Deceiving The Groom (15 page)

              Chapter Twenty             

The rap on the door echoed through Claire’s one bedroom apartment. She put down her pencil and went to the door, slid the security chain into place, undid the deadbolt, and opened the door to the full extent of the chain.

The suited man standing in the dim corridor was neither the pizza delivery man, courier, or maintenance guy who made up the only visitors to her door. “Hello?”

“Good morning, Claire Jones?”

She took in the expensive clothes, the groomed hair, the briefcase.
Crap
, she was about to be served. “Yes?”

“Hi, I’m Simon McMillion.” He handed her a card through the crack of the door. “Of  Jefferson and Mcmillion Attorneys. I’m here to talk to you about seeking custody of your sister, Penny.”

She stared at the card in her hand.
Geoff
. He’d had actually come through for her. The hand that’d been squeezing her heart since the day she was kicked out of her aunt’s home loosened. A bubbling excitement welled.

“Of course, come in.” She jerked the door open but it caught on the chain. “Just a minute.” She slammed the door shut and unhooked the chain, then opened it with a wide sweep. Simon stepped inside. She directed him to the dining table and scooped up the fabric she’d been sewing for baby clothes and dumped them into her sewing box.

“Can I get you a coffee or drink?”

He shook his head and tucked up the legs of his pants before sitting in her second hand wood dining chair. “I’m fine. If it’s okay I’d like to get straight to business.”

She floated to the table and sat opposite him. “Absolutely.”

He withdrew a notepad from his breast pocket and a gold pen. A gold pen that looked like it might actually be plated in real gold.

She swallowed. “Mr. McMillion. Am I to understand that you’re here to take my case?”

Simon’s brows furrowed. “You weren’t expecting me?”

“No. I’d hoped, but…it doesn’t matter. You’re representing me?”

“Yes, I’ve been most compellingly persuaded to take your case.”

She bit her cheek. She’d saved every cent she could but she still wouldn’t be able to afford him. Her optimism plummeted. “I’m sorry, I’m so grateful for your time but before we go any further, I need to know your fees.”

“Your fees have been covered.”

Her breath caught then she laughed. “I can’t believe Geoff actually came through for us.”

“Geoff?”

Claire blinked. “Yes. Geoff Jones? A family law attorney like you? The one who organized this?”

Simon put his pen down. “I do know a Geoff Jones. I’ve had the misfortune of having worked in opposition to him, but he most certainly is not the one helping you with this.”

“No, he gave me your card.” She rose and went to her handbag, fishing the card out of the little pocket in the side. “See?” She held it out to him.

Simon took the card then glanced at her. “This is my card. Where he got it I don’t know. But I guarantee you, he’s never spoken to me about you.”

The part of her that still clung to any hope for her cousin washed away. “So if it isn’t Geoff, who is it?”

Simon studied her a moment. “Liam Channing. I assume you do know him?”

The name sent a ribbon of heartache into her core. “No, he wouldn’t. He hates me. There’s no way he’d do this for me.”

“One thing I’ve learned in my time as a family lawyer is that the people we are most angry with are the ones we love the most. Liam did do this. I don’t know what the situation is between you two, but I don’t think hate has anything to do with it.” He leaned back. “Now let’s get back to Penny.”

She nodded, focusing on that shimmering hope for her sister, and not the swirling confusion.

Claire’s phone vibrated on the kitchen table. She set down the jeans she’d been altering. It was midday on a Saturday. What a testament to her social life, a call outside of business hours being a surprise. She reached for the phone and glanced at the flashing screen.

A Hopetown number.

She hesitated. For an instant she hoped it might be Liam. Just one ridiculous moment. She took a breath and answered the call.

“Claire Jones?”

She swallowed, recognizing the voice but unable to place it. “Yes?”

“It’s Detective Clarke.”

She leaned back with the sinking feeling that comes from opening your door to a grim faced police officer. “Hello, detective.”

“I was hoping to speak to you about some details from the night of the fire at Mr. Channing’s office?”

Thank God
.

Questions she could do. Maybe it was morbid, but having lost both her parents, telephone calls from hospitals and police would be forever associated with bad news. Her mind had flown to Liam. Ridiculous, considering no one would be calling to inform her of anything anyhow. “Of course. How can I help?”

“Are you available to take a look at some traffic pictures?”

Available…not freaking likely if available meant setting foot in Hopetown.

“I don’t know if you heard. I’ve taken a job in Vegas. I’m no longer in Hopetown.”

