“Just tell me what you want.” Taylor was gripping the edges of the book in her hands so tight, her nails were making marks.
“Do you know a Garrett Collins?”
Taylor blinked, uncertain she’d heard right. “Garrett Collins? Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. So you do know him?”
“What is this about?” Claire asked.
Detective Graves leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “You can imagine that we don’t like questioning the former chief’s daughter, but we’re investigating a murder this past Wednesday. We need your help.”
“Mr. Collins is a suspect,” Detective Falger added, looking as if he didn’t at all share Graves’ discomfort. “But he says he was with you until about eleven that night.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped. She turned to Claire, who was looking straight at the ground. She looked back at Detective Graves, trying to think of something to say as her hesitation seemed to last hours.
“No, I don’t know him.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Claire’s head shoot up, but Taylor was more concerned with the skeptical look on both the detectives’ faces.
“Are you sure?” Detective Falger asked. “I got the impression you know him very well.”
“Well . . . I do know who he is,” Taylor answered, gesturing nervously. All she could think of was Damon’s words to deny anything if the cops came calling. “But we aren’t friends or anything.”
“So you did not spend time with him at Lu Valle on Wednesday night?”
Time was moving around Taylor in slow motion. Was this a joke? Was she dreaming this? He had given the cops her alibi. He had actually gone through with it. What was she going to do?
“No.” She tried to answer as calmly as possible, but her voice gave her away. She was scared as hell and wasn’t thinking.
They didn’t believe her. Taylor could see from their expressions that they thought she was lying. She wasn’t. She was telling the truth, but couldn’t bring herself to disclose the whole situation. She had to talk to her brother first. Sean was one of the most respected young detectives in L.A.
“Thank you, Ms. Jackson.” Detective Graves spoke slowly, not trying to hide his disbelief. “We might need to contact you again. You’ll be around?”
Taylor nodded, feeling it better not to speak anymore.
“What in the hell was that?” Claire asked as soon as the detectives were out of earshot.
Taylor was speechless.
“Why did you lie?” Claire asked.
“I didn’t,” Taylor answered. She was shocked, but still aware of the embarrassment that admitting to Claire that she was lying about Garrett would bring. “It’s complicated. Just . . . I have to go.”
She was on the phone dialing her brother immediately, trying to reassure herself that she was telling the truth, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. But just like the detectives, she wasn’t buying it.
5
Avery was busy concentrating on two works of art, trying to decide which one she would place in the front of her mother’s art gallery, HUE. Nikki Jackson was an artist who had given up her work to be a wife and mother. After Taylor entered junior high, Nikki found herself having more time on her hands. Having maintained her interest in art, she began putting on a few shows for local minority artists. They became so popular that she opened the gallery.
But since Charlie had been shot, Nikki had been focused on caregiving. When Anthony couldn’t watch Connor, Avery brought her to the gallery, which allowed her to chip in more and more. Avery’s problem was that she wasn’t an artist and at times like this, she wished her mother was around more.
Avery leaned over the baby-blue-and-white bassinet where Connor was lying, trying to chew a baby ring. She was beginning to teethe. “Which one do you like better? They both look like a baby painted them anyway.”
It was then that Nina, the young and always anxious assistant who had been working at the gallery since it opened, came to the back room with a concerned look on her face. She was always concerned about something.
“Avery, you should probably go out front,” she said. “Your uhm . . . your friend is here and she looks very upset.”
“My friend?”
“Kimberly Chase.”
Avery grabbed the baby monitor and headed for the storefront. The gallery was empty, so it was easy to find Kimberly. Avery just followed the agitated voice. When she found her, Kimberly was yelling into her phone.
“So what you’re saying is that you’re scared, right? You’re just another chicken-shit lawyer. You have no investment in that family!” Kimberly immediately hung up before bringing her hand to her forehead, as if to stave off the pounding.
