A Stranger on the Beach(66)

“Let me in,” he shouted over the rain and the wind, but she shook her head firmly.

“Go away,” she said.

“Are you all right? Is anybody there with you? Please, you have to let me in.”

Caroline took a step back, away from the door, looking pale and afraid. Was it possible that the thug was already inside the house?

“Caroline,” Aidan said, and pounded on the door frantically. “You have to let me in. I’m here to protect you. Somebody is coming to hurt you. Your daughter, too.”

Her eyes widened. She came back to the glass. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s your husband. He’s mixed up in something dirty. Let me in, and I’ll explain.”

The rain came down sideways in sheets, and the wind shook the trees. She opened the door a few inches to hear him better over the racket. A gust kicked up and pushed at the door. He took the opportunity to press his way in. In the foyer, she backed away, grabbing an umbrella and brandishing it at him.

“Stay back,” she said, looking frantic.

“Are you all right?”

“I don’t want you here.”

“I’m here to help.”

“What was that you said? Something about Jason?” she demanded.

“Yes. I’m going to tell you. I’m dripping on your floor. Put that down. Please?”

Grudgingly, she lowered the umbrella, placing it on a bench, still within arm’s reach. He held up his hands placatingly.

“Is it okay if I take my coat off?”

“Why should I trust you, after what you did to my daughter and my sister?”

“I was trying to help. If I could come in for five minutes, I’ll explain everything.”

She studied his face.

“I would never hurt you. You know that,” he said.

She sighed and nodded.

“Thank you for trusting me,” he said.

“I don’t trust you.”

He stood by the door, stripping off his jacket and shoes, then followed her into the great room. The fire had been turned on in the gas fireplace, and candles placed around the room, which glowed with a warm light.

“The power’s out, as you can see. Sit over there and don’t come any closer,” she said, pointing at a leather club chair.

She sat down cross-legged on the sofa opposite and folded her arms, glaring at him. He was taken aback by her hostility. Everything he’d done was for her. How could she not understand that?

“I don’t know what you think you know about my husband, Aidan,” she said. “But I can assure you, he’s not mixed up in anything dirty.”

“He is. And he’s a danger to you and your daughter.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“From what you told me about him, I was worried, so I followed him.”

“You what?”

“Why is that so crazy? You asked me to kill him for you.”

“Okay, that was a mistake. I said so. After Jason left and took the money, I was very, very upset. I said that to you out of desperation, then I immediately took it back. You promised not to mention it again.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I only said it to point out that you can’t trust him.”

“It’s you I can’t trust. You scare me, Aidan. You went after my family.”

“No, I didn’t. You don’t understand. I was trying to help.”

“What are you talking about? You approached my daughter like you wanted to date her. You—”

“Wait a minute, that’s completely untrue. I never wanted to date her.”

“She sent me this selfie of the two of you looking like two lovebirds.”

“I’m sorry if she misunderstood. But I never came on to her in any way. It was totally friendly and on the up-and-up.”

“What were you even doing there? She’s eighteen years old, Aidan. She’s my little girl. What were you thinking, going anywhere near her? And you tried to run my sister off the road. These are the people I care about, that I love. If you hurt them—”

“I never tried to hurt anybody, swear to God. Your sister came to the bar and threatened me, then she drove away. All I did was try to catch up to her. Maybe that looked like I was attacking her but I was only trying to talk to her.”

“Even if I accept your explanation about what you did to my sister, what about Hannah?”

“Okay, I see now maybe that was a mistake. But I made it because of my love for you. I wanted to make sure she was safe. Your husband is dangerous. He wants to have you killed, and your daughter, too.”

She laughed in shock. “That’s insane. Either you’re making it up, or there’s something wrong with you.”

He really thought that, once they were together, she’d see his loyalty and his love, but he wasn’t getting through. He had to try harder, to say whatever it took to convince her.

“I swear it’s true. I told you, Caroline, I followed him. Jason and his girlfriend went to Queens, where they met with a guy who looked like some kind of mobster. I watched Jason hand the guy an envelope full of cash. I heard them mention your name, and Hannah’s. Don’t you see? Jason wants to be with this other woman. I don’t understand how anyone could feel that way, but there it is. And he’s taking extreme steps to make it happen. You’re in danger.”