you found out later Tate didn’t send those texts.”
“Exactly. Tate and I have been friends forever. It was inevitable he’d wonder why I wasn’t speaking to him all of a sudden and we’d talk.”
“But Clint got you to talk to him again and see him as a good guy?”
“Yes. But I wasn’t quite fooled, especially when right after he left the deli Aubrey came up to my table and warned me to stay away from him. Not even half an hour later, she was dead.” Tears filled her eyes thinking about that poor, sweet woman who tried to do the right thing and warn a stranger only to end up Clint’s victim again.
“So you were the last person to see Aubrey alive.”
She shook her head. “I believe Clint saw her talking to me and he killed her.”
As if conjured, her real life nightmare walked across the parking lot toward them with an engaging smile that sent a chill racing over every nerve.
“Oh. My. God.”
Tim and Trinity followed her gaze.
She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him. You don’t when a predator is stalking you. Her gut tightened with that fight-or-flight adrenaline pumping through her veins.
But she stood stock-still—that deer in the headlights stillness coming over her as danger drew near.
She wanted to pull off that amazingly agile leap out of the way, but a stronger part of her wanted to stand her ground, not show any fear, and let him know he wouldn’t get away with terrorizing her again.
Tim positioned himself just about in Clint’s direct path to her, keeping him from getting too close.
“Liz, you’re beautiful as ever.” She didn’t believe Clint’s easy smile or the charm in his voice.
Tim glanced back at Liz. “Go inside. I’ll handle this.” He held his phone out toward Clint. “Mr. Mayhew, Tim Cobb from the Examiner. I was just interviewing Liz about an incident at her home in which you forcibly grabbed her during an argument. Care to comment?”
Liz froze. She wanted to hear Clint try to wiggle his way out of this.
Clint’s eyes went wide, dipped to the phone in Tim’s hand, then landed and narrowed on her. “Telling lies, Liz. You know I’d never hurt you.”
Tim continued his questions. “How many times did you hurt Aubrey Pittman?”
Clint took a step back but caught himself and bolstered his bravado with a hard glare. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Six domestic disturbance calls where the police notes include visible bruises and marks on Aubrey’s person. She filed a restraining order against you. Her mother details several altercations you had with Aubrey.”
“Aubrey was a troubled woman with mental health issues. She craved attention and sought it in destructive and hurtful ways. She lied to her mother often to gain sympathy.” The lies rolled off his tongue so matter-of-factly, with absolute surety that he was right. He believed what he said. He blamed Aubrey.
Liz got a sinking feeling in her gut.
Tim continued. “Liz is believed to be the last person to see Aubrey alive after Aubrey warned Liz away from you.”
“Aubrey had a difficult time letting go. Her death was tragic.”
“Her suspicious death is being investigated. Some say she didn’t commit suicide but was murdered.”
Clint didn’t say a word, but the sharp gaze he turned on her incited fear and promised retribution, though she hadn’t put the reporter onto this story. And Liz believed Aubrey’s story should be told, that Aubrey deserved justice, and Clint should pay.
Tim hit Clint with even more. “Several of your coworkers, past and present, have told me stories of incidents that are incredibly similar to Aubrey’s experiences with you. They speak to a pattern of harassment, threats, and abuse that’s gone unreported because victims claim you intimidated them. Would you like to comment on that?”
“Print those lies and I’ll sue.” Clint shook his head at Liz. “I hope you’re not involved in this.”
“I simply told Tim the truth about what happened between us.”
“There’s a version of the truth and then there’s proof.” He glanced back at Tim to make the point that without proof all the reporter had was unsubstantiated accounts and hearsay.
Which is how Clint got away with this for so long.
Tim’s phone rang and Clint snagged his arm and held Tim in a tight grip as he read the caller ID alert. “Why is Gabby calling you?”
Liz exchanged confused glances with Trinity.
Tim tugged his arm free. “Let’s find out.” He swiped to accept the call and put the phone to his ear. “Hello, Gabby.” Tim