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2023-10-13 11:05:54"I have no idea," Vanessa replied, "He didn't say. Look, if you think that I killed him because he wouldn't sign the papers, then you're very wrong indeed. I was pissed that he was delaying things, but I knew he'd have signed it eventually. I wasn't going to kill him for it or kill anyone for that matter,"
"You could hire someone to do the job for you…." Alaric cut in, "I've seen people hire other people to do the job for them,"
It took a lot of self control for Vanessa's not to give in and scream like she actually wanted to. An emotional reaction in this situation wasn't going to do her any good, so she kept her cool and remained in her chair.
"Are you insane?" she asked, "I would never do such a thing,"
He continued like she hadn't spoken, "I see that you had different surnames too. You never changed yours after you got married. You guys have been married for years and you don't have any kids. You've been separated for a year. You even moved out and rented an apartment. From what I know, the marriage wasn't a rosy one. Weeks ago, you handed him divorce papers which he refused to sign, and just this afternoon, he made a call to you and hours later, he's dead. That doesn't sound like a happy marriage to me. You can't tell me you don't see why you'd be questioned,"
Vanessa shook her head. "None of those things you mentioned has anything to do with him getting murdered. I didn't kill Christopher. We were seperated and I asked for a divorce, but we were not enemies. You've got the wrong person, and when you're here playing 'macho, hero, cop', the real killer is out there, probably escaping as we speak,"
Alaric's eyes remained on her, but Vanessa refused to look away. She held his gaze stubbornly, until he blinked, then withdrew something from his pocket, "Well then, why don't you explain this,"
It was a recording of her call that afternoon with Christopher:
'….. "I don't want to be married to you anymore, Christopher, and having dinner will do nothing to change that. We have been separated for a year already and I think it's time to put an end to this whole thing. Sign those papers, or you will not like my next move. You have no idea how far I'm willing to go to get this done as soon as possible. Goodbye!"
"What exactly are you going to do Vanessa? Force me? Kill me?"..... '
He stopped playing the recording at that moment and said, "That last part…. Care to explain why he'd say that, Mrs Spencer?"
Vanessa's gaze moved back to Alaric's and found him still watching her. She took a deep breath. The bastard! She knew how that statement sounded coming from Christopher, and it would be even more difficult to convince them that it meant nothing. Christopher had a way of throwing words around carelessly especially when they argued, but now he wasn't here to speak for himself, so there was no one to confirm that she was telling the truth."
"Look," Paul Forbes cut in, "We just want to get to the bottom of this, Mrs Spencer. You say you had nothing to do with his death, but can you think of anyone who would want your husband dead?"
Vanessa had had enough, "I don't know!" she replied, "Look, I know what you guys are doing. This good cop…. bad cop shit won't work with me. I already told you. I didn't kill Christopher and I don't know who did. Like you said, we were separated and we're not even living together. Now, I'm tired and I'd like to go home. I'm done answering your questions. I know my rights and I know you have no concrete evidence to keep me here. I want to leave now and I will not be answering further questions without my lawyer present. I've even said too much!"
The two men stared at each other. They knew she was right. Apart from the recording, they had no concrete evidence to keep her at the station.
Alaric stared at her, and like before, she returned his gaze. She looked very angry, but he didn't care. He shouldn't care. He was simply doing his job and he had no time for emotions. They could mess with a person's judgment and so he avoided it at all cost.
"You're free to go now, Mrs Spencer," he said finally, "But you should know that we'll be keeping in touch. Please don't make any travels because we might need to bring you in for more questioning as the case progresses."
"Yeah, whatever," Vanessa retorted.
—----------
Vanessa woke up with a terrible headache. The moment she opened her eyes, she remembered that today she had to make arrangements for Christopher's funeral. His parents had been calling and she knew if she let them, they’d take over all the grim planning, but she felt strongly that, at the very least, she owed Christopher this. She’d realized shortly after they’d married that she hadn’t loved him, probably at the same time that he’d told her he’d married her for political reasons. A man needed a wife and a family if he wanted to have a prayer of becoming governor. They’d slept together exactly once before they were married, and then after the wedding the intimacy had reduced drastically until there was nothing left between them and neither of them tried anymore.
She also had missed calls from her best friend, Anita, but she didn't want to call back. At least not at the moment, she felt like she still needed more time to process what was going on.
What a mess. She felt horribly guilty. Even though she knew what had happened to Christopher wasn’t her fault, she’d certainly fantasized enough about what her life would be like without him in it. Even though he’d flatly refused her request for a divorce and tried to make things unnecessarily hard for her, she still felt horrible about his death, because at a point in her life, she'd lived with him and cared about him to some extent.
