To Catch a Bad Guy (Book One of the Janet Maple Series)

by Marie Astor

Allyson Roberts ran her hand over the silky dress fabric. It was a beautiful dress, the color of sky blue, its smooth material cascading in intricate ruffles that must have taken forever to sew. The question was whether the gown was right for the occasion that Allyson was shopping for. She eyed the sparkling diamond solitaire on her ring finger. A wave of giddiness surged through her. To think that she was now engaged was almost too good to be true. She and Ronald Graystone had been together for two years, ever since their junior year at Duke, and last night he had proposed. The timing was simply perfect: graduation was coming up and Ron’s parents would be there for the festivities. After the ceremony they were all supposed to go to this super expensive restaurant to celebrate the happy news, which was why Allyson needed a dress. Mr. and Mrs. Graystone were very formal, so Ally knew she had to get it right.

  Not that Ally was a stranger to grand affairs. With her father being who he is, she’d grown up with her share of opulence. Their house in Westchester was a ten-bedroom mansion with a ballroom that had a twenty-foot ceiling. As a child, Ally had taken this splendor for granted, but when she went away to boarding school at fourteen, she became aware of the fact that not everyone’s reality was like hers. Granted, the girls at Miss Porter’s didn’t exactly come from poor homes, but the name Victor Roberts elicited genuine awe from the majority of her classmates. It was then that Ally first became fully aware of her social standing.

  Victor Roberts came from humble lower-middle-class beginnings, born to an electrician father and a kindergarten teacher mother. With a degree from MIT, which he had obtained on a full scholarship, he built his industrial empire from the proverbial scratch. The story of his success inspired a mixture of admiration and jealousy from myriads of people. At least once a month there would be an article about him somewhere, the subject ranging from the latest venture he was embarking on to speculations about his personal life. Not that Ally knew much about either. Her father spent the majority of his time at work, and even when he was home he was usually locked up in his study, which served as his command center. When she was younger, Ally’s care was relegated to her governess; when she grew older, to the boarding school mistress, and later to college professors. Her mother had passed away from a heart condition when Ally was only five, and Ally had never been aware of another woman by her father’s side. As she grew older and began to understand these matters, she questioned her father about it, to which he replied that he had never met a woman who could replace Ally’s mother. Still, Ally was not naïve and realized that her father was not a monk, but whatever women had briefly entered Victor Roberts’ life had remained secluded from the press and Ally’s eyes.

  “Oh, I just love that one!” Madison exclaimed, snatching the hanger from Allyson’s hands. Madison ran her dark purple-colored fingernails over the dress’s fabric. “Love the spaghetti straps and the delicate ruffles—sexy and sweet! Ronnie will love it.”

  Allyson shot Madison a dubious glace. “Don’t you think it’s a bit much? I was thinking of something more formal. Oh, and by the way, I hope you’re going to get another manicure before graduation.”

  “You know I am; I have one every week. My usual is OPI Go Goth. They’ve got my name on the nail polish bottle at the salon.”

  Allyson shook her head. “I’m sure they do. But I was hoping you’d change your color to something more—”

  “Boring?”

  “No, feminine. Like lavender or pink.”

  Madison grimaced. “Those are the colors my mother wears. I’m not going near them.”

  Allyson resisted the urge to contradict. Sometimes she wondered just how genuine Madison’s eccentricity was. Ally’s secret guess was that most of it came from Madison’s desire to irk her parents, and Ally had to give Maddie her due: she had certainly more than accomplished this goal. But then Allyson wouldn’t want to be in Maddie’s shoes, or Ron’s for that matter. At first glance, siblings Madison and Ronald Graystone led a charmed life. Twin offspring of Viola and Richard Graystone, they stood to inherit a fortune, but with that came responsibilities and obligations that were almost as great if not greater. Viola Graystone was one of the most venerable society ladies in existence: there wasn’t a charity ball that she hadn’t contributed to in some shape or form, or a charity committee she wasn’t a part of. Madison was expected to follow her mother’s example. Yes, a college degree was beneficial, but Mrs. Graystone saw its purpose as more for achieving well-roundedness and putting it to good use when contributing to social causes, and it went without saying that Duke University was the perfect place for meeting a suitable match.

