“I can take it back home, Ethan. You can open it there. I just thought you might—”
“Please, Auggie, bring it here.”
A moment of pure terror passed through me as he reached for the large envelope. What if it was bad news? What if Veronica had returned some precious gift Ethan had given her? I knew nothing about her and my intuition might have been completely wrong.
Ethan stared at the front of the envelope and rubbed his finger over the handwriting on the label. Then almost as if he was pulling off a bandage, he flipped it over and ripped it open. He reached inside and pulled out a handwritten letter and a second envelope. He opened it and pulled out two plane tickets. He read the tickets and looked up at Dalton and me. “They’re tickets to Mexico City. She knows I’ve been dying to go there.” He took another deep breath and opened the letter. My intuition had not failed me. Dalton motioned toward the door with his head. We left Ethan alone with his letter.
“Do you think your dad is still in a room?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Don’t know. He was this morning, but he was waiting to be released.” He pulled the folder of insurance papers out from under his arm. “Let’s take this to the admittance office first. I’m just not in any hurry to see him at the moment.”
The clerk glanced up from her work and smiled brightly at Dalton. “Hi, my brother, Ethan North and my father, Thomas North, were admitted here yesterday, and I believe you needed some insurance paperwork.”
The clerk looked puzzled as she took the folder from Dalton’s hand. “Let me pull up their files, but I don’t think we needed anything.” She rolled her chair to her computer and tapped away on the keyboard. She stared at the computer monitor a moment and then rolled back with folder in hand. “We didn’t need anything. Your father had his card with him when they brought your brother in. That was all we needed.”
Dalton stared hard at the folder for a second. “Thank you,” he said. “Can you tell me my dad’s room number?”
She glanced at the screen. “The doctor signed his release, but you might still find him in room 203.”
Dalton turned and walked away as if he’d completely forgotten that I was with him. His shoulders were rigid and as I caught up to him I could feel the rage shooting off of him in sparks.
“Everything all right?”
He looked down at the folder in his hand. “No.” It was obvious his leg pained him, but he strode with purposeful, angry steps down the hallway to his dad’s room. I quickly went through what had just happened at the admittance office to understand why his mood had changed so drastically. Professor North had sent me to his home to fetch insurance papers that he really hadn’t needed.
Pieces of the day began to come together in my head, but the obvious conclusion that kept creeping into my thoughts was too horrid to consider.
We reached the room, and I hesitated, thinking I should stay out in the hall. But then I willed myself in behind Dalton. I had to know the truth.
Professor North looked even worse than he had the day before. A large bandage crossed his forehead, and he looked much older sitting in the hospital chair with his head in his hands. He glanced up with watery eyes as we stepped into the room. Even in his weary state, it didn’t take him long to notice Dalton’s face.
“Dalton, is everything all right? Is Ethan—”
“Ethan is fine. No thanks to you,” Dalton said coldly.
“Dalton, I’m not in the mood to deal with you this morning. I need to go home and shower. Then I’ll drive back here myself.”
“How long have you been planning all this?”
Professor North stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
“Question was simple. How fucking long have you been planning this?” Dalton threw the insurance folder at his dad, who flinched as if he’d thrown a fist at him. The papers fluttered to the ground.
Professor North’s gaze flitted anxiously to the door as if he expected people to be standing in the hallway eavesdropping. “Take me home, Dalton. Here’s not the place. I’ll explain things there.”
“Can’t imagine what you could possibly say that would explain any of this except if you finally admit that you’ve lost your fucking mind.”
“Maybe I have, Son.”
Chapter 21
The inside of the car was colder than the frosty world outside and more than once I thought it would have been more pleasant to walk home through the snow. And by home I meant back to my quiet, little apartment. It sounded far more inviting than going back to the North house where it seemed there would be an explosion of tempers.
Both men kept their anger capped as we pulled up the road toward the house. The lone police car had gone for now. The entire ride home I’d tried, without success, to decipher exactly what had taken place, and the professor’s level of involvement, Professor North, my favorite professor. It had to have been heartbreaking to happen upon the discovery of a lifetime and then be forced to turn it over to someone else, but never would I have expected my most beloved professor, the intellectual, confident man who’d taught me about the ancient world and its boundless treasures to be diabolical. None of it made sense.
We were not two steps inside when Dalton flung words at his father’s back. “Was the gunman part of your plan or an ugly coincidence because I’m finding it hard to swallow that you would trade Ethan’s life for a fucking gold bracelet?”
I momentarily considered scurrying off to my room but thought better of it. If things had transpired the way it now seemed they had then I had been used as a pawn in the professor’s plan. I needed to know everything.
