White Lies (A Twisted Fate 1)

My only response was to shake my head.

Alex wasn’t an undercover cop.

He blackmailed someone.

He lied to me.

Wait, what if this man was for some reason lying? “Why was he blackmailing you?” Commander Taylor began to respond, but I interrupted him. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”

Assessing me, the quietness settled over the room for a couple of minutes. “I made a mistake once at a club in Philadelphia. If it got out, it would ruin my personal life. Bastard set me up a little over six months ago.”

That happened right before we were married. I swallowed hard, still holding on to the chance he was wrong or lying. I wasn’t sure what to say when he offered, “I have a recording of a conversation I had with Alex. Do you want to hear it?”

My insides shook with fear as the lies engulfed me. This was beyond anything I’d thought possible. I was scared to reveal the truth of the white lies. Betrayal sliced through me bone deep. How was I so stupid not to see the depth of his deceit?

By the seriousness of his face, I knew the commander was about to prove he told the truth.

Alex had lied to me.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes as my vision blurred. My heart ached. Barely above a whisper, I answered, “Yes.”

In a fog, I left the precinct and stopped for a second as the sun’s rays hit my face. It helped bring warmth to my chilled state.

The conversation with Commander Taylor repeated in my head. The menace in Alex’s voice had been unmistakable. I hadn’t known that version of Alex, even during the bad times.

Commander Taylor had told the truth. I shivered as the memory replayed.

Alex’s voice came over the phone recording. “Are you prepared to sell it when you meet her at the precinct?”

A long pause ensued before Commander Taylor responded, “Yes, I will hold up my end of the bargain. Where is the tape?”

“Safe. Your wife will never know about Cocktails if you make sure Willow believes what we discussed. Understand?”

“Yes.”

The recording had abruptly stopped, potentially at a part that put Commander Taylor in a bad light.

Acid churned in my stomach.

Commander Taylor had obviously cheated on his wife. I made no comment regarding this as I left. All I said was I would be in touch with the crematory to get Alex’s remains and wished him well. What else was I supposed to do? I wanted Alex out of my life.

What had Alex gotten involved in when he returned? What happened to him? He was more far gone than I ever imagined.

But worse was the feeling I’d been living with a total stranger. Someone who had calculated his way into my life—sold me an illusion. If only, I’d listened to myself all those months ago and not married him.

If only…

Numbly, I walked to my black Land Rover and sat in the seat. Staring at the precinct, I wondered if ignorance was bliss. Alex was dead, and I wasn’t sure what having this knowledge accomplished besides making me realize how naïve I’d been.

None of this seemed real.

My phone rang, which drew a small scream from me. The number was unknown. “Hello.”

A male voice with a thick accent greeted me. It wasn’t someone I recognized. “Look under your seat.” Dread filled me as my eyes quickly scanned my surroundings. I was at a police precinct. Two people strolled down the sidewalk hand in hand walking their dog. They weren’t on their cell phone. Maybe I should run back. What would I say to the officers?

My voice wanted to waiver, but I steadied it as I asked, “Who is this?”

A deep breath came over the line with a prolonged pause. I checked to make sure we hadn’t lost connection, but my phone still showed that the call was connected.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Willow, I’m looking for answers as well. Alex wronged me, too.”

This was the worst day of my life. This morning I was so sure of who I married. Yes, we had our issues—a lot of issues—but I never imagined. In a matter of thirty minutes, my world turned upside down and inside out.

I cleared my throat. “I don’t know anything. Please.”

“Willow, I’m not going to hurt you. I swear it.”

Truth rang out in his voice, but my nerves were on edge. My eyes darted around the parking lot. “Why are you calling me?”

“I want to right a wrong… and make sure you’re okay.”

Make sure I’m okay? This was a little creepy. The hair stood up on my arms.

Another sigh. “We can discuss more later. Check under the seat when we hang up. It’ll be up to you if you want to find the truth. Regardless, you’ll be safe.”

The last statement seemed like an oath, and my insides warmed. But there shouldn’t be a warm gooey feeling from a stranger calling me and telling me I was going to be safe from whatever Alex was involved in.

What was wrong with me? Stress, it was stress.

> I shook my head to clear the muddled thoughts. Until I saw the information, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I hated that there were other people hurt by my husband. Part of me felt responsible, though I knew that was stupid. I whispered to keep my voice from shaking, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for whatever Alex did to you if we don’t speak again.”

“We’ll be speaking again. I’m certain of it.”

The line went dead.

So frustrating. All I was left with was more questions.

The parking lot was deserted except for the old man with the cane from earlier. His gaze met mine before he turned and walked down the sidewalk. For good measure, I locked my doors before I reached under the seat.

There was an envelope.

My heart sped faster.

He had been in my car.

I gasped for air.

Disabled my locks.

Gotten around my alarm.

Who was this man?

I wasn’t safe.

With trembling hands, I took the manila envelope and placed it in my lap. Glancing around, I saw a few officers ambling to their cars. The old man turned and disappeared around the corner.

Whatever was inside would alter my course. I knew it. Something within told me so.

I paused.

If I tossed the envelope aside, would it all disappear? Sometimes ignorance was bliss. But not knowing the truth would eat me alive later, when my thoughts settled. I knew it.

I ripped it open and turned it over to scan the pictures.

My fingers trembled.

There were pictures of Alex outside a club smoking a cigarette. He smoked? He told me he hated cigarettes. We never went to bars because of that. He was allergic to the smoke.

I shook my head. More lies.

Squinting, I focused on one of the pictures again. A woman stood beside him with her hands on his arm in an intimate gesture. They were definitely familiar with each other.

A bigger man stood in front of him, giving me a profile view. Alex had a scowl on his face.

Disgust roiled through me.