I leap from my desk and burst out through the door, shocked when I find Lance directing the officers to Asher's classroom. "Lance, what's going on?" I ask, chasing after them. When I get too close, one of the officers holds me back while another leads Asher from the room. There are no cuffs, which is a good sign, but they must have something on him.
I gasp at what's happening. "Please don't tell me this is some kind of revenge for me not agreeing to marry you."
Shaking his head, he turns and laughs. "Harlyn. Now that I see the real you, I'm glad you didn't. This is about Catarina. She went missing the night of the ball. The three of us were the last ones to see her, and since you're here, Officer Johnson, please bring Miss Aldridge along with us. She should be questioned, as well."
My eyes flit to Asher, and he creases his brows. "Leave her out of this." His pleas go unanswered, and I know at that moment this is Lance's doing. I'm sure of it, and I'm not letting him get away with it. "I need to get my bag," I tell him.
"Officer Johnson, can you please get Miss Aldridge's bag from Math class?"
"Yessir." He lets go of my arm and heads into the classroom.
In my dreamlike state of freedom, I rush past Lance and surround Asher in my arms. Not missing a beat, he wraps his own around my back and pulls me in tight. The entire hall erupts with gasps and murmurs from the other students who've gathered. One of the jocks even shouting out, "Get you some of that, Mr. Harrington."
The gasps turn to laughter and whistles that get quickly shut down.
"That's enough," Lance says, pulling us apart, but not before I place a kiss on Asher's lips. My actions earn more excitement from the surrounding crowd, but also Lance's tightened grip on my arm. "Let's go."
Chapter Eighteen
Winston Asher Harrington
Current day…
"Can you tell us the last time you saw Miss Mills?" Lance asks.
It's a question if answered honestly could put my job at risk. I consider telling them the last time I saw her was in class, but that's not the truth. Against the recommendation of my lawyer not to say anything until he got here, I answer, "You should know Lance; you were there." This throws him off, and he looks to the other officer. "Remember, at the charity ball? After Harlyn went one way and I another, I'd say that left only you alone with Catarina." I slide the picture back across the table. "Maybe you did this. I turn my attention to the other detective and find his glare pinned on Lance. "Have you checked the video footage at the city hall?"
"Don't say another word." My family's long-time lawyer instructs as he strolls through the door. Dressed in an expensive Italian suit and his presence is like a slap in the face to both detectives. "This impromptu interrogation stops now. Any further questions you may have can be arranged through me." He turns a hard stare on the older man. "Detective Winslow, I thought you would've known better. Mr. Harrington, get up; you're free to go."
I want to rush out of here like the whole department is on fire, but I'm not sure what Lance is capable of. With his face beginning to shade red, any quick movement may send him into a frenzy and leave me with a gunshot wound. Instead, I exit the room at a snail's pace.
As my lawyer and I exit the building, I place a hand on his arm, stopping our descent down the police station steps. "I want to see Harlyn."
"In due time, Winston. She's back home with her parents. They've provided a solid alibi for her, and she's out of the woods, but for now, I'd recommend you keep your distance. I suspect they're going to find one of their own was the culprit here. As for his motivation, I'm sure that will be determined in due time. Let's get you home and out of the public eye until all this blows over.
Epilogue
Three months later…our wedding day.
Standing at the altar, my hands shake from nerves at the anticipation of seeing her walk down the aisle. It's not the best timing as she's starting to show, but we both wanted to get married before the baby came. When she found out the doctor had told us there's always that one percent chance of getting pregnant while on birth control.
Both her parents and The Society had reacted better than I'd expected. Created between founding families, I suspect they're happy this baby will carry on both the Aldridge and Harrington names.
Harlyn, of course, was overly excited that both hers and Quinn babies would turn out to be around the same age. And they already have play dates planned and double the baby showers.
As for Lance. It's a sad story. He was found guilty of Catarina's rape and murder, with the help of his friend Danny. His motives were clear; he was using her to separate Harlyn and me from being together because if I was out of the picture, he could win her back, marry her and then collect the inheritance once she'd had an "accident."
When his plan went south, he decided to kill Catarina and blame her death on me. The one thing he overlooked; she was a society kid. While it ultimately didn't save her life, she had learned one golden rule—always have a backup plan. In this case, it was a recording device on a broach clipped to her skirt.
With each thrust, he was incriminating himself over and over. It sickened my stomach to hear, and I refused to let Harlyn anywhere near the recording. She's allowed the last memory of Lance as him proposing to her, but I'll not let her know what he did to
