Page 87 of Defending Love
“You’re asking questions that are better left buried.”
“As in, buried with my father.”
Stephen lowered his tone. “As in left alone.”
The two sat straighter as the waitress delivered Dani’s wine.
She didn’t pick it up. “Dad paid David a lot of money. Where did he get it?”
“Sinclair is solvent.”
“It is now,” Dani said. “It wasn’t back then. This all occurred during the ‘dark Darius days.’ You said that yourself the other day on our call.”
“I really can’t recall. It was years ago.”
“Why now?” she asked. “Why have Dad killed now?”
“I suppose that’s for the police to decide.”
“You had a virus put on my technology and my parents’. It searched for keywords. What were you looking for?”
Stephen leaned back. “I understand you’re dealing with a lot of things right now, Danielle, but these accusations…”
“Guardian Security traced the virus to your personal computer.”
Now she’s bluffing.
Stephen picked something off the charcuterie board and popped it into his mouth. “I’m an old man. I know nothing about those things.”
“IP addresses don’t lie. Virtual network made it harder to track but not impossible.”
He brushed his hands over the table as his napkin fell to the floor. Stephen leaned down to pick it up, but Dani was faster. My eyes were on her as she lifted the napkin.
She handed it back. “Dad considered you his best friend.”
“The feeling was mutual.”
Dani lifted her glass of wine and took a hearty drink. “What did you gain from his death?”
“I lost a dear friend.”
The sound of Dani’s cough echoed in my ears.
“Oh, dear,” he said, “your lips are blue.”
Fuck.
As I rushed from the bar, Stephen Elliott whispered, “You shouldn’t have been so noisy.”
Dani reached for her throat as I pulled her from the chair. I spotted the pecans right away. Her lips were pale, and her pulse was weak. I opened her lips to her swollen tongue. In the bottom of her glass, submerged in the wine, was a pecan.
“You son of a bitch. You tried to poison her.”
“I don’t know what’s happening.” Stephen stood. “Help. Someone call an ambulance.”
“She’s allergic to nuts.”
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