Page 69 of Once Upon a Beast

“What do you mean Layla’s mother? What does she have to do with any of this?”

“Your father and Layla’s mother were having an affair before she died. She was planning on leaving James for your father, but she never got the chance.”

“That is ridiculous. Layla always talked about how much her parents loved each other. Her father was devastated by her death. He never remarried. She thinks it’s because he never got over the loss of her.”

“They had a good friendship, they cared about each other but according to what I could find, it wasn’t a love match. They had only gotten married because Charity, Layla’s mother, had gotten pregnant with Layla.”

“Was James not the father?”

“That I don’t know. It’s believed that he wasn’t just interested in women but was more bi-sexual.”

“Now I know you’re joking. James has never given any indication that he was interested in men.”

“Not men but one man. A man who not only was in love with his wife but rebuffed any advances he put toward him.”

“Are you saying that James was in love with my father and when he didn’t reciprocate those feelings but instead fell for his wife, he framed him for embezzlement?”

“Yes. That is exactly what I’m saying,” Garrett said.

“It makes no sense.” I stood up and started to pace. It all was too ludicrous to even be considered possible. “How did you even find all of this out?”

“Your father was the one who told me when I started asking him the right questions.”

“What was the right question?” I asked.

“Who framed you and why?”

“And he just told you, like that?”

“Yes. No one had ever asked him. He knows it is so far-fetched that no one would believe him. Everyone else just assumed he was guilty. No one took a deeper look into what was really going on and understood there was more than met the eye.”

“But you did.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I just took a shot that there was more to the story. When I did, your father opened up to me. We became friends and he told me the whole story. Once I knew what to look for it was easy to find the information. James wasn’t good about hiding his tracks. It took some time and digging but I have all the proof.” Garrett reached into his desk and pulled out a thick manilla folder.

I eyed the folder and then Garrett. He was making a compelling argument. I wanted to know what he had, but I still had questions. “Why didn’t you just go to the police? Why didn’t he?”

“Your father was worried about how it would affect you. You have numerous deals that have been done with James since your father went to prison. He wasn’t sure how you would take the information or how it would affect your business.”

“My business? He might have spent the last ten years in prison when he didn’t have to and he’s worried about my business?” I ran a hand through my hair.

“He didn’t want to ruin your reputation by exonerating himself. You mattered more to him than his freedom. It was only when he thought James might do the same thing to you that he became more insistent on talking to you. Also, you weren’t the only consideration nor the one he was worried the most about.”

“Layla.” She was the one that I kept worrying about in all of this.

“Exactly. It’s her father who did this. She’s the one who could be the most hurt by all this coming out.”

I didn’t look at Garrett but thought about Layla and how close she and her father were. He had been her rock when her mother had died. He had always loved and supported her and would do anything for her. I couldn’t imagine the man who had been so loving to her and so supportive of me could do something so ruthless to my father. But what if he did? Would Layla want to know? What would she want to do? If I told her, how would this change our relationship? Could she ever forgive me if I put her father behind bars?

I needed answers and Garrett and his folder held them. Garrett was saying all the right things but I didn’t trust him, yet. Before I looked at it, there was still one more question I needed answered. I looked back at Garrett who sat patiently waiting.

“What is in this for you? Why are you helping my father out?”

“You don’t believe this is just idle curiosity and out of the goodness of my heart?”

“No one does that and you don’t seem like a man who would do something just because he could. You have invested a lot of time and energy into this. There must be something you want too. Before I look at anything you have, I need to know what it is.”

“Simple. As I said, I like to listen to podcasts, see documentaries, and read books on true crimes. I would love to make a living doing it. If I were to be the one to crack this case. If I were the one who was able to get your father free when everyone else thought he was guilty.”

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