“I’ve heard. It’s not a problem, I’ve organized for you to view them electronically.”

Claire slid the tangle of fabric off the top of her laptop and lifted the lid. “Sure.” The detective gave her the details. A shiver crawled across her skin. Why were they asking her to look at photos after all this time? Did they think the fire was deliberate?

“There were several vehicles caught on camera. Can you see the images?”

She glanced at the tiny thumbnails on the screen, and enlarged the first. “Yes.”

“Start with the first one and tell me if you recognize anything.”

Claire peered at the grainy picture. A small black hatchback, nothing she’d seen before. “No. I don’t remember having seen this.”

“Keep going.”

She clicked through two more. Not that she expected to find anything. It had to have been an accident. Unless there were more disgruntled victims of Liam’s heavy-handed business dealings looking to get even.

Her stomach clenched. She’d never thought of that. If she’d gone to such lengths, perhaps there were others…

No. Her situation had been extreme and she’d been desperate and stupid.

Desperate—not out for blood.

She shook herself and clicked the next photo. Her breath caught on a cough. What the hell? Her muscles tightened, only making her coughs deepen.

“Is everything alright?”

She grabbed her glass of water, taking a giant gulp.

“Yep.” She squeezed the word out but her mind spun. A white van could be made out in the granular photograph. She knew it was the one. The one that had almost hit her. The one that had been outside the B&B when it flooded.

“Do you know this vehicle?”

The hidden pieces of Geoff’s slimy plan clicked into place. She took a steadying breath and stood searching for her car keys. “Yeah, I do. We need to talk. I’ll be there by this afternoon. Find Liam. I think he might be in danger.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just warn Liam that it’s Geoff. He needs to take Lexi and go somewhere safe. I’ll explain when I get there.”

Claire hung up the phone, oblivious to the question she cut off. The annulment had yet to be finalized, and if her assumptions were right, Liam was in trouble. The serious, about to be murdered kind.

The familiar buildings of the town rolled into view. She’d told herself she’d never come back, yet here she was speeding into Hopetown. A mixture of old and new structures slid past her widows. She kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to take in the small store with bordered up windows coming into view. There was no good to come of looking at that space, or the space opposite. Besides, she’d already lost so much time driving, unable to find a last minute flight.

The police building came into view at the end of the road. She pulled into the yard and turned off the engine. Despite driving all day she wasn’t tired, adrenaline took care of that. Six hours thinking about all the horrific implications of this situation made her head want to explode. To make matters worse, she hadn’t been able to get through to Liam. Claire unclipped her seatbelt and made her way into the police station.

Maybe he was just not taking
her
calls…

Detective Clarke met her in the foyer and led her to an office. His features remained impassive throughout her detailed confession.

His neatly groomed gray hair sat perfectly in place, and his hands rested on the dull wood of his desk. Only the deep lines on his forehead indicated he was thinking at all. No telling whether he was about to help, or simply throw her into a cell for the rest of eternity.

He finally moved, steepling his fingers. “You do realize you’ve implicated yourself in a very serious situation?”

She sat forward, holding Detective Clarke’s gaze. “Right now I don’t care. I just want you to make sure Liam’s alright.”

“We’ve had some trouble reaching him.”

“Then—”

Detective Clarke held up his hand. “We’ve sent out a patrol car this morning, and again half an hour ago. No one was home and nothing appears suspicious. From what you’ve told me, it’s been weeks and nothing has happened. Geoff may well have given up this plan if he believes you’re no longer cooperative.”

Claire chewed the flesh on the inside of her cheek. Geoff give up after going to these extremes? He’d let her think so too many times. This time she knew better.

“No. He wouldn’t give up so easily. Not if he thinks he can blackmail me. If he could make it look like I was in on it, he’d think he could convince me.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Certain. Especially since he’s gone off the radar. He’s just waiting for the right time, the right opportunity—he’d want it to look accidental.” Claire rubbed her arms. God only knew what Geoff had planned. “Please just find Liam.”

Detective Clarke sighed, his dark brown eyes scrunching. “I know you’re concerned Claire, but Liam’s probably out having a nice time. Might even be spending the night somewhere. We’ll find him.”

A wave of coldness hit her like a sheet of ice. Out somewhere…with someone. Her gaze drifted to her denim clad knees. It was okay, she had to accept that. Liam had every right to move on. She drew in a shuddering breath. “If that’s true, and he doesn’t come home, he’ll be at Mrs. Rose’s B&B.”

