Steal My Heart

Chapter 15

“HOW IS Beverly after last night?” Hilliard asked as he and Brian walked over to Violet’s mini mansion in the center of town. Hilliard carried a case of papers that held the information he’d gathered. They’d left the dogs at Hilliard’s house, both of them curled up on the sofa.

“She was a little under the weather, and I suspect that once I left and she’d finished her coffee, she probably sat in her chair and fell back to sleep.”

“Okay. So not really any worse for wear, then. I was a little worried with the way she was downing the wine.”

They approached the house, opened the gate, and headed up the walk before ringing the bell. Violet answered the door and led them through to the impeccable dining room with a table large enough for twelve. On one side sat the two boys, their attention on their phones.

“Kendall and Kevin, this is Hilliard, and he’s trying to figure out who broke into my house.” She met both their gazes.

“We didn’t do it,” they said in unison. “I thought he did,” Kendall said, pointing at Brian.

“He was at the Point Cabrillo Light when your grandmother was robbed, and we can prove it. So Brian is not the thief.” Hilliard sat down across from them.

“Well, it wasn’t us,” Kevin said softly. “We would never rob Grandma. Have you seen her when she’s angry? She’s scary as sh…. She’s scary.” They looked at each other and then back at Hilliard.

“Maybe you didn’t. But why should anyone believe you? You made a mess of my car because you thought it was fun, and I’ve seen you in town, racing down streets and riding on the sidewalk, nearly hitting people.” And that was just the past few weeks. “You don’t have the best record of behavior.”

“Grandma, we never—” Kevin started, almost pleading, his expression pained.

“Yeah,” Kendall added. The boys looked about seventeen but sounded a lot younger.

“Okay, boys,” Violet said. “I believe you. But you have to tell Mr. Hilliard here everything you know and answer his questions.” She sat down. “Someone came into my house and took things that were important to me.” She was clearly playing on their emotions, and it was working, because they lowered their heads.

“We know, Grandma. It was really gross.”

“Okay, boys, there’s something you need to know. Whoever robbed your grandmother knew where her things were kept. They came in, took them, and didn’t even have to look. They already knew.” Hilliard watched both boys. “Did your grandmother ever tell you where she kept valuable things?”

He glanced at Violet, who nodded slowly; then he shifted his gaze to the boys, who looked straight ahead and didn’t answer.

“Kevin and Kendall,” Brian said softly, “we are trying to see if we can get your grandmother’s things back. Helping us is going to help your grandma too.”

“Yeah,” Kevin finally said. “I knew where Grandma kept stuff. She showed me once, but I never went in there and took it. Like I want to touch grandma underwear.” Hilliard almost chuckled but held it together. “Kendall knew too.”

“Did you ever tell anyone?” Hilliard asked. Both boys looked at each other like that was a completely foreign thought before they shook their heads. “Do you know who robbed your grandmother?” He got another head shake. “But you think you do.”

Kendall pushed the chair back and stalked out of the room while Kevin stared down at the table, his shoulders shaking. “Dad.”

Violet seemed shocked, but Hilliard shook his head at her. “Why do you think that?” Kevin shrugged, and Hilliard waited. Kendall returned and sat back down. Clearly he’d been listening.

“I saw him with a piece of jewelry. He was putting it in his pocket. But I don’t know if it was Grandma’s.”

Hilliard pulled out his case and withdrew the picture of the necklace that had been found in Brian’s truck. “Is that what you saw?” He showed Kendall the picture, and he nodded. Hilliard also showed the picture to Violet, who got up and left the room, wiping her eyes.

Kevin nodded. “Yeah. Then I never saw it again.”

Violet returned with a shiny wooden box and set it on the table. “That wasn’t with the other items. It was in here.” She sat down.

