Page 2 of Conner's Choice
“At a conference? Get on a plane and come home.” At her silence, Conner stopped in his tracks. “Whoa, wait a minute. You’re due to give birth in a few short weeks. What are you doing in California?”
“Before I answer your question, Conner, you must promise to keep my confidence. I don’t want Christian to know where I am.”
“All right, Brit, I promise I won’t say a word. What’s going on?”
Conner listened without commenting on Britain’s explanation of her decision to move to California after a nasty confrontation with Julissa Montgomery Turner Smith on Valentine’s Day. Julissa was Christian’s ex from college, and he threw Britain over for her when she’d unexpectedly showed up in Denver. Conner already knew most of the story about Britain’s hospitalization for a torn placenta because Christian had told him what happened on Valentine’s Day when he’d downed an expensive bottle of scotch in Conner’s apartment.
Christian had also told him something else. Something he’d blurted unwittingly in his drunkenness and promptly forgot as he passed out in Conner’s guest bedroom. It was on the tip of his tongue to share that tidbit of information with Britain—Christian and Julissa had a son whom she’d kept a secret from him for nine years. But he shrugged away the impulse and pressed his lips together. Payback is a bitch when your woman and your best friend break your heart.
“I’m sorry, Brit,” he responded when she’d finished speaking. “When I saw you and Chris on New Year’s Eve, I really believed you and he would make it.”
“So did I, Conner, but I’m not giving up. After our baby is born next month, I’m going after Christian, my baby’s father, the man I love,” she declared with fierce determination. “Now, what do you know about the murder of Dr. Parker and his wife?”
“Not much. According to my contact at the D.A.’s office, Ray Farmer doesn’t have a connection to the Parkers. On the surface, it appears to be a completely random crime. He broke into their home and killed them during the commission of a robbery. Guess who’s defending him.”
“Kevin Warner.”
Conner knew his name disgusted Britain. She never understood why Elizabeth Bennett married him. His slick charm and classic blond good looks hadn’t fooled Britain for an instant. Kevin Warner’s dirty, sly, underhanded tactics in the courtroom and his questionable behavior in public disgraced not only the law but his wife as well.
“How should we handle this, Brit?”
“Look, I ache to join the fight to get justice for the Parkers and Beth Farmer, but I’m too far away and in danger of losing my precious baby.” She sighed. “Take my file on Ray Farmer to the D.A. You can get it from Allie. You were there, Conner. You saw what that animal did to his ex-wife.” Britain had secured a divorce for Beth two months ago. “And Conner?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t let this one go. William is at your disposal.”
“Got it.” He paused. “Brit?”
“Yes?”
“You can turn Chris on with a hot pink bikini.”
Britain laughed. “Thanks, Con.”
A pang of guilt struck Conner. He should have told Britain the truth. “Aw, damn,” he murmured to himself. “Let them work it out. It’s none of my business.”
But Ray Farmerwashis business. He left his office and drove toward Legal Aid. After greeting Allie, Britain’s cousin, with affection, he said, “Brit sent me to get her file on Ray Farmer. I’m giving it to the D.A.”
Allie nodded. “All right. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She located the file, made a copy of it, and rejoined Conner in Britain’s old office. “Here, Conner.”
He stared at Allie for a moment. With her dark hair and brilliant blue eyes, it was uncanny how much she resembled her cousin. Taking the file from her outstretched hand, he mumbled, “I miss her.”
“You know she’s in California.”
“Yes. I called her when the news broke about Ray Farmer. She told me why she had to relocate.”
“Julissa.” Allie spat her name. “I’d like to give her and Christian a piece of my mind.”
Conner grinned. “I bet you would, Allie.”
Several blocks awayfrom Legal Aid, Elizabeth stepped into her shop, Events by Elizabeth, and greeted her assistant. “Good morning, Lexi.”
Lexi Loveland noted her boss’s unhappy face. “Keven missed your birthday again, didn’t he?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I’m over it. He has a new client. Ray Farmer.”
