“Your hypocrisy is astounding,” he said.
“What are you doing here?” Carter took a seat.
“I thought you were bedridden with broken ribs.”
“Bruised ribs, and they’re already feeling better.” He lifted his arms. “See, no pad.”
“Did you come here to show me that?”
“Check your BlackBerry, asshole. We’re having lunch with Elisha and Dad at the country club. My driver is waiting downstairs. So how long, big brother?”
“Just a few days ago,” Carter answered.
“You lying son of a bitch!” Michael laughed.
“You’ll tell no one,” Carter ordered. “And I’m not lying.”
“I could tell no one,” Michael countered with a quizzical tone. “Or I could tell everyone.”
“You owe me, little brother. All the secrets I’ve kept for you.”
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Michael said.
“Need I remind you, that’s what I said when you planned to marry Kimberly?”
“What you said was I should make her get an abortion,” Michael answered. “But that can be a little difficult for those of us who actually believe in God.”
Carter closed his laptop and stood up, grabbing his keys on the edge of his desk. “My point was, you didn’t listen.”
“Touché,” was all Michael could respond. Kimberly had destroyed his life, but she had also given him some of the happiest years ever and the two sons he valued most in the entire universe. “Besides, it appears we’re making the same mistake.”
“How do you figure that?” Carter asked as they headed for the door.
“You’re sleeping with someone else’s wife and I’m sleeping with mine.” Michael smiled at Carter’s confusion.
“If you had any real morals,” Carter said, “you’d let Kimberly go so you can both get on with your miserable lives.”
Michael’s smile faded as he looked Carter dead in the eyes. “Morals or not, that is the one thing I will never do.”
When Sean looked through the peephole of his apartment door, he was taken aback by who he saw. When was the last time Haley Chase had come to his apartment? The day he broke up with her and she set his living room on fire. What was he in store for now?
Sean opened the door a crack and looked out. “What do you want?”
“Are you going to let me in or not?” Haley asked. “The commonness of this hallway is upsetting my allergies.”
“Yes, I forgot that the smell of the middle class can make you sick.” He stepped aside. “My shift starts in two hours, so can you keep your foolishness to an hour or less?”
When Haley walked inside the apartment, she was glad that she felt nothing. She was afraid she might. Haley always excused her falling in love with Sean with some kind of victim’s syndrome. Several attempts had been made on her life because she had agreed to testify against Rudio, the drug dealer she witnessed murdering one of “business partners.” She’d felt as if her parents had turned on her after forcing her to go into hiding. Sean was all she’d had and what had begun as a game, trying to seduce a little Boy Scout into breaking all his own rules, turned into a dependency that she thought she was too strong to fall into. She had loved him and paid the price. She hadn’t let any man do that to her before and she never would again.
“I’m not here for foolishness,” she answered. “I’m here about Garrett. You’re right. He’s in this knee-deep, and I need to cut him loose before my asshole of a father ships me off to Europe again.”
“Are you ready to tell the cops you lied about my sister?” Sean asked. “If not, then we have nothing to discuss.”
Haley intended to do no such thing, until it served her purposes. “Of course, but I have to talk to my lawyer first. My mother’s orders. Can you tell me what you know?”
Sean didn’t trust her for a second. “Have a seat.”
Haley looked around, not wishing to sit anywhere. “Didn’t you get a raise transferring to L.A.? Get a maid or something.”
“Sit down or get out,” Sean ordered as he retrieved a can of pop from the refrigerator. “You need to talk to me first.”
“You don’t believe me?” Haley asked as she finally sat down in a chair at the dining room table. This place was terribly small and made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t believe that he had expected her to live here instead of the million-dollar condo her father was going to buy for them.
“Is that a serious question?” Sean asked. He leaned over the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining room. “What do you know?”
“I know he’s involved,” Haley answered. “He was at the murder, but says he didn’t do it.”
“He says.”
“Garrett’s not an idiot. If he thought a murder was going to go down, do you think he’d use some stupid college alibi service as his backup?”
“Who does he say did it?”
“He was too scared to say, but he was there and he admitted to lying about his alibi.”
“He told the truth?”
“He paid her, Sean. He said she works for this alibi guy and . . .”
“Taylor told me about him, but I can’t find him. He’s just disappeared. Does Garrett know how to contact him?”
She shrugged, looking away. “Before I answer any more questions, I want to know what you know. What am I . . .”
That was when she realized what was lying right there on the dining room table next to her. Police files. “Is this it?”
Sean hurried over to the table, grabbing the papers up. “I’m not even supposed to have this.”
“Why can’t you get on the case?”
“I’m not Beverly Hills PD, and there’s no way I’d be let in on a case where my sister is involved.” He stuffed the last paper in the file and placed it inside the top drawer of the curio cabinet against the wall. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. The FBI came in and took over. This was all I could get before all the files and evidence were taken away.”
“I’m not going to tell anyone,” she said. “What is it?”
“Bits of the case,” he answered. “It’s all I could get my hands on.”
“When did you steal them?”
“Last night,” he said. “It’s incomplete and I’m still trying to figure some stuff out.”
