Chapter 44

Rick took almost an hour convincing Abigail that it was safe for him to go scuba diving for a while once Tony agreed to accompany him. Then he took another hour convincing Tony to go along with him.

Abigail, on the other hand, decided to stay in and get some work done. She had just settled down in the living room with the list of suspects she and Rick had come up with the night before, when the doorbell rang. She looked at the monitor just as the guard’s voice came through the intercom announcing that Mr. Christian Burnside was here.

“What’s he doing here?” Abigail wondered aloud.

“Let him in.” Abigail replied through the intercom.

She opened the door just as he parked his sleek, black convertible and got out.

“Mr. Burnside.” Abigail said taking the hand he offered as he walked to the door.

“Christian, please.” He said giving her a quick grin as she allowed him in.

“Please have a seat.” She walked him into the sitting room and motioned him to a sofa. “Rick just went scuba diving but he should be back shortly.”

“Actually I’m here to see you.” Christian said, sitting opposite her.

“Oh? Why?” she narrowed her eyes at him, “Do you know something about Rick’s stalker?”

“Well, not exactly.” Christian answered, then leaning back against the sofa continued. “I mean, I know I must look like the prime suspect and all because of that prank but—“

“Excuse me? Hold on just a second.” Abigail said putting up a hand to halt him, “What prank?”

Christian feigned surprise as he looked at her.

“You mean Rick didn’t tell you?”

Abigail shook her head.

“No, he didn’t.”

“Well, um…”

“You better spit it out Christian.” Abigail told him her temper rising.

Christian sighed.

“Okay. Well, when the Black and White tour started, the guys and I decided to play a prank on Rick. You know, because he’s the one that’s always playing jokes on everyone else. So basically we let everyone in on what we were doing.” Christian then went on to explain what they did and why they did it. He told her how it was just coincidence that the rope holding the lights were the same ones tied to the pillow in his hotel room.

“How do I know you’re not lying?” Abigail asked, folding her arms and peering at him. “How do I really know that it’s just coincidence?”

“That’s why I came over here.” Christian told her, “I wanted to explain and tell you that I’m innocent. It’s true that I was the one that instigated the prank but I wouldn’t try to kill him Abigail. You’ve got to believe me.”

He looked innocent enough, but somehow, Abigail couldn’t believe him. She was too busy trying to figure out why Rick never told her about the prank. Why would he keep that from me? Then a thought suddenly hit her.

“Wait a second Christian. You said that you let everyone in on what you were doing. Who exactly is everyone?” she asked.

“Oh just us and the Bayside Boys.” He told her, “And Jason.”

Abigail’s head snapped up.

“What? Jason knew about this prank?” Her voice was hoarse with shock.

“Yes. We had to let him know from the start because we knew Rick would call him when he started to panic.”

Christian watched as Abigail got up and started to pace.

“Then he was never in trouble. From the very beginning everything was set-up. He wasn’t in any real danger.”

Everything was starting to sink in and she was having difficulty digesting it.

“Not at the beginning no.” Christian told her, “But then things started happening to him and we knew we weren’t responsible for it. It was someone else.”

“Why would Jason send me out on tour with Rick if he knew Rick wasn’t in any real trouble?” Abigail wondered out loud. “He made me give up my vacation to do this for him, yet it wasn’t serious. Why?”

“Um.. I’m not sure I should be the one to tell you that.” Christian said bowing his head.

Abigail turned to give him a sharp look.

“What? How do you know?”

Christian squirmed under her scrutiny.

“I kinda heard the guys talking..”

“Come on Christian! You’ve already taken me this far, you might as well finish it!” Her voice was hard and she knew her temper was on the verge of exploding, “What did you hear them say?!”

Christian winced as he went on to explain.

“Rick told them that the first time he met you, he was attracted to you. He said that he wanted you. That’s why Jason sent you on tour. You know they’re best friends. Jason thought he was doing him a favour.”

Abigail could scarcely take it in. Her breathing felt laboured and her jaw dropped in shock and hurt.

“That can’t be true.” She whispered. She’d never felt that hurt before in her life.

“Jason wouldn’t do that.” She shook her head furiously, “When did Rick say this?”

“At the hospital, when you got shot. He confessed everything to them then.”

She was right about him all along! He was using her! He had planned to seduce her from the very beginning! Abigail ignored the hot tears that were burning her eyes as she faced Christian.

“I’m sorry Christian but can you see yourself out? There’s something I’ve got to do.” She turned and fled up the stairs.

“Sure. No problem.” Christian said smiling as he walked out the house and into his car.