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“I have no idea how the blood got in the art room. Shit, this is turning out to be an absolute nightmare. I have to ask Brandon to interview the staff, someone has to know something about it.”
“Is Sam the interior designer working on the remodel at the house?” Peter’s question was a bit odd; why was the remodel of any significance.
“Yeah, why?”
He gave me a concerned look. “How long have you been having an affair with her?”
I was surprised at his question. “An affair? I just met her six weeks ago.”
That’s when Peter dropped the bomb on me. “She’s being questioned about Victoria’s death. The police’s theory is that you killed Victoria so you could be with your mistress, Samantha.”
My head almost exploded. “What?! Where is she now?”
“I suspect being interrogated by the cops.”
It finally started making sense. “Get Noah on the line immediately. I need him to represent Sam. I am sure she doesn’t have the money to get proper representation. I’ll fill you in after we get her out of that interrogation room.”
Peter whipped out his cell phone and started barking orders. I sat in his BMW as he coordinated counsel for Sam. The press was now slowly dispersing. They got their money shot. I was sure I would be the headline for the next few days. Noah was in court so he had to get another senior partner to take Sam on as a client.
I kept checking my phone. I reached out to Brandon to call the staffing agency that hired Sam to see if they had gotten a hold of her. I was hoping I was just paranoid and the police realized she had nothing to do with any of this. I couldn’t help but worry about her being naive and trusting Detective Parker. If she disclosed that we had been intimate, we would not be able to counter their tall tale. I was deep in thought when Peter opened the driver's-side door and sat in the seat next to me. “She’s in the precinct being interrogated by Detectives Parker and Brown.”
“Fuck!”
“Take it easy, brother,” Peter said. “George will be here in ten minutes.” I was a bit relieved by that news, but ten minutes was enough time for Detective Parker to break Sam.
We sat in silence as we waited for George to arrive. As soon as he pulled up, Peter jumped out and gave him some information. Knowing him, a cop susceptible to bribes had already given him the interrogation room number. I waited impatiently as he briskly walked into the front door of the precinct. Five minutes later, he came out with Sam. She looked tired. I wasn’t sure what took place but I could tell from her face, it wasn’t good. I turned to face Peter. “Can I take your car? I need to get Sam home. She’s another casualty of this bullshit case.”
“Sure thing, I will have someone come by later to get it from the ranch.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“Oh, by the way, keep your head low. The last thing you need is the press spinning their own take of how Victoria died. Be careful where you go and who you meet. This case is complicated enough.”
Peter got out of the car and signaled to George. He walked over and said something to Sam, who looked my way as I got out of the passenger seat. I stood with the door open as she approached. Peter and George jumped into George’s Ferrari and sped out of the precinct parking lot.
Sam walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me. I could tell she was close to tears. I held her for a few seconds before slowly helping her into the passenger seat. By the time I closed her door and got to the driver’s seat she was inconsolable. I sat in silence as she cried. I leaned over and hugged her to comfort her. We sat in each other’s arms for a few minutes, I wanted her to get her bearings back before we left. When I felt it was safe, I asked for her address. I pulled up the navigation screen and typed. I pulled out of the precinct driveway. Three minutes into the drive I glanced over at Sam. She was fast asleep.
The ride to Sam’s apartment was forty minutes from the police station. When I pulled up, she sat up in the seat. She looked at me through bloodshot eyes and my heart broke in my chest. I was the cause of her pain, and I felt guilty for not protecting her.
“Thank you so much for not leaving me there. My car is at the ranch.”
I choked up. “I would never do that, Sam. I am so sorry you are caught up in this mess. I will make sure you get your car tomorrow. Don’t worry about that now.”
“They think we were together before your wife died. Why would they think that?” I saw the disappointment in her eyes. I wasn't sure if she was disappointed in me or in the situation.
“I know they are grasping at straws. Do you need help getting upstairs?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I wanted to pull her close and console her but I didn’t think it would be welcomed. She opened the door and got out of the car, and closed the door behind her without saying a word. I waited to make sure she got in the building before pulling off.
The ride back to Highland Park was quiet, and as I pulled up to the ranch, the place seemed dark and gloomy. I had the feeling that I was no longer safe here. My plans were to pack a bag and head to Peter to grab Natasha. We could spend the next few days at my loft in the city. I stopped by my desk to get a few documents when I noticed a familiar envelope in my inbox. It must have arrived today. It was from Myriad Genetics.
I sat at my desk and quickly opened the envelope, my hands shaking in anticipation. As I read the letter, my memory from that night came flooding back. I was arguing with Victoria when I found a letter, she had hidden in the art room. The document was dated four years prior when Natasha was only one year old. The document indicated that my donor sample is only a ten percent match to the minor Natasha Brooks.She’d been crying because I confronted her over the phone that night with the information from the document and she admitted Natasha was not my biological child.
CHAPTER 14
SAMANTHA
