Chapter Seventy-One
Sutton stared at her phone for another ring before answering, putting it on speaker as Keira had requested.
“Uncle Peter?” Sutton’s voice was perfectly pitched. It was shaky, like she’d been crying.
“Sutton.” Peter’s voice came through the speaker, and Blair felt her skin crawl at the fake concern in his tone. “I just heard about Blair. I’m so sorry, honey. How are you and Keira holding up?”
Blair watched her sisters’ faces. Sutton had gone pale, and Keira was gripping the arms of her chair so tight her knuckles were white.
“We only found out a little while ago ourselves and didn’t get a chance to call... we’re not doing well,” Sutton managed. “I can’t believe she’s gone. It happened so fast.”
“I know, sweetheart. I know. Your aunt and I tried to get to the hospital, but they said...” Peter’s voice trailed off. “They said she’d already been moved to the morgue.”
“The doctors said her brain started swelling during the night,” Keira jumped in, her voice thick with manufactured grief. “They couldn’t stop it.”
“Oh, girls. I’m so sorry. Blair was so young, so full of life.” There was a pause. “Have you talked to Roman? How is he handling this? We didn’t have his number to call ourselves.”
Blair looked at Roman, who was studying the phone with cold eyes.
“He’s devastated,” Sutton said. “He loved her so much. We headed to his place the moment we heard. We are here now. He didn’t want to be alone, and neither did we.”
“Of course, of course. You girls shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.” Peter’s voice was getting smoother now, more confident. “What about arrangements? The funeral?”
“We haven’t... we don’t know what to do,” Keira said, and Blair was impressed by how broken she sounded. “We’ve never had to plan anything like this before.”
“Don’t worry about that. Your aunt and I will help with everything. Blair deserves a beautiful service.” Peter paused. “I hope you girls aren’t worrying about money right now. I want to let you know we will cover everything.”
Blair felt Roman’s hand tighten on hers.
“No, it’s ok Peter,” Sutton said quietly. “Roman wants to pay for everything.”
“Of course, yes, I should have thought. You girls are strong, just like your parents were.” His voice was gentle, paternal. “And remember, your aunt and I are here to help however we can. Within reason, of course.”
“What do you mean, within reason?” Keira asked.
“Well, it’s just a saying, of course. I didn’t mean anything by it. The business is doing well because of my investments.”
Blair wanted to throw something. How dare he. This man stole from them and most likely killed their parents to get hold of their money. As far as Blair was concerned, he could keep the money if only they could have their parents back.
Sutton said, her voice hollow, “We’re lucky Roman will cover everything. We can’t afford much these days.”
“I know. But that’s all behind us now. The important thing is giving Blair the send-off she deserves.” Peter’s voice was casual now, almost cheerful. “She may not have had much in the end, but she had love.”
“Uncle Peter,” Keira said suddenly, “can I ask you something?”
“Of course, sweetheart. Anything.”
“Do you really think Blair’s accident was just an accident? I mean, she said some weird things lately about feeling like someone was following her, plus the two near misses.”
The line went quiet for several seconds. Blair could practically hear Peter thinking.
“What kind of things?” he asked finally, and his voice was different now. Sharper.
“Just paranoid stuff, probably. But she said she thought someone was watching her. And there was that thing with that car almost running her over and then that thing with the concrete almost falling on her head.”
“I’m sure it was just coincidence. Blair was probably just stressed with the end of her engagement to Dan and then getting engaged to Roman.” Peter’s voice was smooth again, but Blair caught the undertone of something else. Relief? “These things happen in the city. Random, you know.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Keira said, backing off. “It’s just hard to accept that it was all so random, you know? First our parents, now Blair...”
Another pause. Longer this time.
“Life is unpredictable, girls. Sometimes terrible things just happen to good people.” Peter’s voice was almost philosophical. “Your parents’ plane crash, Blair’s accident—there’s no rhyme or reason to it sometimes.”
Blair felt sick. The casual way he mentioned their parents’ deaths, like they were just another example of bad luck instead of murder.
“I suppose you’re right,” Sutton said quietly. “It’s just so hard. We have lost so much.”
