Page 96 of Hard Evidence
“Then burritos for dinner.”She propped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin on her hands.“Is there any more wine?”
“There is, but I’m not going to let you drink it.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you puking up your guts.”
“I guess that makes sense.Saylor said I should trust my guts, but I can’t do that if they’re in the toilet, can I?”
“Saylor’s a good friend.”
“The best.I didn’t make a mistake, did I?”
A mistake…a mistake… That’s what Special Agent Rimer had said earlier, when she was rummaging through the freezer.Justin had asked what the fuck she was looking for, and she’d shrugged and said, “Just being thorough.No mistakes this time around.”
In the moment, his mind had been churning, and he hadn’t followed up.But what had she meant, no mistakes this time?Was she saying they’d made mistakes in the past?With Justin?Because the only other time their paths had crossed was when Ruby died.
Levi had been convicted.
The case was watertight.
Wasn’t it?
“What kind of mistake do you mean?”he asked Jessie.
“Staying here.Trusting you.”
“No, you didn’t,” he said.But he thought that might be a lie.
Because if the cops tried to frame him for Amie’s murder and more besides, the fallout would hit Jessie and everyone else he cared about.
CHAPTER36
JESSALYN
Last night, I’d woken in the early hours and watched the sunrise from Justin’s bed with his arms wrapped around me and Shiro snoring softly on the floor alongside.And I’d imagined Ridge in his Mercedes, driving through the night, already halfway to Virginia, intent on dragging me back to Maine.
But I should have known.I should have known Ridge would find a sneakier way to twist the knife.Showing up outside would reek of desperation and poor impulse control, and he was all about manipulation.
So he’d made a video.
And posted it on the Sprinkle of Happiness cooking channel.
“That…thatasshole.”
Justin didn’t say a word about my language, just pushed a mug of coffee across the counter.“You need more Tylenol?”
“I need more wine.”
“It’s only nine thirty.”
I played the video again, seething at the fake niceness in Ridge’s tone.At the story he told.At the overallreasonableness.
“My wife has been struggling recently.We tried to work through things, but she decided she needed some space, and now…now I fear very much for her well-being.If the reports are true, she’s been hoodwinked by a dangerous man, and I pray for her safety.Jessalyn, if you’re listening, I forgive you.The hurtful things you said don’t matter.We’ve both been under a lot of stress, and in that situation, it’s so easy to say words you don’t mean.Just call me.Or come home—the door is always open.And to you, Jessalyn’s followers—if you’re feeling this way, there’s always someone willing to listen.I’m putting the number of an organisation that can help in the caption.”
He’d included the number for a suicide prevention charity and a freaking Bible quote.Ephesians 4:32—Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.Jerk.I wasn’t suicidal.In fact, I was feeling slightly murderous.
“Saylor found the video,” Justin said.
