Deadly Deception - By Andrea Johnson Beck Page 0,23
wait, I haven’t told you the best part yet. Adam is affiliated with the Montgomery family.”
Casey slapped her hand on the table.
“The Montgomerys! Holy shit! Both Adam and Carter are mixed up with them?”
“Apparently, Carter’s father took out a ‘loan’ with them but obviously there were more dirty dealings going on because Carter threatened to turn them all in.”
“So, Carter thought if he faked his own death then he would be in the clear?” Casey asked.
“That’s why there has to be more to it. His father showed them his death certificate but for some reason they weren’t taking the bait, so they sent Adam my way to baby-sit me. Their hope was they would be able to lure Carter out of hiding eventually, then Adam could take Carter out just like they had planned.”
Anne could feel the warmth of the gin spreading through her blood vessels, erupting just below her fair skin.
“Absolutely, there’s more to the story than that. I mean, we are talking three years in the making. Did you confront Adam about it?”
Anne stroked the base of her ring finger where the diamond once sat.
“In a roundabout way I did. Oh, and I told Carter about the baby.”
Casey choked on her drink; a cough erupted from her mouth.
“What? Wow, how’d that go?”
“I wanted to punch him the face. I’m so confused.”
Anne placed her head in her hands.
“Remind me to never go on a getaway with you.”
Casey’s attempt to get Anne to laugh was successful. Anne finished off her second martini. As the last drop hit her tongue, the overwhelming feeling of the alcohol raced through her insides.
“I want them to tell me the truth, stop sending me creepy notes and stop prowling around like a lion stalking its prey.”
“I guess, my dear, you are going to have to go get it yourself since neither one of them are up for the most upstanding citizen award. You’re going to have to play both sides of the fence until you get your answers.”
“That’s one dangerous fence to be straddling,” Anne replied.
Even though playing private detective could jeopardize everything and possibly reveal information she wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge, she had to and Casey was right. She was going to mollify both of them to get what she wanted and that was the truth.
Her entire life always seemed to be wrapped up in lies. Her mother was never forthcoming about her mental illness. When Anne figured out its severity, it was too late. Was one of these men worth saving? If the answer was yes, then which one?
***
The wee hours of Saturday morning began slinking along the city streets. A chilly seasonal wind brushed against the brick buildings and concrete skyscrapers as it howled through the exposed alley ways.
Anne unlocked the door to her apartment, which was toasty compared to the blustery conditions outside. Retrieving the two suitcases out of the hallway, she rolled them into the small alcove to the left where her desk and laptop resided. Most of the flushness from the martinis had left her but exhaustion had begun to settle in. Before Anne could flip the switch to the kitchen to illuminate her surroundings, she heard a faint voice come from the living room. Hearing only the beat of her heart, she took a slight step forward.
“Anneliese, leave it dark.”
Carter’s voice trailed through the shadowy space. A volt of shock traveled through her body.
“Jesus, Carter, how did you get in here?”
Squinting, she could see a silhouette standing by the fireplace; the sheers on the patio door placed a soft orange glow from the street lights onto Carter’s face.
“So, did you tell Casey all my dirty little secrets?” he asked, ignoring her question.
She choked on her own intake.
“Why do you assume we were talking about you?”
Even in the darkness she knew Carter was raising an eyebrow to her.
“Because you tell Casey everything,” he replied.
“She wanted to know why I wasn’t wearing my engagement ring so I explained to her my conversation with Adam, and I guess your name came up a few times.”
Only a couple of feet separated them.
“You are making this difficult. You know she can’t keep her mouth shut.”
“Listen, she isn’t going to say anything to anyone. Your precious secret is safe and don’t talk about her like that.”
“I understand that I have put you in a precarious situation and I’m sorry for that and I’m also sorry that you are in such pain. I love you so much and I’m just trying to protect you,”