Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

William

I frowned to myself when my cellphone rang, and I saw Detective Del Rey’s number on my screen. Getting a call from the detective couldn’t be good. I almost ignored the call, but then I realized that maybe the detective was just calling me to inform me of how the case was progressing.

Now that I had given one of his officers the information about Carlotta, it seemed only fitting that they were treating me as a witness now rather than a potential suspect. That had to be what it was. I picked the cellphone up and took the call.

“Detective Del Rey. What can I do for you?” I said.

“Did you ever meet Morrie Xavier? Candy’s father?” Detective Del Rey asked, throwing me completely for a moment. “Or at least, have you seen him enough to recognize him again?”

Had I met the man? No, of course, I hadn’t. It’s not like I thought of Candy as my girlfriend or anything, and I certainly wouldn’t have been in a rush to meet her parents. I had seen him once or twice when I dropped Candy off at home after one of our sessions and he was peeking out the window.

“No, I haven’t met the man. Why?” I said. I paused, but the detective didn’t answer my question and I went on. “I would know his face if I saw him, though. What’s going on, Detective?”

The line was quiet for a moment, and then the detective spoke again.

“If he should turn up on your property, you need to call the police immediately,” he said.

“Why?” I demanded. “Do you think he’s dangerous?”

“Yes,” Detective Del Rey said.

I couldn’t knock his honesty on that score.

“And what? He’s threatened me? Why can’t you arrest him?” I demanded.

“He hasn’t threatened anything specific,” Detective Del Rey said. “But he has made it clear that he thinks you’re responsible for his daughter’s death. It’s really just a precaution at this point. ”

Great. So the father is as crazy as his daughter was.

“Why do you assume he would come after me? It should be Carlotta you’re having this conversation with,” I pointed out.

“Mr. Xavier knows about the affair you two were having, and he believes that was the incident that tipped her over the edge. In his mind that makes you guilty,” the detective said.

“Ah, well, he’ll see soon enough that it’s not the case, won’t he? Do you have a date for Carlotta’s trial yet?” I asked.

“Trial? There isn’t a trial. Your wife is cooperating with the police and our investigation, William. As of this moment, you are still very much a suspect in this case,” the detective said.

I felt my heart thud hard in my chest and my head spun. That bitch was working with the police? She was telling them everything? And from what Detective Del Rey was saying, it sounded very much like they believed her version of events over mine. No wonder they let her out so quickly. She hadn’t been charged at all.

“For goodness’ sake, Detective, this is getting beyond a joke. My wife killed Candy and I told your officer that. I can see why Mr. Xavier is getting frustrated at how you’re dragging this out,” I said.

I hung up the call before the detective could respond. Anger surged through my body. How dare Carlotta throw me under the bus like this? Whatever made me push Candy out that window didn’t change the fact that I had saved Carlotta’s life. And this is how she saw fit to repay me?

Well, we would see about that. I pushed my cellphone back into my pocket and stalked toward the studio to find Carlotta and have this out with her. I reached the studio door and slammed it open, but the room was empty. I was more than a little surprised, but I had seen Carlotta’s purse hanging on the end of the bannister, so I knew she was home. She must be upstairs.

Angrier than ever, I turned and headed for the stairs. Oh, we were going to have this out, all right.