Unspoken 3 (3 page)

There was a silence on the phone and I heard Cain’s voice. “Jennifer? Jennifer? What’s going on?”

I ran to the car, threw everything on the passenger seat, climbed in and locked the door. I could feel the tears building. “He won’t stop. He’s texting me, more pictures… he’s here.”

“Jennifer, where are you? Is he with you? Do you see him?” The panic in Cain’s voice was mixed with anger.

“No, I’m in my car. I’m Ok. He sent me pictures of my mother, my father and then he sent a picture of me, leaving the elevator. He was here, Cain, in the building.” I put the keys in the ignition with shaking hands and flung it into gear.

“Get out of there! Go to my house, I’ll have my housekeeper meet you… Jennifer?”

“Alright, alright. I’m going now.” Cain continued to calm me down as I drove to his house. I constantly looked in the mirror for following cars, or anything out of the ordinary. I managed to convince Cain to let me hang up so I could tell Reese what was going on.

              True to his word, Cain had the house open when I got there. The housekeeper left and I tapped in the security code that Cain sent me via text into the alarm pad. I didn’t know how long he would be, but I hoped I would stop shaking before he got there. I took the liberty of pouring myself a drink—not wine but whiskey—from the bar in the living room. I texted him to let him know I was in the house, I was safe, and that he shouldn’t cancel his meeting. I was beginning to feel as if I were a constant and growing problem for him.

Maybe I should leave. Maybe I should just call the police.
I stared at myself in the mirror behind the bar. My tear streaked face and raccoon eyes stared back at me. I wondered if, after all of this, I had done the right thing. I knew better. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Cain.
This was supposed to be a fling.
I should have walked away the moment I found out Cain was my client. I cursed Aimee for pushing me in this direction, and then realized it was me that wanted it. I wanted Cain.

He had it all. He was ridiculously handsome, with a perfect face, gorgeous hair and a glorious body. He had connections, wealth and came from a distinguished, old family. I wiped the tears from my face, still staring at myself. I was the unremarkable daughter of a remarkable attorney; I had managed to get a degree but I had an uncertain career path ahead of me. In so many ways, Cain and I weren’t a good match at all—I had all the advantages.

I slung back the rest of the whiskey and poured another. I kicked off my shoes, took off my jacket and placed them next to my purse. With the crystal glass in my hand, I strolled around the lower level of the house, looking at pictures, awards and interesting artifacts that Cain had collected. His parents looked happy, proud and very involved in their son’s life.

I could feel the warmth of the whiskey calming me as I strolled through the house. I glanced down at my phone and opened the text messages from earlier. The eerie feeling of a stranger prying into my private life unsettled me. I looked at the picture of my mother and I and smiled. I missed her. I scrolled to the picture of my father and I, noting the fake smile on his face.

Eventually I walked back to the living room, put on some soft jazz and stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the river. I remembered the first time I had been here, our first evening together.

“Jennifer! Where are you?” Cain’s voice echoed through the vast living room out to the balcony.

I quickly tried to wipe my tears and streaks away. “I’m out here!” I stared out at the river, not wanting to face him.

He strode on to the balcony, hugged me from behind and kept his arms around my waist. “How are you? Did you call Reese?”

“I did. I let him know and then came right here. I’m sure he’s on it, and I have no doubt that he’s let Detective Jackson know.” I leaned my head back on Cain, closing my eyes, enjoying feeling his strength.

“Jennifer, I’m sorry for all this. I never meant to put you in harm’s way. If I had any idea that this would happen—that you would be in danger—I would have never asked you to dance. I’m sorry.” His voice was low and soft. I spun around in his arms.

“Don’t say that! You don’t know this is because of you. It’s not your fault, and for the record, I don’t regret that dance at all. As a matter of fact, I was thinking that maybe I’m the one bringing you all this bad luck. Besides, we would have met regardless.” My vision blurred and my voice shook.

“Would it surprise you to know that I think about you all the time? Whether I’m sitting in a meeting or talking with a business partner, all I can think about is you… what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, when I’ll see you again. I guess that makes you my weakness, but I like it. I want that, I want you.” Cain leaned down and kissed me passionately. I could tell he meant what he said. His fingers rubbed my cheek and he gazed at me longingly. “Are we clear on this now? I want you, Jennifer.”

I smiled, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders; I put my arms around his neck. “I got it.” I kissed him gently. “Thank you. I’ll be right back, let me freshen up a bit, I’m sure I look awful.”

