Chapter 9

9

Bryce arched his back, twisting to and fro. He’d been in an interrogation room for the past three hours sitting in a chair waiting for someone to grill him. He’d be damned if he’d get up now and start pacing the room after holding out this long.

Denise was dead. While he would grieve her loss, he wasn’t going down for her murder. The less he made himself look guilty, the better.

His brother had called in the county, and they responded promptly. He’d been put in the back of a patrol car and brought to the Sleighville station as soon as the first officer arrived. Griffin didn’t argue. He didn’t argue. Though it had been embarrassing as hell. He was already being treated as the killer. As if he’d do something as despicable as murder.

Never!

A small part of him—a tiny part inside his heart—had been starting to hate Denise at the cruelty she’d been dishing out at him. But he’d never go as far as murder. Maybe talk nasty things about her around town—if he got really riled up—but never in a million years would he have laid a hand on her.

He hoped the rest of the town knew that about him. That they would believe he was innocent.

After another thirty minutes—he guessed since he didn’t have a watch or his phone—the door opened.

Sheriff Carter from Walker County entered the room and took a seat across from him. He smiled and Bryce didn’t feel the friendliness behind it. While the sheriff and he interacted on several occasions, he knew they weren’t friends at the moment. This was all business.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Stuart.”

He knew that was a lie as well. They wanted to make him sweat, as if that would get him to confess to a crime he didn’t commit.

He returned a short smile and nodded. Not much would come out of his mouth unless necessary. He knew how all of this worked. Crime shows were his favorite. He even enjoyed the true crime shows on occasion. Though fiction was more up his alley.

“I’d like to ask you a few questions. Would you like a lawyer? Were you asked that yet?”

He had been. Though his rights weren’t given to him as he wasn’t officially arrested for her murder.

“At this point in time, I’m not requesting a lawyer. I’d like to know who killed Denise as much as you.”

Some people would call him an idiot for not retaining a lawyer, but wouldn’t that signify guilt if he did? He wasn’t guilty! If the time came and he had no choice, he knew Darcy would step in and help. Hell, if she caught wind he was in here alone, he wouldn’t be surprised to find her walking into the room without him asking.

Sheriff Carter nodded, then proceeded. “Where were you last night? Give me a rundown of your evening.”

“It was the last night of the festival the town held. I was there until it ended around ten o’clock. Lila—she’s the PR consultant the town hired—needed a ride home. I offered her one, and we decided to watch a movie together. It had been a long week, and we wanted to unwind and relax. We fell asleep and woke up around two in the morning. I left and walked across the lawn to my brother’s house where I crashed the rest of the night. I left his house around eight and went home where I found Denise’s body in the living room.”

“How close are you with Lila?”

She was going to hate him forever for this debacle. He despised that he’d gotten her in this mess.

“She’s a colleague. We’ve been working closely since she arrived in Sleighville about two and a half weeks ago. You know about the incident with Mark. She’s been helping turn the image of our town back to something people will love.”

And now this murder was setting them backward again. Not that he was going to voice that . Though it would be a good reason for him not to have murdered his wife. He was trying to improve Sleighville’s image, not make it worse!

Sheriff Carter nodded again, increasing his smile. “And that’s all? Just a working relationship?”

“I have not had any sexual relations or even touched her in an inappropriate way. The rumors going around town that you might have heard that we were sleeping together were created by Denise.”

“And did that upset you?”

Oh, he saw where this line of questioning was going. They were going to pin this murder on him. He felt it to his bones.

“Yes, but more so that it was affecting Lila. She hasn’t done anything wrong but do a wonderful job of putting on an amazing festival.”

“Yes, I went to it myself. It was a wonderful event. I have to agree with that statement. So the divorce has been…” Sheriff Carter shook his head as if finding the right word. “Would you say volatile?”

“Mentally, sure. She’s been spreading rumors about me. About a relationship with Lila when she’s the one having an affair. She’s trying to get the house and clean me dry of all my money. Basically, she’s putting me through the ringer.”

“She was, you mean?”

Bryce forced himself to remain calm and not act affected by the sheriff’s condescending attitude. “Of course. That’s what I meant.”

“Who was she sleeping with? Do you know?”

