Fate Actually (Moonstone Cove #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,81

of guilt.

“There’s something that’s making you think Ruben might have been involved though,” Toni said. “More than just the shirt. You don’t want to believe it, but you suspect him anyway. Why?”

Danny shook his head. “It’s like you can see right into my brain. How the hell can you do that?”

“Just answer the question,” Drew said. “What makes you suspect that your cousin killed Whit Fairfield?”

“Because Ruben’s the one who told me to stop.” Danny’s voice was barely over a whisper. “After the tractor thing happened. After I cut the wires. He called me that night, and he told me I didn’t need to do any of that stuff to sabotage Nico anymore. That the job was done.”

It took Toni a second to realize the implications. “Ruben knew he was dead.”

Danny nodded.

“Fairfield’s body wasn’t found for a week and a half,” Toni said. “When you cut the wires, he was still considered missing.”

“But Ruben knew to call you off,” Drew said. “Ruben already knew that Whit Fairfield was dead.”

Chapter 27

Henry and Megan followed Toni as she and Drew raced to Hillside Rehab Center.

“If Ruben knew Fairfield was dead, then he killed him,” Drew said. “Or he knows who did.”

“But why? You said it yourself, he was better off with Fairfield. He had information the man wanted and job security.”

“Maybe he grew a conscience and didn’t want to cover for the man. Maybe he got impatient and suspected Fairfield would cut him out. Maybe Fairfield took it a step too far and threatened him.”

“Maybe.” Toni still felt like, even with Danny’s confession, there was a lot they weren’t seeing. “Are your guys already at the rehab center?”

“Yeah. You call your cousin?”

Toni nodded. “He’s already there. Going to take Marissa to her parents’ place in Santa Cruz tonight.”

“Good. I’ll call the police up there, but I have a hard time imagining that Ruben Montenegro has hardened criminal connections.” Drew’s mouth was set in a grim line. “I have a feeling that this was a ‘brilliant plan’ that spiraled way out of control.”

They arrived in silence at the Hillside Rehab Center and parked between the patrol car and Nico’s work truck. Toni hopped out of the car and walked straight toward the glass double doors.

“Miss.” The receptionist stood. “I’m afraid you can’t—”

“I’m consulting with the police.” She pointed back to Drew. “Need to speak with the witness before she leaves.”

“But the officer said—”

“She’s fine.” Drew walked in behind her, holding out his badge. “I’m Detective Bisset. Are you Isabelle?”

Toni ignored the voices behind her and listened for Marissa.

“…still trying to tell me how to live my life.”

“…not going to argue with you about this. Do you know what it would do to Beth and Ethan if something happened to you?”

“They don’t care about me.” Marissa sulked. Her head shot up when she saw Toni walk through the cracked-open door. “Oh. You.”

“Great to see you too.” She turned to Nico. “Are you driving her up to her parents’?”

“Yeah. The police are even going to escort us, I think? Which is weird.”

Toni turned to Marissa. “Rumor has it, you were trying to get something out of Nico to sign the divorce papers. What was it?”

Marissa didn’t look well. Her rich, olive-toned complexion was wan and dull. She’d lost weight, and her cheeks were hollow. Her expression hardly changed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And even if I did, it’s none of your business, Toni.”

“Sure you do,” Nico said. “You brought up the Ferraro Creek acreage about two and a half weeks ago, right before you got beaten up.”

She blinked rapidly. “What creek land?”

Toni exchanged a look with Nico. “Okay, so I’m going to get her to tell us the truth. Save your questions for later.”

Nico looked confused. “What?”

“Just go with it.” She grabbed Marissa’s hand and held it firmly between her palms, letting a creeping sense of calm settle over the woman. Marissa’s eyes went wide, then unfocused.

“Hey.” She blinked slowly.

“Hey. Did you know about the wine caves on the creek land?”

“Yup.” She popped her lips together on the p sound. “I did know that. And so did Whit.”

“Who told you?”

“Ruben of course.” She scrunched up her face. “He told me all kinds of stuff. He was real angry at Whit.”

“About what?”

“Supposed to be partial owner. Whit told Ruben he was gonna be a partial owner of the whooooole place. But then Whit told me he wasn’t really gonna do that.”

“And you told Ruben?”

“I mean…”

Toni felt an unexpected wave of emotion from Marissa.