Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
It was the same way he had often looked her when he believed it was only a matter of time before she realized he didn't deserve someone like her.
But what he could not understand was why Vixen would now think the tables had turned between them.
He tried to reach for her hand, but she turned away instead, and her rejection caught him off guard.
"Vixen?"
"You need to hear what I have to say first," she repeated.
"What's this about?"
"Detective Sterne asked me yesterday if I could think of anyone who might have a motive for harming me."
"You said no," Detective Sterne recalled.
"I meant it that time, too," Vixen answered unsteadily. "But I realized now it was a lie."
Rule's jaw clenched at the unexpected admission. He knew he should hold his silence, but what if Vixen ended up accusing the wrong person? It had taken him longer than expected to track down Beatriz, but her alibi for last night had checked out.
"I didn't mean to lie, but...I was just so ashamed that I ended up subconsciously convincing myself it couldn't be her."
Detective Sterne frowned. "Are we talking about the woman in the video?"
"What video?" Rule asked.
The detective gave him a tablet. "This one."
Rule hit the Play button and watched a woman sneak inside the clinic with the sole intention of spooking Light off his perch until he was forced to fly out through the front door.
And that woman...was wearing the same hoodie as the attacker from last night.
"It can't be Beatriz," Rule said reluctantly, "since I was just with her—-"
"I know it's not her, Rule."
Detective Sterne's gaze narrowed at Vixen. "Who do you think it is then?"
"It might be...Norah Fink."
Vixen looked as if she wanted to throw up after saying the name.
"And you know this person how?"
"She used to be my best friend...until I...I became selfish, and she ended up losing everything because of me."
Eighteen
ALL THE PUZZLE PIECES fell into place as soon as the authorities obtained Norah Fink's name. A quick search on passenger records from the island's ferry service was able to supply the day Norah had arrived on the island, and that there were no records of her return kept her from making up any lies about not being in Lavender Cove during last night's attack.
A speedily issued warrant allowed the police to search her room in the Lighthouse for evidence, and it was there they found the numerous photos she had taken of Vixen. Equally damning were the soil samples they had scraped from the sole of her shoes, which happened to match the unique components of the soil in the cemetery.
Detective Fink asked if she wanted to press charges, but Vixen had refused and asked instead that the other woman be required to attend counseling.
Rule privately disagreed with this, but he knew better than to argue. In any case, there were more questions he was hoping to have an answer to, and that was why...
Rule caught his daughter's eye after dinner, and Riley immediately volunteered to take Salt and Light to the library.
Vixen gave his daughter a wan smile. "Thank you, Riley."
Rule waited until the two of them were alone before drawing her into his arms.
"You should hate me for lying."
"Just like you should have hated me for not telling you everything about my past?"
"It's not the same..."
"You're right," Rule agreed. "Because what I did was a lot worse."
"Oh, Rule—-"
"Norah didn't lose everything she had because you were selfish. Your friend lost everything because she had a gambling problem."
A tormented expression crossed Vixen's features. "I just don't know if what I did was right anymore. At that time, the money was just enough to build the cafe and buy myself a house. But maybe if I had tried—-"
"I don't know all the verses like you do," he said quietly, "but there's one thing I do know, and that's how I love my daughter too much to say yes to everything she asks for. There are times when I have to say no..."
"Oh, Rule."
She wasn't saying anything different, but the way she said it, however...
"You understand then?" he asked gently.
Her tears were falling once more, but the sadness was gone in her eyes.
"The Lord disciplines whom He loves," she choked out. "I t-think that's the verse you're looking for."
"I think it is. I know it is...since you're the one who made me realize He doesn't stop loving us when we make mistakes. We're all His children, and that includes your friend..."
"Oh, Rule."
The joy in her tone was made more apparent by the stars that were now shining in her eyes as she gazed up at him.
"What happens to Nancy now may be mostly up to her," Rule cautioned, "but knowing you..."
Vixen gave him a guilty smile.
"You can't help wanting to do more, and I've thought of something that we can do."