“Okay, that’s a start.” He uncurled himself from the chair and picked up his keys. “It’s a Saturday night and we’re short staffed, but I’ll head on over and see what I can find.”

“What about me?” Claire scooped her bag up from the floor.

Detective Clarke extended his index finger towards her and walked to the door. “You wait here.”

She slid cautiously to her feet. “Am I under arrest?”

“Not for now. Just don’t be leaving town in a hurry.”

The door shut behind him and Claire glanced around the office. So what? She was supposed to sit here and wait when she was the reason Liam was at risk? And what about Lexi? If no one was home, where was she?

Mrs. Ruiz would know where Lexi was.

She pulled out her phone and searched for Mrs. Ruiz’s number. She had no idea how much Liam had told her. Hopefully, she would at least take the call.

“Hello?”

Her shoulders relaxed at the sound of Mrs. Ruiz’s light accent. “Hi, it’s Claire.”

“What can I do for you?”

Mrs. Ruiz’s no-nonsense tone was impossible to decipher. If the nanny had any idea what she’d done, she wouldn’t be telling her anything. She swallowed. “Um, I’m having trouble contacting Liam. Would you be able to tell me where he might be?”

“He’s taken Lexi away for the night. I’m sure if you leave him a message he’ll get back to you if he wants.”

Great,
if he wants
—aka he doesn’t want. She touched her fingertips to her forehead. “I’m sorry to impose on you, but this really is an emergency.”

“An emergency?”

“Yes, I swear. An emergency, please tell me where I can find him.”

The line rustled. “They’re camping at Hopetown National Park.”

Claire sagged and leant her hand on the chair. Camping.
Alone
. In the national park… “Thank you,” she whispered and hung up. Her head rushed and she stared at the phone blankly. This was it. The kind of opportunity Geoff would be waiting for. Too good to pass up.

She scooped up her bag and slipped out of the office, and  ran to her car.

Chapter Twenty-One

The first sign for Hopetown National Park flashed in the rays of her headlights. Claire slowed, not wanting to miss the entrance for the camping grounds. She’d left a message for Detective Clarke when he didn’t answer his phone, but she had no idea how long he would be. She wasn’t waiting to find out.

The small turnoff rolled into view and she steered inside, turning the headlights to low and parking in an empty space hidden under the draping branches of a tree. It may not be the closest place to park but at least there was less chance of alerting Geoff or whomever was working for him to her presence. She stepped out of the car and her skin bristled.

She wasn’t even sure what she’d do if she caught Geoff. She’d always known he was devious, but never thought he was dangerous. There’d been glimpses of violence but that didn’t make him a killer.

She fastened the buttons of her jacket that still did up, and ran her hand over her curved stomach. She’d lost her own father and she be damned if she let Geoff hurt the father of her child—even if that father wasn’t going to be a part of her baby’s life.

She made her way down the side of the car park in the direction of the signage. Liam’s car hunched in the shadows next to the camp entrance. Well, he was definitely here. Her pace increased and she stepped onto the crushed rock path. Light hit the tree next to her and she turned, stepping behind the shelter of the National Park hiking map. She peered into the lights just as they flicked off, but not before she made out the tall silhouette of a van.

Shit
. Liam needed to get out now.

The distant sound of rock crushing under feet vibrated through the canvas walls of the twin tent. Liam glanced at the small form snuggled in a pink sleeping bag next to him and turned off his reading light. He slid out the opening and crouched next the tent.

The embers of the evening fire still glowed in the shallow pit he’d dug out. Damn, he should’ve put it out completely. They must stand out like a dog’s balls to opportunistic thieves. He should’ve known better. It’d been a long time since he’d been camping, but in his younger days he’d lost his share of camp gear.

The footsteps slowed at the edge of the tent and a dark form bent at the opening. Liam pounced, grabbing the figure and wrestling it to the ground. The soft curve of breasts hit him just in time to halt his full body slam, and he caught himself on his forearms.

“Liam.” A breathy voice groaned.

He blinked against the darkness. His heart produced a kind of sluggish back flip. He must be imagining the obscured face beneath him. His fingers traced the slope of her cheek. “Claire?”

“Yes. Get off me.”

Her response snapped him out of his daze and he jerked back, rolling to his side. “What are you doing here?”

Her silhouette stood then kicked dirt over the campfire. “I can’t explain now, just grab Lexi and get out of here now.”