He hated to throw Judge Riner’s son under the bus. He had a deep respect for the judge. His son, though? He slept in his wife’s bed, he could make it too. He didn’t feel bad for Eric. Only Judge Riner, that his good name was being soiled by the affair.

“Eric Riner. He works in the same building as me. First floor. I have proof from a private investigator.”

Sheriff Carter’s brows lifted as if surprised by that information. “Can I have copies of that?”

“Yes.”

The questioning went on for another hour. Within that timeframe, Darcy showed up. He was grateful for her intervening. It felt nice to have support on his side. She couldn’t believe he murdered Denise if she’d shown up, right?

The sheriff repeated the same questions but in a different manner, as if that would trip him up in a lie. Yet, it didn’t. Because he wasn’t lying. Not even the hard questions where he really, really wanted to lie. The ones that painted him in a bad light and made him a damn good suspect. Darcy stepped in now and again, signaling for him to remain quiet. It riled the sheriff every time.

He had to have faith that justice would work out in the end.

Sheriff Carter stood up, gesturing toward the door. “You are free to go, but do not leave town. I might have more questions.”

“Of course.”

He walked out and didn’t look back once. He felt eyes all over him as he walked through the station. Since he had been driven there in the back of a patrol car, he stopped heading toward the door. He needed a ride home.

“You did great in there.”

If Darcy thought so, maybe he had. But it sure didn’t feel like it.

“They think I killed her. I didn’t.”

Darcy set her hand on his shoulder. “I know that. You would never hurt anyone, even if they deserved it.”

Bryce cocked a brow. He hadn’t expected the statement or the venomous way it left her lips.

“We both know Denise was not well loved around town. Not lately, anyway.”

Oh, he understood her meaning just fine. Denise hid her vicious ways, until recently when she decided she’d had enough of being married to him. It’s as if the dam broke inside her and she didn’t care what anyone thought of her.

“I shouldn’t say she deserved what happened, but it doesn’t surprise me. I won’t let them pin this on you.”

He appreciated her support. No doubt he’d need it going forward, if the way the sheriff interrogated him was any indication.

Yet, he felt lost. Like floating in a boat in the middle of the ocean, no rescue in sight.

Duke appeared next to them. “Come on. We’ll go out the back. I’ll give you a ride home.”

Thank goodness for great friends.

He said another huge thanks to Darcy and then goodbye before slipping outside without anyone stopping them and into Duke’s patrol car where he finally let out an audible breath.

“He’s just doing his job. You’ll be cleared before you know it.”

Duke’s calm, reassuring voice did nothing what he assumed he had intended it to do.

“I appreciate the support.”

“You know the town has your back.”

Bryce gave a merciful laugh. “I don’t think the whole town will.”

Duke scoffed. “Anyone who knows you will know you could never do something of that nature. I saw…” Duke paused, swallowing hard. “I saw her body too. There’s no way you could ever do something like that. We got your back.”

He stopped at the end of the alleyway. “Where am I taking you?”

Bryce had no idea where he should go.

“Juliet’s, I guess. That’s where I’ve been staying and where most of my stuff is.” So much for the suitcase he’d packed.

An awkwardness entered the space, and Bryce wished he would’ve said Griffin’s house instead.

“Sorry, we can go—”

“No, I’ll take you to Juliet’s.” Duke’s hands tightened on the steering wheel briefly before relaxing. “I don’t understand what she sees in that guy.”

Oh, they were having the conversation. Bryce had hoped he’d keep it to himself. He didn’t know why—or what—Juliet saw in him either. It was his own fault for suggesting her house.

“Not a clue. I don’t get along with him myself.”

Duke frowned, then chuckled. “Why? I know why I keep my distance from him, but I didn’t know you two didn’t like each other.”

“He thinks I have feelings for Lila.”

Another bout of silence entered the vehicle.

“I know you didn’t sleep with her, despite what Denise was spreading around.”

“Unlike her, I took my wedding vows seriously.”

More silence. Duke cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Bryce. For all of this.”

He nodded, too many emotions clogging his throat. He wasn’t a crier. Maybe as a child when he skinned his knee. But as an adult? He couldn’t remember the last time he shed a tear. He wasn’t going to start now.

They made it to Juliet’s without any other chatter. Lila’s rental car was in the driveway. Damn it! He should’ve picked Griffin’s house. He wasn’t ready to face her.