“What do you plan to do with it?”
“Once I know what it means, I’m going to use it to help Taylor get out of this mess.”
“What have you figured out so far?” Haley saw the skeptical look in Sean’s eyes. “I came over here, didn’t I? Can you imagine how hard that was for me? I want to end this so I can move on. Tell me what you have.”
For the next several minutes, Sean explained to Haley what was general knowledge at the police department. Cool, Bitton & Klein was notorious for taking on criminal syndicates as clients. L.A. detectives had been able to tie at least forty murders to their various clients, but had only been able to nab a few of them. The firm’s criminal defense practice was top notch.
Justin Ursh joined the firm five years ago from a small practice on the East Coast. Based on files the police had, he was a troublemaker from the start. Sean imagined he was a brash young man who allowed the lure of a two-hundred-and-thirty-thousand-dollar salary and eighty-five-thousand-dollar bonus to blind him to his ethics. Once on board, he had mentioned to more than one friend, all from different firms, that he regretted his choice.
Justin had been placed on the Velez Holdings account, owned and operated by reputed gangster-turned-business-man, Roberto Velez. By all accounts he was a good lawyer. He’d defended them against a number of RICO charges, as well as two murder charges and one attempted-murder charge. He had gotten two acquittals, a hung jury and a jury nullification. But Sean deduced that the guilt was getting to him. A little over two months ago, Ursh contacted the FBI. He’d thought it was anonymous, but the FBI used the surveillance they had set up to track the tips that were leading them to Velez’s criminal
enterprises, to the pay phone in a coffee shop two miles from where Ursh’s nanny lived. Ursh used to drive her home often.
“What did he tell them?” Haley asked.
“I have no idea,” Sean answered, “but I think if I can decipher these FBI notes, I can find out. My suspicion is that the information had to be good enough for them to want to take his murder off BHPD’s hands.”
“That would be breaking the law, right? Telling his client’s secrets.”
“Not breaking the law, but breaking his confidentiality. He would probably be disbarred if it came out. He was trying to do what was right, but someone found out.”
“Where does Garrett fit into all of this?”
Sean shrugged. “One of Ursh’s neighbors said they saw someone matching his description get in a car that looked like his, moments after they heard a gun shot.”
“That’s weak.”
Sean nodded. “They need more. Garrett joined the firm a year ago as an intern and now works as a clerk part time. He was assigned to Ursh’s cases. It’s possible that Garrett found out about Ursh and the FBI, and told.”
Haley shook her head. “But that doesn’t mean he did anything?”
“That’s what I need you to tell me.” Sean sat in the La-Z-Boy facing her. “I need your help, Haley.”
Haley offered the softest smile she could manage. “Of course I’ll help you, but why do you need my help? The FBI is on it.”
“Loose lips are all over this thing.” Sean shook his head in frustration. “Taylor has agreed to help the FBI all she can, but even with what little she knows, she’s at risk. Maybe you can help me with what you know.”
Haley stood up and walked over to him. She grinned at the look of surprise on his face as she sat down on his lap.
“What are you doing?” Sean asked. There was no way he wouldn’t be affected by this. Haley was an incredibly seductive, sexy woman. Her devilishness only made her more appealing. No good could come from being this close to her.
“You’re a great brother, Sean. I doubt my brothers even know what’s going on with me, but you . . . you stole those files. You risked a lot to get any information you could to help Taylor.”
“I love her.” Sean felt his body react as Haley wrapped her arms around him. He knew the girl was from hell, but she smelled like heaven.
“You did it for me too.” Haley leaned in. “Didn’t you? With Rudio and again with Chris. You were willing to do whatever it took, at whatever risk to you, for someone you cared about. You do care about me, don’t you?”
“What are you doing, Haley?” Sean could feel his arms slide over her thighs despite wishing they wouldn’t. She was wearing short shorts, and the feel of her soft thighs made him unable to hide his attraction to her.
Haley knew she was shameless, but the second she sat on his lap, she wanted him. She could at least say that. “I guess I’m getting emotional.”
“You don’t get emotional,” he countered.
She rolled her eyes. “So what is this, then? What am I feeling now? I’m remembering how you saved my life and what it was like before . . .”
“We both agreed that breaking up was for the best.”
Although he said it was because he wasn’t interested in a real relationship at the time, Sean had really broken up with Haley because Janet had made clear to him what he already knew, but ignored because he was in love. Haley would never be happy in a life with a cop and he would never be able to live a life on Steven Chase’s bankroll. Once he’d revealed the truth to Haley, they’d spent one second considering what could have been, before agreeing that there was no real hope for a future together.
Haley offered a reassuring stroke of her hand over his head. “Sean, don’t get your hopes up. I’m not asking for anything other than right now. I can admit to you I’m scared, because you are the only person I’ve ever admitted it to before. You’re the only person that can make me feel safe and I need to feel safe right now.”
Everything inside of him told him to pat her on the leg and tell her to get up. But he didn’t. He let her kiss him once and then again, reacting to Haley the only way a man could.