Hilliard’s head began to spin. “So that wasn’t taken as part of the burglary?” Just when he thought he was coming to the end of this mystery, something else popped up. Tension washed off Brian, and he knew he was feeling the same frustration. Yet Hilliard knew they were getting close. Maybe the puzzle wasn’t as simple as he’d first thought, but the answer was closer. Hilliard squeezed Brian’s leg under the table to try to reassure him.

“It may have been, but why? My husband gave me that when we were on our honeymoon. The stone was big, but it was only agate and not monetarily valuable. I kept it in here.”

Hilliard stilled and then reached into his bag to pull out the police report. He went through it again and swore under his breath before pointing to a line and showing it to Brian. It seemed they had their answer, about that at least. “Tell us again where you were when your grandma was robbed.” Hilliard didn’t want to lose momentum.

“We were…,” Kendall began, looking at Kevin. Hilliard instantly knew what they’d said before was a lie.

“Remember, this is to help your grandma.” He wasn’t above twisting the knife.

Kevin nudged Kendall, who seemed to be wavering.

“We know you were lying, so tell us the truth now.” He wasn’t going to let them off, not for a second, and saw their resolve falter right before his eyes.

“We got a six-pack of beer and…,” Kendall said quietly. “Kevin drank most of it.”

“I did not,” Kevin argued, the boys bickering back and forth.

“And it was just the two of you?” Hilliard asked, a clearer picture coming into focus. Both boys nodded, then hung their heads. “And you’re sure you never told anyone where your grandma kept things?” He might as well go for broke. The boys looked at each other, and suddenly neither of them was as sure as they had been earlier. Finally each of them shrugged. Hilliard had been young once and knew how boys liked to brag, and that would be all it took.

“Thank you both,” Hilliard said gently. “I think you’ve been a big help to your grandmother.”

“We can go now?” Kendall asked.

“Yes,” Violet said and held out her hands. The boys hurried over and each gave her a hug. As she held them, the front door opened and slammed closed.

“What is going on here?” Frank’s voice boomed through the house. The boys stiffened and paled. Violet’s eyes hardened just as Frank barreled into the room. “I heard that he was questioning my sons.”

“That’s quite enough of your blustering, Frankie. Sit down.” Damn, Violet had snap, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. “Boys, you can go, but I want to talk to both of you tonight.”

“Yes,” they each said as they hurried out of the room like the hounds of hell were after them.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Frank demanded, standing at the edge of the table, looming over it.

“Sit down!” Violet snapped. “You have some explaining to do.” She grabbed the photograph copy off the table and sent it sailing toward Frank. “You thieving little piece of shit.” She vibrated with rage as she stood, the two of them glaring at each other down the long table. “I’ve done everything for you all your life and you steal from me?”

Frank lifted the page and set it down once more, swallowing hard before steeling himself.

“You were seen with that by your son. He just told us.” Violet looked like she was about to explode, and Hilliard took her hand. She squeezed it, and Hilliard winced at the pressure.

“I didn’t break in here and steal your things,” Frank said smugly. “And I was with friends then. The police talked to me, and I not only had an alibi, but so did my boys. So whatever these two are peddling is pond scum.”

“It’s okay, Violet. I’ve got it from here,” Hilliard said. He smiled at her, hoping she’d calm down and relax. He didn’t want her hurting herself, because if he was right, those boys were going to need her. “So I think it’s time for you to cut the bullshit. I know you’re involved in this. Did you rob your own mother?” He couldn’t keep the look of distaste from his face. “What kind of man are you?”

If Frank’s head grew any redder, it might burst into flame. “Of course I didn’t.”

Hilliard leaned forward. “Then why did you frame Brian for it?” At least this piece of the picture was clear. “You took this piece of jewelry from your mother, and you placed it in Brian’s truck. Then, when the police came to verify it, you confirmed that it was one of the pieces stolen. Not your mother.” He passed the report from the police to Brian.

“You didn’t,” Violet said gently, her hand in front of her mouth. “Why would you do that?” She stood. “Why?” she yelled, her voice carrying through the entire house and, Hilliard expected, clear out into the street. “Tell me! Why would you do that?”

