Save Her Child by CJ Lyons (best historical biographies txt) 📗

Mount Falcon and the ground was soft from rain and it gave way and I slid down a hill. And there he was, catching me before I could hurt myself. My Prince Charming.”

“This was in Colorado?”

Tassi nodded, her expression growing guarded. Leah gathered her words carefully, knowing she was entering a minefield. “Sergeant Jericho said Spencer led a colorful life—that he even faked his death in Denver?”

“I wouldn’t know.” Tassi shook her head, her blonde curls sweeping Leah’s words away. “We were already divorced when that happened. I don’t know anything about all that.”

“So you were married twice? I can’t imagine—how did he find you again?”

“When I left him the first time—it was my fault, I was too young, naive.” She shrugged. “Restless. Instead of alimony, he gave me a lump sum and I used it to travel the world. It was such an adventure, but I missed Spencer, more than I’d ever dreamed. Then, one day I’m on a beach in Portugal and a man’s shadow falls over me, blocking the sun. It was Spence. Somehow fate had thrown us together again. So, when he begged me to marry him—again—how could I say no?” Her voice turned dreamy, as if reciting a fairy tale. But Leah caught a hint of over-rehearsal, as if the story had been practiced and prepared for an occasion like this.

“Did he have any history of depression? Or mood swings? Up one moment, dark and gloomy the next?”

Tassi sat up straight. “It’s like you know him. Yes, that was Spence, through and through. It’s part of the reason why I left him the first time. I couldn’t handle his moods.” She twisted the tissue between her fingers. “They say—the police think he did this—” She met Leah’s gaze, a yearning for understanding in her eyes. “Was it my fault? Did I miss the signs? I mean, I’m his wife, I should have known he was going to, to do that, hurt himself.” Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. “It is, isn’t it? It’s all my fault.”

For the first time the widow’s grief felt authentic. Leah patted her arm, felt her trembling. It was hard to fake that kind of emotion. “Your husband, he never mentioned any problems?”

“No, no. I thought—” Another sob. “It wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this. He shouldn’t be gone. He should be right here with me.” She raised her face. “What am I going to do now? I’m all alone. What am I going to do without him?”

There was a knock on the door and Luka entered. He gave Leah a quick nod to let her know he wanted to take over. Leah felt a bit relieved—it was as if her conversation with Tassi wasn’t between two people searching for answers but rather an audience and a performer. And yet, she had seen glimpses of genuine emotion. Of course, the best actors used their real emotions to enhance their performances. She sat back and let Luka ask his questions.

“Tassi,” he said in a gentle voice as he took a seat opposite her, taking his time to arrange his crutches against the arm of the couch. “I just heard from the medical examiner, and I’m afraid we’re going to need your help more than ever.”

Tassi frowned at him. “My help? Why? What happened?”

“You know, we all want to find the truth about what happened to Spencer. So, there are a few things. First, we’ve discovered that all of Spencer’s financial accounts have been drained—everything for his business and the foundation.”

“But the rest, that’s all right, isn’t it? It should be—I mean the funds that are in my name, not Spence’s.”

“Yes. Your accounts seem to be fine.”

“Oh good.” She sank back in her seat. Leah glanced at Luka. The widow had just been told her husband’s entire business had been wiped out and she didn’t seem at all concerned. As if she had expected it.

“We’re working on tracing the missing money,” he continued. “But it appears some of it was transferred to offshore accounts that we might never—”

“Wait. What do you mean, some of it? How much? Isn’t it all—” She caught herself, covered by sniffling into her tissue. “I mean, why would anyone take only some of Spence’s money? If they were going to rob him, why not take it all?”

“We’re not sure. His computers were all wiped clean, but our techs found data left on the memory card inside his scanner. That’s how we were able to follow the money, at least in part. It appears that Spencer purchased six million dollars’ worth of gold that is untraceable.”

She blinked at that. “Spencer did? I don’t understand.”

“I’m afraid that’s not all.” Luka took a breath. “The medical examiner says that Spencer showed no signs of cancer.”

“No. No. That’s impossible…” She trailed off, her gaze searching the room as if seeking answers.

“Not only that, but Spencer shows no signs of ever having cancer. Not now or in the past.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and Leah realized something big was coming—something he wanted to see Tassi’s reaction to. “He lied to you, didn’t he?”

She shook her head. “Spencer wouldn’t, he didn’t—” Then she nodded. “But he did, didn’t he? He lied to me. But then, why? Why would he kill himself?”

“We don’t believe that he did. Spencer was unconscious but still breathing when someone put him in the SUV and turned the engine on.”

“Unconscious? Was he drugged?” She shook her head vehemently. “No. Spencer would never take drugs.”

“No drugs. He sustained a head injury. That’s what killed him, not the carbon monoxide.”

Tassi gasped. She gripped Leah’s hand, her entire body going rigid. “Someone killed Spencer? And stole six million dollars?” She shook her head, her mouth gaping, the expression so unflattering that Leah was convinced this was an honest emotion. More than confused or shocked, Tassi was utterly flummoxed. “Who?” she demanded. “Who killed him? And where’s my money?”

Luka waited, gesturing for Leah to take over. “Did Spencer have any