Page 5 of Conner's Choice
During the next hour, Elizabeth took a journey through the dark net. Her eyes grew wide in disbelief at the sites she visited, offering ways one could indulge in his or her deepest, darkest fantasies. She’d heard of the seedy underbelly of the internet, of course, but the fact her own husband trolled these sites terrified her. Had she ever known him at all? His true nature? His soul, hidden by his suave veneer?
She glanced at the desk clock. Three-fifteen. Elizabeth grabbed her cell phone and snapped pictures of the website addresses and the articles in Kevin’s document file. She discovered more than she bargained for when she’d decided to get proof of Kevin’s unfaithfulness. That was the least of her worries now.
She hastened upstairs, took a quick shower, dressed, and left the house with the evidence. Elizabeth drove as fast as she dared to get to Legal Aid before Britain Sherwood left for the day.
And sagged in defeat and dismay when Allie informed her that Britain had relocated to Marysville, California.
“What?” she exclaimed. “I know it’s been awhile since we’ve spoken, but I never imagined she would leave without saying goodbye. What am I going to do now?”
Allie gazed at her sympathetically. “I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. Would it help if you spoke to William Hughes, our PI? He’s in his office.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. I need to hire him as well as a good lawyer.”
Allie called the ex-FBI agent and asked if he was available to meet. “All right, thanks, Will.” She met Elizabeth’s expectant gaze. “Follow me.”
William greeted Elizabeth with a firm handshake. “Sit down, Mrs. Warner.”
He kept his face blank, but his eyes betrayed him.
“You know why I’m here, don’t you, Mr. Hughes?”
“I have a pretty good idea.”
“Well, I’m not the last to know. I’ve known about Kevin’s infidelity for some time. And the time before that and the time before that.” Her eyes perused him. “How well do you know my husband?”
“I don’t. I’ve never met him. We’ve spoken a couple of times on the phone about my doing investigative work for him, but I refused. That’s all.”
“But you know his reputation.”
“Yes, I do. What do you need from me, Mrs. Warner?”
“Irrefutable proof of my husband’s affair with his partner Alexa Wainwright.” She told William about the research she’d done on her husband’s computer, showed him the photos she’d taken, gave him the earring she’d found, and requested that it be tested for DNA. “Of course, we’ll need Alexa’s DNA to compare.”
“Leave that to me, Mrs. Warner.” William offered a small smile.
“Does that mean you’ll take me on as a client?”
“Yes.” He met her eyes directly. “Is there something else?”
Elizabeth handed him the case containing the blood diamonds. “I need these tested.”
“For?”
“Poison. I think Kevin may be planning to get rid of me. Permanently. You saw the articles from his computer.”
“You need a lawyer, Mrs. Warner. A damn good one.” William took the case and placed it in a plastic bag.
“Britain Sherwood is a thousand miles away.”
“Well, even if she were here, Ms. Sherwood would not be in any shape to handle your husband in her present condition. There’s only one lawyer who can. Conner O’Donnell.”
Conner had glimpsedElizabeth Warner at various events and social functions, but he’d never realized until she walked into his office that she possessed a soft, beguiling beauty. Shiny dark hair fell in short layers to her slim shoulders. Gray eyes set in a delicate oval face. He pushed aside his initial impression as he approached the slender woman who stared warily at him and held out his hand.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Warner. Come in, please.” Her small hand felt warm and pleasant in his. “Let’s talk in my conference room.”
He took his usual place at the head of a long rectangular cherrywood table and poured a glass of water from a crystal pitcher.
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Warner?” He handed her the glass of water.
