Double Trouble 53
by Cariad
 
 
 

Double Trouble
~Fifty Three~

Holly stared up at Jonathan. “Don’t say anymore,” she whispered. Frantically, she smoothed her hair and got herself off Jonathan’s bed. “We’re leaving for the hospital now,” she commented as she opened his door.

“Holly, please, let me explain what happened,” Jonathan called.

“No,” Holly replied. “You can tell Julia and me together.”

She heard his footsteps following her down the hall. She did not turn around. She could not face him at the moment. Not after she had made a complete fool of herself in his room. He kept twisting her words around to insinuate that she enjoyed the travesty of an engagement she was trapped in. She would not give in. His charm was his most dangerous weapon. If she let him, he would have her believe that he was better than Grandfather Crane. He would have her believe that he was more than a complete stooge under Alistair’s orders. She would not believe him. She could not believe him. He probably lied about claiming he loved her. He barely knew her.

“Holly wait!” Jonathan called. “I said I was joining you at the hospital. I have to meet this mystery woman of Julia’s, or so you say.”

Holly refused to look back.

“Hollis, you ready?” Julia asked from where she was standing with Gwen.

Jonathan caught up with Holly, and put his arm around her shoulders. Holly stiffened. “We’re ready,” Jonathan said, emphasizing the ‘we.’

“Do you know anything about the…” Julia asked him, letting her voice trail off.

“I’ll tell you all what I know when we get a moment,” he promised. “Holly insists on waiting until you can find out what I know with her.” He patted Holly on the back and fixed a stray lock of hair.

Holly resisted the urge to punch him in the stomach. She should be glad that he was out of prison, she reminded herself. With him away, she could almost forget how he treated her like an object. Now that he was back in the mansion, he kept putting his stamp all over her.

“Do you know who did it?” Julia asked, pulling on Jonathan’s other arm.

Jonathan nodded grimly.

“Does it have anything to do with those three men who came last night?” Julia continued, her curiosity overflowing.

Jonathan ruffled her hair. “I’ll let you know everything when we’re not in danger of being overheard. Do you know how good it feels to take a long stride again?” he asked no one in particular. “And to have my loving fiancée by my side?” He moved his grip to her waist and gave her a ticklish squeeze.

“Don’t touch me!” Holly hissed.

***

Julia contained her curiosity until they were in the limousine. She ignored Holly’s sour look. Sometimes, she couldn’t understand her twin—like now that Holly was upset that Johnny Hotchkiss kept her by his side. Julia sighed. She checked to make sure the glass between the driver and the back was closed, and she could no longer control herself.

“What happened?” she demanded. “No one will tell us anything.”

Jonathan settled farther into the seat of the limo, his hand resting on Holly’s knee. Julia watched her sister remove the hand and place it back on Jonathan’s lap. The hand would not obey her sister’s wishes, no matter how many times Holly removed it from her leg.

“From what I gather, Aidan is not well,” Jonathan observed.

Julia leaned forward. “You’re telling us that Aidan did it? We were right?”

“Yes,” Jonathan sighed, putting his hand back on Holly’s leg. “Aidan was caught trying to kill some girl. But let me tell you what I know. Aidan is not right in the head.”

“Got that right,” Gwen said darkly.

“Instead of being in school these past few years, he’s been in a hospital in Australia. Just before Christmas, he escaped and made his way here.”

“When did you find out about all this,” Holly demanded.

“Last night when they were releasing me. Julian and Ivy came down to the prison with the doctor and two assistants. Aidan had been having an affair with our mother, Gwen.”

Gwen looked like she was going to throw up. “That’s disgusting! He’s your age!”

“I know,” Jonathan said sardonically. “So he was hedging his bets with his potential stepmothers. He was sleeping with Theresa as well. Did you know Theresa provided his alibi every night someone was killed? He bragged about that. How he had defied his Grandfather, slept with Theresa before he went out and did it again after he got back.”

“That slut wanted me,” Aidan crowed between the two assistants. They each held one of his arms. “She’s nothing but a whore. She gladly spread her legs for me. She’d do it nightly if I let her.” Aidan laughed. “But I won’t be held to just one woman. Rebecca was a slut too. She deserved to die. She turned me down on New Year’s. I showed her though!”

“Shut up, you idiot!” Julian roared. “Don’t say anything until Harper arrives.”

“Piss off Julian!” Aidan spat. “I’ll say whatever the hell I want to. Just because Grandfather trusts me more than you. You’re jealous of me because all the women we’ve shared have all said I’m better than you. I’m going to be the Crane Heir. And you’ll be in Hell watching!” Aidan laughed again. “Stupid bitches,” he said, his mind changing thoughts. “This town is filled with nothing but stupid sluts. Oh yeah, I had Charity,” he continued. “New Year’s Eve. She was so damn horny. She wanted some and that faggot boyfriend of hers would rather take it up the ass!”

“Shut your mouth now!” Julian yelled at his son.

“Bite me,” Aidan countered. “I had both your brides, Father, on the same night. Could you ever do that? Or do you need Viagra?”

“Be silent!”

“No! I’ll talk as long as I want to. golly the world. I’m a Crane. They’ll never get anything on me. Not for Rebecca. Not for Charity. Not for that bitch at the café. She laughed at me, the golly . She should be honored.”

The Chief of Police walked in the questioning room.

“You know anything you say can and will be used against you,” Sam said with a hard glint in his eyes.

Aidan laughed. “You know, in a week, I would have had your daughter on her back where she belongs.”

Sam ignored the restrained Crane.

“With her creamy legs wrapped around me,” Aidan continued. “Oh yeah, Jessica would have thrown herself at me to get me to take her.”

An angry vein stood out against Sam’s skin.

