The Unsent Appeal novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Fiance

The knock came at seven the next morning.

I opened the door in a robe, and Finley Prescott stood on my landing with two coffees and a very white face.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I got your address from Briana's phone. I didn't know who else to ask."

"Come in."

He saw Elliott at the stove before he was all the way through the door.

Elliott had on yesterday's shirt and was frying eggs in my one good pan.

Finley stopped.

"This is Elliott Thackeray," I said.

"The man from the lobby," Finley said slowly.

"What lobby?"

"My father had a call yesterday from a business partner who was waiting for the elevator at Dean's office."

He looked from me to Elliott.

"A man with a limp said Dean was the one who ran."

"The partner said Dean dropped his phone and didn't pick it up."

Elliott turned off the burner.

"That was me," he said.

Finley set the coffees down on my counter, very carefully.

"Briana told me you were in prison," he said. "For hurting someone."

"She said it was the family's tragedy, and it was kinder not to ask."

"I wasn't in prison," I said. "I was on probation for three years. But I did plead guilty."

"Did you do it?"

I looked at Elliott.

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