Liam rose slowly. He must be sleeping. The impossibility of the moment said as much. At least it wasn’t a sex dream. Those dreams about Claire were enough to kill him. 

“Go on, get Lexi,” she hissed.

The night air chilled his arms. Surreal as Claire seemed drenched in darkness, she was no dream. “What the hell is going on?”

She turned to him. In the moonlight her features held the distilled beauty of a black and white photo. She reached for him and her fingers curled on the fabric on his arm.

“There’s no time. They’re here, you have to leave.”

The chill curled through his limbs. “Who’s here?”

“Geoff’s people. It’s all been him. The fire, the flood, god knows what else.”

Realization slammed into him. Geoff, the ass-wipe. He should have known. His muscles contracted and his head cleared. “Why?”

“Please just get Lexi, and I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Yes, she’d tell him everything then he’d kill the prick. He crawled into the tent and gently scooped Lexi into his arms, sleeping bag and all. Her little body stirred. He hushed softly and climbed from the tent.

Claire faced the path but glanced at him when he emerged. “Is there another way around to the car park?”

“There’s a track that leads to the road.”

“Then let’s go that way.”

“We walk, you talk,” he said and started towards the track, assuming he could find the blasted thing in the dark.

Claire’s hand went to his back, silently urging him faster. “Detective Clarke showed me some photos from the night of fire. I recognized the van, it’s the same one from the flood at Mrs. Rose’s B&B.”

They reached the start of the track in the thickened trees. Liam stopped, and turned to Claire, another layer of tension rippling through him. His gaze honed in on her in the night. The one woman he’d let in and she’d deceived him. With her motives he could sympathize with her deception—but was she capable of pure malice? He wouldn’t have believed it, but here she was talking about shit she shouldn’t know.

“How would you know who’s responsible for the flood? It was an accident wasn’t it?” She didn’t back away as he thought she would.

“I had nothing to do with that. Believe what you like, I don’t care right now. What I do care about is Geoff’s responsible, and I think he’s trying to kill you before the annulment can go through.”

He stepped closer, looking at her over the bundle in his arms. Such a sweet face, even in close to darkness it beckoned his touch. Sugar-coated poison. “What good would killing me do him—if you’re not in on it?”

Her intake of breath reached his ears before her words. “God, can you really think that?” She clutched the edges of her coat collar together. “You might not believe what we had was real, but it was for me. From the moment you gave me a clean slate, all I wanted was you.”

Liam’s chest closed to the point of blocking breath. Screw her. Screw her for turning up and making it damn impossible to keep her out. “Yet here you are, luring me through the wilderness at night, and I don’t see any of these supposed henchmen…”

“Uncle Liam?”

Lexi stirred in his arm. He glanced down at her and squeezed gently. “It’s alright, Lexi, keep resting, we’re going to the car.”

Finger’s clutched his arm. “Liam—”

His gaze snapped back to Claire who stared towards the campsite. Flashlights flickered through the abandoned sight. His heart picked up speed. So she told the truth, deep down he’d known it.

“Take Lexi for me and go to the car.”

“No.” Claire clutched his arm harder. “Let’s just run, they haven’t seen us yet. Think about Lexi. Plus I can’t carry her all that way.”

Adrenaline tweaked his nerves. He wanted to crush some bones, and make sure no one threatened him or his family again. But, Claire had a point. “Then start running.”

“You lead the way, I’ll follow.”

Claire handed him her flashlight. They’d need it to see the path, but he wouldn’t use it until they were out of sight. He shifted Lexi’s weight across his chest and jogged through the trees, listening to the rustle and crunch of Claire’s steps behind him.

“Faster, I’ll keep up.”

The resentment he’d been holding onto for Claire snapped, and his stride widened. He sprinted, flashlight tracing the path. The light hit an opening in the trees. The road, they were almost there. He glanced behind him and halted.

“Claire?”

He moved the flashlight in the direction they’d come. Emptiness and silence stretched.
Shit
. His breathless pants increased. He should have known she’d do something like this. He’d hurled his bitter accusations, now she’d be trying to prove herself. Not to mention how protective she’d always been when it came to Lexi. How had he doubted she’d protect her?

His breath slowed. God, how could he doubt she’d protect him?

Claire stepped quietly towards the murmuring voices. Her heart beat like she’d swallowed a bat, but she inched closer. She could do this and give Liam time to get away. They wouldn’t hurt her—Geoff needed her.