“I know it is. But you girls still have each other, and you have your aunt and me. We’re family.” Peter’s voice was warm again, protective. “We’ll get through this together, just like we did after your parents died.”
Blair felt like snorting. They hadn’t helped, they had not supported them at all. They had been the reason why she and her sisters were where they were today. It was because of greed.
Blair saw Roman’s jaw clenched so tight Blair thought it might break.
“Uncle Peter,” Sutton said carefully, “sometimes I wonder... do you think our parents would be proud of how we’ve all managed? After losing everything?”
“Oh, sweetheart, of course they would. Your parents always knew that money wasn’t everything. They’d be proud that you girls have stayed strong, even after... well, even after all the financial troubles came to light.”
“You mean the debts?” Keira asked. “The ones that took everything?”
“Exactly. It was hard on all of us when we discovered how bad things really were. But we got through it.” Peter’s voice held a note of satisfaction that made Blair’s skin crawl. “Sometimes these things are blessings in disguise. Builds character.”
Blair looked around the room. Roman’s face was murderous. Sutton looked like she was going to be sick. And Keira was staring at the phone like it was a snake.
“I guess you’re right,” Sutton managed. “We’ve learned to live without much.”
“And look how well you’ve done! Blair found love with Roman. You girls are making your own way in the world...” Peter’s voice was filled with fake pride. “Your parents would be so proud.”
“They would have loved to see Blair get married,” Keira said softly. There really were tears in Keira’s eyes.
“I’m sure they would have. Though I suppose now...” Peter trailed off. “Well, no point in dwelling on what might have been.”
Blair wanted to scream at his casual dismissal of her ‘life.’
“Uncle Peter,” Sutton said, “will you speak at the funeral? About our family?”
“Of course, sweetheart. It would be an honor.” Peter’s voice was confident now, in control. “I’ll share some memories about Blair, and your parents, too. About how much they loved you girls.”
“That would mean everything to us,” Keira said. “We don’t have much family left.”
“You have your aunt and me and Laura. That’s not nothing.” Peter’s tone was almost condescending. “We’re here for emotional support.”
“Thank you, Uncle Peter,” Sutton said. “We love you.” She pulled a face, finding it hard to say.
“I love you too. Both of you. I know things haven’t also been easy. Try to get some rest tonight. We’ll talk tomorrow about the arrangements.”
The line went dead.
For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Keira exploded.
“What a fucking psychopath!” she snarled, jumping up from her chair. “Did you hear that? ‘Money isn’t everything’ and ‘builds character’? The bastard stole our inheritance and then gives us life lessons about it!”
“The way he talked about our parents,” Sutton said, her voice shaking. “Like their deaths were just bad luck, and their ‘debts’ were some kind of moral failing.”
Roman was still staring at his phone. “Peters got all of it. That conversation, combined with the financial evidence we’re gathering, should be enough to get a warrant. We will get the prove we need. The FBI is going to raid his house during the funeral.”
“But not enough to convict him of murder, only fraud and embezzlement and attempted murder.” Blair said quietly. “We still need him to confess to killing our parents.”
“And he will,” Roman said, looking up at her with deadly certainty. “Because his arrogance is going to be his downfall. Did you hear how comfortable he got? How he couldn’t resist reminding you guys that you have nothing?”
“He thinks we’re broken,” Keira said, still pacing angrily. “Poor little rich girls who lost everything and can barely survive. God, I can’t wait to show him how wrong he is.”
“It will work,” he said. “He’s taking the bait. He now isn’t stressed about Sutton and Keira because he thinks they don’t know anything.”
“So what happens now?” Sutton asked.
“Now we let him think he’s won completely,” Blair said. “And we plan the most dramatic resurrection in history.”
“I can’t wait,” Keira said, her anger shifting into something colder, more focused. “Uncle Peter is about to learn what happens when you steal from the Warner sisters.”
Blair looked around at their faces from Roman’s protective fury, Sutton’s quiet determination, Keira’s righteous anger and felt something settle in her chest. They were going down. It may not bring their parents back, but at least they can rest in peace.
They were going to get him. All of them working together.
Peter Warner had no idea what was coming for him and maybe auntie Viv.