Page 52 of Promise Me Never

He gave her a confused look. “I just started. I’m not sure.”

Right then the manager appeared. The man turned to her. “This customer is wondering if Henri’s on today.”

She shook her head. “He no longer works here.”

Savannah was stunned. “Oh, um, I was hoping to speak with him. If I give you my phone number, could you get it to him?” Savannah knew better than to ask for his. They wouldn’t give it out to a stranger. Disappointment washed over her. She wanted to know why he’d told her to be careful. Warnings from two different people was more than unsettling.

“Sure,” the woman said, and Savannah had a feeling it was lip service. But she wrote it down on a piece of paper anyway and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” Savannah said.

Had Henri been fired for talking to her? It didn’t make any sense. She needed a sugar fix. She’d been meaning to check out the candy store. She walked over to Bedford Candy Bar. Inside, she went to the counter and ordered a quarter pound of their dark chocolate French mint truffle. She was addicted to it since her first taste. The woman rang her up and she walked back to the Range Rover. She froze. There was another note on the windshield. Frantic, she spun around, looking to see if the woman was still there, but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Savannah grabbed the note and slid into the front seat and unfolded it. This time there was no warning. The message was written in simple block print.

WE NEED TO TALK. CALL ME. 914.555.0183

| Forty-Six |

Bennett

Bennett’s eyes widened. He gave Bridgette a plaintive look. “Of course I didn’t kill Poppy! And if you really thought that, why have you waited all this time to confront me?”

“I just got her letter. It was mailed to my old address. My cousin lives there now, and she put it aside and forgot about it. She was cleaning out the house for her move and found it and sent it to me.”

“Can I see it?”

She handed the letter to him. His eyes scanned the page. Poppy had told Bridgette that she was unhappy. That she had discovered Bennett’s secret and was planning to divorce him. Fortunately, she hadn’t disclosed what the secret was. He thought quickly. Looking at Bridgette, he tented his hands.

“Okay, yes, we were having problems. But we were trying to work things out. We loved each other. We weren’t going to divorce.”

“What secret was she talking about?”

“She was jealous that I was still in touch with an ex-girlfriend. She wanted me to cut all ties, but she’s an old family friend and I couldn’t.”

Bridgette scrutinized him. “Were you cheating on her?”

“No! Poppy was the love of my life. I’ve never stopped mourning her.”

Her eyes went to the ring on his finger. “You still wear your wedding band?”

He had a decision to make. If he went along with the lie and she found out that he’d remarried she might never stop digging. He shook his head.

“I recently got remarried.”

“So I guess you did finally stop mourning.” She stood up. “I know there’s no proof you did anything. But I still don’t believe it was an accident.”

“Bridgette, please. You’re wrong. I would have never hurt her.”

She scoffed. “You’re smooth. I’ll give you that. You’re hiding something. I don’t know how, but I’m going to figure out what.”

As she stormed off, Bennett watched, relieved to see her go. He wasn’t worried. His secret had died with Poppy.

| Forty-Seven |

Savannah

Savannah got back in the vehicle and pulled her phone from her purse. Her hands were shaking and it took her three times to put the number in right. A woman’s voice answered.

“Hello.”