“Looks like we both get to be in an awkward situation,” Duke muttered under his breath as he parked the car.

That garnered a chuckle out of him. “So you’re coming inside too?”

Duke grinned. “And miss all the good stuff? Yeah, I’m coming in.”

He exited the vehicle, wondering what would happen inside the house. The police suspected him of murder, and Lila most likely thought no different.

The husband was always suspect number one.

He didn’t blame anyone for their suspicions of him.

Duke slapped him on the back and urged him on when he’d been standing frozen by the car.

“Don’t forget we have your back. No matter what any outsider might think about you.”

That’s the motivational speech he needed to move forward. As long as he had his friends and family by his side, he’d be fine. God, he didn’t even want to tell his parents what happened. They never liked Denise. Lucky for them, living in Arizona, they never had to deal with her much.

Now he would never have to either.

She couldn’t figure out why she had let Aster talk her into coming over to Juliet’s. While she knew Bryce had nothing to do with it, this felt like a family matter. She and Aster were not family, even if he was sleeping with Juliet.

The front door opened and Bryce, along with Duke, stepped inside. She jerked upright from the couch, nearly running to Bryce and throwing her arms around him. He looked as if he’d aged at least ten years since she’d last seen him. Which was only ten hours or so ago.

“Hi.” The simple greeting from him came out more cautious than she liked. He had nothing to be worried about concerning her. She believed in his innocence.

“Hey.” She tried to widen her smile to ease the tension she felt building in the room. “How are you?”

Dumb question! Of course he wasn’t okay. She couldn’t believe those words came out of her mouth.

She waved her hand in the air before he could respond. “Forget I asked that. Of course you’re not okay. I’m so sorry about your wife.”

He cringed, glancing away.

Right. She’d meant his soon-to-be ex-wife. Maybe he flinched because she should’ve said ex-wife instead. Or he reacted that way because he was distraught over her death. Well, duh! Bryce was ready for the divorce, but she knew he still had loved her at one time.

“Where’s Juliet?” Duke broke in, surveying the room like the cop he was. He wore his uniform, which increased his intense look even more.

“Oh, her and Aster are in the bedroom.” Her eyes widened, then she blinked rapidly, shaking her head. “Talking. They are in the bedroom talking.”

A few minutes ago, Aster asked Juliet for a word alone. Anything else and she would’ve left his ass here without a backward glance.

Despite fixing her misguided words, Duke’s expression didn’t change at all. If anything, the scowl increased along with the fire in his eyes. Something she assumed was rage. Bryce had mentioned that Duke had feelings for Juliet. The relationship Juliet had with her brother wasn’t easy on him.

“Umm…so I had a chat with the police this morning,” Bryce said. The conversation switch should’ve eased the tension in the room. Instead, it intensified.

She could only imagine how the chat as he put it had gone.

Duke looked uncomfortable and averted his gaze away from her. Bryce’s eyes stayed connected with hers though.

“I told them the truth about everything. I had to tell them I was at your house last night. I wanted to warn you that you’ll have to talk with them as well.”

She let out a collective breath, more noticeable than she should’ve made it.

“I didn’t kill her,” Bryce blurted.

Idiot!

Her reaction had made him think she thought he killed his wife. Not once, from the moment Aster told her, had she thought him capable of murder.

She didn’t even know why she’d tensed up when he started talking about speaking with the police. Probably because she felt horrible that he even had to deal with all that mayhem.

“I know that.”

The frown on Bryce’s face said he didn’t quite believe her. The way his eyes shattered with disgust as well that she could think something so callous of him.

“Bryce!” Juliet rushed across the room and swung her arms around him.

The moment felt personal, so Lila looked away, deciding another cup of coffee was in order. She’d already had four cups, but she didn’t want to disturb them. Not to mention, Bryce didn’t seem like he wanted her around.

Tears echoed behind her, either Juliet’s or Bryce’s, she didn’t turn around to find out as she walked out of the living room toward the kitchen. Less than a minute later, Aster joined her.

“You okay?”

She nodded as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

“You’re going to be on a caffeine high if you don’t stop drinking that shit.”

She was pretty sure she was immune to that by now. The amount she drank daily said her body had gotten used to it.

