Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

The room was a cyclone of voices and activity.

Clinging tightly to the chair, my stomach twisted as I tried not to get lost in the uproar. The world grew fuzzy. Maybe it was the fog. Maybe it was a special effect. I realized it couldn’t have been Chelsea who pressed the charges, whatever they were. Her charges wouldn’t involve the Evanston police or the FBI.

“Sir, step back,” the second officer said to Alton. “I don’t want to have to arrest you too.”

“How dare you talk to me in that tone, in my home, in Savannah…”

Phrases flowed, their volume growing as I tried to follow. If this were a movie, it was poorly scripted. Too many things were happening. Too much to follow.

I thought back to my classes at Columbia. The Savannah police wouldn’t dare enter Montague Manor without evidence. The FBI wouldn’t be involved if they didn’t know something. Yet in all the chaos, I still hadn’t heard the charge.

I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, Officer, what are you charging him with?”

My question caused Bryce to look back my direction. The psychopath from yesterday was gone. In his place was my childhood friend, the boy who was afraid of the fictitious monster living in our lake. The man who’d asked for my help. He looked down at my purse and back to me.

“Alex, you’re a law student. Do something.”

I shook my head. “Evidence?” I asked. “Do you have evidence?”

“Miss,” a female officer said, “we’re not at liberty to discuss anything at this time. Just know that if there weren’t sufficient evidence, we wouldn’t be here tonight. We’re taking Mr. Spencer to the Savannah-Chatham station where he’ll be formally charged.”

“Charged with what?” I tried again.

Detective Means turned toward Alton as Officer Emerson again instructed Bryce to place his hands behind his back. “If there’s another way out of this office rather than through that crowd, we’ll be happy to oblige. We don’t want to make this worse than it is.”

“You don’t want to make it worse,” Alton mocked.

“No, you can’t…” Suzanna cried. “Are the handcuffs really necessary?”

Neither officer responded. It was as if only I heard her words. Maybe she’d slipped into another of Montague Manor’s dimensions.

“Give me a second.” Alton lifted the receiver from the phone on his desk and pushed a button. Almost immediately he started barking orders. “Move everyone to the rear of the house. Clear the hallway and entry. I don’t give a fuck how you do it. Do it now!”

His commands had momentarily sucked the air from the room. We all stood in silence as the receiver slammed against the telephone.

With his hands now secure, Bryce turned toward Suzanna. “Mom, I didn’t. You know I wouldn’t.” He turned my way. “Alex, you know me. Remember what I told you about the last time I was arrested. I can’t do this again.” His pleas went toward Alton. “Get me out of there. Don’t let me spend the night.”

Each time Bryce spoke, Alton’s complexion became a deeper shade of red. “Shut up!”

It was then I noticed Judge Townsend. He’d quietly moved as far away from the mayhem as possible. My guess was that he didn’t want the police to notice him. I waited until the phone on Alton’s desk rang again before I made my way toward the judge.

“The exit is clear,” Alton announced, his entire demeanor seemingly resigned.

“No,” I whispered to Judge Townsend.

His eyes met mine.

“My answer is no. I do not take him as my husband.”

The judge’s lips thinned as he nodded before quickly returning his gaze to the scene before us.

“Alton!” Suzanna pleaded.

“We’ll have Ralph Porter at the station before you get there,” Alton reassured Bryce. “Don’t worry and for God’s sake, don’t say another damn word. Keep your mouth shut. If you do that, you’ll be home tonight with your new wife.”

As Officer Emerson opened the office door to lead Bryce away, the detective turned my way. “Oh, new wife? Mrs. Spencer, I’m so sorry.”

I shook my head. No, this couldn’t be happening.

As her apology faded away, with my arms around my midsection, I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. Behind my closed eyes, the chaos dulled and the footsteps disappeared.

I thought of Nox. I remembered my escape.

Maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe I could still slip away. I imagined easing into the crowd of guests, my presence going unnoticed as they murmured amongst themselves, the rumors growing by the second about what had happened.

“Alexandria, dear,” Suzanna said as she touched my arm.

My eyes sprung open and I looked up. “What?”

She held out my handbag. “Come on, dear, we need to go.”

I shook my head. “Go? No, I can’t leave.”

“Alexandria, come with us.”

Alton’s demand hung in the air. I scanned the office, now relatively empty. Only Alton and Suzanna were there, both staring down at me.

“Where are we going?”

“To the police station, dear,” Suzanna responded. “Your husband needs you.”