Fidelity (Infidelity #5)(91)
“I thought I might move there,” I said with a sideways glance.
“Think again, princess.”
Chelsea shook her head at us. “I appreciate all you have done, but I need to stand on my own.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Deloris chimed in. “You can do whatever you want. The payout from Infidelity should be in your account soon. It would be a nice nest egg if you decide to go back to school. You’ll be able to afford that apartment or any other.”
“Why don’t you check out schools in both New York and California,” I suggested. “Then decide what’s best for you.”
Chelsea leaned her head back against the seat.
“We should be back in Rye by early afternoon,” Deloris said. “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll separate from this fun group in the city.”
Nox nodded. “Remember when we had weekly meetings?”
“Those were the days.”
Clayton turned the car into the same private airport where we’d been nearly a week before.
“Sir?” Isaac said, causing us all to look up.
“No! This isn’t happening again,” I cried, taking in the sight of numerous police cars.
“Seriously, do Savannah police not have anything better to do?” Clayton said.
Nox looked to Deloris who shrugged. “No idea,” she said.
When the limousine came to a stop, Nox didn’t wait for either Clayton or Isaac to open the door.
“What is happening?” he called as he jumped out of the car. “We’re leaving.”
I climbed out behind him.
“Mr. Demetri, Miss Collins,” Officer Emerson said.
“Please tell me this is a going-away party,” I said.
“No, ma’am. We’d like to take you back to the city.”
“No.” My head moved back and forth. “I don’t care what my stepfather has decided to do. Talk to Daryl Owen of Preston, Madden, and Owen. He represents me. He can deal with Alton Fitzgerald’s next power play.”
“Ma’am, Mr. Owen is aware we’re here.”
I opened my purse and pulled out my phone. Though I hadn’t heard the notification, I had one text message.
Daryl Owen: “YOU’RE NOT A SUSPECT. DON’T SAY MORE. I’LL MEET YOU AT THE STATION.”
I looked up, my brows knit together. “Suspect? What is he talking about?”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re leaving,” Nox said, placing his hand in the small of my back as the stairs to the private plane moved slowly to the ground.
“Mr. Demetri, we must insist.”
“No, you must not.”
“Stop,” I said. “Tell me what Alton has done. What bogus thing has he concocted?”
“Ma’am, your stepfather was found dead in his bedroom this morning.”
I fought to breathe. Had my childhood wish finally come true? “What?” I looked up to Nox in amazement and shock. How could we be happy about life with so much death?
“We have a few questions for both of you. There are eyewitnesses who say that you, Mr. Demetri, threatened Mr. Fitzgerald.”
“Who?” Nox asked.
“Come down to the station. We’ll get your statements and then, hopefully, you can leave.”
Nox reached for my hand.
“This can’t be happening,” I said.
Nox turned to Officer Emerson. “Fine, we’ll follow you.”
“No, sir. I’m sorry, but we’d like each of you to ride in a separate police car.”
“Why?”
Officer Emerson tilted his head. “We need your separate statements.”
Separate.
No. We were much stronger together.
“Charli?”
“I just want to go home. If this will get us home, fine.”
Deloris came closer.
“We’re headed back to Savannah,” Nox explained
“Did something…?”
I slowly nodded. “Yes, Alton died last night.”
Deloris’s hand covered her lips. “How?”
“We aren’t releasing any details at this time,” Officer Emerson said.
The room was the same. The same concrete block walls. The same two-way window. It was the same room where Chelsea and I had made our statements about Bryce, when we’d come voluntarily. Technically I was again in the room voluntarily. It was just that this time it felt different.
The door opened and Daryl Owen entered. His dark brown eyes were filled with concern. “Alex?”
Leaning against the far wall, I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around my midsection. “I can’t believe it.”
“They’re going to ask you about Lennox. Everyone in that room at Hamilton and Porter heard him threaten Mr. Fitzgerald’s life. Can the two of you account for where you were last night?”
“Yes. We were at the hospital. They didn’t release me until this morning. Nox stayed with me.”
“There are doctors and nurses who can testify to his presence?”
“And the bodyguards he had posted outside my room. And…” I reached into my purse. After a prolonged look at the small gray peanut, I handed Daryl the grainy picture. “See in the corner. It’s dated today and time-stamped at 12:42. Nox and I were at the hospital all night.”