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Her phone rang again. It was Christopher's parents. She’d felt horrible that they’d learned about their son’s murder on the news, but she didn't have time to tell them first since she'd been at that damn station. She’d been in shock, so much so that it hadn’t occurred to her to call anyone. When she returned home from the police station, it was then that she had reluctantly dialed their number. The overwhelming relief she’d felt when she’d gone straight to voicemail had made her feel guilty, on top of everything else.Despite that, too exhausted to deal with anything else, she let their call go to voicemail. They’d left three messages already. What was one more? She’d phone them back once she’d made all the funeral arrangements. That way, they couldn’t take over. She knew if they did, the ceremony would be the antithesis of Christopher.While his parents were super religious, Christopher had often claimed he had no use for such “nonsense.” And while they’d never actually discussed his
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Though Jeremy kept his tone respectful, his firm reply told her he meant business. “Perhaps you’d like to contact your bank and verify?”“Of course.” Hands shaking, she fumbled with her phone, looking up the bank’s number and calling it. Once she had an account representative on the line, she identified herself.“Mrs. Spencer, we’re so sorry for your loss,” the woman exclaimed. “What can I do to assist you?”After taking a deep breath, she asked to check the balance in the checking account, since she was also listed as an account holder in addition to Christopher for that account. “Certainly. Just one moment.”Vanessa gripped the phone, listening while the bank representative typed in the information. “Let me see here,” the woman said. “I show a balance of one thousand, six hundred and forty-seven dollars and seventy-eight cents.”“What?” Vanessa swallowed, again trying to comprehend. “The checkbook ledger shows seventy-two thousand dollars and change.”“That would have been before M
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"There is something," said Vanessa and she eyed Alaric one more time. Then she told them about Christopher emptying the bank account. This got their attention. They got the bank information and then asked her if she knew of any other bank accounts.“I don’t. But if I find out there are any, I’ll be sure to give you a call.” “Would you mind if we did a quick search of his office?” Alaric asked.“I’m sorry, but this isn’t a good time,” she replied, smiling to soften the blow. “I really need to be allowed to go through my husband’s personal belongings myself first.”Judging by the muscle working in the detective's jaw, her declination didn’t sit well with him. But he, like every other law enforcement person, knew there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. They’d have to get a search warrant first. A few more follow-up questions and the officers stood to take their leave.As they filed past the doorway, Alaric turned to Vanessa. He looked her up and down, then handed something
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“That’s not necessary,” Vanessa said, steeling herself. “I’ve already done all that. The funeral will be at Blackenstock Funeral Home. The arrangements are made. I’ll get you the details once they’re printed up.”The older woman’s perfectly made-up eyes narrowed. “I wish you had waited for me. I really wanted to approve the casket.”Battling the urge to offer to take her to the funeral home in the morning so she could approve of her choice, Vanessa managed to keep her mouth closed.When Vanessa didn’t respond, Lois glared at her. Vanessa hated that she was alone with them. She felt like she desperately needed an ally. Someone whose presence would give her strength because she knew if she wasn’t strong, her in-laws would roll over her like a steamroller on freshly laid concrete. Even Christopher had been unable to hold his own around his parents.Abruptly, Lois pushed herself up and walked over to the sink, where she stood staring out the window. Her shoulders began shaking as she sile
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For the first time ever, Anita felt pity for what Christopher must have endured growing up. She never liked him when he was alive because of the way he'd treated her friend, Vanessa. Now, as she stared at his parents, she could understand how he turned out to be the kind of man he was. “You know, she's grieving too,” Anita continued. “They might not have been together when he died, but she's grieving too and she could use all the family love and support right now… Just the way you need it too,"At her words, Lois's tears dried up and her expression went from devastated to furious. “Who do you think you are, attempting to lecture us on personal family matters? It’s none of your business what we do or don’t do.”Since she was right, Anita shut her mouth and turned to go. Just as she reached the exit, Steven spoke, shocking her.“She never loved our son, and I'm sure she's glad he's out of her way now. She can go on to be with her numerous lovers. She might even have a hand in his death
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The deputies began snapping photographs, one of them taking notes. They stepped through the room, broken glass cracking underfoot, talking quietly among themselves. When they moved outside, Lois spoke up.“What were you doing outside at three in the morning?” Lois managed to sound outraged rather than concerned.“I couldn’t sleep,” Vanessa explained, hearing the complete lack of emotion in her own voice and realizing she was beyond caring what anyone thought of her. “I went outside to get some air.”And, of course, both Lois and Steven gazes drifted from each other to Vanessa and back again, hers narrow and his appraising.“You had difficulty sleeping?” Lois finally asked, her suspicion clear in her snide tone.“Yes.” Vanessa stared at the older woman, practically daring her to speak her thoughts out loud. Right now she felt as if she was walking on the edge of a narrow precipice. Christopher was dead, and all the bickering or accusations in the world were not going to change that.Mo
