Fate Actually (Moonstone Cove #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,50

Fairfield’s fiancée knew about Marissa, but she didn’t mention Pamela.”

“Interesting.” Toni took a deep breath. “That’s it. Those are the only names I can remember.”

“I wonder if Marissa knows who killed her boyfriend or if she simply suspected someone and confronted them. Maybe she thought she could continue Fairfield’s blackmail operation.”

“You think whoever killed Fairfield is the one who beat Marissa up?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I do.”

She frowned. “That seems like a leap. If it was the same person, wouldn’t they have killed her?”

“I’m starting to wonder whether Fairfield’s death was intended. Before he was killed, the medical examiner says that Fairfield was beaten quite badly.” Drew nodded at the hospital doors. “Not unlike your relative here. Cracked ribs. A busted jaw. Whoever beat Whit Fairfield up was a powerful person. Likely a man around six feet tall based on the injuries. Whit Fairfield might be the victim of a fight that got out of hand. A crime of passion, so to speak.”

“A crime of passion against Whit Fairfield and Marissa by a powerful man around six feet tall?” Toni glanced at Henry, then at Nico. “So what you’re saying is…?”

“Unless Nico has an ironclad alibi for last night, I still can’t rule him out.”

Chapter 17

“An alibi?” Nico rubbed two hands over his exhausted face. “It was Tuesday night. School night. I made the kids dinner, helped Ethan with some geometry homework, and went to bed.” He frowned. “Watched a movie for a while. Fell asleep. That’s it.”

They were sitting in Nico’s office at the winery, Drew and Toni in the chairs across from his desk and Henry leaning against the edge of it.

Marissa was stable but still unconscious. They had performed the surgery she needed the previous night and were keeping her in a medically induced coma for the first twenty-four hours to give her body the best chance to heal.

Nico had taken the kids home to sleep. He and Henry were trying to organize the harvest crews at the winery so they could run without him, leaving him free to shuttle the kids back and forth to the hospital if necessary.

Drew looked disappointed. “Mr. Dusi, I’m trying to help. Can you think of anything—?”

“Why the fuck would I beat up Marissa?” Nico was obviously exhausted. “She’s Beth and Ethan’s mother, for God’s sake. You think I’d do that to my kids?”

“She is your soon-to-be ex-wife, involved in a messy divorce, and in a relationship with a man who repeatedly tried to sabotage your business.” Drew spread his hands. “I can’t ignore it even if I want to rule you out.”

Henry looked at Drew. “Do you need me to make some kind of statement about what Marissa and Fairfield did? What they threatened me with? Nico didn’t know about any of it.”

“Until four days ago,” Toni said. “And three days after Nico found out, Marissa was beaten up. So I don’t know if that really helps.”

Henry clamped his mouth shut.

“Thanks, Toni.” Nico’s sarcasm was tangible. “You’re really helping this guy?”

“Katherine, Megan, and I went over to Marissa’s yesterday to ask her about the blackmail stuff. She told me some more names, and then she was attacked. There has to be a connection between someone on that list and whoever did this. We’re trying to help because I don’t want a cloud of suspicion hanging over you. Just suck it up and accept the help.”

“Who did she say they were blackmailing?” Nico asked. “Who else besides Henry?”

“Pamela Martin, for one. Or at least that was a name she mentioned.”

Nico looked half-asleep, but he tapped both his hands on the edge of the desk. “You need to talk to Jackie maybe.”

“Jackie, my sister-in-law Jackie?”

Nico nodded. “They were in school together, and I think they’re still pretty close. I’d be shocked if Pam and that guy were actually involved, but Jackie would be the one to ask.”

“Okay.” Toni glanced at Drew. “I guess I’ll call Jackie then.”

Drew pursed his lips. “What makes me think I’m not invited to this meeting?”

“Do you want actual information from this woman?” Toni asked. “She’ll talk to other women. She’s not gonna talk to a police officer. Not without knowing what it is you want from her.”

Drew took a deep breath. “This town is so damn insular it drives me absolutely nuts sometimes.”

“Just be glad you have me on your team,” Toni said. “Me and my sister-in-law.”

The next day, Megan picked Toni up at the garage so they could meet Toni’s sister-in-law for lunch. They met Jackie at