Deep Blue Forever (Deep Blue Series) (7 page)

             
"He's been murdered and they think I did it?" She is repeating herself over and over, but at least she is breathing calmer.  I set her down at the kitchen table and start to make her a cup of tea. 

             
"Ethan," I yell and he comes in the kitchen.  "Sit with her. I need to talk to Sam.  Keep her as calm as you can."  I order handing him the hot water and the tea bag. 

             
"OK," he says with no argument, going to sit by Aubrey.  He starts talking to her and I see her smile. 

             
"You thinking Michelle?"  Sam asks right off, and I nod. 

             
"Aubrey has been with me since she got off the plane, so at least she has an alibi. But they said they have some hard evidence, enough to arrest her."  I look at Sam for help. 

             
"She has an awesome attorney, and she didn't do it.  There's no way they can hold her.  If they try, she can post bail," Sam says calmly.

             
"Right. She needs to avoid stress, you know, with the baby."  This is my true concern.  I know she didn't do it, and I'm sure whatever evidence they think they have will be thrown out by her attorney. 

             
On the way to the station I called Rex to fill him in. Even though I just told him his father was murdered, and they had evidence pointing to Aubrey, the only thing that came out of his mouth was how was his baby girl doing.  He didn't care about anything except Aubrey, and I told him I would let him know what they had found after we knew what was going on. 

             
"Did they find the tape?" He asked quietly before hanging up. 

             
"I don't know mate, I don't know," is all I can say to the very guilt stricken sounding Rex Olsen. 

              We meet Dan Rivers outside the police station.  He was William Jackson's lawyer and had pretty much assumed the role of Aubrey's lawyer also.  She liked him and wanted to keep him on retainer. 

             
"It doesn't look good, Aubrey, I spoke with the DA already.  They have the murder weapon. It was a gun registered to your father that would have been kept at the mansion," he says talking in a low voice to both of us on the steps of the New York Police Department.

             
"I've never seen a gun there, and I have never even shot a gun." Aubrey spits out going from shocked to pissed. I know when my girl is pissed, everyone needs to watch out.

             
"Well that fact will do you no favors. Whoever shot Jim Olsen made it look like it was the first time they had ever fired a gun.  It was messy, taking six shots before the lethal blow," Dan says making Aubrey madder. 

             
"Tandi and Matt were in the house for over three months. They could've taken the gun.  What does my father's will say if something happens to me, like going to jail for murder, where does the money go?"  Of course just like that, Aubrey is trying to figure out who in the world would have framed her for murder.  We already know Michelle has been in contact with Tandi. 

             
"If something happens to you, Aubrey, all the liquid assets are put into a trust for any children you may have.  The shares of the company are absorbed back into the company.  Tandi would have no reason to set you up for murder.  If you don't have children, the money goes to orphanages around the country.  She will never see a dime no matter what the scenario," Dan explains to us. 

             
"OK, but she hates me.  She could have sold the gun to Michelle.  Make sure she is questioned, Dan."  She orders him, and I have a proud smile on my face.

             
"Of course, you know for never having met your father, you are just like him."  Dan saying that doesn't do him any favors, because right now my hormonal girl is not a fan of her father.

             
"Did they find the tape?"  She asks through pursed lips. 

             
"Yes, it was playing on a loop when the body was found," he says gently.

             
"Where is it now?" She asks, and I can see her panic for a moment. 

             
"It's in evidence in case this goes to trial."  Shit, there is that look I hate. The look of panic at the thought of how many people are going to be watching this tape before it is all over.  I'm sure I have the same panicked look on my face.

             
"Let's get this over with," she says, following Dan into the station with a firm grip on my hand.  She is squeezing it like I am going to drift away.  I wrap my arm around her tiny waist and pull her tight to me so she knows I am here. 
I'm not going anywhere, baby
.

              The first question is that they want to know where she was the night of the murder.  They had a time of death around midnight, the night she arrived from Denver. After the Michelle incident, we arrived at the castle at around 11:00 pm.  Her alibi was me.  Even though we had security footage to prove that she had never left the house, they weren't quite convinced that I was an airtight alibi.  Since I was in security, they said that security tapes could be altered. 

             
They said they had enough evidence to keep Aubrey as a person of interest, but with some fast work on Dan's part they made a deal with the DA.  Aubrey would surrender her passport and pay the million dollar bond, but she could not leave New York.  Thank God for Dan, because there was no way in hell my girl was going to be spending the night in jail. 

              Arriving back at the house, Aubrey is handling things very well.  I went ahead and sent the jet to pick up Miry. I think some girl time will be good for her.

             
"Miry!" Aubrey says when she sees her, going to her to give her a big hug.  "I'm so glad you are here."  She beams at her and they take off into the kitchen clucking like hens, Miry admiring the new rock on her finger.

             
"And to think, he was in New York this whole time. He rented the apartment two months ago under a different name." I can't believe he was so close the whole time, and that Michelle was the one that drew him out.

             
"What was the evidence?" Sam asks as we go into the office off the den. I need a drink.  Pouring Sam and me a shot of whiskey, I explain about the gun. 