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Vanessa woke up the next morning feeling numb. She knew that it would be hard enough to simply make it through the day. She had in-laws to deal with and a funeral to finalize. The media would need a statement, as well.She got a cup of coffee and sat down at the table, intent on losing herself in scrolling through her phone. When Steven and Lois Wesley strolled in a few minutes later, already dressed and looking ready to go, that was exactly what she was doing. With everyone gathered in the kitchen drinking coffee, she knew she should offer to make something for them to eat, but she couldn’t bring herself to do that.Eyeing her, Anita must have understood. “I’m going to make a doughnut run,” she announced. “I’ll be right back.”“Get some sausage rolls too,” Steven told her.Anita nodded as she went out the door. Fifteen minutes later, she returned with a large box of doughnuts. Everyone grabbed one or two and fell to eating them as if they hadn’t eaten for days. Vanessa stayed back a
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Since she and Christopher hadn’t gotten around to drawing up a prenup, the law was clear on the rights of inheritance. A will could only confirm that and perhaps designate heirship of smaller, sentimental items. Was there something specific Lois wanted? If so, all she needed to do was ask. Pushing down the bewildered hurt, Vanessa reminded herself she’d never truly understood Christopher's parents. Christopher had often commented that they cared more about their church family than their real one.After getting Chloe a cup of coffee and a doughnut, Vanessa asked her if she’d mind coming with her to the study. “I hope y’all will excuse us for a few moments,” she said to the rest of the room. “I’ve got some things I’d like to discuss with Chloe.”“I’d prefer to be there,” Lois announced. Vanessa stared at her. She’d thought Christopher's mother couldn’t shock her any more than she already had. Turned out she’d been wrong.“I’m sorry,” Vanessa told her firmly. “But this is private. I’m
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He laughed, dropping his forehead to hers. “I was thinking you wanted to tell me something else.”She reached up, spreading her palm against his cheek. The words were surprisingly easier to say than she could’ve ever imagined. “I love you.”His eyes fell shut as he sucked in a deep breath. “I’m glad we don’t need to fight again for you to admit that.”“Me, too,” she whispered, stretching up and kissing him softly. “Don’t you have something you want to say?”“Remember my fantasy?” His lashes lifted. “The one I told you about?”Paul cleared his throat behind them, but it went largely ignored.That wasn’t what she was looking for, but she would go with this. “Yes. I remember.”“And look at you. Your hair pulled back, wearing one of those god-awful suits. I think you did that on purpose.”A smile teased her lips. “I might have.”“Hmm,” he murmured as he reached around, gently unwrapping the bun and letting her hair fall down her back. “And why did you do that?”“I thought it might help my
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Stunned by what he said, all she could do was sit there, and when she didn’t say anything, Alaric cursed under his breath again. “I’ve told you that I don’t mind the chase, and I have no fucking problem chasing after you, but I refuse to run after a ghost. And that’s what you are if you can’t let go of your past with your mom. I won’t chase a ghost.”Then he spun, his long legs quickly eating up the distance between her and the door. And then…then he was gone, the door slamming shut behind him.The moment Alaric left, she knew, without a doubt, that she had made the biggest mistake of her life. It was right there, smacking her face. Everything he had said was right.She was a coward. And the best damn thing to ever happen to her had just walked out the door.……… Her heart was like a hummingbird in her chest by the time she climbed out of her newly returned car and stared up at Alaric's house.A thousand things could go wrong with this. He might not be home. He could be and he could h
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Pressure clamped down on her chest and she quickly shook her head. She had been doing so well. Now wasn’t the time to break down. She placed her purse on the desk when someone knocked and the door to her office opened. It was her assistant, Ruby. "There's a Mr Harper here to see you, Mrs Spencer. Should I send him in?" Vanessa's heart skipped a beat, and she almost ran out the door to see him, but she stopped herself. What use would it be? She'd already left. There was no going back now, so she shook her head, "No," she replied, "Please tell him I'm not available," Ruby left, and Vanessa stood, staring at the door. She knew Alaric well enough to know that if he insisted on coming into her office, no one would be able to stop him. Fifteen minutes later, no one came in and she knew that he'd gone. She should be relieved, but she felt more miserable than ever. —-----Everything should be okay.Her apartment had been virtually restored. The rental insurance had kicked in and the new
