Page 79 of Eden

Jim looked him square in the eyes, his ego kicking in like Lachlan knew it would. “She did surveillance on a colleague. I had a feeling he was playing us, so I got her a job as his assistant, but she was really there to watch everything he was doing. But, unlike her husband, she didn’t have the stomach for it. When she saw things she didn’t like, she wanted out, and I was going to get her out. But then you went and made the Valley Kings bust and killed my boss’s brother. When he found out he had your wife under his wing, I had no choice—it’s your fault she’s dead! And when my boss learned of the reputation you’d earned in the CIA, he panicked. And he’s been panicked since you fled. He knew if you ever stopped running like the coward you’d become and came home to face Eden’s death, you would discover the truth and hunt him down. When Jonathan White called, Albert sent me to Redwater to tie up loose ends. One of my men broke into your house and stole the knife, replacing it with an identical one. Eden’s death was unfortunate, but it was your fault! She would’ve lived if you hadn’t made that bust! It’s your fault!”

“She was your sister-in-law!” Lachlan bit out through gritted teeth.

Jim didn’t react or show any remorse, and that was the hardest part for Lachlan to process. Jim had killed a wonderful, sweet woman for his own gain.

Lachlan stared him down. “It makes sense now. You could never get close enough to me to kill me, so framing me was easier. Maybe Albert thought that would be karma for putting his son in jail. How convenient that you received a phone call from Jonathan White informing you of his situation,” Lachlan said bitterly.

Jim’s lips turned up in a cunning smile. “What can I say? The universe aligned.”

“Except it didn’t, did it? Because now you’re going to jail for the rest of your life and your wife is going tohateyou. Diana loved Eden; they weren’t only sisters, they were best friends. You took Eden from her, and she won’t forgive you for that,” Lachlan said, and for the first time he saw a spark of emotion in Jim’s eyes.

“It hurts, doesn’t it, to lose everything you love? Welcome to my world,” he growled, all but spitting on his brother-in-law.

He looked to Mitch. “You can finish this. I have nothing else to say to this worthless piece of shit.”

Lachlan closed the door behind him.

BETHENNY

Bethenny’s eyelids felt like they were buried beneath a wall of bricks. She fought through the haze to open them. She blinked, clearing her vision. It took a moment to remember she was in the hospital. The throb in her abdomen was doing its best to keep her awake even though the strong pain meds kept pulling her back under.

“Hey,” he said from the corner of the room.

She lazily turned her head to see him, mustering a small smile.

Lachlan stood, walked to the edge of her bed, and took her hand.

“Hey,” she replied with a croaky voice.

Even in a pain-induced state with a groggy mind, she couldn’t help but notice how good he looked: clean shaven, dressed in a sweater and jeans. But it wasn’t what he was wearing. Something was different about him. He looked... lighter.

“Any pain?” he asked, taking her hand.

She grimaced. “It hurts a lot for a small wound.”

He smiled. “Small wound or not, a bullet still took a bite out of your stomach. It’s going to hurt for a while.”

“Great,” she said, rolling her eyes playfully. “What did I miss?”

“I had a chat with my ex-brother-in-law,” he said with raised eyebrows. “But we have plenty of time to catch up on that. I’m so glad you’re okay.” His voice was almost a whisper.

She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be just fine. How is Louise? Is she okay?”

He hesitated a minute and she saw the truth in his eyes. Her shoulders fell, and she felt like the air had been knocked from her lungs. “If she’d just called the police when Jessica fell, Kiera would be alive and so would her son. Louise would still be alive.” She shook her head at the senselessness of it all.

Lachlan nodded. “Maybe she’ll be happier now that she’s with her sons again. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose two children.”

Bethenny gave a sad smile, hoping that was the case. “She said Jessica was like the daughter she’d never had. I think they were very close, and I believe her story that it was an accident. What a waste.” She squeezed her eyes shut.

Lachlan stepped forward, smoothing the creases in her forehead with his thumb. He kissed the crown of her head and she inhaled deeply, letting his touch soothe her aching soul. He cupped her face, looking down at her. “You did good on this case, Detective,” he said. “Mitch told me you’d worked out that Jessica had fallen before Louise revealed what had happened.”

She managed a smile, but she felt no joy.

“They deserved justice, all of them: Kiera, Jessica, Eden,” he said, his voice cracking as he said his late wife’s name. “They deserved justice and you gave it to them. If they’re looking down at this world, they would thank you for that.”

She gave another small smile, understanding. “What’s happening at the station now?”

Lachlan shrugged. “It’s quiet. Jim will be transferred to Oradale this afternoon, so Mitch sent most of the officers home to get some sleep. The station is in perfect order,” he said with a lopsided smile.

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