Page 109 of Scored

“Not at all.”

Jen closed the door, leaving us alone.

“Vee, other than your ex-boyfriend, can you think of anyone who would want to scare you?”

“I don’t believe Preston would be trying to frighten me.” I went on to tell Virginia the story of the pillbox. “He was upset to think he was somehow involved in framing me for Dad’s accident.”

Virginia pressed her lips together. “He thought you were being framed?”

“I wasn’t. The detective asked me about the pillbox. It was Bre Stanton’s note that put her on their radar.”

“I’ve done some research on Mr. Hubbard’s accident and the subsequent charges filed against one Bre Stanton.”

Swallowing a forkful of salad greens, I nodded. “Bre was Dad’s personal assistant.” I was speaking to a woman who worked for a security/private investigation firm. There was no reason to keep secrets. “After Dad was gone, I learned he and Bre were having an affair.”

“The note?” Virginia nodded. “That explains why she was charged.”

“I don’t know that she’s guilty. Bre was heartbroken when Dad died. And according to her, she saw Dad last on Saturday evening. So, she didn’t have access to him before the accident.” I shrugged. “The thing is, the detective in charge of the investigation showed me a photo of Dad eating dinner Saturday night with Ed Clark. He owns Meadow Farms, one of the largest thoroughbred farms in Kentucky.”

“Clark?” she asked. “Is he related to your ex?”

“His father. I called Preston a while ago. He didn’t know our fathers were meeting. Detective Oldson said he believed the meeting was about Dad’s search for investors in Lexington’s infrastructure.” I forked an artichoke from my salad. “Preston works closely with his father. It’s weird that he doesn’t know why they were meeting.”

“Wait. You said Bre told you she saw your father on Saturday night, but the detective showed you a picture of your father with Mr. Clark on Saturday night.”

I nodded. “Bre didn’t tell me. My attorney discouraged me from being in contact with Bre. Fin called Bre in my stead. She told him.”

“And your mother said he was home Sunday evening.”

I scoffed. “My stepmother.”

“I’m sorry. I did know that.”

“That they were together was her original statement. It’s not fully true. They were together at the game. They went home and parted ways. She doesn’t know where Dad went Sunday after the game.”

“She told you this?”

“My cousin did.”

“There’s a lot of secondhand information.”

I sighed. “Believe me, Virginia, if I wasn’t living this life, I wouldn’t believe it. Not only did I learn after Dad’s accident that he was having an affair, I also learned that he and Daphne had an open marriage for…” I shrugged. “I don’t know how long.”

“Was she also involved with someone else?”

“My cousin Grant.”

“Grant Marsh, the vice president of the Coopers’ communications. The same cousin who told you about Mrs. Hubbard giving a false statement?”

“Same one.”

Virginia furrowed her brow. “Did you hear this secondhand?”

“No. Grant admitted it to me. He said Dad wasn’t home Sunday evening. He knows because he was with Daphne at Dad’s house.”

“Why would Mrs. Hubbard lie to the detective?”

“I’m assuming it was to keep the state of Dad and Daphne’s marriage from going public.”