Frank held his posture straight for a few more seconds before his shoulders slumped. “I was protecting my family. When I heard about the burglary, I knew that Kevin and Kendall had been out with those friends of theirs, and….” He swallowed.

“You thought the boys were involved in the burglary and you took matters into your own hands. You planted evidence in Brian’s truck in order to implicate him.” Hilliard stood and leaned over the table. “You picked as your victim a man who was grieving the loss of his grandfather?” He shook his head and held Frank’s gaze and saw fear filling his eyes. “And let me guess, you broke into Beverly’s house to plant the napkin ring to try to throw renewed suspicion on him.”

Frank hung his head, defeated. “I had to do something….”

“You thought the police would arrest him again? They can’t. Double jeopardy. That was your biggest mistake. You overplayed your hand.”

Brian had his phone out and left the room. Hilliard knew he was calling the police. At least with this, they had enough to vacate the conviction. All Hilliard needed to do was find a local attorney to act as sponsor and he could submit the paperwork to vacate the conviction on the grounds of new evidence. It would take time to get a court date, but they had more than enough to clear Brian.

“I….”

Violet stood still, shaking, and Hilliard helped her sit down. Frank stood and looked like he was going to leave. “Stay here. The police are probably on their way, and after what I have to tell them, they would only hunt you down anyway. It would probably be best if you went willingly.”

Brian returned, and once Frank sat again, Hilliard went out into the hall with him. “Grant is on his way.”

“Good.” Hilliard smiled, and Brian hugged the life out of him.

“I didn’t think this was possible,” Brian whispered. “After everything.” He shook in Hilliard’s arms for a while. “I want to beat the living hell out of him for what he did to me.”

“I know” was all Hilliard could say. “But you can’t. He’ll pay for what he did in so many ways.” He would make sure of that. “Why don’t you go wait for the police? You don’t need to see him if you don’t want to.” Hilliard gave him another squeeze and then backed away. He wanted to stay with Brian, but it was best if Brian wasn’t with Frank right now.

“What else was I going to do? I had to protect the boys,” Frank was saying.

“Except I don’t think they had anything to do with this,” Hilliard told him. “Your sons would never hurt their grandmother. I’m willing to bet that she is the only good thing in their lives. You, on the other hand, don’t care who you hurt.” He drew closer. “And now you’ve ruined Brian’s life, as well as your own and the boys’, because they are going to spend quite a bit of time without a father and your sorry ass is going to be in jail. Beverly and Brian will press charges for breaking and entering. You broke into Brian’s truck, planted evidence, and framed an innocent man.” He smiled. “And I suspect that Brian will bring a civil suit and can easily take every cent you have or will ever have.”

Frank paled, and for a second Hilliard thought he might pass out.

“Is it really that bad?” Violet asked.

“I’m afraid so. He stole years from a man’s life. Someone who was innocent all along.” Hilliard was so angry on Brian’s behalf that he wanted to lash out at Frank—and at Violet for taking his side, but then, Frank was her son, and just like Brian had Beverly, Frank was going to need someone in his corner.

A firm knock pulled him away, and he opened the front door to let Grant and a deputy inside. Hilliard gave Grant a brief recap.

“And he admitted all this?”

“In front of myself, Brian, and his mother. Also, I found a few gems in the police report that will back up the story.” Hilliard gave Grant the entire breakdown.

“But he isn’t the thief,” Grant said.

“No. He’s just Brian’s framer—and I think that’s the worse of the crimes. Sure, someone stole Violet’s things, but Frank stole part of Brian’s life.”

Grant nodded. “We’ll take it from here, and we’ll need you all to give a statement.”

“Gladly.” Hilliard followed Grant into the dining room, and he cuffed Frank and read him his rights. Then Hilliard followed them out and joined Brian on the porch. “At least part of it is over.” Brian nodded and pulled out his phone. “What are you doing?”