The professor pressed his hand against his bandage as if the stitches pained him, but it was entirely possible the move was made to garner sympathy. He lowered his shaky hand and looked past Dalton toward me. I made it clear that I was staying.
“Ethan grabbed my coat and red scarf. He was not supposed to get shot. I was.”
A stunned quiet swept through the entryway at the professor’s bizarre confession. Even he seemed shocked by it.
“We needed it to look legitimate.” Professor North turned and headed to the living room. “I need to sit down. The room is spinning.”
We followed. The hearth was cold and dark and the Christmas tree looked wilted and lonely beneath its decorations. Professor North nearly collapsed onto the couch cushion. His hand went to his head again, but Dalton had no compassion for him. He sat across from his father on the hearth and glared at him.
“I was to stand in front of the stone post and wait to be shot in the arm. Then while Ethan headed to the hospital with me, Auggie was to go inside for insurance papers and then follow in her own car. That was the original plan.”
My heart froze in my chest. I felt sick to my stomach.
Dalton nodded. “I guess my arrival really fucked up those plans.”
Professor North seemed to finally gain enough courage to look my way. “They were under the strictest orders not to harm you in any way. But I needed a witness, someone to show them where the arm band was.”
My throat was dry. “Even though he already knew.”
He dropped his gaze. “Yes. I’m afraid you were just there as a witness to the robbery. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Dalton asked sharply. “You’re not sorry. You’re fucking insane. You risked her life, and you almost lost Ethan, Dad. All for some meaningless artifact. Who were these people, anyhow?”
He shook his head. “Well trained experts from another country. I won’t tell you more than that because it would put your life in danger. They are long gone . . .without the bracelet. That was just a grave mistake made by the man who carried it off. I’m sure he’ll pay for that mistake with his life.”
“So, you conspired with international terrorists?”
“No, of course not. They were not terrorists. They wanted the bracelet, and they were going to pay me well for it. I would have given my life rather than hand it over to the university. The money could have allowed me to retire and fund my own expeditions.”
Dalton stood and walked to the window. “How much did Ethan know?”
The professor’s silence was like a cold slap in the face.
Dalton looked at him. “It would explain why he’s been such an asshole this week.”
Professor North’s eyes widened. “I will deny that he had any involvement. I will take it to my grave.”
“The two of you placed August in danger, and I will never forgive either of you for that.”
Hearing it spoken so plainly felt like a punch in the stomach. I’d heard enough. I jumped up, raced to the guest room and closed the door behind me. I curled up under the blankets and cried. Once I could gather my composure and the shock of it all had worn off, I would pack and drive back to the campus. I only hoped Dalton would come with me. I wanted nothing more to do with any of this.
I heard the front door slam and I went to the window. Dalton was trudging across the snow with his lopsided steps. My head had begun to pound with the surreal events of the morning. I walked over to the dresser and started to pack my clothes. Once Dalton returned I would ask him to drive back to the university with me. He would go with me— I was sure of it.
A knock at the door startled me as I folded my sweaters.
“August, I want to talk to you.”
“I’m busy packing,” I said shakily.
“I know you are,” his deep voice was muffled by the thick door. “I just want you to know that I will never forgive myself.”
I finally worked up the courage to open the door. He looked so completely different than the man I had admired so greatly. It was as if somewhere deep in some attic there was a Dorian Gray style portrait of the charming, thoughtful Professor North. “I will not forgive you either.”
“I plan to turn myself in today.” He swallowed. “At first I’d convinced myself that it was my love of antiquities that had turned me to make this dark decision. I had something so amazing in my possession, and I wanted it to be mine to share with the world. But it was not long before I came to the bitter conclusion that greed was my motivation. The university would benefit from my discovery, and I would be left with nothing.”
“I’ll be leaving as soon as Dalton returns home,” I replied coldly. I had nothing else to say to the man.
I shut the door and returned to my task of packing. My phone rang and I didn’t need to look at it to know it was my mom. But I couldn’t answer. For the time being, I had no intention of telling my parents. They would never let me live it down, and my dad would, no doubt, board a plane with a team of lawyers. For now, I would keep it to myself, as difficult as it might be.
My stomach churned with hunger, but I had no appetite and aspirin had only dulled the throbbing in my head. Several hours after I’d finished packing, I’d tucked myself beneath the covers and waited for Dalton’s return. But he never came back. The house was empty and suddenly I needed to be gone from the place for good.
Tears burned my eyes as I carried my bag to my car. The professor had left shortly after our terse conversation. I was glad not to have to see him again. And then the final ugly truth hit me too. Dalton had gone off without saying good-bye as if I’d been nothing but one of his one night stands. Apparently, it had all been a sales pitch. I’d been duped by every one of the North men, but the one who had betrayed me the most was Dalton.
