Honor Bound

Ben’s words kept hammering in Kelly’s head. He didn’t really think she was involved in Harvey’s and Simon’s deaths, did he? Mitch hadn’t owned a gun and she’d never even touched one herself. Besides, what would she have to gain? No one would kill two people just to sell a few more books.

Kelly locked herself in her office and took out her cell phone. “Henry?” she said when he answered, her voice higher than normal.

“Kelly, are you all right?”

“Not really.”

The story came spilling out. She didn’t want to get between Ben and his uncle, but she needed someone to listen and she couldn’t let Henry and Gina learn about Griffin Bell’s identity from Ben. At least her husband’s family already knew; she’d insisted on paying her father-in-law’s recent medical bills and they’d asked where she’d gotten the money, thinking she was putting herself into debt for them.

“It’s okay,” Henry soothed at the end of her frantic explanation. “The police have to explore every angle, no matter how ridiculous.”

Kelly recalled Ben’s expression—angry, but not necessarily suspicious. She might have overreacted…perhaps because deep down it hurt that he might even wonder if she was involved. His distrustful nature had been a problem even when they were children. The day they’d met he’d assumed she was trespassing in his uncle’s yard; it hadn’t occurred to him that she had a right to be there. It was the side of Ben that she disliked the most.

Sometimes it was hard to believe the way she’d behaved that last summer, so crazy in love she was ready to break every rule she’d ever made for herself. The way Ben had kissed her, touched her, every breathless, heart-pounding moment of being in love for the first time…the temptation had been nearly irresistible.

God, she wouldn’t go back to being eighteen for the world.

“I would have explained if he’d said he wanted to question the author of the books,” she said slowly.

“I know you would have. And your novels are terrific. Gina and I will be fighting over who gets to be president of the Griffin Bell fan club.”

“Please don’t make a fuss.”

“You deserve a fuss. Kelly, honey, why did you keep it secret?”

She sighed. “I didn’t plan to, but the manuscript for Deep Water sold right after Mitch died. It was so unimportant in comparison to losing him, and I just couldn’t get excited without him there to share it with me. Later, with all the sex in the stories, I realized everyone would think of Shanna and figure it was a case of ‘like mother, like daughter.’ Sand Point is so conservative. The whole thing escalated with the murders and I kept hoping they’d be solved and my novels would be forgotten. Especially by the mayor. You’ve heard him talk about the books as if they’re pornographic.”

“Phillip Stone pretends babies are found under cabbage leaves.”

She let out a choked laugh. “Yeah. He’ll probably fire me when he finds out I wrote them.”

“He doesn’t have the authority,” Henry said firmly. “And he can’t afford to offend Max Lawson’s daughter-in-law. Max would run for office again if it meant protecting you, and Phillip knows he wouldn’t stand a chance against Max. Stone only got in because of that midterm election. It was by default and he knows it.”

Henry wasn’t exaggerating. Her father-in-law had resigned after his son’s death, too devastated to do anything else, but he was still popular.

“Your mother had a good heart, Kelly. That’s what counts. As for what some people might think…they aren’t worth worrying about. I’m sure the Lawsons are as proud as I am.”

“They seemed pleased. They don’t need to be concerned, but that hasn’t stopped them from fretting over my future.”

They chatted a few minutes longer before she said goodbye.

Henry’s assurances helped. Kelly worried too much about what people thought, but she’d never wanted Mitch or his parents to be embarrassed because of her. The Lawsons had always been kind, though in the beginning they must have wondered what sort of wife their son was getting.

She’d wondered.

What had she known about being a wife and member of such a squeaky-clean, American-as-apple-pie family?

Her cell phone beeped with a text message from Viv. Noon press Conf. Hizonor and Ben had hrt 2 hrt. B hated Hzs last memo.

Kelly made a face. Ben again.

And yet a shot of adrenaline went through her. He would undoubtedly reveal her identity as the author of the Deep books. She couldn’t blame him. Being able to say something was better than “no comment.”

At noon she resolutely walked down to the room where the mayor held his press conferences. Facing the questions directly was the smartest move, but she wasn’t looking forward to it.

BEN’S EYEBROWS ROSE WHEN he saw Kelly in the back of the room. Her chin tilted defiantly and he was torn between admiration and irritation.

He’d just finished talking to his uncle about Kelly. Henry’s ire had reached new heights, but he’d eventually calmed down and asked Ben not to say she’d written the Deep books. Henry and Gina weren’t entirely reasonable when it came to Kelly, though they hadn’t needed to worry—there was no point in revealing her identity, and some benefit to keeping it confidential. If someone was copycatting the murders in her novels it was probably for thrills and attention, and Ben didn’t want to feed the situation.