She’s nodding. “I remember Hannah well. She was really young, something like nineteen, but quite good. Blake told me she left because she couldn’t cut it in the music industry, so she went home to Mommy and Daddy, his words verbatim.”

“She’s the only one who would talk to Jim. She admitted that Blake raped her.”

“You haven’t gone to Grayson Drake with this?”

No, but I’m wishing I had now. “No. Jim is still investigating the other leads.”

“Are they going to look at you for this?”

It’s a possibility after the way I acted when I spoke with the prosecutor. “I don’t know the circumstances of his death, so I have no idea.”

“Please tell me you didn’t make any threats when you spoke with Drake.”

I was frustrated and outraged when I spoke with the assistant prosecutor. I have very little memory of that conversation, with one exception. “I may have mentioned something about having money and connections.”

Laurelyn covers her eyes with her hand. “Oh God, you didn’t.”

I could’ve said much worse, and it’s a million wonders I didn’t. “I’d just been told Blake was going to walk, so I was pissed off. They can’t use that against me. I’ve been right here with you all this time and that’s easily proven.”

“But they could say you hired someone.”

She’s assuming the worst. “We have no idea what the circumstances are. They might already have a suspect in custody. Someone could’ve confessed. We don’t know.”

“You have to contact Grayson Drake and tell him what you know.”

That could be mistake. “I don’t know if that’s the best thing or not. I had a PI under my employment investigating a man who attacked my wife, and then he turns up dead. That doesn’t look great for me.”

“Withholding information doesn’t look great, either,” she argues.

Agreed. “I should contact my lawyer.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

My attorney, Rhett Clarence, is able to speak with me when I call—one of the privileges of being considered a VIP client. I explain everything from the beginning and he feels we have no choice but to notify the prosecutor’s office about the information Jim uncovered. But he insists on making the call himself.

Waiting to hear from Rhett is brutal. Hours pass and I realize for the first time that I could actually be suspected of hiring someone to kill Blake. I certainly had motive and I hired someone to investigate his life. They could say I was studying him and his routines to pull off the perfect crime.

L and I are sitting on the couch. She’s leaning against me, her head on my shoulder. “I wanted Blake to go to jail but I didn’t want him dead. I know what he was, but there are three little kids without a dad now. At least if he’d gone to jail, they’d still have him. Sort of.”

“You didn’t wish him dead because your heart is good and you want the best for those three innocent children. You’re compassionate, and it’s only one of the many things I love about you.” I, on the other hand, wished a thousand times over that I’d killed him in that hotel room that night.

My phone rings. I don’t hesitate in answering. “Hello.”

“Rhett here.”

“What did you find out?”

“They’re still working out the details of what happened but that young woman you told me about, Hannah Dody, committed suicide two days ago. She left a letter saying she couldn’t live with what Blake had done to her. They believe her father was overcome by fury and grief to the point that he was waiting for Blake in the parking garage of the recording studio. He shot him as he was getting into his car.”

My heart goes out to Hannah’s family. No one should ever have to experience an attack or its aftermath. And now this family has lost not only Hannah but her father as well. That could easily be me. Blake wasn’t able to finish his attempted rape of Laurelyn, but what would I have done had I not gotten there in time? I don’t have to answer my own question—I already know.

“Thank you, Rhett. You’ve put my mind at ease.”

I end the call and Laurelyn looks at me in anticipation. “What?”

“Hannah Dody killed herself two days ago and left a note naming Blake as the reason. Her father shot Blake because he was so distraught over his daughter’s suicide.”

“That poor family. I met Mr. Dody. He came to the studio with Hannah several times. He always called her his shining star and she’d get embarrassed and kid that she wasn’t going to let him come back. They were a close father and daughter, and I envied her for that.”

I pull L close and squeeze her. My girl is strong, but who knows how she would’ve coped if Blake had finished what he started with her. “I never want to let you out of my sight again.” I put my hand on her tummy. “Or Maggie James.” I haven’t even laid eyes on her yet and I already know I’d kill to protect her. “I hope Hannah’s father isn’t convicted for what he did.”

“I’d be surprised if he can afford a good attorney. I remember Hannah telling me money was tight. I let her borrow clothes more than one time because she didn’t have anything that didn’t come from a thrift store.”

Hannah’s father was out of his mind with grief. He deserves proper representation. “I want to help her father. He deserves a decent chance at defending himself.” L doesn’t say anything so I’m not sure what she thinks about that. “How do you feel about me paying his legal fees?”

“Very proud, McLachlan.”

31

Thirty-six weeks and I’m seeing Dr. Sommersby today for the removal of that stitch that’s been holding James Henry or Maggie James inside for eighteen weeks. One of two things will happen: I’ll either go into labor due to the manipulation of my cervix, which causes contractions, or I could do nothing and be pregnant a month from now. No one knows until it happens.

I’m sent to labor and delivery for the removal of the cerclage so I can be observed for labor afterward. I’m thrilled when Amy, Addison’s nurse, comes into my room. She stops once inside the door and looks at my face.

“Wait a minute. I recognize you. Have I taken care of you before?”

“I was admitted for a week several months ago, but you were never my nurse. You’re remembering me from when my friend had her baby a couple of months ago. Addison Kingston.”