Chapter 22
I stared down at the cold hamburger on the paper plate and realized it looked about as appetizing as shoe leather. I pulled my quilt around my shoulders, plopped down on my couch and stared at the blank television screen. A minor blizzard had blown through town on Christmas Eve taking the power lines with it. And while the heat and lights had returned quickly, the cable had died completely.
My tiny apartment looked bleak and the complete antithesis of holiday cheer. My mom had woken me early with a “Merry Christmas” call from somewhere on the banks of the Rhine. It was not easy but I’d pretended to be having a jolly old time at the North house rather than sitting alone in my small apartment with only the hum of the refrigerator to keep me company.
After leaving the house, I’d driven back to campus in a heartbroken trance. Once I reached my apartment, I’d breathed a sigh of relief and then broken down into sobs. I’d cried until I felt sick from it. After the stomach twisting grief, I’d gone through a period of anger . . . anger at myself for falling so hard for Dalton. I would never be that stupid again.
And now, as much as I loved antiquities, I was seriously considering a different major. Or maybe I’d just go back home to sunny, warm California and learn to behave as my parents expected, like a shallow, vapid rich girl with no real dreams except to own the newest Gucci handbag.
The heater cranked on with its usual fanfare and noise. It had been working hard all day, and I feared it would eventually break and then I would freeze to death alone on Christmas Day.
A noise outside caused me to pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders. I seemed to be one of the few people on campus and after the attack at the professor’s house, it had been unsettling to be so alone.
A knock at the door sent me flying to the kitchen for a frying pan. I tiptoed to the door and peeked up into the peep hole. It was foggy with condensation, but I could see a tall figure in a black beanie standing outside my door. My heart raced but it wasn’t out of fear. It was from seeing him standing there on my stoop.
I opened the door. He lifted his face. Even miserable with cold, the man sent a wave of heat through me.
Dalton smiled down at the frying pan and then he lifted his gaze. “You left me.”
“No, you left me.” My voice broke. “You promised you weren’t going to let me out of your sight.”
“I was coming back.” He sighed. “I just need to get away for awhile. There was a lot to think about.” He pulled his coat closed. “It’s really cold out here.”
I stepped aside and he walked into the apartment. He looked around. “Nice place.”
I laughed. “Would you like a cold hamburger?”
“I’ll pass.”
“How is Ethan?”
He nodded. “He’s recuperating really well. Veronica came to town and that seems to be speeding things along.” He swallowed and seemed to be looking for words. “Dad turned himself in. He told the police that Ethan knew nothing about the plan. The lawyers are working on some kind of a plea bargain claiming that he was under terrible duress at having lost the court case with the university. The arm band was turned over to the college, so they’re happy. Dad refused to give any names on the grounds that it would endanger his family.” A sad laugh escaped him. “Now he’s worried about his family.”
“The university had no right to that artifact,” I said.
“You really do have a thing for my dad, don’t you?”
“I know deep down he’s a great guy. He just went a little crazy with the disappointment of it all.”
He turned to face me and as usual everything about him sent waves of emotion through me. The room vibrated as if he’d brought all the energy of the world with him. “Bryce’s dad called me yesterday.” The despair that crossed his face when he spoke his friend’s name made my chest tight. “He makes custom furniture. Bryce was supposed to be his apprentice when we returned from Iraq. He’s asked me to take Bryce’s place.”
“That sounds like it would be just right for you. Are you considering it?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“I’m glad for you, Dalton.”
He stood quietly for a moment and then stepped closer to me. “Ever since my mom got sick it seems like my life has been on
e long string of disappointment and heartbreak. Losing Bryce in the war and getting hurt had really shattered any hope I’d had for happiness. I’ve been wandering aimlessly around this country wondering if I’d ever find anything or anyone to anchor me to one place again.” He took another step toward me, and I wanted badly to throw my arms around him. “I met you and all of a sudden it seemed I might be happy again. It seemed that maybe I could finally leave some of my ugly past behind and live again.” The look he gave me brought tears to my eyes. “Auggie, I need you.”
I threw my arms around his neck. His strong arms went around me and he pulled me against him. He kissed me long and hard.
I smiled up at him. “What was that movie line— you had me at—”
He laughed. “please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead?”
“Not that one.”
“You had me at Sugarplum?”
“That’s it.” I hopped up on my toes and kissed him.
More Sinful Suspenses from Tess Oliver
That Time with Sugar
Moonshine
Physical Distraction
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