Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family Book 4)

Once Noah and Fallon got back to the apartment she was free to talk and react to the traumatizing events of earlier since the twins weren’t there. The kids were out with a friend which left her free to talk and react to the traumatizing events of earlier. If Noah hadn’t gotten there when he had… She’d begun to hear the crackling of flames next door. God, she’d been so frightened and she’d had to sit by uselessly as smoke and fire threatened from next door.

Tears formed in her eyes as she realized the gallery had been destroyed. It would take a long time to rebuild, she thought sadly.

She wrapped her hands around a cup of hot tea, taking comfort from the steaming mug and familiar chamomile smell. When Noah asked what he could get for her, she’d wanted the drink that reminded her of her mother. Instead of running from that pain, she’d needed to feel close to her. Besides, coffee wouldn’t calm her down and she needed to get rid of the panic that still clawed inside her.

Noah sat by her side, leaving her alone with her thoughts, and she was grateful for the comfortable silence. She’d already let her family know what happened and that she was fine, wanting them to hear the news about the gallery from her and not on the news.

She’d left her phone and bag behind, and hoped they’d be salvageable when the fire department was finished. Noah’s phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts.

“Hello?” he said, taking the call.

“Yes, she’s here. Hold on.” He covered the phone with his hand. “It’s one of the police officers you spoke to at the scene.” They’d given him Noah’s number to reach her if they had further questions. “Are you up to it?”

She nodded and took the phone. “Hello? This is Fallon Sterling.”

“Ms. Sterling, this is Officer Jones, we met at the fire site earlier. I’m at the hospital where Mrs. Clara Morganville is being treated. I came to inform her of the situation at her gallery and she’s been sedated.”

“Why?” she asked, stiffening. “What’s wrong?”

“Apparently there was an incident earlier we think is related to the fire. Do you think you could come down here to answer some questions since Ms. Morganville can’t at the moment?”

“Yes. I’ll be over soon.” She disconnected the call and met Noah’s curious gaze. “Something happened at the hospital. They had to sedate Clara and the police want to ask me some questions.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Do you need a lawyer?” he asked, his protective instincts obviously kicking in.

She shook her head. “I think he just wants answers he can’t get from Clara until she’s awake.”

“I’ll take you. Are you ready?”

She nodded and they left for the hospital where they received the shock of their lives.

Sitting alone with Officer Jones in the waiting room, the door closed, he explained how when he’d come to question Clara—Fallon had informed him earlier the gallery owner was in the hospital—he’d walked in on officers from another precinct arresting her son, Oliver.

“Why?” Fallon asked. “And why is Clara sedated? She was doing well when I visited yesterday.” Noah clasped her hand in his and squeezed for reassurance.

The office looked at her as he spoke. “It seems he was caught in the act of attempting to smother his mother with a pillow. An orderly held him down until the police arrived.”

“What?!” she cried, jumping up from her seat. “I don’t understand.”

“Luckily for us, he was in an angry, frustrated, and talkative mood after the police arrived and cuffed him. It seems Mr. Morganville is in debt to some very dangerous people.”noveldrama

“That doesn’t surprise me,” she said as she lowered herself back into her chair. “Oliver always needed money from his mother.”

The officer nodded. “According to the tests run by the hospital, she was being slowly poisoned, which is why you found her collapsed in her apartment.”

“Oh my God.” Fallon covered her mouth with her hand.

“Mr. Morganville was counting on killing his mother for the insurance money on the gallery. He figured they’d label her cause of death old age or a heart attack and leave it at that. But she lived, thanks to you. And then he heard Mrs. Morganville tell you she was leaving the business to you, cutting him out of the lucrative real estate and gallery.”

She nodded. “She just told me recently and I was shocked. But—”

He held up a hand, indicating he wanted to continue. “When Mr. Morganville discovered you were an obstacle to his inheritance, he decided to get rid of you, too.”

Noah stiffened in his seat and she grabbed his hand.

“He watched you and waited until you were alone in the gallery, then set the fire in the other side, assuming you were too busy with your painting to notice until it was too late. And to make sure, he set the cement blocks by the front door, locking you inside.”

Oliver had attempted to murder her and Fallon was too stunned to speak.

“And Clara?” Noah asked.

“Was overwrought and they sedated her to keep her calm.” He went on to ask more questions about Oliver and his relationship with his mother and what Fallon knew about why he needed the money.

“He’s in custody?” Noah asked, obviously wanting confirmation.

“Yes. And with two attempted murder charges, both premediated, I don’t see him making bail. Not that he seems to have the money to pay it even if he did.”

“Good,” she said. “Good.” She rubbed her forearms with her hands, chilled from all the revelations.

The officer informed Fallon he’d call if he had more questions, then left them alone in the room.

She turned to Noah. “That was… a lot.”

“Your instincts about him were spot-on,” he said.

“I didn’t have murder on my bingo card.” She tried to make a joke of things but it fell flat, even to her.

Noah merely pulled her onto his lap and held her tight, neither of them saying another word.

* * *

Fallon couldn’t see Clara until the next day but she was waiting when the hospital opened the doors to visitors. She walked into Clara’s room.

Her friend, boss, and mentor lay in the bed, facing the window overlooking the parking lot.

“Clara?” Fallon said softly.

She turned, sadness etched into the grooves of her face. “Fallon, I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I came yesterday but they’d given you something to help you sleep.”

Clara gestured to the lone chair in the room. “Come sit.”

Fallon pulled the chair closer to the bed and lowered herself into it. “I’ve been so worried about you. I’m so glad to see you awake.”

“I’m fine now… or getting there. I’m still a little weak when I walk and need the cane. But I’m hoping the side effects will minimize over time.”

Fallon nodded. Silence fell and she wasn’t sure what to say or how to broach the subject of Oliver or Clara’s emotional state given what had transpired yesterday.

“Go ahead. Ask me. I see the wheels turning in your brain.”

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry about Oliver. How are you handling things?” She placed a hand over Clara’s. “And is there anything I can do for you?”

Clara treated her to an obviously forced smile. “I thought I knew my son. I understood he was arrogant, pompous, and entitled. In no world did I think he’d try to kill me, his mother, or you.” Turning her hand over, she squeezed Fallon’s.

“You know about the fire then?” Fallon hadn’t been sure how she was going to tell her.

“The police came by to ask me more questions and they told me. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for something Oliver did. You aren’t responsible.”

Clara sighed. “It’s hard not to feel as though I failed as a parent.”

Although Fallon understood, Clara didn’t need the emotional baggage that kind of guilt would bring. “He’s a grown man who makes his own decisions.”

“And the gallery.” She blinked back tears. “I can’t believe he thought by getting rid of us both he’d have the money he owed some dangerous people.”

“You’ll be okay. I know I’m not your biological daughter but you’ll always have me.”

Clara’s eyes filled with tears and she reached for a tissue on the moveable tray by her bed and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so grateful for you.”

“Same here,” Fallon whispered, a lump lodged in her throat.

“And don’t worry about me. I didn’t make it to this age without being tough. I’ll survive my son’s betrayal and come out stronger. And we will rebuild the gallery. I promise.”

Fallon managed a bob of her head. She was as overcome as Clara with their conversation. But she promised herself whatever big family events she had, Clara would be a part of them.