Page 14 of Innocent Intent

Cassidy snuggled in closer to her husband’s side. They were having drinks at a rooftop bar during a trip to New York. Cassidy had been asking Niles for months about his past and friends, and he always pushed it off, saying that he was a loner because of his job. It was easier that way.

In reality, she hadn’t been invited to share a piece of Niles’s past. What if that had all been staged because she’d kept pushing? So, he created a way to appease her. After dinner that night, there was very little discussion about their evening. Niles distracted Cassidy with the most amazing sex ever. At the time, she hadn’t minded one bit.

Occasionally, she’d ask about the couple, and all Niles would offer was that they were doing well and they should plan to have them visit soon. That never happened. They hadn’t seen them again after that evening, but Jake and Zoey had sent a gift with a sweet card expressing their congratulations for their union. That would have been easy enough to arrange. Were Jake and Zoey truly people he knew, or had it all been a game? Actors maybe?

How could I not have known?

You loved him. You trusted him, and you wanted to believe he loved you too.

The question had been in rotation since Cassidy’s life had been tossed in a bag and shaken to the point of total disarray. Things between her and Niles hadn’t been great over the past few months. Niles had been traveling more than usual and becoming distant. The conversations where he excused himself to speak privately had more than doubled, and the way he had been there but not there became more of an issue.

Niles functioned like a man who had secrets, but never in a million years did Cassidy believe those secrets meant that he was living another life under another name. Cheating maybe, but not an apartment, bills—and an entire world that Cassidy wasn’t a part of.

She’d confronted him with assumptions of cheating the night he was killed. They argued about everything she’d been noticing lately, and then Niles made promises, told lies.

There’s only you, Cassidy. No one but you.

He repeated that affirmation repeatedly while he planted kisses on the curve of her jaw, neck, and shoulder. While his intense gaze remained fastened to her, he stroked her slow and deep, allowing his body to make that same promise.

There’s only you, Cass. No one but you.

She believed him. Maybe because she wanted to. If she didn’t, that would mean her world was crumbling, and Cassidy needed to feel safe, secure, and loved. Niles gave her that. So she believed him . . . until it became impossible to keep on believing.

After they made love, Cassidy showered to prepare for bed. She assumed Niles would join her, but he mentioned having somewhere to be. Work. A lead on a client that he had to explore right away.

And again, Cassidy believed him . . . until she heard a whispered conversation.

“I told you to stop fucking calling. She’s getting suspicious. I’ll be there. I’m working right now. Yes, I care, but there are some things I can’t control. Don’t call me again. I’ll be there.”

Cassidy’s chest tightened as she stood still, trying to decide what to do next. There were so many things rushing through her mind. A small part of her wanted to believe that Niles wouldn’t betray her, but a bigger part of her subconscious mind knew better.

That night, after Niles made promises not to be gone long, Cassidy smiled, kissed him softly, and told him she’d wait up. He returned a smile and left the house moments later. Cassidy followed.

Staring blankly over her backyard, Cassidy snapped out of her thoughts about Niles and glanced at the phone vibrating in her lap. The number wasn’t saved, but it was local, so she answered.

“Hello.”

“Ms. Evans . . .” The deep baritone was familiar, and she immediately knew who the caller was but waited until he confirmed. “This is Detective Davis.”

“Yes?”

“I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

“No, you didn’t. What can I do for you, Detective?”

“I was wondering if you might be available to come down to the station. I have a few questions for you and want your official statement on record.”

Wondering?

How nonabrasive. Basically, it wasn’t a request, more or less a demand. If I decline, someone will show up soon to decide for me.

“Absolutely. When?”

“Now, if that works for you.”

She exhaled a sigh, gripping the phone tighter. “Sure, I can be there in under an hour.”

“Perfect. I’ll be waiting. I assume you know where to go.”

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