“Taking pictures of the asshole who framed me.” He snapped some images of Frank in cuffs and then put his phone away. Brian shook next to him, and Hilliard put an arm around him, drawing him close. Hilliard turned to look at him just as Brian buried his face in Hilliard’s shirt… and began to cry. Years of hurt and shame seemed to come to the surface all at once, and Hilliard didn’t blame Brian at all. Hell, he wondered how Brian had kept it together for as long as he had.

“It’s going to be okay now. All the evidence against you is slowly slipping away.”

“It’s not that,” Brian said.

Hilliard expected an explanation, but Brian clammed up. “Let’s go home,” he said gently.

Brian shook his head. “I have to make sure Violet is all right.” He went back inside, wiping his face. Hilliard stayed where he was until the police pulled away, then joined Brian, finding him and Violet at the dining room table, each holding the other’s hands, sharing their loss and shock, both likely feeling the exact same thing over the same situation, but for opposite reasons.

Hilliard stepped out of the room. “Ruth, it’s Hilliard,” he said when she answered the call.

“Yes, honey?” she said softly.

“Can you come to Violet’s? She’s had a bit of a shock, and I don’t think she should be alone. Brian and I are here, but I need to take him home.”

“Of course I can. But why?” she asked.

“We didn’t find the thief, but her son Frank confessed to framing Brian because he thought his sons were the thieves. It’s an emotional minefield.”

Ruth gasped. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Don’t worry. The ladies will see that Violet gets the support she needs.” She hung up, and Hilliard went back inside. Tears ran down Violet’s cheeks.

“It’s okay,” Brian said, looking at Hilliard like he wasn’t sure what to do.

“Ruth will be over in a few minutes,” Hilliard said softly. “We’ll wait until she gets here.” He didn’t want to leave Violet alone, so he pulled out a chair and sat down until he heard a knock at the door. He let Ruth in, and she took over like the force of nature she was.

Hilliard got Brian out of the house, and they walked back to Hilliard’s. Poppy and Gigi crowded around Brian as soon as he sat down. They must have known that he needed them. Poppy stretched up and licked his ear as Gigi hopped into his lap. Hilliard made some coffee. When he returned to the living room, the dogs had found a way to curl around Brian, whose head rested back against the sofa cushion.

“I thought at this moment I’d be happy. That I could smile and laugh because finally I’ve gotten what I wanted. Everyone will know that I’m not a thief, and….”

Hilliard gently sat next to him, getting a soft growl from Gigi. Brian lightly scolded her, and she licked his hand as an apology. “The important people already knew that.” He smiled and rested his head on Brian’s shoulder.

“I know that. Gran never stopped believing. But what I don’t get is why you believed me in the first place.”

Hilliard thought for a few seconds before trying to answer. “I don’t know. I’d like to say it was because of some innate lie-detecting ability or the way you looked at me, but the truth is, I just knew. I’ve done quite a bit of thinking, and that’s the best I can come up with. I’m an experienced attorney, and I’ve heard enough bullshit to last a lifetime, but I knew that what I was getting from you was the truth.” He drew Brian closer and kissed him hard, pouring all the relief and joy he felt into it.

When Brian shifted nearer, the dogs jumped down. “I’m glad you did, for so many reasons.”

The dogs barked, which was unusual. Brian stiffened and pulled away. Hilliard went out front but didn’t see anyone. “Maybe we should get them home. Your grandmother is going to want to know what we found out too.”

“Yeah,” Brian agreed, his eyes filling with disappointment. “Maybe we can get together later.”

“To celebrate, definitely.” Hilliard kissed Brian and helped him get the leashes on the dogs; then he said goodbye at the door and watched them go. He waved a final time and closed the door before going up to his office. He had some work to do and phone calls to make to get the ball rolling from a legal perspective. Since he wasn’t licensed to practice yet, he needed someone to act as a sponsor—to act as lead while he did the work. And he set about the job of trying to locate someone willing to help.