Page 23 of Little Dark Deeds (Georgiana Germaine #12)

W ith Queenie gone, Everett and I finished our drinks and Danishes and took a stroll around the park.

“You were right about her being an inquisitive, boundary-pushing type,” Everett said. “That Queenie, she’s intense.”

“She’s a lot to take in,” I said. “When she and her two friends approached me when I was at Tiffany’s house yesterday, I wasn’t planning on talking to them for as long as I did. The longer we talked, the more I realized how much they knew about Tiffany’s life—things I didn’t even know.”

“Like what?”

“Before Tiffany met Tyler, she’d started dating Chad again. Did you know?”

“Yeah, and I’m sorry she kept it from you.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault. It’s not even hers. It’s mine. I wasn’t his biggest fan. I’m guessing she didn’t tell me because she didn’t think I’d approve of them getting back together.”

“She didn’t plan on keeping it from you for long. She wanted to make sure dating him again was the right decision.”

“Why did she decide to give him another chance?”

He gave the question some thought. “In my opinion, she was tired of going home to an empty house every night. We were talking once, and she said she was at the point in her life where she’d come to terms with never finding her one true love.

Chad had always treated her right, so when they happened upon each other, she convinced herself she could love him enough to make it work. ”

It was hard to hear.

Here I was living a life of bliss with Giovanni, not knowing she’d started to believe a love like that was something she’d never have.

“It sounds like you’re saying she thought about settling for Chad,” I said.

Everett fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve, gazing in the opposite direction. “Yeah, ‘settling’ ... that’s a good way to put it.”

“I can understand her reasoning. When my daughter died, and I removed myself from society, being out there, alone in a camper in the woods for so long, it was the worst time of my life. There were days when I was so desperate for human interaction, I considered returning to town and finding someone I could live with—someone who may not have been a great match but was ‘good enough.’”

“Why wouldn’t you have tried for a great match, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I didn’t think I had a lot to offer someone at that time. Then Giovanni stepped back into my life again, and it was like I’d been given a second chance.”

“I’ve been with my wife, Beth, since high school. The first time we met, I knew she was everything I’d always wanted.”

“I feel the same way about Giovanni. There have been many times where I think back to that time of isolation and how I had thought about settling. It wasn’t a good idea, and I realize that now. Perhaps Tiffany realized it too, and that’s what led to the implosion of Tiffany and Chad.”

“The Tyler implosion.”

We passed a cluster of trees with a rustic wooden park bench in its center, and I suggested we sit for a spell, which we did.

“Have you ever met Tyler?” I asked.

“I have.”

“And?”

Everett leaned back, stretching his legs. “I don’t know what she saw in him. I thought he was self-absorbed and full of himself, and that was before I learned he was a lying, cheating dirtbag.”

I’d always found Everett to be a polite, kindhearted person toward most people.

For him to say what he just had spoke volumes.

“Why do you think Tiffany was so enamored with him?” I asked.

“I don’t know, maybe because he doted on her. He did a great job of making her feel seen. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but even after we learned he’d cheated on his wife, as awful as it was, I still didn’t doubt his affection for Tiffany. It seemed real—to me, at least.”

“I heard he begged her to take him back.”

“He did, and hey, she wanted to find a way to get past it, but she knew she’d never be able to trust him again. The cheating wasn’t even what hurt her most.”

“It was the lie itself, wasn’t it?”

Everett nodded.

“When she refused to remain in the relationship, I wonder how desperate he became,” I said. “Desperate enough to kill her rather than accept the fact that they were over?”

“I couldn’t say. You’re a better judge of character than I am.”

“I’d say you’re an excellent judge of character.”

“Is Tyler your main suspect?”

“He’s one of them.”

When we’d first sat down on the bench, I was grateful for the break.

Between the time we’d spent standing during our conversation with Queenie and our walk, I thought the bench would offer a nice reprieve.

The longer we sat, the more the splinters in the aging planks of wood were poking me in areas I didn’t like being poked.

I adjusted my position.

“I consider Tyler’s wife, Jana, a suspect too,” I said. “Were you there the day she showed up at the law office?”

“Yeah, I was in Tiffany’s office, preparing for a meeting with a client.

The next thing I know, the office door blows open, and this woman comes barging in, pointing at Tiffany and accusing her of having an affair with her husband.

It was, in a word, surreal , like the kind of thing you hear about but don’t expect to witness yourself. ”

“How did Tiffany react?”

“She was stunned at first. She didn’t speak. She just sat there, looking at me. I’ll never forget it, the look on her face.”

I’d seen that look once, right after her mother died. It was like someone had reached a hand inside her soul, shattering it into a million pieces.

“When Tiffany did speak, what did she say?” I asked.

“It was Jana who spoke. She plopped down on a chair, narrowing her eyes at Tiffany like she was confused about her reaction to her accusation.”

“The version of the story Tiffany’s father told me was a little different.”

“Tiffany may have left out of few details, but overall, what happened was true.”

“What happened after Jana plopped down on the chair?”

“She seemed to realize Tiffany didn’t know Tyler was married. She said, ‘Wait, you didn’t know, did you?’”

“What did Tiffany say?”

“She told her she didn’t. I wondered if Jana thought Tiffany was lying at first. But she seemed to accept she was telling the truth, and then her entire demeanor softened.

She apologized to Tiffany, saying she had a whole speech planned out, a speech meant for the woman who knew Tyler was married.

Once she realized Tiffany didn’t know, they had an uncomfortable but friendly chat. ”

“What did they talk about?”

“They discussed what should happen next. Tiffany said she would break it off that evening, and Jana asked if she could speak to Tyler first, to confront him about what he’d done and the fact both women knew about it.”

“She made him dinner that night, his favorite dish, which seems like a strange thing to do,” I said. “I forgot to ask her when I saw her, but after talking to her, I think I know why she did it. She wanted him to know what he’d be missing out on.”

I shifted in my seat again, which didn’t make anything better.

“Are you all right?” Everett asked.

“This bench is uncomfortable.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Should we finish our walk?”

He nodded, and we stood.

“I wanted to see you today to ask about the last client you and Tiffany had,” I said. “I hear the husband threatened Tiffany after she won the case, for the wife.”

“The client’s name is Rylie Fairfax, and her husband is Landon Fairfax. I was glad you asked to meet this morning, because I’ve been meaning to talk to you about him. When I described Tyler as a self-absorbed person, times that by ten, and you have Landon.”

“Did he threaten you too?”

“He did not.”

“Why do you think he took all his rage out on her but spared you from it?”

Everett sighed, which was all the answer I needed.

“Tiffany was a woman,” I said. “You’re a man. I’m guessing Landon’s the kind of guy who doesn’t believe women are in the same playing field as men. I bet he even respected you for besting him in court. But Tiffany was different. She outsmarted him, and he couldn’t let it go. Sound about right?”

“Sad to say it does.”

“I heard he threatened to ruin her life.”

“That’s what he said, yes.”

“What was her response?”

“At first, she was going to ignore him, get in her car, and leave.”

“And then?”

He glanced up at the sky, shaking his head. “I ... ahh, feel strange saying it.”

“Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

“She told him it wasn’t wise to threaten her, and then she made a threat of her own. She said she had a powerful friend with powerful connections. If he took any action against her, the life that would be ruined wouldn’t be hers—it would be his.”

I supposed I was a powerful friend, and Giovanni the powerful connection. I couldn’t have been prouder of my friend for standing up for herself the way she had, except for one meddling thought: Had Tiffany’s attempt to stand up for herself backfired, leading to her murder?