The Burlington Manor Affair

“You think so?”

She gave a sardonic laugh. “I don’t suppose you’re here to forge a deep friendship with me, but you remind me of your father...how could I resist your request?”

Every word grated on him. “I’ll be brief. I doubt I can stomach your company for long.”

“But you want to talk about what happened...to understand.” The condescension in her tone riled him.

“Not at all. You already said enough last week. I don’t need to hear any more about that particular event.” It was the truth. He was far more interested in what had gone on before then, and his P.I. had uncovered something about Sylvia Shelby’s death that hadn’t been revealed before.

Olivia’s eyebrows lifted. “Go on.”

The fact that she was treating it like an audience with the queen irked Rex to no end. Her refined lady act didn’t fool him. The woman had a heart of ice and a wicked, vengeful nature. “Sylvia Shelby’s death. My suspicion is that you were involved in that, as well.”

Something flickered in her eyes, and then she laughed.

“I see you do know something about it.”

“Of course I knew about it. Sylvia Shelby was the reason your father stopped seeing me. I celebrated when I read about her tragic death in the papers.”

She really was vile, Rex decided. He cut to the chase. “There was a witness that day, the woman who called the police to report Sylvia’s accident. I have a private investigator tracking her down. He’s already uncovered the fact that your son, Charles, was seeing the woman at the time, which doesn’t look good now, does it?” He paused but she didn’t react. “As you’re probably aware, she emigrated to Australia, but my investigator has contacts there and it’s only a matter of time until we find her. If you or your sons were involved in Sylvia’s accident, I will find out.”

She gave a slow smile. “Even if there was something to tell, why on earth would I tell you?”

The truth was written all over her—she knew exactly what he was talking about. Rex gestured about the walls of the prison. “This can’t be easy. Wouldn’t you rather be at home in your apartment?”

She shrugged and for a moment Rex thought she really didn’t care. “I’m willing to do you a deal,” he continued. “If you tell me everything you know, I’ll back up Jason’s story that he wasn’t involved.”

She shook her head. “No deal. I intend to take all the blame myself.”

Rex was sure that Charles had little chance of escaping conviction, but he thought she might bite if he covered Jason’s back. “You’re enjoying prison that much?”

“Say whatever you want. It’s meaningless.” She gestured fluidly with her hands. “You think you know all about me. You don’t. I’m already a condemned woman. I’ve got nothing left to lose because I have cancer and I’m going to die soon, anyway.”

Rex was shocked, but the pieces fell into place.

“My sons have a life to lead,” she continued. “I’ll make sure they are both cleared.”

Rex’s frustration grew.

“I’m going to die inside a year. Frankly,” she added icily, “you were well provided for by your father, and you can bloody well bugger off if you think I’m going to assist you in any way.”

Rex bit back his annoyance, but this wasn’t his only option. “Fine. If you don’t want to make amends for your actions, so be it. Take it to your grave.” He rose to his feet. “The police have reopened the case. The new evidence means we won’t need your help to know what happened.”

He began to turn away, then he paused. “It’s ironic, though, isn’t it? Because that charge will be added to your list, and yet your cruel actions against Sylvia Shelby didn’t make the slightest difference. Even with her out of the picture, my father chose being alone over being with you.”

She narrowed her eyes, but he saw the pure venom reflected there.

He’d finally touched a nerve. Good.

With that, Rex turned his back on her and left.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

REX’S MOOD REMAINED dark until the moment he saw Carmen entering the restaurant that evening. He watched as the maître d’ approached her. She spoke briefly and the man smiled and offered to direct her. When she returned the man’s smile, the sight of it made Rex grateful to be alive.

Rising from his seat, he watched as she approached. She wore a sleek red sheath of a dress and matching high heels. When she met his gaze, he was sure. Passion flared in her eyes. She blinked and it was gone, but not before Rex absorbed it. They were meant to be together. That was his firm belief, and it was also the only thing that had sustained him since she’d walked away the week before.

“Rex.” She nodded and took up the seat opposite him.