  The fact that Maddie chose to major in graphic design did not bode well with her parents, but the other shoe was yet to drop: unbeknownst to her parents, Maddie had secured a job offer from a leading advertising agency in New York. She planned to make the announcement on graduation day. Allyson cringed at the thought: coupled with the news of her engagement to Ron, it just might be too much for the Graystones. Maddie had urged Ally to join her on her adventure in New York, but Ally declined. New York wasn’t all that exotic to her. It was less than an hour train ride from her father’s house in Westchester, and she’d made plenty of forays into the city with her friends during school breaks. While her girlfriends went gaga over the hip lounges and night clubs, Ally remained unimpressed. The big city pace didn’t appeal to her; it seemed overly noisy and confusing. Her dislike of big city life made her decision to move to Boston that much easier.

  With a coveted double major in engineering and physics, she had her pick from a slew of job offers. Her father always made it clear that he would never impose his legacy on her. “You can do whatever it is you put your mind to, Ally,” he used to say. “If you want to continue with the business, I’ll be more than happy to show you the ropes, but if your heart lies elsewhere, I don’t want you to feel tied down.” He needn’t have worried. From an early age, Ally was acing math and science classes at school. She was on a math team and participated in every science fair imaginable, with her projects nearly always snagging first place. She spent her winter and summer vacations on the campus of Roberts Enterprises, cooped up in the offices of esteemed scientists whose reservations at having to babysit the boss’s daughter dissolved the instant Ally showed her acumen, quickly getting the hang of the complicated sequences on their computer screens. As much as she had loved spending time at her father’s company when she was younger, Ally wanted to make a name for herself as an adult. When she received an offer from Lorman & Matherson, a leading defense contractor headquartered in Boston, Ally’s heart was set. “You have no idea what you’ll be missing!” Maddie had wailed with her usual drama, but Ally knew the answer: absolutely nothing. She was the happiest woman alive: not only would she be working in Boston close to Ron, but she’d have a great job to boot. Lorman & Matherson had made her a verbal offer a few days ago, and she was yet to receive a paper copy of the contract, but that was merely a formality and Ally had already found an apartment. It just so happened that one of Ron’s friends had an uncle in real estate and the perfect one-bedroom had just come on the market in the area of town that was very close to Ally’s new employer.

  Allyson eyed a black chiffon sheath from an adjacent stand. “Yes, I think this is the one,” Allyson confirmed, lifting up the hanger. “It’s classy, but sexy in an understated kind of way. It’s perfect for meeting your parents.”

  Madison rolled her eyes. “It’s perfect for a funeral. Besides, you’ve already met my parents.”

  “Yes, but not as their future daughter-in-law.”

  “I’m so glad we’re going to be sisters, Ally!” Madison squealed. Madison was extremely close with her brother. In the beginning Ally had been worried about potential rivalry between her and Madison, but Madison had liked Ally right off the bat. They were already like sisters.

  “Me too, Maddie. But back to the topic of the dress. Since your parents are going to be there, I think I should go for a more conservative look.”
/>   “Are you scared of my parents?”

  Ally shook her head. “Nope.” The truth of the matter was that she was scared to death. The fact that she had already met Ron’s parents didn’t make the occasion any less terrifying; instead it made it more so since she knew what to expect. Ally still remembered how Mrs. Graystone had given her a once-over the first time Allyson had been invited to the Graystone’s townhouse in Beacon Hill, Boston. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Allyson,” Mrs. Graystone had said, holding Ally’s hand in a cool, dry grip. “It’s Allyson Roberts, isn’t it?” Mr. Graystone had clarified. “Yes,” Allyson nodded, blushing for no reason. It wasn’t as though she was embarrassed by her father and everything he stood for; on the contrary, she was proud of it, but she wanted to be judged on her own merit, not that of her father’s. “Welcome, dear,” Mrs. Graystone smiled magnanimously. “Please, come on in.”

  “Ally! Wake up!” Madison snapped her fingers. “Are you going to try on this dress or what?”

  “I’m awake,” Ally countered. She hung the blue dress back on the rack; she could just imagine the expression on Mrs. Graystone’s face if she were to wear it. Ally firmly gripped the black chiffon she’d settled on. If she was going to succeed at being Mrs. Ronald Graystone, she had to start holding her ground. “I’m going to try on this dress. I’m sure Ron would agree with my choice.”

  Maddie rolled her eyes. “Of course Ron would agree. Ron always agrees, but someone has to be the voice of style.”

