“No, I didn’t think so.”
I don’t care for the snide tone in his voice.
“About a year ago he suddenly had all this cash. Vanessa started asking him questions. They fought all the time about how frivolous he was with it. Vanessa started to suspect that he was into something illegal because Brady would never tell her where he was getting it.”
I hate hearing this because I’ve had those thoughts as well.
“And now she’s dead, Tori.”
As I take in his words, I’m completely shocked. “Oh, my God. You think Brady killed her on purpose. That’s crazy. What happened to Vanessa was an accident.”
Harrison shrugs, and he looks away. “Maybe…I once thought that too.” Bringing his eyes back around to me, he says, “But when Brady and his parents offered Vanessa’s family five million to keep quiet, I quickly changed my mind.”
What? That’s an obscene amount of money. He has to be confused. “What are you talking about? The Hunters don’t have that kind of money,” I argue.
“No, but Brady does.”
“Brady doesn’t have that kind of money, either. You have to be mistaken.” I think about it for a minute. The Center, the envelope I saw him give Rodrigo and everything he’s done there, the new truck and jet skis. Oh, God, is Harrison right?
Harrison is looking down, sliding his foot back and forth in the sand. “He does, and I was the only one who knew Vanessa was asking questions about it.”
Money questions aside, I’m absolutely positive Brady couldn’t have done anything so horrible. “I don’t know where the money came from, but he didn’t murder Vanessa because she asked questions. He would never have hurt her intentionally.”
He looks down at me and gently clutches the side of my arm. I back away from his touch. “I wish I could agree with you, but I signed the contract, too. Five million dollars to keep quiet and ask no questions about the accident. Why would they not want anyone to ask questions, Tori? Think about it. His mother was downright nasty about the whole thing. Why is that?”
I can’t answer that. I don’t know why his mother is involved. It explains some of Brady’s comments about her lately, though. “I don’t know, Harrison, but Brady loved Vanessa, and he could never have murdered her.”
“Look, Tori, I care about you, and even if you’re in love with him, I had to tell you. I’m afraid you might start to question him. And I’m afraid something might happen to you if you push too far.”
Boldly, I take a step toward him and look directly in his eyes. “He didn’t fucking kill her.”
“Okay, easy,” He puts his hands on my shoulders. “I understand why you believe that. I don’t want you to hate me. I only wanted to warn you. I care about you, and I want us to be friends.”
My shoulders relax, and I exhale a cleansing breath. “We can be friends, Harrison, but that’s it. I’m in love with Brady.”
He nods. “Just be careful, please.”
Harrison accepts my d
ecision regarding Brady, although it’s obvious he’s not happy about it, and we walk back to the Bean in silence. I do want us to be friends. I understand where he’s coming from. I only wish he knew Brady the way I do.
Brady
It’s been almost three weeks since I’ve seen her; since I’ve felt her, since I smelled the sweet scent of her skin. I miss her so much it’s painful. The first week I was here I kept hoping she’d figure out I where I was and would show up to confront me with her sassy attitude. But she never came.
I spend my days here helping out, teaching English to the kids, and working out as much as I can to keep my head clear.
I dip into more of the cash that has cursed my life from the moment it appeared, and Rodrigo and I hire a contractor to build a gym for the kids. My bitch of a mother is not pleased in the least about it. She thinks I’m pissing it away. Little does she know that her opinion only makes me happier to do invest money here. The only reason she doesn’t push too hard is because it’s a tax write-off.
In the morning, I take a seat next to Paco at breakfast. He reminds me of Tori, and I’d been avoiding him. He brightens up and smiles when he sees me. As he looks up at me, he nudges me in the arm.
“Did you mess things up with Tori?” he asks me innocently. The little twerp is far too perceptive for his own good.
I smile and laugh. “Yeah, buddy. I think I did.”
He talks with a mouth full of oatmeal. “Well, you should fix it. I like her,”
He’s right – I should fix it. I’m not exactly sure how to do that now. “I’m not sure I can, kiddo.”