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4:20am
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Alex rubbed his chest and wished that things had been different for him and Christina. Even as he craved to have his arms around her, he knew that they weren’t meant to be because of the main obstacle keeping them apart—her marriage. It didn’t stop his heart from aching though.
He watched a tired Saige walk back into the room and glance around. “Where’s Dad gone?” she asked as she slumped down into the chair she’d occupied since she brought them all together.
“He’s gone to dress,” Christina replied, her legs folded under her on one end of the sofa.
Watching Saige fight a yawn behind her hands, Alex suggested, “Why don’t you both go back to bed.”
“If I thought I’d be able to get back to sleep, I would, but I think I’m awake for the day now.” Saige yawned again and settled back down.
“I’ll go back to bed soon.” Christina glanced toward the stairs and then at him.
He knew she wanted to avoid Richard, but he needed to talk to Saige and he wasn’t sure how Christina would take what he had to say. He’d just have to chance it because he needed to get it off his chest now.
He cleared his throat and paced. “I need to tell you both something.” He glanced from Christina to Saige and back again. “The night Fern died she told me that she found something to do with Quinten’s case that she knew hadn’t made it to court.”
Saige sat up and focused her gaze on him.
“There were witness statements as to Quinten’s whereabouts during the murder of each of the college girls,” Alex continued. “Three of the dates in question he’d been fishing alone. But one of the other dates he’d been on business in Chicago. A couple that we used to do carvings for in Tampa had moved there and wanted us to work on the banister in their new house. Quinten had gone to take a look and to give them a quote for the job. He was there when the girl was taken and he didn’t land in Tampa until an hour after the girl had been found. She’d been dead approximately two hours. So there is no way he could have taken her since he was on a plane or with our clients for the entire time. Another date he was in Miami and the water pump on his truck had gone out, so he stayed an extra two nights to get it fixed. There are credit card receipts and witnesses who saw him, including the garage that repaired his truck.”
Saige frowned and looked thoughtful. “I don’t understand why witnesses weren’t there during the case. Surely the investigation uncovered the same information Fern found. It sounds like there were a lot of things hidden that could have cleared Quinten’s name. But why?”
“I don’t know.” Alex dropped onto the sofa beside Christina, who’d stayed silent throughout everything. “What do you think?” he asked her.
Christina’s eyes flickered around the room before landing on Saige. “I think that Quinten is innocent and that someone wanted him out of the way for a reason,” she whispered. “I’d try and figure out why.” Christina stood the minute the words left her mouth. “I’ll see you both later.”
Alex frowned as he watched her leave the room, but Saige’s next words made him swivel to stare at her.
“What’s going on between you and my stepmom?”
He thought about lying but there were enough lies running around, and that had to stop. “I was in love with her a long time ago, and seeing her again has thrown me off. I’m like Quinten, unable to switch my feelings on and off like a faucet.”
“I’m guessing that means you’re still in love with her, huh?”
“I wish I wasn’t, but there you have it.” Alex shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweats and moved to the window.
Saige followed.
Standing together they watched the sun start to rise over the ocean when Saige said, “You had an affair with Christina before.”
Alex felt his heart drop to his toes.
“I overheard my father shouting at her for being with you. He told her it had to stop, otherwise there would be consequences, which doesn’t make sense considering he didn’t fire you.”
“I’m not sure why he kept us working at the house, although it would have been hard to find someone else to finish what we’d started.” He shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about Christina, although, I do think that you have the wrong idea about her.” Alex turned Saige to face him. “So why don’t you find a time to chat with her and see what she has to say. If you push her, you might get her to talk more than I can.”
Saige shook her head lightly and chuckled. “I’m sure you’d be able to get her to talk if you really tried.”
He tilted his head to the side, studying her. “Why aren’t you bothered about Christina and me?”
Saige bit her lip. “I didn’t only find out about Christina’s affair with you that day. I also learned about my father’s numerous affairs. Apparently, he only married Christina for her money, which I have to say, I had no idea she came into the marriage with any. I feel sorry for her really. I’m also upset that I’m discovering a different side to my father.” She shrugged. “I always thought he was a pleasant, caring guy. I’m not sure anymore that that’s who he really is.”
Alex wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close, wanting to offer her comfort, and maybe, have some comfort for a change.