“Never, Jennifer.” Cain kissed me back gently and I slipped away, leaving him on the balcony alone.

I returned and stood just inside the doorway, hidden partially behind the curtains, dressed only in my sapphire bra and panties. “Is this better?”

Cain turned and smiled. “I love looking at you.” He moved toward the doorway, guiding me just inside the house, and then sat on the long white lounge.

As seductively as I could, I reached behind me and released the hooks on my bra. The evening breeze rushing through the open door brushed my skin; I felt alive and beautiful. Cain sat and watched me, still smiling but looking a little more serious now. He stretched his arms out to me and I cautiously stepped outside and sat in his lap, half leaning against him. Cain’s hand caressed my breast and he kissed my neck.

I unbuttoned his shirt with clumsy fingers. The buzz of the whisky had fully set in. I pulled his shirt out of his trousers and rubbed my hands over his warm skin. I wanted him so badly. I swung my legs around, straddling him—I could tell he wanted me too. I fumbled with his belt and pants as he finally assisted me, exposing his form fitting briefs, leaving nothing to my imagination.

This time, I was going to be in control. I felt no inhibition, something I hadn’t felt in so long. It felt good to forget about everything and let loose. To finally be the one controlling the situation.

I kissed Cain with all I had and reached down, revealing him to me. Trembling with excitement, I welcomed him inside me with a moan, sliding my sapphire panties to the side. I put my hands in his hair, feeling its silkiness in my hands. He clamped his hands around my waist, guiding my movements. My back arched and I could feel my thick hair dangling down my back, touching my bottom. “Jennifer!” His hands tried to direct my body, but I pulled them away and continued to keep the pace. I could feel his excitement rising and we moved more intensely. Suddenly, Cain shuddered and I slowed. I felt his release, which excited me even more. He showered my breasts with kisses and I continued until I joined him in ecstasy.

I laid my head on his chest, listening to his heart race. I slowly slid beside him as he wrapped his arms around me. The stress and tension of the day had melted away.

Cain carried me to his bedroom and we finally passed out between`` his satin sheets. I slept without nightmares and the stress of the day before was, at least temporarily, set aside. My dark hair swirled around the pillow and I lay there, enjoying listening to Cain breathe. I watched his perfectly sculpted chest rise and fall with each breath.

Without opening his eyes he murmured, “Good morning.”

I tucked in close to him, wrapping my leg around his. “Morning.” I was still limp from yesterday, the night of passion wearing on my body. I smiled and Cain stroked my hair.

“What’s for breakfast?” I stroked his chest with my fingers.

“I can think of something…” Cain bit his lip and looked down at me.

I laughed aloud and sat up, looking at him. “You must be kidding.” He pulled me toward him and showed me that he wasn’t.

After our morning interlude, we showered and dressed quickly.

“Pancakes?” Cain asked as he began pulling out the ingredients. It reminded me of the last time he tried to cook for me, before I stormed off in the early morning hours. Everything seemed so different, so long ago.

I set the breakfast table; it was nice getting to know where everything was in Cain’s home and I enjoyed feeling like a couple. I vaguely remembered the feelings I had last night, about not wanting to be in this relationship—or at least the bad part of it.

Breakfast was interrupted by a call from Ashley. Her timing was always impeccable, and now each time Cain received a call or message from her I could feel my anxiety level increase.

“Morning, Ashley…” I could hear the ever-frantic Ashley chattering away on the other end of the phone. “Ok, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Cain stared at me while he spoke, his face going pale. “No, they can stay in the lobby, not in my office. I’m on my way.”

Cain reached for the remote and turned on the flat screen mounted in the kitchen. A picture of Alice Bennett was on the screen as the reporter concluded her report.

“…again, details are murky right now and police are not elaborating on the circumstances, other than the fact that Alice Bennett, CEO of Pegasus, has been found dead in her home. We will bring you more details as we receive them. This is ....”

Cain turned off the television and I could see he was upset. Tears slowly pooled in his bright blue eyes and I stood to get closer to him. He reached around, hugging me at the waist, still sat at the table. It was the first time I had seen the otherwise unbreakable man crack.

“Cain, I’m so sorry.” Nothing I could have said would have eased the pain.

“The police are at the office. They want to speak with me. I should go.”

“Well, that’s to be expected, right? I’m going with you. If they ask, we’ll tell them I’m from the law firm that represents you.” I was sliding on my jacket and shoes from yesterday. He didn’t argue; he just kissed me and we left our retreat behind.