  Allyson raised an eyebrow—the voice of chaos was more like it. Still, she knew exactly what Maddie meant. Unlike his sister, Ron was an exemplary son. His fate had been sealed since he had been a pea in his mother’s womb. The only male heir, he was to follow in his father’s footsteps and carry the venerable legacy of Graystone & Runell, the multimillion-dollar law firm in Boston, Massachusetts his great-grandfather had begun. Unlike Madison, Ron wore his legacy with reverence and quiet pride. He had aced his LSATs and looked forward to three years at Harvard Law. Despite their differences the two twins were extremely close, but Madison never tired of daring Ron to break free from the yoke of the Graystone name. In fact, Madison was the reason why Ron and Ally got together in the first place. Madison made friends easily, and she and Ally had become very close after rooming together during their first year of college. At the time, Ron was dating a different girl; Annette Beale went to Wellesley, and the two of them only saw each other on random weekends and breaks. Every now and then Ally would catch a glimpse of Ron, but it never went any further between them than a few friendly words. Ally had liked Ron instantly. His handsome face and lean, muscular body had made her breath catch, but what sealed the deal was his seriousness, a studiousness that she never saw in the boys her own age, at least not the ones who were as good-looking as Ron. Still, Ron’s heart belonged to someone else, and Ally had abandoned hope until an unexpected opportunity presented itself. Madison was practically spurting with excitement when she told Ally that Ron and Annette had broken up. Apparently, Annette had found her long-distance relationship with Ron trying and had been indiscreet with one of the boys from Boston College. Ron never would have been the wiser had it not been for one of Annette’s friends who had speedily relayed the news to him, probably in hopes of redirecting Ron’s affections to herself, or just out of plain spite. In any case, Ron was very hurt, but he remained stoic throughout the whole ordeal, growing even more serious and studious. To cheer Ron up, Maddie had arranged for the three of them to go to the movies, but then bailed at the last minute, claiming a headache. Left standing together in the front of the movie theatre, Ally and Ron had no choice but to go inside, and the rest was history.

  Allyson never revealed it to Maddie, but part of the reason why she fell in love with Ron was the aura of dependability about him. Of course it also helped that he was six feet two and broad-shouldered, had a smile that could melt your heart in a second, and a twinkle in his baby-blue eyes that could send goose bumps down your skin, but these were not the main reasons. There were plenty of handsome guys at Duke, but none of them were like Ron, and Allyson only hoped that she could do him justice as his wife. She knew that it wouldn’t be easy: it wasn’t just Ron she was marrying but the Graystone legacy. And even though she herself was far from a penniless bride, she understood the differences between their families. Victor Roberts might have more in his bank accounts than the Graystones, but his name didn’t carry the pedigree of the Graystones, who could trace their lineage all the way back to the Mayflower. In the world of the Graystones, Ally was an outsider, but because she loved Ron she was willing to work hard to be accepted. Allyson worried that their engagement might interfere with Ron’s studies, but he had assured her otherwise, adding that the only way he could make it through law school was with the knowledge that, upon his graduation, Ally was going to be his wife. It went without saying that their wedding would have to wait until Ron finished law school. Ally didn’t have any qualms about that. As much as she loved Ron, she was secretly glad that she still had three years of freedom. It was like having the best of both worlds.

  “Fine, have it your way,” Maddie pouted. “I’ll be right outside, praying that you come back to your senses and change your mind.”

  “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Ally threw over her shoulder as she shut the fitting room door behind her. She wriggled out of her jeans and threw off her top. Taking extra care, she undid the dress zipper and stepped into the gown. She pulled her arms through the sleeves and was about to zip up the back when she heard Madison’s urgent scream.

  “Ally, you’d better come out here!”

  Allyson shook her head. At times Madison could be too persistent. “Maddie, I already told you that I’m going with the black dress.” Allyson surveyed herself in the mirror in confirmation of her choice. The dress looked perfect on her: the black color accentuated the smooth alabaster of her skin and the dark color of her hair, and made her blue eyes dazzle like sapphires.

  She thought of a sapphire pendant her father had given her for her twenty-first birthday; it would go perfectly with the moderately low neckline of the dress. She was about to open the fitting room door and put Madison’s impatience to rest when she heard banging on the door.

  “Ally, you have to see this!” Madison burst into the fitting room just as Ally was about to come out.

  “Admit it, this is a better choice—” Allyson stopped short after seeing the expression on Madison’s face. “Madison, what’s wrong? What is it?”

  Madison handed Ally her smartphone. It had a news article opened on the screen. “I think you’d better sit down.”

  As Allyson read the headline her eyes flew wide open, nearly popping out of her head. “Victor Roberts, President and COO of Roberts Enterprises, has been arrested on charges of fraud, negligence, and threat to national security,” the headline read.

