The Wife Who Knew Too Much(43)

“Stays in his lane?”

“You know, he’s a two-bit pusher. Local. Not a heavy hitter. Why would he try to crash this high-society party down in New York, where, as far as I know, he’s never been in his life before? Can you enlighten me?”

I had the distinct feeling that this guy was suspicious of me. I wasn’t guilty of anything, but that had never protected me from being implicated in Derek’s crimes. I should say as little as possible and get off the phone.

“As I told the officer, Derek followed me there, and that’s all I know,” I said.

“I take it you’re acquainted with the people whose house it was?”

Why was he being so nosy? I refused to drop Connor’s name. What if it got back to him somehow? The last thing I needed was Connor finding out that the convicted drug dealer who’d been arrested for trespassing and beating up the security guard at Windswept was my ex-husband. That would be impossible to explain.

“I was trying to get away from Derek, and I ran into the first house I saw. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Mandel, I’m at work, and my boss is calling me.”

“It’s just weird, because, you know, the woman died.”

That got my attention.

“What woman?”

“The hostess of the party. Nina Levitt.”

“Nina Levitt died? That can’t be right.”

My heart started hammering.

“It was on the news. She drowned. Her body was found early this morning in the swimming pool at her home. Look, I’m not saying they think Derek had anything to do with her death—”

“Derek? Oh my God.”

The room was spinning.

“No, I’m not saying that. From what I understand, they’re treating this as an accident, at least until an autopsy can establish cause of death. But you have to admit, it’s a crazy coincidence. Normally, I’d think murder is outside Derek’s wheelhouse. But then I come back to, what the hell was he doing there in the first place? I was hoping you could shed some light.”

“I can’t, sorry. Now I have to go.”

I slammed the phone down and collapsed in the chair. I felt so faint that I had to put my head between my knees. Liz walked in. Seeing me, she ran to my side.

“Tabitha. Jesus, are you okay?”

“Derek got arrested.”

“For what?”

“Assault. Down in New York.”

“That’s a good thing, right? He’ll go back to jail.”

I was hyperventilating.

“You’re scaring me,” Liz said. “Hold on. I’ll get a paper bag.”

Liz ran out, returning a minute later with a paper bag. She held it up and had me breathe in and out until I stabilized.

“I feel better,” I said, after a few minutes. “Thank you. I always thought that was an old wives’ tale.”

“It works. Take it from this old wife. You’re white as a sheet, though. Go home.”

“I can’t. I’ve missed too much work.”

“Someone can cover for you.”

“It’s not that, Liz. I need the money.”

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. “Fine. But when your shift’s done, you’re gonna come back here and tell me what’s really going on with you.”

“Deal.”

I went back to work with my mind reeling. Mandel was right. Derek was just a small-time drug dealer. A fuckup, a lowlife, and—as far as I knew—no killer. But he was an opportunist and desperate for cash. Maybe he tried to rob her, and something went wrong. The more I thought about it, the more terrified I got. Derek had no connection to Nina, except through me, and my affair with her husband. If he was involved in her death, it was certain to come back on me.

I got so worked up about the possibility of being implicated in Nina’s murder that I couldn’t think of anything else. At the end of my shift, I sat on the bench outside Liz’s office, waiting for her to close out the till. It was the first moment I’d had to myself all night. And it hit me.

Nina was dead. Connor was free.

I knew that was a selfish thing to think about, but I couldn’t help it. He and I could finally be together. I had to get in touch with him, right away. I walked out of the restaurant, my hands shaking as I dialed my phone. He picked up on the first ring.

“You heard?” He spoke quietly.

“Yes. I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”

“Hang up. I’ll call you from a different number.”

I sat in my car, waiting. Liz came out and tapped on the glass. I lowered my window.

“I thought we were going to talk,” she said.

“I’m not feeling up to it. Tomorrow, okay?”

My phone rang.

“I have to take this.”

“Tabitha—”

“Sorry, Liz.”

I put the window up. She looked annoyed.

“Hello?”

“Tabby,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Things are so screwed up here. It’s really good to hear your voice.”

Liz was watching. I turned away, hunching over my phone.

“You didn’t call,” I said in a low tone.

“I couldn’t. Tabitha, Nina’s dead.”