Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies
Page 121

“Who?” Neely Kate asked, following behind me.
When he realized I was watching, his eyes widened and he tugged harder on the cap.
It was lunchtime, which meant there were more people on the sidewalks than there would be later in the day. He ducked around two elderly women headed into the antique store.
“Who are you talking about?”
“That man—” I turned around to find him, but he was gone. I shook my head. “I’m paranoid.” I was seeing suspicious folks everywhere.
She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “After everything you’ve been through over the last week or so, you’re entitled. Now let’s get back inside. It’s freezing out here.”
I let her lead me back into the warm office, wondering if I really had lost it.
After I told Neely Kate and Bruce Wayne the good news I’d received about my charges, Neely Kate went and picked up lunch for all three of us. She knew not to ask why I’d changed my mind about visiting Mason. When she got back, I only took a few nibbles of my sandwich as I filled my friends in on all the details I’d glossed over in my police report.
When I was done, Neely Kate asked, “Why do you think you’ll still need the journal page? Seems like Joe’s got enough evidence stacked up to put his daddy away for a long time.”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “J.R. Simmons is a pretty sneaky guy. They might need all the help they can get to put him away for good. Besides, for all I know, the original journal’s gone.”
“What about those two keys?” she asked.
I sighed. “Maybe some mysteries are better left in the past.”
A dark shadow crossed over her face. “I agree.”
I didn’t hear from Mason until mid-afternoon. He appeared at the front door of the landscaping office as I was showing Neely Kate how to use the landscape software on my computer. Bruce Wayne had gone to bid on a commercial job.
As soon as Muffy saw him, she started to run for him, but then she stopped and hurried back to her bed under Bruce Wayne’s desk. I took that as a bad omen.
Mason shut the door behind him, his face pale. “Neely Kate, could you give us a bit? Maybe fifteen minutes.” He pulled out his wallet and started to grab some money. “Why don’t you go grab something at Dena’s Bakery? My treat.”
She gave me a worried look, then stood and grabbed her coat. “Put your money away, Mason. I don’t mind giving you and your fiancée a few minutes alone.” She stopped next to him, looking like she was about to say something, then hurried out the door.
A guilty look washed across Mason’s face.
My stomach fell to my feet as I stood next to my chair, unsure of what to do.
“Joe told me about your job. Congratulations. When do you start again?” I’d hoped he would text me with the news, but he hadn’t. He was angry with me. I deserved that. And more.
“I’m not sure yet.” He moved closer and stopped several feet in front of me. “Carter told you about your charges?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak past the lump in my throat.
“Can we sit and talk?”
I nodded again, fighting tears. I wasn’t sure I could do this.
But I sat in my desk chair, and he sat in the one Neely Kate had vacated. He looked down at his hands before lifting his gaze. “I told them I’d fill in temporarily until I’ve made a decision.”
“Did they kick out the DA? Are they offering you his job?”
“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down at Muffy under Bruce Wayne’s desk. “After his assistant caved, they’re almost certainly going to boot him out of office, but there’s been no official decision yet.”
“Oh.” Then it hit me, and I struggled to take a breath. “Oh.”
He stared into my eyes. “Rose, I love you. You have to know that.”
I remained frozen for several agonizing seconds, then my terror burst free like water from a busted dam. “I’m so sorry, Mason,” I forced out, trying to hold back my tears. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know you are, sweetheart. I know.”
Hearing him call me sweetheart broke me, and the tears started flowing. “I did it for you, Mason. I hated lying, but I had to save you. I had to do it.” I was nearly hysterical. The thought of life without him was unthinkable.
He pulled me to his chest, running a hand over my hair. “I know you did, sweetheart. I know. And you will never know how much I love you for that.”
I pulled away from him, searching his face. “Please, Mason,” I begged. “I know I’ve hurt you, and I know you don’t trust me, but I’ll tell you everything from now on. I promise.” A sob burst from me. “Please don’t leave me.”
He broke down and tears fell down his cheeks as he got to his feet. “I’ve been thinking about this non-stop since I found out about it Tuesday night.” He knelt in front of me with anguish in his eyes. “I can forgive you for doing this to save me. What kind of bastard would I be if I didn’t? And I’m sure I can eventually get over the hurt and the distrust, but there’s one thing I just can’t get over.” He paused, and I forced myself to calm down and listen to him.
“What?”
His eyes hardened. “The first time you went to him, you weren’t doing it to save my life or even yours. You went to get your money back. Money I tried to give you.” He got to his feet. “And I can forgive you for that too. I know how stubborn and pigheaded and …” He released a loud groan and pushed out a sob. “But you went to that damned auction, Rose. You went there thinking you were pregnant with our baby!”