On the drive to Vawter, I called Dad. “Hey, Dad, listen, I’m headed to the office with Cain... Yes. I’ve just heard that the police want to talk to him. No, I don’t have any other details, I think it would be good to have someone there …yes, I can do that. Okay, I’ll keep you posted.” I tapped the phone off and followed Cain’s car into the parking lot. He slid his car into an empty spot and I pulled in beside him.

We walked in together and I coached him under my breath. “Be friendly, but not overly friendly. Try not to get defensive. I’ll be right there, alright? Dad said if you get uncomfortable, ask for your lawyer. If you go in with one you look guilty, or like you’re hiding something.”

“I’ll be fine, Jennifer. I just want to get through this and help them find whoever did this to Alice.” Cain was abrupt; angered and saddened all at the same time.

Detective Jackson and a few other officers were waiting in the lobby as we entered. “I’m sorry, I got here as quickly as I could,” Cain greeted them.

“Mr. Parker, your name has been coming up quite a bit lately, and never the same thing. First the break-in, and now this.” Detective Jackson didn’t waste any time getting to the meat of the conversation.

“Are they connected, detective?” Cain quipped back just as quickly.

“Right now, the only connection is you, Mr. Parker. We’d like to ask you a few questions. If you would like to talk somewhere more private…?” Some of the employees were nervously standing around, watching for what might happen.

“Sure, we can talk in my office. Do I need legal representation?” Cain’s jaw was taut.

“Not at this time, we just want to ask you a few questions.” 

I followed behind the group, hoping to go unnoticed. “Ms. Dunning, we’d like to speak with Mr. Parker alone for now, if you don’t mind,” Detective Jackson ordered as he met Cain’s eyes.

Cain nodded at me—I took that as my cue to stay behind. I spotted Ashley nearby, so I went to talk with her. “How are you, Ashley”

The tiny blonde poked her chin out proudly but there were large, luminous tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe this is happening. What would I do if something happened to him?” She choked the words out, and others around us began to stare.

“It’s going to be okay, I promise,” I took her gently by the arm and led her into an empty office. I didn’t know whose it was, but Ashley need a moment to compose herself. “What do you know? Have they told you anything?” I swiped a tissue from someone’s desk caddy and handed it to her.

She dabbed at her eyes with fingers tipped with pink manicured nails. “No, they didn’t tell me much, and I sure wasn’t going to tell them anything. I would rather die!” she said with youthful, dramatic flair.

“I wonder why they think Cain would know something… I mean, if Alice Bennett died last night, he couldn’t have killed her. He was with…” The look on her face shut me up. “Well, I just mean, he couldn’t have done it.”

Ashley’s straightened her spine and stared at me. “Ever since Rachel died, I’ve been there for Cain. He was a broken man after it happened. He loved her like a crazy man. Since then, I’ve been the one that picked up his dry cleaning, hired his housekeeper, and rubbed his shoulders when he needed it. I’m the one that has held his hand at her memorial, defended him to everyone, including Dylan. It was me! He might flit about and entertain himself occasionally with
something new,
but I’m always the one that he comes back to. Just remember that, Miss Dunning.”

I withheld my contempt and desire to lash out in anger; I just didn’t have it in me. All I could feel was sympathy. Here was a young woman, living in her dead sister’s shadow, hanging on to something that was long gone.

“We’ve always had a connection. Even when Rachel was alive.” Ashley continued to look at the tissue in her hands and not directly at me.

“Ashley, don’t you think there’s a chance that Cain sees you as a friend, maybe even like his own little sister?” I tried hinting that everything wasn’t as she was seeing it. I wanted her to realize that she believed was real actually wasn’t.

“Never, I know how he feels, how he acts around me. In time he’ll…” Before we could talk further, a confused employee walked into the office to find one woman perched on his desk and another stood awkwardly before her.

“Sorry, Jerry,” Ashley mumbled and we left the room and moved back to the lobby.

I had heard everything I needed. I knew exactly what she believed. Cain’s office door opened and he walked out, escorted by the detectives. He leaned over to me. “I have to go downtown to answer more questions. It’s okay, you go to work. I’ll call you when I’m done.” 

“Are you arresting him, detective?” I was eager to know what they had discussed and the outcome, but knew I wouldn’t get the details from him.

“No, we just have some more questions and feel it would be better to finish this downtown.”

The group of onlookers peered from their offices and a somewhat hysterical Ashley tried to gain Cain’s attention, but to no avail.

I grabbed my purse and walked out after Cain, aggravated that the police department was wasting valuable time not searching for the real killer.