A strange sensation pricked the back of her eyes. And, try as she might, she couldn’t get rid of the lump forming in her throat. “Drew is just a colleague. There’s nothing romantic going on between us at all. I barely know him.”
He stared at her. “So why did you lie to me when I asked you about him earlier?”
“I didn’t lie exactly. I just kept the truth to myself because I was told not to tell you what was going on.” She sighed. “I guess I’ve screwed that up now.”
“He’s helping you with the investigation?” Simon frowned. “I mean, I knew we’d need an accountant’s help eventually, but we don’t have enough to go on yet.”
She held up her hands. “We do.” As quickly as she could, Heather filled in him on the details about Drew. The second payment to the electricians, the fact that the list of suspects had narrowed, Drew’s investigation into the executive account. All of it.
“So, you’re saying Linda is a suspect, too?” he asked.
“She is, but I don’t think she did it,” Heather said. “I know she didn’t,” she added firmly.
His eyebrow lifted skeptically.
“Simon, please try to trust her,” she pleaded. “Linda has been there for you all this time. And she’s helped me so much ever since I started working at Dover.”
“I want to trust her,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I just... everything’s so fucked up.”
“Then trust her.”
“It’s hard to trust,” he said.
She nodded. “I know it is. But trust doesn’t make you weak or foolish. I’m not saying you should trust Linda just because you like her. Trust her because she’d done everything to try to be transparent. She’s the one who told me she was on the suspect list, and she really didn’t have to do that. She didn’t have to fill me in on what Drew found. Trust her because she’s been putting her job on the line to prove how trustworthy she is.”
“You’re right.” He seemed lost as he stood on her porch.
“Do you want to come in?” she asked. “We’re having a family dinner, but you’re more than welcome to join us.”
“You’re okay with Finn meeting me?”
“Well—”
Before she could complete her thoughts, a car came careening into her driveway.
Simon turned to look at the car and he suddenly gripped her arm tightly. “Heather, don’t argue with me. Go inside right now. I recognize that car. It’s the police.”
Chapter 17
Simon was gently pushing her inside. He followed after her, kicking the front door shut as he stepped inside.
“What’s going on?” she asked desperately.
“Is there a way to get out here?” he barked. “A back door or something?”
Her pulse raced when she caught the grave look in his eyes. “Simon, if it’s the cops maybe I should go with them.”
“Without a lawyer? Are you crazy?” He hustled her down the hall to the living room. “At best, they want to take you down to the station for questioning. At worst, they’re here to arrest you. Neither scenario is good. If we get out now that buys us some time to clear your name.”
A loud banging on her front door made her freeze in place.
“Ms. Hall!” a loud, booming voice sounded. “This is Detective Adrian West. Open up. We need to talk to you!”
“I have to take Finn,” she said.
“No, you can’t,” he said. “If you run away with him they’ll just use it against you later. Is there somewhere you can drop him off?”
She didn’t like running away like a criminal, but if Simon was right, going with the police would be a complete disaster. Her ex-husband would use it against her and take Finn away from her. Heather refused to let that happen. “My parents are here.”
“Good, we’ll sneak out the back and have them answer the door,” he said. “Your parents can stall the cops and tell them you aren’t here.”
Finn would be safe with her parents. Leveling her shoulders, she said, “Go out the back, Simon.”
He paused.