Detective Sanchez said: “I’m afraid we’re not at liberty to discuss that, ma’am.”
“You do know she was insane? Toward the end, she barely knew her own name, poor thing.”
“I think it would be better if we had this conversation at the station.”
Lexi’s face fell. “I see.” She looked so beautiful, so vulnerable, in her wedding dress, Detective Sanchez felt horrible. He wanted to make love to her, not arrest her.
“Am I under arrest?”
“Well…we’d rather not make it formal till we get to the station,” he said kindly. “You have the right to have a lawyer present. I think the less said right now the better.”
Lexi nodded calmly. “I quite understand. Can you give me a few minutes to change and talk to my husband?”
Detective Shaw looked uncomfortable. “I don’t know about that, ma’am.”
“Please. I’d like to explain to him about this misunderstanding before we leave.”
Detective Shaw thought: Misunderstanding, my ass.
Detective Sanchez said: “Of course. Take your time.”
Once Lexi had gone, Detective Shaw let his partner have it. “What the hell was that about? We’re supposed to be bringing her in for fraud, not asking her on a date.”
“Come on, man. It’s her wedding day. Have a heart, would you?”
“She’s a crook, Antonio.”
Detective Sanchez shrugged. “It’s still her wedding day.”
Gabe ran into Lexi at the top of the stairs.
“There you are. Where on earth have you been? I’ve been looking for you for hours.”
“I’m sorry, darling.” She kissed him, savoring the feel of his lips on hers. I can’t lose him. I can’t.
“Do you know the police are here? Security just spoke to Robbie. They said they had to speak with you urgently.”
“I know. I let them in. They’re here to arrest me.”
Gabe’s eyes widened. “ Arrest you? Arrest you for what?”
Lexi took his hand and led him back into the bedroom, locking the door behind them. There was no way around it. She would have to tell him the truth. Without Gabe’s help, and Robbie’s, her plan would fail.
“You remember when you proposed to me? At the abortion clinic?”
Gabe shuddered. Memories of that day-how close they’d come to losing little Max-still gave him nightmares.
“Of course I do.”
“Do you remember what you said to me?”
“Something along the lines of “Will you marry me,’ I suspect. Why?”
“No.” Lexi looked at him urgently. “Your exact words. Do you remember?”
“Not exactly, no. But why is it so-”
“You said: ‘Nothing is unforgivable.’” Lexi clasped his hand. “You said: ‘Whatever you’ve done, Lexi, I don’t care. I love you as you are.’”
Gabe remembered. He remembered his desperation that day. He’d have done anything to get her back.
“Did you mean it?”
He thought for a moment.
“Yes. I meant it. Whatever trouble you’re in, Lex, you can tell me. We’ll face it together.”
Reaching down her dress, Lexi pulled out Eve’s letter.
“Read this.”
THIRTY
GABE READ THE LETTER IN SILENCE. THEN HE READ IT again. By the time he looked up, Lexi had changed out of her wedding dress into a jeans and a sweater and was hastily packing an overnight bag.
Gabe had a million questions: How, why, when? But there was no time for any of them. Lexi, as ever, was in control.
“Two detectives are waiting in the library. When I get to the station, they’re going to arrest me. We don’t have much time.”
“Time for what?” Poor Gabe couldn’t keep up. A few short hours ago he’d been the happiest man in the world. Now he was sleepwalking through a nightmare.
Stuffing her passport into the overnight bag, Lexi zipped it up and thrust it into his hands. “Time to escape, of course. Now listen carefully. This is the plan.”
All the other wedding guests had left, but August Sandford was still in the kitchen. Deep in debate with Paolo Cozmici over a bottle of Ychem that was too good to be hurried, he’d lost track of time.
“Christ.” He looked at his watch. “I gotta go. My wife’ll think I’ve been fooling around with one of the bridesmaids.” Swaying happily, he staggered out onto the front lawn. Lexi, flanked by two cops, was climbing into the back of a squad car. A few feet away, Gabe McGregor stood watching, ashen-faced.
August rubbed his eyes. He must be drunker than he thought.
“Gabe? What the hell’s happening?”
“They’re arresting her.” Gabe’s voice was a monotone. He was clearly still in shock. “Eve Blackwell’s lawyers are accusing Lexi of fraud. Something to do with short-selling Kruger-Brent stock. It’s all bullshit.”
“Of course it is.” August put a comforting arm around Gabe’s shoulders. “Jesus. What a screwup. Is there anything I can do?”
“No. Just keep it to yourself. Lexi’s attorney should have things straightened out in an hour or so.” Gabe looked dazed. “We’re supposed to be on our honeymoon.”
“You will be,” said August. “Seriously, don’t worry. This is obviously just a crazy mistake.”
Alone in his car two minutes later, sober as a judge, August put in an urgent call to his broker.
“Bill? I think you’d better sell my Kruger-Brent stock. Uh-huh, yes. All of it. As soon as the markets open on Monday, I want you to dump the lot.”