Page 19 of Dead and a Best Friend
I turned my back on him and rushed toward the café. I cut down the side street to the back of the building. I was a mess and didn't want to be seen.
When I entered my apartment, Pen was in the kitchen looking better than I had last seen her. "Why are you crying?"
"Carlisle fucked Jane. Multiple times. He lied to me. He also has the rest of Aiden's money. It’s not Aiden's money. It belongs to someone named Angel, who I assume is the creepy guy. But I'm guessing it belongs to whoever Angel works for.” I burst into tears as I finished my tirade.
Shocked, Pen stared at me and slowly put her coffee mug down on the countertop. As she moved around the counter, I noticed she had a baby bump. Then, the truth hit me like a hammer to the head: "Jessop is the father."
Her guilty look answered my question. I sniffled into a tissue as I moved to the sofa. "I figured it out. But I haven't figured out why you and Riley ended up dead."
Pen shook her head. "Who's Riley?” Paused. “Wait! No way!” She held up a hand. "Did you say Carlisle Hallen slept with Jane?"
I nodded slowly. "She blew him the night of the party boat. He lied to me. He also has almost two million dollars that he shouldn’t have.” I started to laugh. "I'm relieved you didn't find all that, because I couldn't have helped you get it together." My laughter continued until tears took over. "What a mess."
"You need to calm down, Talla. You're going to be sick."
“Why didn’t you tell me Jessop is your baby’s father?”
"You didn't ask." She huffed out a breath. "It was just one night. I cried when it was over because I was overwhelmed. No one had ever loved me like he did. But he couldn't get out of bed fast enough, and he left without saying a word."
"See? Hallen men are assholes. We're better off without them."
"I agree," Pen said.
We both lied.
Andrew Richardson satbehind his large mahogany desk, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose, holding my gaze. He acted as though it was his money I was asking to withdraw, even though he's my lawyer and the one who made sure I didn't go crazy and spend all the money my grandmother left me. I appreciated him, but it could be hard work at times. It's not like I asked all the time. The last time was when I opened Coffee Bean. It had been at least a couple of years.
Andrew sighed, removed his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'm not going to ask this time because I have a feeling this has something to do with Penelope." He held my gaze. "Just look after her, Tallulah."
I swallowed hard and nodded. "I will."
He uncapped the black-and-gold fountain pen he always used. Before signing, he looked up from the document. “Will you be safe, Tallulah?”
"The sheriff is aware of the situation." I winced. "That's all I'm comfortable saying."
He nodded and signed the document with a flourish. "Here you go."
"Thank you." I took the signed document and put it in my purse. "I'll be going."
He nodded.
Outside, I took a deep breath, feeling a bunch of nerves twisting in my belly. Even though we were close to having the money, we still needed a plan to get it to Angel. The two million dollars worried me, though. Pen had only found and spent over 100K. Would the creepy man accept that? I shook myself. Of course he wouldn't. Oliver would be there to arrest him. I wondered if the money Pen spent was necessary. Considering how much was stashed away, the $100,000 was a mere blip in the grand scheme of things. I'd have to ask Oliver about it. Maybe I would lose the money. But I would if it meant Pen was safe.
"Tallulah."
I whirled around and found Riley standing behind me with his hands in his pockets and a deep frown on his face. Up close, he was handsome in a rugged kind of way. He looked tired, and although I couldn’t read his thoughts this time, I found myself offering sympathy. "Can I get you a cup of coffee? On the house."
He laughed. "I must look bad for that offer."
"You look tired." I started walking toward the café, and he fell into step beside me.
"This assignment never ends." He shrugged. “So, are you dating Carlisle Hallen?”
I sensed his eyes on me when he asked. My instinct was to tell him it was none of his business. "What Carlisle and I are is debatable."
"Hmm," he mumbled as we reached Coffee Bean.
"Do you know we're investigating your boyfriend?"
