Page 15 of Trust No One

“Just a glass of wine. Dinner. Pasta.”

“Does she have any underlying conditions or take medications?” he asked.

Gabe’s jaw tightened. “The paramedics asked me that. Twice. No to both.”

Judson nodded. “The forensic team is at your house now. They’re searching for any possible toxins.”

“Like poisons?” Gabe said. “She had a heart attack.”

“She’s in her mid-thirties. Fit. No history of medical issues.”

“The Hales have bad hearts,” Gabe countered. “Maria’s father and uncle died of heart attacks.”

My uncle had died in his late forties. My father’s attack had happened while he was behind the wheel. Both were heavy smokers and drank too much. “Our grandfather also died young, but the Hales always assumed heart failure followed the men, not the women.”

“It might be genetics,” Judson said. “But we have to rule out other causes.”

“Do whatever you need to,” Gabe said. “I just want her to be safe.”

Neither Judson nor I spoke. In our professions, we’d both seen young and strong people pass.

The nurse pushed back the curtain and checked the monitor. “I need everyone but one person out of the room. She needs her rest.”

I looked at Gabe. “I’ll leave.”

“Thanks, Raine.” He looked defeated, no longer the vibrant football player who made every high school girl’s head turn. “But I’ll go, too.”

Gabe leaned forward and kissed his wife on the forehead. He muttered, “I love you.”

Her heartbeat monitors quickened.

The three of us left as the nurse recorded gauges and graphs.

Out in the hallway, I studied Gabe more closely. Black stubble, hollowed eyes, and extra weight had aged him.

Gabe sighed. “How did we get here, Raine?”

“I don’t know. Maria and I lost touch last year.”

“She is sorry about that. She wants to make amends.”

“She’s suing me,” I said.

“For what?”

He didn’t know? Hard to believe. “Half the Hale estate.”

“I didn’t know.” He shook his head. “She is under a lot of stress.”

I silenced a rebuttal. This wasn’t the time to argue about money.

“Gabe,” Judson said. “I have to ask you difficult questions.”

Gabe nodded. “Sure, ask whatever.”

“Were you having an affair?” Judson asked.

The question caught me unprepared. And by the looks of it, Gabe as well.