Deceptions (Cainsville 3)

"You should ask yourself why he didn't just do that in the first place," Pamela said as he left. "He wanted to make an issue of it. If I ask him to leave and you defend him, then he wins."

"I didn't come here to fight about Gabriel," I said. "Let's talk about hounds."

"That's not--"

"Not what you called me here for? It damned well better be."

I expected her to take offense, but she only smiled and shook her head.

"You look like your father when you put your foot down like that."

"About the hounds . . ."

"We will discuss that, Olivia. First, though, I heard about James." She reached out and squeezed my hand, quickly, before the guard noticed. "I heard you were the one who found him. You and Gabriel. The news said something about bizarre circumstances leading you two to James's body. It hinted you were lured there."

I didn't tell her what had been done to James's body. That wasn't part of the media coverage. If I told Pamela about the way his corpse had been mutilated, she'd seize on the possibility that whoever killed James was the real Valentine Killer. That wasn't where I wanted my focus right now. James deserved better.

"It's no random murder," I said. "Gabriel and I were summoned there."

"Are you sure both of you were?"

"Um, yes. I got a message, and I saw his."

"And he absolutely couldn't have sent yours?"

I stared at her. "Oh, no. Don't you dare even suggest--"

"If you know what I'm going to suggest, that's because you already suspect it."

"No, it's because I can follow a trail of leading questions."

"I had a visitor who told me that Gabriel Walsh murdered your fiance. Beyond any doubt."

"Then your visitor has an agenda--"

"He also has proof."

"I don't give a damn, because you could show me a video of Gabriel murdering James and I still wouldn't believe it."

"James came to see me last week."

"What?"

"He was desperate to figure out what hold Gabriel had over you. He thought, since I've worked with the man, I might know. We discussed our mutual concerns. Now, having someone tell me that Gabriel murdered James--"

"He did not. Which I know because I was in his condo that night. All night. And no, not in the same bed. I was there because James had tried to have me kidnapped."

"Gabriel convinced you that James was a threat and persuaded you to stay in his apartment?"

"Didn't you hear me? James was a threat. Look, I'm not getting into this--"

"You need to get into this, Olivia. You need to take a cold hard look at Gabriel's behavior. He keeps you from your family. He turns you against James. I hear he even took you away from your job so you could work for him. Now you're staying in his apartment? Don't you see how he's controlling you?"

I wanted to laugh, but her expression was dead serious.

I pushed my chair back. "This isn't about James's murder. It's about distracting me from asking questions, while planting seeds of doubt about Gabriel, for whatever ridiculous reason--"

"For whatever ridiculous reason?" Pamela gripped the edge of the table. "To protect you, Eden. You may not like being called that, but to me you are Eden Larsen, my daughter, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you. I know you want answers, and you think I'm holding back. I'm protecting you. Nothing could make me happier than if you'd lived your life without ever knowing any of this."