When I Say Yes (Necklace Trilogy 3)

Once the car is moving, I text Neil, Allison had a phone number in the journal. It belongs to Jack Hawk. Anything connecting them?”

He calls me. “Yes,” he says, as I answer. “They had quite a lot of communication. I haven’t heard back from my guy on the plane manifest, but since her journals reflect an affair with an older man, I’m guessing it was him.”

“Me, too.”

“And how did you figure this out?”

“I stupidly called the number she wrote down and it was his phone. I was with him for a drink meeting with clients. It’s a long story, but I’m in an Uber headed home.”

“Good. I don’t feel right about this Jack thing. Oh. There is what looks like a combination to a lock in the notes she had scribbled on a back page.”

My mind goes to Tyler’s grandmother’s house. “There was a safe downstairs in the house I was staying in, the one where Allison stayed, too.

“Can you meet me at the house?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Good. I have a feeling about this. I’ll meet you there. I’m about twenty minutes out.”

“I’m five. Hold on.” I lean forward and give the Uber driver the address with the promise of a big tip. “Okay, I’m headed there. I can’t be sure I can get in and I can’t call Tyler. Jack is his father, and while they aren’t close, I just—I don’t feel good about it. And he’s in a meeting anyway.”

“Where is Dash?”

“The same meeting Tyler is at. A big Hollywood meeting. We can’t disturb him.”

“All right. If you can’t get into the house, I can. Stay in the Uber until I get there.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

The house is dark, empty, and kind of creepy looking tonight.

“This is it,” the woman announces.

“Can I pay you to wait until my friend arrives?”

“Honey, I’m sorry. My son has a choir program in twenty minutes. I can’t miss it. You were my last pickup. As it is, I’m pushing it.”

Great. Dash is going to kill me for going in there alone, but what can I do at this point?

“I understand.” I hand her cash for the extra ride and the tip, and exit the car. Hurrying forward, the exterior of the house is dark, and I pray that the code still works, but I’m not optimistic.

Using the flashlight on my phone, eager to seek shelter, I shine the light on my path and then the door panel. To my relief, the door opens. I hurry inside, turn on the lights and then text Neil: My driver had to go but I’m inside.

Damn it, he replies. I told you to wait. I’m still fifteen minutes out.

Give me the code, I answer. Let me get in the safe so we can get out of here. And hurry, please. It feels creepy in here.

He sends me a combination with another “damn it” attached. I lock the door. He can knock. I need to be safe. After that, I hurry to the cellar door and draw a breath. I’ll be fine. I’m safe. Neil is on his way. I flip on the light, rush down the stairs and go down on my knees in front of the safe. I use the code and it opens. There are two sealed envelopes. One is addressed to the police and one is addressed to Mary Hawk, Jack’s wife. My stomach knots with the certainty that this is going no place good. With a trembling hand, I quickly open the letter to the police and start reading:

It reads “copy” on the front.

Dear Mary,

It is my greatest heartache to do this to you. I know you’ve been married a very long time. I know you must love your husband. The problem is that he’s not the man you think he is. I was dating your son. I love your son, but he broke up with me, and Jack, well he offered me comfort. He looks like Tyler and he has some of the same traits. I was drawn to him, but not romantically. Fatherly. I was holding onto a connection to Tyler. And then—then he tried—I can barely write it. He cornered me. He ripped my shirt. He touched me inappropriately. It was at the office and a cleaning crew interrupted. They saved me. I know the crew saw what happened. They knew I was crying. I resigned the next day. I didn’t tell Tyler. I was ashamed. I love him too much to take his father from him, but Jack was—violent. I don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t want someone else to get hurt. Please protect yourself. My deepest apologies.

“You really do look like her.”

At the sound of Jack’s voice, I quake inside. Somehow, I think to shove the letters in the safe, and shut it before I stand to face him. His tie is loose, his jacket disheveled. “What are you doing here, Jack? And how did you even get in here?”