Page 18 of Fool Me Once

“No, just filling thesilence, and besides, you opened the conversation.”

She nodded. “So, Cainhelped you.”

“Yes, he did. It wasn’talways easy—his quest to be on top—but he eventually got his way. He alwaysdoes. There is no point in fighting him.” Frank let out a sigh as he pouted attossing out his precious pans.

“Is that one of thereasons you stay loyal to him?” she asked.

“Yes. He had my back whenno one else had. The system had turned on me, and all I did was attract theattention of a woman I didn’t even want.”

Leah felt so bad for him.

“What happened to thecop?” Leah asked. “Is he still doing bad things? Making enemies?”

“No. The man died manyyears ago. Not long after I was released. A bad decision that went wrong,”Frank said. “Cops came knocking on my door, but Cain already knew they would. Ihad a concrete alibi at the time.”

“You did?”

“I wasn’t even in the statewhen it happened. Mr. Knox sent me to culinary school, as I told him that priorto being locked away, that is what I wanted to do.”

“I had no idea,” she said.

“Yep, but there was no waythey could pin that murder on me. I did find out that the woman he was chasingturned him down and left the country after I was arrested.”

“She did?”

“Yeah. Mr. Knox found outshe tried to testify on my behalf, but they kept losing her statement, or it wasmisdirected, or some other bullshit.”

Leah looked at Frank. “Andthat doesn’t make you curious?”

Frank turned his attentionback to her. “About what?”

“Finding her out?”

“Why would I find herout?”

“To let her know you’reokay. That you survived and got out alive. She was willing to stand up foryou.” She looked at Frank, and he just shrugged.

“That was a long time ago.Besides, I doubt she even remembers me. She left the country.”

Leah sighed. “Have youever thought that maybe she left the country to … I don’t know, help you?”

Frank frowned. “How wouldthat help me?”

“She’s no longer around,so he could leave you alone and she wouldn’t have to worry about what he wasdoing to you, or threatening you?” she asked. “I don’t know if that would bethe case, but it could be a solid argument, don’t you think?”

He sighed. “I don’t know.It doesn’t matter.”

He left the kitchen withseveral frying pans in his hands.

“What was her name?” Leahasked.

“Why does her namematter?” Frank asked.

“I’m curious, that isall.” She held her hands up, trying to show it was just innocent curiosity.”

“I don’t believe you, buttrust me, it doesn’t matter. Her name is Cameron Pierce. That is all I know.”

Leah nodded.

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