She took slow breaths. Two dark shapes stood in front of the tent.

“It’s no use, they’re long gone,” she called out.

The shapes spun and light hit her in the face. Claire lifted her hand to shield her eyes against the flashlights.

“Who the fuck are you?” one of the voices called.

“I’m Geoff’s cousin.”

The light flicked from her face and she blinked.

“What are you doing here?”

“Same thing as you, looking for Liam.” She swallowed and stepped towards the figures. “We’re going back to plan one, divorce is less messy.”

The men came into focus. Her gaze flickered over their black attire. There was no mistaking it—these guys were thugs. Her ears whooshed with the sound of pulsing blood. The slightly shorter heaver man turned to his taller companion.

“What the hell is she talking about?”

The other man looked at her and slid his hand into his jacket. “There’s only ever been one plan, sweetheart, and that the one we came here to do.”

Claire’s throat closed around a hard lump. “No.”

“Dave, I don’t think the little cousin is up to speed.” The thug withdrew his hand from his jacket and pointed a small black pistol at her chest. “In fact, I don’t think little cousin is in on things at all.”

“Careful, Geoff needs me for this to work.” Her head spun but she forced the words through bloodless lips.

“And what a shame that is.” The familiar voice crawled over her like a bucket of spiders.

Claire turned and forced herself to step to her cousin’s side. “Geoff, thank God you’re here. Call off the thugs.”

Geoff stood like a statue in the dark, complete with icy indifference. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to reconcile with Liam, but he got angry and left.”

“You never were that good of a liar, Claire. I knew you’d never be able to pull it off.”

Her head pounded. Geoff was her cousin. He
needed
her. She just had to tell herself that, she just had to remind
him
of that.

“Geoff, this isn’t the way to get what you want. You can’t come back from this.” She put her hand on his shoulder and hoped this time she could prove him wrong and lie to protect Liam. “We’ll go back to the original plan. I’ll cancel the annulment. It’s not too late.”

Geoff leaned closer and his breath whispered against her nose. “It’s too late for plan one, Claire. Plan one stopped being enough a long time ago.”

Her heart pounded in slow hollow thuds. “Why? Why go down such a terrible road when you have other options? You could go to your—”

Geoff shoved her back. “My mother? My kind, generous mother? You’ve seen her kindness.”

“But you’re her son, she’s always been devoted to you.”

“Until I became another embarrassment. You know how she handles embarrassments.” Geoff shifted his weight from one leg to the other then back again. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I was in trouble. When it landed on her door she cut me off—the trust fund, everything—it’s all gone.” Geoff rolled his head. “I need the money. It’s my life or his now.”

She closed the distance again and took his hands. “She mustn’t realize how serious it is, if she knew your life was at risk, she’d reconsider. You know her, she’s trying to teach you a lesson.”

“No.” Geoff tugged his hands free and put them on his head, panting. “I don’t have time for this. You’re either with me or you’re the enemy.” Geoff glanced beside them. “Chris.”

The thug with the pistol stepped closer leveling it at her chest. Her lungs expanded and her hands flew to her abdomen
. Her baby
. She willed herself to breathe—just take more air. He was bluffing. He couldn’t do this without her. She just had to buy Liam more time. It wouldn’t be long before the detective Clarke got her message.

“I’m not your enemy, Geoff. I’ll help you.”

Geoff grasped the top of her arm. “Yes, Claire, you will.”

She nodded and straightened, refusing to look like a victim or become one.

“Where are they?”

She glanced around, her head spinning. “They took the path down by the lake. It winds back up to the car park.”

“Come on.” Geoff tugged her arm and they started down the slope.

She glanced over the edge of the path down to the river where darkness swarmed. All she needed was a distraction and she could make a dash up the rocks back to the campsite—hopefully before they noticed.

Geoff’s hand remained on her elbow like a shackle. “Are you sure this is the right way?”

“Of course.”

“It better be.”

A distant whirling sounded in the air. “What is that?”

“How would I know?” she answered.

Geoff squeezed her elbow. “Faster.”

They increased their pace down the slope. The siren’s blaring grew louder. Geoff stiffened, still gripping her elbow as they walked. She glanced ahead at the thugs controlling the flashlight light illuminating the way down, then jerked her elbow free and stuck her foot in front of Geoff’s shoe. He tipped forward, and tumbled into the two burley men in front of him with a high pitched shriek. The fell in a heap, sliding down the slope.