?” Matt asked.