Page 53 of The Arrangement
“No, he…he didn’t. He wasn’t… Um, he…he was the perfect gentleman.”
The officers exchanged a glance and nodded. Officer Andrews said, “Then I’d say you were very lucky, ma’am.” His tone was kind, but I couldn’t bear to look at him.
I blinked rapidly, rubbing my eyes as my breathing grew irregular. I put a hand over my chest, squeezing my eyes shut as I tried to focus.
“And…and Illiana? Did he…did he hurt her?” I looked up at them.
If it were possible, Officer Chad’s face grew more grim as he prepared to answer the question.
“We believe…” He seemed hesitant to say more, and I worried, briefly, that he wouldn’t. “We believe Mrs. De Luca has been…involved in her husband’s crimes. Whether or not she planned them or helped him carry them out, we aren’t sure. When we asked Mrs. De Luca about the bag, she claimed not to know anything about it. But now, she’s gone missing, too. We’re very concerned that she may be on the run, but we can’t be sure of anything right now.”
“As we’ve said,” Officer Andrews added, “it’s an ongoing investigation, and this is all sensitive information, which is why we’d appreciate your discretion with what we’re telling you. ”
“Why are you telling us this, though? What have we got to do with any of it?” Peter asked, finding his voice.
It was Officer Andrews who answered. “Because we believe your wife was meant to be De Luca’s next victim. Now, she may be perfectly safe, but we wanted to warn you that if either of them were to contact you, we’d like you to call us straight away. Don’t talk to them, don’t engage. Call us or, if you believe you’re in immediate danger, say if they were to show up here again, call 911. Do you still have our number?”
I nodded. “Yes, of course.”
“Good. We’re going to have an officer patrol your area for the next few nights to be on the lookout, but you need to be vigilant as well. The De Lucas have done extensive research on you. They know where you work, where you live… From what we’re discovering, they are very dangerous people. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I nodded again, unable to speak.
“Do you have any questions for us? Anything else we should know?”
I shook my head as I felt Peter’s arm slink around me. He rested his chin on the top of my head.
“Thank you, Officers.”
The men nodded, making eye contact with him, then me.
“Take care now. And be safe.” With that, they saw themselves out, leaving us in silence as what we’d been told sank in.
Peter spun me around after a moment, looking me in the eye.
“Did he try something with you?” I pulled myself from his grasp. “You need to tell me the truth.”
“No, Peter, of course not. I would’ve told you.”
“You swear it?”
“I swear,” I told him.
“I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“I was fine. He didn’t try anything.”
“I can’t lose you, Ainsley. God, I don’t know what I’d do if—”
“You won’t,” I promised. “We’re in this together, right?”
“Together,” he said, pulling me into his chest. “You and me.”
I squeezed him tighter, feeling our hearts beating together. “But you can’t lie to me anymore, Peter. No more secrets between us. I can’t handle any more. Our marriage can’t survive any more. We have to both agree.”
“No more secrets,” he said. “I promise you. No more secrets, no more lies. If we can survive what we’ve survived over these last few days, we can survive anything.”
At his words, I pulled away, staring up at him.