“What’s wrong, Kimberly?” Avery debated even asking the question because she had asked it so many times in the last six months, to no avail.
Kimberly turned around with tears in her eyes. “Malibu, Avery. I can’t even get a lawyer in crappy Malibu to agree to represent me in a divorce. No one practicing law in the state of California is going to go up against the Chase family. They say it’s because I signed a prenup and we’ve been married less than ten years, but that’s bullshit. They’re just scared.”
“Scared of what?” Avery asked.
Kimberly waved a dismissive hand in the air. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to get a divorce.”
“You don’t have to have a lawyer,” Avery said. “You can just file for divorce.”
Kimberly looked at her as if she was a fool. “So you expect me to go up against that family on my own? Tell me again why you ran away when you found out you were pregnant? Why you wanted to lie and say that Connor wasn’t a Chase?”
Avery nodded. “I know. But so what if you don’t get any money. Is holding on to money more important than your sanity?”
Kimberly’s anger strengthened as she doubted Avery even listened to her. “It was at first. Not anymore. I told you this is about my babies. You know damn well if Carter wanted to take Connor from you he could. And you’re as squeaky clean as they come.”
Avery shivered at the thought and the fact that it was true. “What can I do, Kimberly?”
Kimberly looked around, her paranoia justified by Michael’s admission that he had her followed sometimes. “I need a job. Here at the gallery. I need it to be a secret that I work here and I need you to pay me in cash.”
Avery couldn’t believe it. Michael had millions and he was keeping her on such a short leash she had to ask for money to spend on herself. “This is crazy. You aren’t his child, Kimberly. Something has to be done.”
Kimberly had wished she could tell Avery about David’s death and the cover-up, but she couldn’t. It was bad enough when Avery found out what Kimberly had done to try to bring Janet down over a year ago. But she had forgiven her for that. Avery was the only friend she had, the only person in her life that wouldn’t bow to Michael’s intimidation. She couldn’t risk losing her.
“You can’t tell Carter, either,” Kimberly said.
“Of course not. I don’t tell Carter my secrets anymore.” Avery noticed the look of doubt on Kimberly’s face. “What?”
“I see you two, Avery. You talk in the corner. The way you both look nervous when you walk by each other. I see the way you look when you don’t know anyone is watching and you turn completely green when he kisses Julia.”
“Stop it.” Avery didn’t want to hear any more of this. She could never deny to herself that she still cared deeply for Carter, but she wouldn’t listen to this. “You’re just emotional.”
“I’m afraid,” Kimberly said. “You can’t tell Carter. He’s on Michael’s side. I know you think he’s reasonable, but they are all evil. You can’t . . . Jesus Christ!”
Before Avery could speak, Kimberly had rushed away toward the back room. Avery started to go after her until she realized who Kimberly was trying to avoid being seen by.
“Hello, Avery. ” Julia Hall approached her, looking almo
st regal in her purple Anna Sui shimmer lace dress. Her hair was styled in a fashionably messy do, and her flawless face wore nothing but lipstick.
Avery knew that most of the reason she didn’t like Julia was because she was jealous of her relationship with Carter, but she could never admit it. She had no right to. It killed her to think of him making love to Julia, laughing with her, telling her his secrets, or at least his version of his secrets.
But there was also something beyond that. She was snobby, cold, and judgmental. Most of all, Avery knew part of Julia regretted Connor’s existence. She intended to be Mrs. Carter Chase, and Carter having a child with someone other than her was . . . messy. The joy of Avery’s whole world was nothing more than an inconvenience to this woman.
“What are you doing here, Julia?” Avery asked. “Looking for art work?”
Julia smiled, looking around. “Well, I am interested in redecorating the condo now that I’m living there permanently. Whoever decorated it last had horribly common taste.”
Avery’s smile never skipped a beat. She wouldn’t give Julia the pleasure.
