Page 69 of Forbidden Whispers

Valentina tilted her head. “What about it?”

“We heard Nick mention something about someone named Clarissa and how you’d lied about the bachelorette getaway.”

Eric shook his head. “That must have been it, Tina. Your father would have known that there was no way you’d have celebrated without Clarissa there.”

“But I couldn’t risk letting anyone in on our plan,” Valentina said, and took a deep sigh. “What a mess.”

“So, when Nick and Johnny confronted you on the sunset cruise, they were trying to force you to go back with them to your father right then?” Maggie said.

“Yes,” Valentina said. “It was sheer dumb luck that the crowd happened to be super fans of Noah’s.” For the first time that night, she aimed a legitimate smile in Noah’s direction. “They created the perfect diversion. But Nick knew we’d be at the hospital. So, while Noah was getting examined, I saw Nick’s stupid black SUV pull into the parking lot. That’s when I got the brilliant idea to call the cops. The two fools came into the waiting room and tried to start up with me again in front of witnesses. And they were still at it when the cops arrived.”

Eric grinned. “They got hauled away just before Noah was released. So, Valentina was able to get Noah into her car. She drove a bit up the road and then parked to call me.”

“I realized they were likely tracking my phone,” Valentina said. “So, I called Eric to let him know and that I was going to ditch my phone in a nearby garbage can. I told him to meet me back at the condo so we could grab our burner phones, go-bags, and get everything set up for my disappearance.

“While I was talking with Eric,” Valentina said, with a glance toward Noah, “I didn’t even notice that you’d gotten out of the car. But when I hung up, I saw that you suddenly had this furry guy with you.” Valentina reached down to scratch Boon’s head. He nuzzled her hand, and Maggie noticed how Valentina’s expression softened almost as much as it did when she was looking at Eric.

“You were getting even more loopy, and you insisted on putting the dog into the back seat of the car. I didn’t want to waste time arguing with you, so I just gave in and drove you both back to my condo. Eric and I got you and the dog inside where you finally passed out. We set up all the evidence for the murder, locked the dog in the closet, and left.”

“In my car?” Noah asked with an arch of his brow.

“Yeah, about that,” Valentina smiled again. “Once Maggie told me she was arranging my date with you, I put another part of my plan in motion. I used a hacker I know to discover your full name and address. He altered the electronic records and databases to put the Porsche to your name. He created all the necessary documentation, too. I figured you suddenly owning an expensive Porsche might help implicate you in my disappearance. Besides, Eric and I knew from the start that we couldn’t travel in it once I officially disappeared. It was too obvious.

“Anyway, I took your key and had Eric drive us in his car back to the coffee shop to get your car. I drove it and he followed me until we were outside of town, where we dumped it.

“Wow,” Noah said drily. “You really thought of everything.”

“Clearly not everything,” Valentina said. “I didn’t expect my father’s men to come looking for me like this. And I certainly didn’t expect you two to find me alive. My perfect plan has fallen to pieces.”

“Okay, well, we’ve got to come up with a new plan,” Maggie said. She rose and began to pace in the tiny room for several moments, thinking. Finally, she stopped moving. “Valentina, I’m sorry, but I just don’t see any way around this. You’ve got to go to the police.”

“No,” Valentina said.

“But Noah could go to jail!” Maggie cried.

“That’s unfortunate,” Valentina said. “And I am sorry, Noah. But this is too important. I can’t have Nick and Johnny thinking that I’m alive.”

Valentina once again picked up the gun that was lying on the bed. “Look,” she said. “I won’t kill you. But we have to prevent you from talking to the police or anyone else before we’re safely gone.” She looked at Eric. “We can tie them up and force them to stay here until we get the paperwork. Then we leave their cell phones here and drop them off way outside of town on our way out of here.” She glanced back at Noah. “I doubt the police will believe the man accused of my murder when he says that he saw me alive.”

Valentina’s face once again held no emotion. But Eric looked miserable.

“Wait, wait,” Maggie said, whirling to face Valentina directly. “How about this? What if you let us go? Then Noah and I tell the police what you’ve told us. Noah has friends on the police force who I’m sure will help us. We get them to pretend that Valentina’s dead body has been found, and they arrest Noah for your murder.”

“What?” Noah cried.

“Hang on!” Maggie said, lifting a hand to forestall him. “If we do this, Nick will believe that Valentina really is dead and that you are the murderer. He and Johnny will report all this back to Valentina’s father, and they’ll leave Whispering Pines. Once they’re gone, we bring you both out of hiding and you tell the police and the F.B.I. everything, about your father, the Partnership, everything. And this time, before you do it, we get them all to provide guarantees that witness protection will work for you.”

Valentina was already shaking her head, but she stopped when Eric laid his hand over her free one.

“Tina,” he said gently. “You know it’s the right thing to do. We can’t start our new life together in good conscience knowing that we potentially sent an innocent man to jail. That makes us no better than your father or anyone else in the Partnership.”

Valentina gazed at him without speaking for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, she lowered her head and the gun, revealing her vulnerability yet again as she whispered, “Eric, I’m afraid.”

“I am, too,” Eric admitted. And for the second time that night, he eased the gun from her fingers. Then he wrapped her in his arms.

After a long moment, he looked at Noah and Maggie over the top of Valentina’s head. “Before we do all of this, can I ask a favor?”

“What is it?” Noah asked.

---