Black Widow (33 page)

Kamii just looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m starting to think I am, too.

“Wait, I’ve noticed other things, too. Really little things that at first I didn’t think much of but now that you mention it, I’m wondering if things aren’t just a coincidence.”

“There’s no such thing as a coincidence,” she says my words back to me.

“Exactly,” I smirk.

“So what, what’s been happening?”

“Small things, like two of my wine glasses sitting upright, not hanging on my under cabinet holder when they’re always hanging there. Or my alarm going off at 3 a.m. when I know I set it for 8. Or my remote control I found sitting in my shoe by the door when I
always
leave it on my bedside table. And a couple of times I came home to a light on in my hall closet that I know wasn’t on when I left since I don’t go in there. Oh and my car… It was parked on the left when I always park it on the right.”

“Sounds like someone’s getting into your house, is that possible?”

“Fuck, I don’t know. They were such minor things that I never put much thought to it. Of course I thought it was weird but, shit, do you think?”

“Yeah. I think someone is messing with you. Who has access to your house? Have you noticed any sign of a break in?”

“No. Nothing. No one has a key but me.”

“Well, someone’s getting in.”

“But why? Why would they break in my house to move my wine glasses or turn on a light?”

“I have no clue but really, this entire case has been a crazy mystery. It’s like they’re playing a game and you’re their pawn. I think they’re doing it because they can.”

I look up and truly see her for the first time since I walked into her office and ruined her little dance party. She’s not the same girl I once met. Her eyes don’t light up the way they used to but I saw a glimpse of her still there as she danced around the room with her assistant.

I can’t believe I came in here losing my mind on her and calling her a Black Widow. I don’t know anything about her dead husband because she hasn’t shared anything with me.

The thought hits me harder than I wanted.
I really know nothing about her.

I reach out for her hand, “Shit, Kamii. I’m so sorry. I really shouldn’t have said anything to you like what I did.”

She sighs, placing her hand over mine, “I know you are under a lot of stress.”

“It’s not ok. I promise, I’ll never, ever talk to you like that again. How about I make you dinner tonight? My place.”

“You’re not afraid of whoever this is and being at your place?”

“No. If they are getting in, and they wanted to harm me, they would have done it by now. I’m not going to play their little game or let them run my life.”

I’m so glad Kamii forgave me for my actions today. I can’t believe I accused her and brought up her husband.

God, I’m such a dick!

I know dinner doesn’t make up for it but at least she agreed to come over.

When there’s a knock at the door I rush to answer it, eager to see her again, that is until I see the look on her face. A darkness I’ve never seen on her before covers her beautiful face. My heart sinks, afraid of what’s on her mind.

“It was the morning after our wedding night,” she states in a low, calm voice as she stands in the door, not moving or stepping into my house.

“No, no, Kamii. You don’t have to do this.”

She looks into my eyes, “No, I want to.” She walks in, walking straight to my couch, sitting down before she continues, “I had just become Mrs. Nick Schafer. God,” she looks up to the ceiling fighting the tears that are building in her eyes, “he was the man of my dreams.” She shakes her head, looking down before she continues, “He was just trying to make our honeymoon start off on the right foot by going to my favorite bakery to get me something special to start my day off right before we went to the airport. I laid back in bed, instead of going with him, I decided to be lazy and enjoy dozing in and out of sleep.”

I watch as her eyes fill with more tears that start to fall this time so I place my hand over hers, “Really, you don’t have to tell me.”

“No,” she wipes a tear, “I want to. I haven’t told anyone really what actually happened.”

I pull her in, holding her tightly, giving her all the time she needs. The fact that she’s willing to share her life with me means more than I could ever explain. I’ve never wanted anyone in my life as much as I want her and the fact that she’s sharing her past with me feels like she’s handing herself over that much more.

After pulling back from my arms, she looks me in the eyes, “I had just started working for Whitman, Osborn and Steinhorn. Before that I worked as a public defender. To say I hated it was an understatement. I worked crazy hours, defending people who I knew were guilty but the State had to give them a fair trial. There was one case that went too far. I knew, without a doubt, that this guy was guilty but because of a technicality, I was able to get him off. It made me sick and I knew I wanted out. Thankfully, Michael Whitman was following the case and hired me on with their firm once they saw how I got the guy off. Yes, I was good at what I was doing but I wanted to defend people I knew where
not
guilty. I wanted to truly help people.”

I interrupt her, “And you are. Look at what you’ve done for me.”

She smiles sweetly before continuing, “Well, the case was against a child. The family was devastated and,” she wipes tears that fall freely down her face, “and they blamed me.”

Bending over, she sobs as tears fall heavily from her beautiful eyes. It takes her awhile but finally she continues, “Nick opened up our front door, only to be shot, point blank by the father of the child.”

I sit, frozen in shock as she stands up, walking to the window as more tears fall. “When I heard the gunshot, I ran to see what had happened. I saw the dad, standing in my door way, shocked at what he had just done, not moving, just frozen in my door way. We caught eyes and he ran off. I bent down to help Nick but it was too late. The bullet hit him directly in his heart and he was dead.”

I walk to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her in, holding her tightly, trying to give her the strength she needs.

“I never told anyone that. I just couldn’t. I helped ruin that family by getting that guy off. I couldn’t ruin their family even more by sending their dad to prison. I saw it in his eyes. He was sorry. He didn’t mean to do it. Not really. The case is still unsolved to this day. It was God’s way of punishing me for helping bad people get off.”

“No, Kamii. Don’t say that. You can’t think his murder was your fault.”

She turns, looking me dead in the eyes as tears flow down her face. “But it was. If I didn’t let a man free that I
knew
was guilty, all because of a technicality, none of that would have happened and Nick would still be alive.”

I can’t help but think,
But I wouldn’t be here with you now if he was
, but I can’t say that. I just wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly and try to comfort her as much as I can.

W
ho does this bitch think she is? How dare she come over to his house, opening up about lord knows what, making him look all caring and shit. No. This has to stop. She has to go.

I
spent the night at Preston’s last night. That’s two nights in a row that I slept curled up in his arms and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I loved every minute. I’m screwed and I know it. No matter how much I fight not wanting to be with him, I’m just drawn to him more.

With my head in a fog, I walk into my apartment, tossing my keys on the entry table as my life flashes before my eyes.

Everything. My family. Nick. Preston. Becca. Everything flashes in a second as I see a gun pointing directly at my face.

“Who. The. Fuck. Do. You. Think. You. Are?” a woman’s voice questions slow and methodically.

All I see is a gun barrel, as I stand, frozen.

This is it. My life will end just like Nick’s. This is what he felt the last few minutes of his life as well.

“Answer me,” she demands.

“My name is Kamii.”

“I don’t want your fucking name. How do you know Preston Babcock?”

“I’m his attorney.”

“Bullshit. I’ve seen you with him.”

“So you do belong to Bridge?”

“Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“But why? Why did you kill Becca?”

“Don’t you mean why am I going to kill you?”

I feel my stomach drop and my knees wobble. I’m too scared to respond.