AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Liam suddenly wanted to smash something. He let go of his iced tea glass before it shattered, fighting to appear unfazed. Even though he knew Cora was destined for Finn, he’d never felt threatened by him. Maybe because in the back of his mind, Liam still refused to accept that he could lose Cora to someone so boring. But Magnus was a different story. If she went down this road with Magnus, they were all screwed, and hell might as well swallow him up right now. The angels had told him, time and again, that Cora’s life always ended in tragedy. And until she embraced her destiny with Finn, she could never find true happiness. While Liam had big problems with this, one thing rose in importance above all others—Cora’s well-being. As Magnus was all wrong for her, that could only mean one thing. Magnus was going to lead to Cora’s tragic demise.
Not on my watch.Liam gripped the edge of the bistro table with grim determination. He was going to find a way to get Magnus out of her life for good, even if it killed him.
“And if you can get past this big brother act you keep insisting on,” Cora continued, oblivious to his turbulent emotions, “I think the two of you could be good friends. It would be a lot easier on me if you’d at least try. I plan to see him again, you know. And there’s nothing you can do about it.” She lifted her chin, daring him to say something.
We’ll see about that.Liam took an angry bite of his burger. They needed to stop discussing Magnus before he said something he’d regret. “What happened last night? You’ve been in a strange mood since you got home.”
She shook her head and stabbed at the salad on her plate. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He wanted to press her for details, but he was getting good at reading her moods. She wasn’t going to change her mind. He’d have to let it go and try later. “Is there anything I can do to help fix it, at least? Any bodies you need help burying?”
“Not right now, but I’ll let you know.”
A shadow fell across their table. “Hello.”
Margaret Brady, the widow of the recently deceased John Brady, stood over them. Liam was surprised to see her, because the last time they were together she’d made it very clear she wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t even blame her. She believed they were lovers and he’d recently jilted her. On the night her husband was mysteriously murdered, Liam had taken her on a date to a shoddy restaurant, then made sure she drank enough to pass out. He hadn’t known exactly how her husband was going to die, but the angels had told him there would be a tragedy at her house. After making sure Cora was safe, he’d rushed over to the house to get Margaret out of there, too. He used every trick in the book to lure her away for the night, because even though he didn’t love her, he still wanted to protect her from harm. She’d thought he was trying to win her back, and she’d been very upset to realize later that he’d never intended to renew their relationship. Worse, still, was the morning after their “date” when they discovered her husband had been murdered in her home. Margaret had been devastated, and angry at both herself and Liam.
She looked much better now than the last time Liam had seen her. Tall and lovely, with dark hair pulled into a sleek twist, she was wearing a beige shift dress that was both casual and elegant. Now she looked more like herself, but her wide gray eyes were weary and sad.
“Margaret.” He stood abruptly, searching her face. “How are you?” She hadn’t returned his calls when he’d tried to check up on her.
“I’ve been better.” She didn’t appear to be angry at him any longer, which was a godsend. It seemed her heartbreak over her husband’s death trumped any of the issues she’d had with Liam.
“Please, sit with us.” Cora pulled out a bistro chair at their table.
“No, I can’t stay.” Margaret gestured to a blond man who was browsing a menu several tables away. “I’m here with a colleague, but I saw you both, and I wanted to ask if you’ve learned anything new about my husband’s case.”
“Nothing yet,” Cora said. “But we’re working very hard, and we’ll make sure to keep you in the loop.”
For a moment Margaret’s face fell, but she quickly regained her composure. “I heard about Lindsey Albright. I read about it in the paper, and it’s been a topic among the faculty.”
Liam and Cora exchanged a look. Margaret taught botany at the university. There was a chance Lindsey’s death was connected to the murder of Margaret’s husband, but they didn’t want to burden the grieving widow with that information until they were sure. She’d been through enough already.
“Did you know Lindsey?” Cora asked. “We reviewed her class schedule, but your name wasn’t on the instructor list.”
“I didn’t know her personally. She wasn’t in any of my classes. But I saw her at my gym sometimes when I went to Pilates,” Margaret said. “I know that’s not very helpful.”
“What gym do you go to?” Cora asked.
“Kick Start Fitness.” Margaret found a sudden interest in her wedding ring, which Liam noticed she was still wearing. He imagined it would be a long time before she decided to take it off. “I just keep thinking about that poor girl’s parents. To lose someone you love in such a senseless way, and to not have answers. I know what it feels like.” Her eyes welled with tears and she shook her head, clearing her throat. “Anyway, please let me know if you hear anything else.”
“Come on,” Cora said after Margaret left. “Let’s get out of here and go investigate the gym.”
On the way out, Liam caught sight of Margaret with her lunch date, wondering if they were more than just colleagues. For all he knew, Margaret had many lovers. The rules of society were different here than they were almost two hundred years ago. When he’d interrogated Margaret last month, he’d become irrationally jealous every time she talked about how much she adored her perfect husband. But now he only felt sadness for her. What if Margaret could never be happy in any century? Were they all just pawns on a chessboard, destined to make the same mistakes over and over again?
The angels seemed to think Liam could do the right thing and change the course of Cora’s destiny. But since the moment he saw Cora, he’d wanted to keep her for himself. Just like he had in his past life. Was his failure here inevitable, or could he actually change? The disturbing thought had him brooding all the way to the gym.
18
“Welcome to Kick Start Fitness,” a receptionist with a high ponytail and a bright smile said to Liam and Cora. She was standing behind the front desk, wearing a purple polo shirt with the gym logo, and she was busy folding a stack of towels. “You can just swipe your cards and go on in.”
“We don’t have cards,” Liam said, taking in the sleek, industrial decor. The gym was airy and upscale with chrome trim on the floor-to-ceiling windows. In the background he could hear the whirring and clanking sounds of exercise equipment mixed with ambient, upbeat music. “We’re here because of one of your members. We want to ask some questions.”
“Hey, that’s awesome, man. Perfect, perfect.” A young man came strutting up to him and Cora, grinning and nodding as if they were already in a conversation. He had closely cut blond hair, a deep suntan and he wore a purple gym polo with Brad, Lead Personal Trainer embroidered on the breast pocket. Giving them each a sturdy handshake, he tilted his head toward a small room off the entry. “Let’s step into the office. Our manager’s on his lunch break, but I’ll be happy to answer all your questions.”
They followed him into a pale green room with dim lighting and motivational gym posters. Brad took a seat and pulled out several colored pamphlets. “If you guys want to do the couples membership, you came at the right time. Half off the first three months, plus four free protein shakes at the Beverage Bar.”
“I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong idea.” Cora pulled out her badge. “My partner and I are with the Providence Falls Police Department. We’re looking for some information on Lindsey Albright, and we understand she was a member here at your gym.”
