Page 16 of Trust No One

Gabe’s gaze pinned Judson. “What?”

“Maria thought you were having an affair. She thought it was someone from one of your jobs.”

Cops didn’t wait for convenient times to ask difficult questions. Vulnerable moments like this were ideal for catching suspects off guard.

Judson saw Gabe as a suspect.

“That’s insane,” Gabe said. “Why would she think that?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“When did she tell you this?” Gabe asked.

“Dinner last month at your house. You were putting Molly to bed. She asked me if I knew anything about what you were up to.”

Gabe stared at the floor. “I don’t know what she said, but I wasn’t having an affair. With anyone. It’s been tough for us the last year. Financially.”

The accusation was unspoken but clear. He believed I had money that would fix his problems. All he saw was the house and land—not the underlying bills and debt.

“I tried to help her,” I said.

“And then you stopped,” he countered.

“She never told me where the money was going.”

“Why did she have to explain?” Gabe demanded.

“You live rent-free on Hale land. She has a good job. Your expenses don’t make sense.”

Judson watched but said nothing.

Gabe shook his head. “You own five hundred acres of prime land.”

“It’s all in trust. What I sent was from my own pocket.”

“She begged you to break the trust,” he countered.

“Is that why she is suing me?” Bitterness coated the words.

“She isn’t.”

“She is,” I said.

“You’re wrong.”

“Don’t put this on me.” I kept my voice calm, controlled. “She needed a husband who has a job.”

“So, is this a contest to see who let Maria down the most?” Gabe asked.

My father and aunt had argued often about the trust. She wanted Maria included. But he’d refused. Then he’d died. When my aunt died eight years ago, the pressure between the Hale branches only simmered hotter under the surface.

“No one is racing to the bottom,” Judson said. “But I want both of you two to stay out of that room.”

“I’m leaving,” Gabe said. “I have a daughter to protect.”

Judson watched him walk toward the elevators. “I’ll see you later.”

“Where are you going?” I asked Gabe.