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“Vanessa,” he breathed, voice ragged. "Vanessa, please…. Please don't…" He stopped talking and she dropped her head to his warm shoulder, squeezing her eyes against the rush of hot tears. Her arms trembled, but it seemed to have very little to do with what they’d just done, and more with the fact that after today, it would be the last time. It had to be before it was too late.But an evil little voice whispered that it was already too late. —------Vanessa was running.Alaric was a lot of things, but he wasn’t fucking stupid. And he’d meant what he’d said. Kind of. He’d let her have the facade of running, because she wasn’t going to get far. He knew that the woman felt the same way he did. She may not be able to say the words, but it was everything else she did. Right now, she was like a cornered animal. There were only two options for her: fight it out or run.She was going to run.He’d kept her busy the rest of the day Sunday, not giving her much time to put whatever cockamamie pla
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Looking over her shoulder at him, she drew in a shallow breath. “It is.”Alaric stared at her for what felt like forever and then he had his pants off in record time. His arousal jutted out proudly, hard and thick, and molten lava filled in her belly. He stepped into the shower, closing the door behind him. His hands landed on her hips and when he spoke, his voice whispered in her ear. “I know what you’re thinking.”Vanessa shuddered. “You do?”“Yes.” He kissed her shoulder, causing her heart to squeeze at the tender action. “You’re going to run.”She stiffened, her arms clamped close to her chest. “I don’t…don’t know what you’re talking about.”“You’re a shitty liar.” He turned her around and reached between them, wrapping his hands around her wrists. He backed her up until she was flush with the cold tile. “You have that look in your eyes. Never really seen it before—the whole deer-in-the-headlights look. But you have it. You’re going to run.”“You need to get your eyes checked, the
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“That's bullshit and you know it.” Paul said, "Fuck you," Alaric replied, but there was no real heat in his words. "Look, I had to take a break, okay? After everything that happened, I felt like I needed some time for myself. Besides Bobby was fine with it," Paul didn't look convinced, "Does this have anything to do with a certain Mrs Spencer?" When Alaric didn't reply, Paul added, "Damn man, Did you let her go?" Vanessa felt like an interloper. Well, duh, she was, and she really needed to get her ass out of there. Paul looked like he was about to say something else when what sounded like a chair in the dining room deciding to mate with the table drew their attention. They turned at the same time.Vanessa stood a few feet back from the table, her face as red as a fire truck and her eyes wide. Alaric's gaze dropped, and he swallowed a groan. Damn if he didn’t love seeing her in his clothes. However, he did not like the idea of Paul seeing her practically naked. And he really wasn’t
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Oh fuck, he needed to be in her again. “I like it, too.” Placing the tips of his fingers under her chin, he lifted her gaze to his. “And I love it when you lose control.”Her mouth opened, as if she was about to deny that, but he kissed her before she could deny what was so obvious. He wanted her upstairs and in his bed, but they got sidetracked on the stairs, and he ended up between her thighs, his arm along her back, taking the burn of the rocking motions. Later, much later, they made it to his bedroom. Both of them were exhausted, and he felt like he’d run a marathon. He lazily trailed a hand up and down her spine. Each time he reached the slight curve of her lower back, his fingers brushed the swell of her ass and she’d shiver. Of course, he kept doing it.She nuzzled her cheek against his chest, letting out a content sigh. “What you did downstairs, on the table people eat at, wasn’t very appropriate.”Alaric chuckled deeply. “What is it about you and appropriateness?”Her lips cu
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Cupping her breasts, he rolled her nipples between his fingers as he dipped his head, pressing a kiss to the small puckered skin on her shoulder. “You like that?”“Yes,” she said, voice husky. “It feels so good.”“Hmm…” He kissed her shoulder once more and then placed another kiss over her wildly beating pulse. “I like you like this.”“What?” She arched her back, thrusting her breasts into his hand.He plucked her nipples, grinning when she gasped. “Standing naked in front of my sink.”A soft laugh lit up the kitchen. “Are your blinds closed?”“Of course.” He moved his hips against her rear, groaning in her ear. “If I saw you like this every fucking day, my life would be perfect.”“Every day?” Muscles tensed against him, and he cursed under his breath.Not wanting to give her time to dwell and obsess over that comment, he curved his hand around her throat, guiding her head back, and kissed her. As he licked his way into her mouth, he pulled out the tie.“Close your eyes.”She pulled b
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He stared at her, and Vanessa averted her eyes. She couldn't look at him. He looked so hurt and she almost flung herself at him, but they didn't belong together and there was no point letting things go on longer than it should. They'd just be postponing the inevitable. "You don't have to stay in a hotel, Vanessa. You can stay with me…. And…. And then maybe we can get the chance to say goodbye to each other… Properly. Not standing here like strangers. We don't have to end it this way," That made sense, Vanessa told herself, or maybe it did because she wanted it to. She turned to look at his handsome face, "Alright," she said, "Let's go," —-----------It didn’t matter how many times Alaric tasted her or slid deep inside her, it was never enough. He was addicted to her—to the way she moved against him, how her mouth brought him pleasure and then riled him up seconds later when she mouthed off, or the way she cried out his name as she came. He couldn’t keep his hands off her, not whe