             
"It's scary. I have no doubt in my mind that Michelle killed Jim Olsen using Aubrey's dad's gun.  How much further will she go with this?" I down the shot, and pour another.  "Now we can't even leave New York. I feel helpless."

             
"First thing tomorrow I will pay a visit to Ms. Tandi Jackson.  I'll make sure that she knows it's in her best interest to tell the truth about the gun," Sam says sitting in one of the high back leather chairs.

             
"We have around the clock security here.  This place is locked up like a fortress.  There is no way she is getting in here, mate."  Sam is trying to get me to calm down, but it's not working.  If it were anyone else besides Michelle I'd say we were fine, but I've seen her in action, and she is mission mode right now.  Nothing will stop her from completing her mission. 

             
"We need to keep her as calm as possible no matter what." Because now I'm not just protecting my girl, I'm protecting our child.

Chapter 11

Aubrey

             
Rex showed up the next day. He had received a call from NYPD about two minutes after Ian had called him.  Being Jim Olsen's only next of kin, he had to come I.D. the body as a formality.  He went straight from the airport to the station before he came to the castle.

             
"I hope you are not getting yourself worked up, baby girl," Rex says as he gives me one of his bear hugs.  

             
"I'm taking good care of her," Ian says, all but pulling me away from Rex's embrace. 

             
"I'm sorry, Rex," I tell him. Even though I know he hated his father, it still has to be hard for him. 

             
"Looked like the bastard got just what he deserved," he says deadpan, not even flinching.  "I'm more worried about you. Do they really think you killed him?" 

             
"I think they know I didn't, but until they have proof that I have never had possession of the gun, they have to follow procedure.  At least, that is what Dan is saying." 

             
"Whatever you need me to do, just let me know."  He tells me as we go into the kitchen. 

             
"So, Heidi?  Were you guys in L.A.? Was she mad you had to leave her again for me?" 

             
"No she wasn't.  I don't know, baby girl, this one's different," Rex says looking down at the counter flicking his finger over the shinny marble.

             
"Well, Rex Olsen, I do believe you are smitten," I tease, and Ian laughs standing beside me. 

             
"Has someone been hit with cupid's arrow?"  Ian says, and I can't help but notice the happy look on Ian's face.

             
"She's pretty cool, not to mention gorgeous as hell," he says grabbing a beer from the fridge, handing one to Ian also.  Flipping off the cap, he takes a long drink. 

             
"No denying, that's something."  I know now that Rex might have found his one.  I've never seen him like this. 

             
"Well, when it's right, it's right.  You know what I am talking about." He gives me a wink and nods at Ian. 

             
Rex left that night seeing that everything is under control as much as it can be.  Truthfully, I think he was anxious to get back to Heidi. 

             
I went to bed early that night, being exhausted.  Part of the pregnancy thing. Once there, though, I was wide awake.  I laid in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind on everything from the baby, to Michelle.

             
"You still awake, baby?" Ian enters the bedroom grabbing the back of his t-shirt, pulling it off as he stands by the bed.  "I thought you'd be sound asleep by now," he says while shrugging out of his jeans, leaving him looking magnificent in his black boxer briefs. 

             
"I couldn't sleep, too much running through my mind," I tell him, twirling a strand of hair as I admire the view coming from the bathroom, where he is now brushing his teeth.

             
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks turning around, his voice muffled by the toothbrush in his mouth.  He sees the look in my eyes as I move them over his glorious body, and he gives me one of his panty dropping winks and his dimple smile.

             
"Not really, I can think of something else I would like to do to get my mind off things."  I now have the tip of my index finger in my mouth and I throw the blankets off his side of the bed inviting him to join me.

             
"That's my girl," he says rinsing out his mouth. With a running jump, he is on the bed.  I am tousled about by the impact.

             
"So what did you have in mind, beautiful?"  Ian asks lying on his side with his head propped up on one elbow. He takes his index finger and lifts up the hem of my silk nightie. 

             
"Oh, I don't know, maybe some of this." I go to him and start to kiss his chest, moving to his neck before I take his lips with mine.  He moves in claiming my mouth, slipping his tongue between my lips with his passionate expert kiss. His kisses do things to my body that have me wet and ready in no time.  He doesn't take long to find out just how ready I am for him.

             
"I love how wet you get for me, baby." He growls, moving his hand under my panties he finds my center, making every worry and thought in my mind disappear.

             
"You do things to me, baby," I moan into his mouth. 

             
"Ditto, baby."  He groans pushing his very hard erection into my thigh.

             
About an hour later, we are lying in each other's arms panting and exhausted.  I fall asleep fast after that, warm and safe tucked into Ian's strong, hard body.

             
              I awake in the middle of the night.  It feels like there is someone watching me. I get the same feeling as I did on the plane and the little hairs on my neck stand up. I look over at Ian who is sound asleep lying on his stomach, one hand draped over my belly.  The room is dark, just a dim light from the night light in the bathroom.  I prop myself up on my eyebrows and try to focus.  I don't hear anything, just get the weird feeling that someone else is in the room.