  “It’s got to be a mistake. It can’t be real. Where’s my phone?” Ally rummaged through her purse. “Damn, I must’ve left it at home.” She was heaving now, her heart racing like a hammer, and she felt the world spinning around her. This couldn’t be happening. She needed to call her father’s lawyer and find out exactly what was going on. Maybe her father was trying to reach her this very minute and she wasn’t there to answer his call. When was the last time she had spoken to her father? Easter, and now it was the end of May. She was ashamed to admit that such breaks in their communication weren’t out of the ordinary. Her father was a very busy man, and she didn’t want to appear needy or interfere with his affairs. But now something terrible had happened to him, and she had read about it on the Internet like a complete stranger. She wanted to be with him, to know exactly what was going on. She needed her father more now than she ever had. “I have to go! I have to get to my phone.” Allyson thrust her feet into her shoes and lunged for the door.

  “I’m right behind you,” Madison followed.

  “Miss, excuse me!” A saleswoman stood in Ally’s way.
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br />   Ally stopped dead in her tracks, realizing that she was still wearing the dress she’d been trying on. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror; her hair was disheveled and her face was flushed red. She could already see the headlines: “On the heels of the news of her father’s arrest, Allyson Roberts is caught shoplifting.”

  “Leave her alone!” Madison snarled. “I’ll pay for the damn dress. She has an emergency.” Maddie threw her credit card at the sales person. She thrust her sunglasses at Ally. “Take these. You’re gonna need them.”

  “Why would I need those—” Ally stopped short, understanding instantly. She hated wearing sunglasses, but she’d be crazy to venture outside now without a pair on. Growing up, Allyson had remained out of the spotlight—her father had made sure of that. The one time a photographer had managed to get a picture of her—when she was about five years old—her father had the man brought up on harassment charges, followed by a gag order. But now her father was powerless to protect her and she was prime bait. Every paparazzo on the street would be dying to take her picture. It was only a matter of time until they would seek her out.

  “Come on!” Madison grabbed Ally’s hand, ushering her outside. Luckily, Madison had parked her car close to the store and within moments they were on the road, driving.

  Ten minutes later Madison pulled up in front of Ally’s house. She helped Ally up the front stairs and opened the door for her, as though Ally were an invalid. By now the shock of the news had taken its toll, and although there was nothing physically the matter with her, Ally found it hard to function, as though she were wrapped in a cocoon of numbness, making even the simplest of movements extremely difficult.

  Madison sat Ally on the couch. “Allyson, listen to me. I know you’re in shock, but you have to pull yourself together. There are a hundred calls you need to make, and you need to be one hundred percent, do you hear me?”

  Ally nodded, although she didn’t understand why she needed to make a hundred calls. As far as she was concerned she only needed to make one phone call: to her father.

  Maddie squeezed Ally’s hand hard. “Ally, listen to me. I know you’re scared, but you’ll be alright. It’s probably nothing. Your father will get out of this mess. Trust me, these things happen.”

  Allyson’s eyes flew wide open, but she remained mute. What on earth was Maddie saying? These things didn’t happen, not to her, not to her father.

  “My father isn’t a lawyer for nothing. You should hear about some of the messes his clients had gotten into. All old money, so venerable and discreet. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve just joined a very elite club.” Madison tried to bring Ally back to reality, but there was a glazed-over look of shock in Ally’s eyes. “Allyson!” Maddie’s hand slapped Ally’s face. Allyson clutched her cheek, staring at her friend. “I’m sorry, but you have to get yourself together.”

  The sharp stinging of her skin brought clarity. With her now clear eyes, Ally saw the red blinking light on her answering machine. On the reading table next to the couch was her cell phone and it, too, was beeping angrily, bursting with tidings of bad news. No matter how bad, it was the news she needed to hear. Her father didn’t bring her up to be a babbling child; she was a grown woman now and she had to step up to the plate. “I’m all right now. Thank you.”

  “You’re not mad at me? I don’t know why I hit you. I guess I panicked.” All of Madison’s toughness was evaporating as she babbled guiltily.

  “I deserved it. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to need some privacy to sort through all of this . . . it’s not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t want you to be in the position of overhearing things that could be compromising,” Ally said firmly. She was fully in control now.

  “I understand. I’ll be home if you need me. I’ll let myself out.” Madison rose from the couch and headed for the door.

  Allyson reached for her cell phone and hit the messages button. There were five messages, all from her father’s lawyer.

  To read more about Thirsty for Payback and other books by Marie Astor, click HERE