“I think that went well, don’t you?” Elisha closed the door to Michael’s office after she stepped inside.
Michael turned to her, watching as she casually tossed her purse on his desk and sauntered toward him. He tossed his crutches on the floor and backed into his chair. “You’re very good. Setting up a conference call with Alton Frist clearly made Dad happy.”
“How can you tell if he’s happy?” She grabbed the arms of his chair and leaned in, giving him ample view of her modest cleavage.
Michael smiled at her advances, but didn’t take the bait. “You can’t. I’ve spent thirty years deciphering that man’s face and I can barely tell. But I think he was happy. He wants this to happen.”
“What is he afraid of?” she asked.
“He’s not afraid of anything,” Michael corrected. “He’s just excessively cautious. It’s made him a billionaire.”
“And you will reap all the benefits when you take over.” She positioned herself on his lap.
“Easy,” he said. He really didn’t want her on his lap or in his office. He had work to do.
“This deal will make you king,” she said. “Don’t you believe it?”
Michael would never tell her how much he hoped that was true. With everything that had happened, he feared he would never be CEO of Chase Beauty. This was especially so after Carter joined the board of directors last year. His father had threatened Michael countless times with his belief that Carter would eventually join Chase Beauty.
“It better,” Michael said, looking away.
“So where is my reward?” She leaned in for a kiss.
Michael turned his head away. “Not right now, Elisha.”
“Why not?” she asked suspiciously.
“I have work to do before we go to the pilot’s funeral.” He grabbed her at the waist and began to lift her off of him. He was still in pain from sex with Kimberly the other day. “I’m not in the mood.”
“So maybe you aren’t as grateful as you should be.” She had a sinister look on her face as she refused to budge.
Michael saw that look on her face, the one that came before she had a fit. “Grateful? Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor, sweetie. I’ve worked my ass off on this one.”
“But you don’t know everything,” she said with a sly smile. “For instance, East Coast Publishing just put in a bid for half a million more than you’re offering.”
He did know, and it made him angry that she thought she could use this against him. “But they don’t want to continue the product line. They only want the properties, advertisers, and subscription list. Frist clearly said he wants the publications to continue.”
“Look, baby, I get paid either way.” She placed her hand gently on his head. “And since Frist put me in charge, Steven Chase isn’t the only person you need to keep happy.”
Michael assumed she was bullshitting. Elisha wanted this deal to go through almost as much as he did, but he couldn’t take any chances. This deal was his redemption and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to make it work.
“Then let’s see if I can make you happy.” He grabbed her hair and brought her face to his. He didn’t want her and he would get rid of her after the deal was done. But for now, he would give her what she wanted.
When Kimberly approached Michael’s office, she assumed his executive assistant looked at her the way she did because it had been an eternity since she had visited her husband at work. Kimberly used to show up at least once a week in that past life; the one where she was happy.
But it wasn’t that at all, and Kimberly realized as much when she opened the door to Michael’s office without knocking. She should have known better. Both Michael and Elisha, sitting on his lap, turned to face her with a look of surprise on their faces.
“Isn’t this pretty,” Kimberly said.<
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Michael felt a brick in his stomach. He didn’t need this. He wanted to push Elisha off his lap, but seeing Kimberly, he was immediately reminded of her recent rejection of him. He certainly wasn’t going to risk upsetting Elisha and hurting this deal.
Elisha slowly got off of Michael’s lap, never taking her eyes off Kimberly. Kimberly wanted to slap that thin-lipped smirk off her face. It wasn’t out of jealousy. She was just angry and sick of it.
“Is this your newest slut?” Kimberly asked, smiling at the angry expression on the woman’s face in reaction to her insult. “Vanilla is your flavor of the week I take it.”
Elisha looked at Michael as if she expected him to defend her, but he didn’t acknowledge her. He kept his eyes on his wife. “Gutter talk doesn’t flatter you, Kimberly. Or then again, I guess it does.”
“Well that certainly didn’t last long.” Kimberly knew he knew what she was talking about.
“I never promised you anything.” He thought this whole situation was totally fucked up, but Michael tried his best to act as nonchalant as possible. The deal was what was most important now.
“Actually you did.” Kimberly was surprised by the softness in her own voice. “Once, seven years ago, but who’s counting? It was only a wedding vow.”
She got her hit in, Kimberly could tell from the reaction on his face. He was trying to hide it, but she stuck him and that would have to be enough. For now.
As she slammed the door behind her and started down the hallway of Chase Beauty’s executive offices, Kimberly knew that she didn’t have to worry about ever hoping or believing again. All she had was hate and this was war.
As he emerged from his bathroom, Sean expected to see Haley still on his bed, where she was when he left. But she wasn’t. He assumed that she had gotten tired of waiting. Haley didn’t like to wait for anyone or anything and he had taken longer than usual, trying to wash away his sins with this woman.
In a way he was happy she was gone. He wouldn’t have to deal with what came next. After spending twenty minutes in the shower chastising himself for making such a stupid mistake, he imagined Haley had done the same and had gone about her business.
A Price to Pay Page 15