“Have you ever seen Jessica’s breasts?” Aidan asked politely. “I have.”

Sam whirled and landed a punch against Aidan’s temple.

“Sam!” Ivy screamed.

“Police brutality,” Aidan whispered before he passed out between the guards.

“The rest of the night,” Jonathan continued, “Julian, Chief Bennett, some lawyers and the judge sat around and negotiated terms for Aidan. Alistair called in and insisted it all be done quietly to remove some of the scandal. The lawyers didn’t care. They were all in Alistair’s pockets anyway. Aidan was arraigned, he pled guilty, talking about his conquests the whole time. It was a sick confession. He got off on killing the girls. He said he’d come back each night and have Theresa at least once if not more.”

Holly removed his tightening grip on her knee. She knew from a single glance at him that he was fighting for control. When he took her hand with bone-jarring strength, Holly did not try to extricate herself. She knew it to be futile. She rubbed her knee with her free hand, hoping the layers of clothing would not leave marks.

Jonathan must have caught her motion out of the corner of his eye. “God, Holly,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s nothing,” Holly said, waving off his concern. “What’s his sentence?” she asked.

“He’s going back to the hospital in Australia. They do have some rooms for the criminally insane. He’s going to be staying there for life.”

“Life,” Julia echoed in a whisper. “But what about the other two?”

“Those were to set me up,” Jonathan observed. “But the thing about Aidan, I guess, is that he can’t control himself, and the urge struck again.”

“I’m going to be sick,” Gwen said through clenched teeth.

“You’re not the only one,” Julia replied.

***

Julia saw Noah before anyone in his party saw her. He was waiting outside an ICU room with his family. He was standing by himself. Jessica had her face pressed into the curtained glass window to the room—as if she would be able to see through the curtains if she stared long enough. Kay stood against the far wall of the hallway. Reese’s arm was about her shoulder and Kay did not seem displeased. Julia watched Hank come from the other direction with a tray full of cups. It seemed as if the vigil had been in full swing for awhile.

Julia ducked back around the corner to gather her courage. It was one thing to face Noah when they were alone. It was another thing entirely to deal with him when his family was around—especially when she could not keep her cheeks from flaming each time she thought about him.

“Gwen!” she heard Hank call. Julia looked up. Sure enough, Gwen’s reason for tagging along to the hospital became apparent.

Julia watched Gwen walk into dangerous territory and wrap her arms around the tall Bennett. If Gwen could do it, Julia could do it! She took a deep breath and rounded the corner, bringing a finger to her lip as Kay and Reese caught sight of her. Julia walked up beside Noah and put a hand gently on his lower back. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Noah looked down at her, his eyes widening in surprise. “Julie, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“Giving you my support,” she said quietly. “I found out what my brother did to your cousin, and I’m very sorry.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” he replied, “even though you shouldn’t be. Dad still hasn’t lifted his ‘ban’ on us seeing you people.”

“I don’t care,” Julia said. “I had to come, you know. As if to make up for what Aidan did.” Julia laughed bitterly. “Deep thoughts for a shallow person, I know. Don’t worry, I try not to have them too often.” Julia was not surprised her lame joke fell flat.

“You’re not shallow,” Noah countered, bringing his arm around her. “I know what you say, but you’re not shallow.”

“But I am, Noah.”

“If you say so,” he agreed, “but I know better. Do you see how Kay has stopped casting longing glances at Miguel?”

“Where is Dopey?” Julia asked, and then realized her mistake. “I’m sorry, it just slipped out.”

“I won’t tell a soul,” Noah promised. “Sometimes I wonder about him. He’s in the room with Charity. Mom and David are in there too. Dad broke up with your mom.”

“That’s good. It would be really weird if you were my stepbrother.” They stood in an awkward silence for a moment. “So Kay’s happy with Reese?” Julia asked, desperate for something to break the tension. She knew both she and Noah were dancing around the real issue. She knew he would have to leave for school soon.

“Yeah,” Noah replied. “I think it was your sister that gave mine a kick in the butt. You should have seen the look on Kay’s face when Reese showed up for the Ball. I swear her jaw dropped to the floor and her eyes bugged out of her head.” Noah smiled. “Up until midnight, it was a good night.”

“Yes it was,” Julia said, leaning into Noah’s shoulder. Especially right before. That was the best part.” She sighed to herself, happy with the memory of the startled kiss Noah gave her just before midnight. “When are you going back to school?” she asked in a quiet voice.

“Two days from now.”

Julia nodded. “You know, I don’t think you’ve ever told me WHERE you go to school.”

“Harvard,” Noah replied immediately in a rather off-handed way which placed no great emphasis on the school. “I’m going to be in debt for the rest of my life. But at least, I’m buttering myself up to the professors at the law school, so if I do good on my LSAT’s, I should have a very good chance of getting in. Do you know where you’re going in the fall?”

Julia shrugged. “Columbia. Why concentrate all the Crane endowments on Harvard. Holly and I went early decision. Should have gone to Harvard,” she replied.

“I’ll still see you, Juliet. Columbia’s Ivy League, so we’ll play them in hockey. Besides, I’ll be home for Spring Break.”

“Wouldn’t you want to spend Spring Break doing something… fun?” Julia asked.

“I’ve got a reason to come home now.”

“What?” Julia asked.

Noah tweaked her nose and planted a kiss on the top of her head.

“Oh,” she said, a smile growing uncontrolled across her face. “Daddy will be most displeased,” she observed and then giggled. “That’s ok. I’ve got him wrapped around my little finger.” She held up her pinkie as proof.

“What a blessed little finger,” Noah observed, kissing the tip of it. “I’ll wait for you, Juliet. If there’s anyone worth waiting for, it’s you.”
 
 
 
 

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