“But,” Julia continued, “this modern stuff is not . . . well, it’s a little too new money for my taste. I prefer classier, more cultured. No, Avery, I came by to talk to you.”
“What about?” Avery reminded herself that she was a Christian. She had to stay calm even though she knew Julia was about to piss her off.
“Leigh’s birthday dinner is coming up and she wants to invite you.”
“And she sent you to tell me?”
Julia smiled sarcastically. “No, I sent me to tell you to decline the invitation.”
“I wasn’t aware you had the authority to tell me what to do.”
Julia’s eyes shrunk to slits. “You’re not a part of this family, Avery.”
“I don’t claim to be,” Avery said. “And just so you know. Just dating Carter doesn’t make you a member either.”
“I’m not just dating him,” Julia said defensively. “We are living together and we are going to be married.”
Avery turned away, pretending to look toward the front door for customers she knew weren’t there. It took her a moment to let that pass before she turned back. “What does this have to do with Leigh’s birthday party?”
“This is about you using that baby to . . .”
“That baby?” Avery asked in a warning tone. “Her name is Connor and she’s Carter’s daughter. If you plan on marrying him, you might want to at least remember her name.”
“If?” Julia asked. “I will marry him and this isn’t about her. It’s about you using her to stay connected to Carter.”
Avery wasn’t going to let that pass. “I would never use my daughter for anything. I’m not like you, Julia. I don’t have a plan. I’m not scheming for anything. Carter and I have a baby together, so we are connected whether I want it or not.”
Julia let out a cold laugh. “You think so? Because I think it’s you trying to keep that connection. Trying to keep him.”
“If he’s yours then what am I trying to keep?” Avery asked. She could see Julia’s face redden in response. “This is not about me or Connor. This is about you and your lack of confidence in Carter’s feelings for you. You should be talking to him, not me.”
“Don’t tell me what I should be doing with Carter! He loves me and I know it.”
“If you believed that, you wouldn’t be here.” Avery felt a wicked sense of satisfaction at the look on Julia’s face. “Don’t explode, Julia. I wasn’t going to come to the dinner anyway. Unlike you, I’m not desperate to stay in that inner circle.”
Julia leaned in with a threatening glare. Her perfect face came closer to Avery’s. “I’m not desperate for anything. I am in, Avery. I was born in. You may have slithered in through Carter during a moment of very bad judgment on his part, but it’s time you realize that you are no longer welcome. And if you don’t get out, I’ll push you out.”
Avery’s fists clenched at her sides as she restrained herself. This woman was actually threatening her! Avery chose not to say a word, but she looked at Julia with an intensity that words couldn’t have conveyed anyway. Julia paused a moment before leaning back. She took a deep breath, and without a peep, walked out with her nose as high as the sky.
As if on cue, Avery could hear Connor making cooing sounds from the monitor. She didn’t know what she needed to do, but she was certain of one thing.
“I don’t want that bitch around my baby.”
Haley had had it. Garrett was on his last leg after leaving her at the party, but he’d made up for it by buying her a bottle of Bulgari Pour Femme perfume. She agreed to meet him for dinner at The Restaurant in the Hotel Bel-Air, but he had barely paid any attention to her at all. She wouldn’t even put up with this from a rich man. She sure as hell wasn’t going to tolerate it from some intern making only twenty-five hundred dollars a week. Dating him was charity in itself.
“Look, Garrett.” She snatched her purse from the empty chair between them. “We need to talk.”
“I’m sorry.” Garrett looked up from his BlackBerry. His eyes were red, and although he looked impeccable, fashion-wise, there was a hint of raggedness about him. “I was expecting a call, but I won’t look again.”
“On the contrary,” Haley said. “You can look all you want at your crackberry. I don’t really care. I’m just gonna get out of this and head on home. No point in you paying for dessert if you aren’t getting any yourself.”
Garrett frowned as if he didn’t understand. “Get out of what?”
Haley wasn’t sure if he was serious or being an asshole. Either way she was finished.
