Page 27 of What the Wife Knew

Thomas frowned. “That’s unfortunate.”

I leaned back in the big chair. “I would have to know, wouldn’t I?”

“Well, yes.”

It had been a guess but an educated one. If Richmond’s assetshad been in peril that meant mine were now on shaky ground. “Where is the paperwork relating to the Cullens?”

“With the attorneys.” Thomas seemed to compose himself. His voice returned to normal after a few minutes of being louder and higher. “Mr. Cullen is very upset, understandably so, but his accusations are without basis.”

Someone needed to start spilling the information on these allegations. “That’s not what Peter thinks.”

“The man lost his son. A devastating and unfortunate reality in surgeries of that type.”

The stink of cover-up was all over this. “I’m taking everything on this desk and everything not nailed down in this office home with me.”

Thomas shook his head. “It would be better—”

“That wasn’t a request. As the person who may end up being at least partially financially responsible if Richmond did screw up, I get to decide.” Then just for fun: “Fetch me that box.”

Chapter Nineteen

Her

Present Day

I arrived back at the house to another unexpected visit from Elias. Impeccable timing. I was just about to contact him and demand information about this possible lawsuit and threaten not to pay his bill if he said no.

After a quick look at the safe contents while in the car, nothing struck me as very interesting. The kids’ files contained receipts for expenses Richmond had paid on their behalf. Knowing him, he probably intended to present them with a bill for reimbursement when each graduated from college.

Elias sat down across from me with Richmond’s home office desk between us. “I hear Kathryn visited yesterday morning.”

Of course he knew. He seemed to be connected to everyone and everything in this town. “It didn’t go so great.”

“She made that clear.” Elias pocketed his cellphone and gave me his full attention. “She tracked me down to rant while I was in the middle of a business dinner last night.”

“And here I thought I’d won her over with my obvious charm.”

Elias sighed. “Kathryn is not a woman you want as an enemy. She has a lot of power in this town.”

“Do you hear yourself?”

“She’s raised money for police-related charities. She can call in favors.”

“Unless she plans on manufacturing evidence”—and that was my worry—“I should be fine. Now, why are you here?”

“About that...” Elias was not one to hesitate but he came to a full stop.

I prepared to be annoyed. “This sounds promising.”

“Yes, well. I have a... let’s call it a request.” He cleared his throat. “From Kathryn, actually.”

“The same woman who’s whining about me all over town?”

Another Elias sigh. “Admittedly, her timing is not ideal.”

I was starting to hate hearing her name. Yeah, she was the first Mrs. Dougherty and very pissed that there was a second Mrs. Dougherty, but she sure grabbed that divorce settlement agreement without any hesitation. She even went along with the fake separation timeline Richmond needed in order to get a quick divorce from her and marry me.

The series of events had been too easy. That never felt right. Still didn’t. It was like a hole I needed to fill, but I wasn’t sure how. Her acquiescence might have meant she’d been looking for a way to parachute out of the marriage to Richmond. That, I could admire.

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