See Jane Die Part 81

know about that, Dave?" "About what, sweetheart?" "The evidence in my studio."

Dave didn't blink. "Stacy told me, silly. When she called."

Jane stared at him, realization moving over her, a chill with it. He was lying. But why? And if Stacy hadn't told him about the evidence, how did he know?

Because he had planted it.

No. That was crazy. Insane. Her thoughts tumbled over one another, a confusing jumble. Dave was her

friend. He had been there for her when no one else had been. Not even her sister.

But he knew her schedule. Her likes and dislikes. He could have obtained a key to the studio and the alarm code as well, easily. Because she had trusted him completely.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" she managed, though her voice shook.

"Like I'm the enemy."

The enemy. Could he be? The one behind it all?

But why? If only she could think clearly!

"You're trembling," he said softly. He curled his fingers tighter around hers. "You don't have to worry. I'm

here for you. I've always been here for you. Haven't I?" He leaned closer, eyes bright. "Haven't I?"

She nodded, unable to find her voice.

"I love you, Jane. I always have."

He meant it. She could tell.

But if that was true, how could he have done what she suspected? How could he have tried to destroy

her?

Love and hate, she remembered him telling her. Equally strong emotions. Both with the power to create.

And destroy.

"Do you remember the day we met?" He didn't wait for an an-swer. "I do. Your life started after the

accident, I understand that. but mine started before. The day I met you."

Before? She searched her memory. That wasn't right, was it? They had met after. He had come to her aid. Championed her.

His expression turned almost dreamy. "It was February 16. Two days after Valentine's Day. I always

thought that was wrong. As if cupid's arrow had gotten waylaid."

February 16? She scrambled to recall the day, meeting him. She came up empty.

"It was at the mall. Outside the Gap. I ran into you. Literally. you were wearing a lavender-colored

sweater. I thought your were the most beautiful girl I had ever seen." He paused. "I asked you out, right

there."

Jane remembered. He had b.u.mped into her, had helped pick up her packages. The whole time he had been babbling-about how he had just moved to Dallas and didn't know anybody. Then he had asked if

she wanted to go out. Her friends had laughed at him; Jane had turned him down gently and walked away.

She had immediately forgotten the incident-and him.

"You were with those snotty friends of yours," he continued. Abbie Benson was such a b.i.t.c.h. I hated her.

She called me a klutz. Laughed at me. I wanted to die."

Abbie Benson. Jane hadn't thought about her in years. Abbie had dropped her after the accident, taking

her place with the ranks of many others who had done the same.

The girl had been killed in a hit and run a half dozen years back. as far as Jane knew-

The driver had never been apprehended.

That fact was followed closely on the heels of another. Dave's had had owned a boat.

Jane had never thought anything about it-many people in the Dallas area did. She had never even been

out on it; after the acci-dent she had lost all affection for water sports.

As if oblivious to her silence, Dave began to reminisce. He recalled people and events from her years in

high school, things she had long since forgotten. He remembered her schedule of cla.s.ses, her friend's names, the times they had spent together-all in amazing detail.

Dear G.o.d, could it be? Could Dave have been the one sending the clippings? Could he have been the

one who had run her down sixteen years ago?

"Fate brought us together," he said. "Then and again now. Don't you see? We were meant to be together."

She blinked, refocusing her full attention on him. The way he was looking at her made her skin crawl. His

tone bordered on desperate. She saw the strain then. The cracks in the mask.

He was having trouble keeping it together.

She had to get a hold of Stacy.

Jane scrambled for something to say. Something to rea.s.sure him. So he would go away. Leave her alone

long enough to call her sister.

Ranger barked and clawed at his kennel door.

Jane jumped on the opportunity. "Stacy didn't want Ranger kenneled while all this was going on. He's no

protection to me locked up."

"That's why I'm here, Jane. To protect you."

She made a move to climb out of bed. "But it sounds like he needs to go out."

Dave pushed her firmly back against the pillows. "He's fine."

"But I haven't-"

"Shh...don't you worry. I took him out before you woke up."

Another lie. She saw it so clearly in his expression. How had he managed to lie to her for so long?

She feigned rea.s.surance. "All right. But could you check on him, anyway? And while you're there, I'd

love a cup of Earl Grey."

"Sure." He leaned across and kissed her forehead. "Be right back, sweetheart."

The minute he cleared the room, she sprang out of bed. She looked wildly around for the portable

phone. It wasn't on the night-stand.

Where- The foyer. That's where Stacy had been when she called Dave. Jane tiptoed out of the bedroom. She

paused to listen, heard Dave in the kitchen and hurried to the foyer. The phone was there, on the entryway table.