Or maybe not. Because just as she slid her chair out, two men approached their table. Right away she knew they were police detectives. She had had more than her share of experience with law enforcement. Only this time, they only had eyes for Garrett.
“Hello again, Garrett.” The older detective looked down at Garrett with a mocking smile.
Garrett rolled his eyes and turned away. To Haley, he looked as if he was about to throw up. “What in the hell is going on?”
“This has nothing to do with you, Haley.” Garrett spoke as if he was attempting to reassure her.
“Hello, Ms. Chase.” The younger detective flashed her a condescending smile. You might not know us, but we know who you are. I’m Detective Graves and this . . .”
“Do I look like I care what your names are?” she asked.
Detective Graves’ expression was steeped in sarcasm. “Fortunately for you, this time we’re here for your boyfriend.”
Haley wasn’t going to let the smirk on his face go. “I don’t need fortune. I have money. More in my pocket than you’ll ever see in your life. You can come for me all you want.”
“Do you want this to be hard or easy?” Detective Falger asked Garrett.
“Now?” Garrett asked, pointing to the table to indicate he was in the middle of a meal.
“Then hard.” The man shoved his hand inside his jacket and came out with a pair of handcuffs.
“Wait,” Garrett pleaded, looking around. “Why am I being arrested? I have an alibi.”
“No, you don’t,” Detective Graves said. “Ms. Jackson said she didn’t even know you.”
“Ms. Jackson?” All the hair on Haley’s arms stood up straight. “Who are they talking about?”
Garrett looked as if he had to think for a second before saying, “Taylor. Taylor Jackson. We were hanging out. She told you, right?”
The older man flipped the cuffs in his hand. “She cut you loose, buddy.”
Taylor Jackson! Haley couldn’t believe it. “If you’re sleeping with her I’ll kill you here right now.”
“Haley,” Garrett pleaded. “Not now.”
Detective Graves turned to Haley. “You sure can pick them, can’t you, Ms. Chase? Your boyfriend here was the last person to be seen with a murdered lawyer. His car was seen leaving the lawyer’s home in Beverly Hill
s just moments before the wife came home and found him shot right between the eyes.”
For once, Haley was speechless. She looked at Garrett as he ran his hand over his face, stopping to grip his chin.
“He says he was with Ms. Jackson,” the detective continued. “Says he has an air-tight alibi, but she says no.”
Haley’s mind was racing a hundred miles a second. There was a lot to digest here, but as she watched Garrett stand up and be handcuffed, Haley could only feel anger that that social-climbing pariah, Taylor Jackson, had found a way into her life again. So while Garrett was yesterday’s news, Haley had bigger fish to fry and she would have to rescind her ceremonious dumping of him for the moment.
“She was with him,” Haley said. All three men turned to her and Haley put on her acting face. “She threw it in my face earlier today.”
“Did she now?” asked the younger detective. While he seemed curious, to say the older man looked skeptical was an understatement. “It appears to us that you seemed surprised she was even involved.”
“I forgot. She is very forgettable.” Haley maintained the “fuck you” expression on her face. If she acted as if she wanted to be helpful, she would give herself away completely. “I saw her on campus and she ran up to me with those chicken legs of hers. She wanted me to know that she had hung out with Garrett just to spite me. What she didn’t know is that he had already told me he was going to meet with her about . . . what was it again?”
Garrett picked up on her nod toward him immediately. “Jobs. We talked about job opportunities.”
“That’s right,” she said. “I remember now. Taylor wanted me to think they were on a date. I let her lay it all out for me just to make a fool of her. Then I put her in her place.”
“See,” Garrett said. “Can you uncuff me now?”
“It’s not that easy,” Detective Falger said. “Besides the fact that we don’t believe her for a second, we have a warrant for your arrest, so we’re executing it. If the princess here wants to make a statement, she can come too.”
A Price to Pay Page 8