“How did your chat with Juliet go?” She turned around with a fake, cheery smile. Aster rolled his eyes at her display of nonchalance.

Why was she pretending everything was okay when everything had turned to utter shit? Because she had to or she’d go insane.

“I wanted to warn her about Stan.”

Lila’s brows puckered low as she thought about that simple statement. “What does that even mean?”

“That he slept with Denise. That the police will question him and stuff. That he’s a good guy that makes horrible decisions when it comes to women but he’s not a killer.”

“Well, of course he’s not.” She never once thought Stan had done it either.

That begged the question…who killed Denise?

Bryce didn’t do it.

Stan didn’t either.

The lover was too obvious.

But it had to be someone close to her. It usually was.

“You left the room pretty quickly. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Her mannequin smile was back on. “I thought Bryce and Juliet deserved time to themselves.”

“I need to head to my place. Talk with the guys. Are you okay here or do you want to come with me?”

They’d driven together and left his car at her cottage. So if he left, she’d be stranded with Juliet. Not that that was a bad thing. But if Bryce intended to stay, she didn’t want to impose on family time. She also didn’t want to intrude on whatever conversation Aster intended to have with the band. He could also drop her back off at home. But a small part of her wanted to stay with Bryce. To comfort him somehow.

“I’ll be fine here.”

Aster turned around to leave.

“Oh, Aster.”

He looked at her over his shoulder.

“I’d take a wide berth around Duke. You stole the woman he likes.”

Aster’s lips turned up into a sly smirk that said he wasn’t sorry at all. “Can’t steal something that was never yours to begin with.”

He walked out of the kitchen.

Lila looked at the black liquid swirling in the mug, tossing that statement around her head. He had a point. One she hated to admit. Duke had all the chances in the world to ask Juliet out and he never did. He couldn’t be mad that someone else swooped in and did what he didn’t have the guts to do.

Of course, what did she know? She wasn’t acquainted with their entire backstory. There could be things she didn’t know about their past. She and Juliet were friendly, but they weren’t exactly friends where they shared all their secrets.

The air felt different the moment he entered the space.

She looked up, catching Bryce’s potent gaze directed at her.

“Am I disturbing you?” he asked as if unsure of himself.

“No.” She waved a frivolous hand in the air that said he was free to come inside.

He did, and to her surprise, stepped right next to her. He paused for a long moment beforegrabbing a mug from the cupboard and pouring himself some coffee.

“I’m sorry, Lila.”

She tilted her head, hating the forlorn expression on his face. “For what?”

“For getting you into this mess.”

A short laugh escaped. “It’s not like you planned it out.”

He set down the mug so hard, the coffee jostled over the rim, spilling to the counter. “I swear I didn’t kill her. I would never—”

Her hand rose, cupping his cheek, surprising him into silence and her as well. She had no idea what came over herself. But to hear his desperate pleas that she believe in his innocence was too much.

And damn. She liked touching him—way too much. Now was not the time to be showing her true feelings. Except, her hand didn’t move. Her darn heart overriding her mind again.

“There has not been one moment where I thought you hurt her. I am on your side, Bryce.”

He closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath. As if her words had finally gotten through to him. A calm swept through the kitchen. She knew she should retract her hand, but feeling his bristled skin was a treat. A sweet, unforgivable treat, and she wanted to soak up a few more moments.

She regained her senses, letting her hand fall. The moment she did, his eyes snapped open. She took a sip of coffee, using both hands, as if that would help keep her distance from him.

“I suppose you’re leaving with Aster.”

“Are you kidding me?” She shook her head, soulless laughter releasing. “My job just got even harder. There’s no way I can leave yet.” Her eyes rounded, embarrassment flooding her. “Unless you want me to leave.”

Like last night, she saw it again. The flash of desire erupted in his gaze.

“No. I need you more than ever.”

Damn her heart. She wanted that to mean something more than it actually did. And that was wrong to want on so many levels.

“Well, this is going to require more than a festival.”

A teeny smile emerged on Bryce’s lips that she wanted to suddenly kiss. “I know whatever you come up with will be amazing.”

Yeah, well, she wished she had the same optimism as him.

Because dealing with a creepo spying on people was a whole different ball game compared to murder.

If she didn’t know any better, she’d think Denise got murdered on purpose to make Bryce’s life even more hellish than it had been before.