Royally Flushed: Tech Billionaires

by Ainsley St Claire

  “Were you wrong?” the male officer asks.

  “No,” I answer.

  “Christina Daniels claims to have lewd emails and texts from you,” the female officer throws in.

  They’re trying to get me to say something I’ll regret. Instead, I sit quietly, as I’ve been instructed. She didn’t ask a question.

  “Do you have a response?” she finally asks.

  “Detective, you didn’t ask a question,” Damien reminds her.

  “Did you send Ms. Daniels’ lewd emails or text messages?”

  I can hear the frustration in her voice. I hope this doesn’t work against me being seen as a cooperative witness. I also know they must be under a tremendous amount of pressure to get this case solved. But this is amateur hour, and I have more faith in Jim’s team finding the culprit than I do in Frick and Frack sitting in front of me.

  “I can’t be sure.”

  Her eyes grow wide. “Why not? Do you send lewd emails and text messages to all the women you date?”

  “No. But I don’t know her barometer for lewd.”

  I swear Damien is fighting a smirk. If I remember correctly, we exchanged two or three text messages after a phone call, all merely to confirm a time and location to meet.

  “What’s your barometer, Mr. Graham?” the female officer asks.

  Damien interrupts. “It seems like you’re fishing. Do you have any proof my client was involved with Cecelia Lancaster’s murder? Because I can’t see how Mrs. Lancaster would be so upset over a failed relationship for her friend.”

  The female officer shoots Damien a death stare. “Mr. Graham, were you in Ms. Lancaster’s room?”

  “Not that I can recall.” If I’ve learned anything, it’s never to say definitely because they already know the answer to the question.

  “Then why was there a fingerprint of yours in her room?” She crosses her arms, sits back, and lets that sink in.

  Damien stands. “I think we’re done with this questioning.”

  I stand and am quite pleased with Damien, but a bit taken aback by their revelation. I was never in Cecelia’s room.

  “If you need to continue your questioning, please contact me at my office with a list of questions, and we’ll make arrangements for you to meet with Mr. Graham. But until then, we’re done,” Damien stands to lead them out of the conference room.

  We walk out, and I ask Quint, “Can you please see the detectives out?”

  Damien follows me upstairs to my office, and we sit down. “Much of what they have is a bunch of crap. Why would you murder someone because she didn’t like that you dumped her friend? If the fingerprint is all they have, they don’t have very much.”

  “I was never in her room. They’re lying about the fingerprint. But there isn’t much where I’m concerned. We argued because a competitor of mine was trying to sell her computer batteries that have a very short life—three months max in the best of conditions. I tried to steer her elsewhere, but they were chirping in her ear. And Cecelia may have been mad at me over Christina, but I never slept with her, and I think maybe I had one email exchange with her. I’ll go through my text and email messages and get you a copy of the call log. I’m confident she called a few times. I never returned her calls after our first drink date.”

  I move over to my computer and click a few buttons.

  “Yes, one email, and it was just setting a time to meet for drinks, which my assistant arranged for us.” I look up my email sent list, and there are messages to two other Christinas but nothing more.

  Damien pushes his card across the desk to me. “Please send it to me. They like you because you’re rich. I know I was a stand-in, but I’m happy to help you with this matter. I understand if you have regular counsel, though.”

  “Damien, I have plenty of lawyers, but they’re all business lawyers. I don’t typically have need for a criminal attorney. So for now, let’s leave this as is. Send over a retainer agreement.”

  “You’ll have that this afternoon,” he says.

  “As you know, Corrine is in Hawaii for a couple of weeks.”

  “Yes, Gabby and I are flying in on your jet this weekend, if it all works out.”

  “That’s right. I’m considering joining you.”

  “That’d be great.”

  I nod. “I appreciate you coming in on short notice.”

  Damien extends his hand to me. “I’m sure you know this since you did so the first time, but please call me if they show up again. And I’ll let you know if we hear from them.”

  He leaves with a nod, and I’m stuck ruminating about the fingerprint. I wasn’t in Cecelia’s room, so I don’t know how it would be possible for my fingerprint to show up there. I’ve been to the Shangri-la in Las Vegas several times over the last year, like the dozen or so people we play poker with.

  I’m considering a glass of bourbon when there’s a knock at my door and Ms. Day enters.

  “I finally got into your voice mail while you were in your meeting. You have a message from Mason Sullivan from yesterday at ten-oh-three. He’d like you to return the call.”

  I nod and jot it down.

  “You received a call from your mother at eleven-oh-eight, and again at two forty-seven.”

  “I’ll call her later.”

  “You also had a call to confirm dinner tonight with a Valerie Knudsen.”

  I don’t recall scheduling dinner with Valerie. Our last conversation was not pleasant after she set me up and was looking for a date.

  “Please call her back and cancel dinner.”

  “May I say why?”

  “She’s not on the calendar…” I debate my options. I’m upset with her, and talking to her would only cause further problems. I take a deep breath. “Please let her know that I can’t help her brother, and with Corrine out of the office, I’m overwhelmed right now. I’ll call her soon.”

  Ms. Day looks over her glasses at me. “Are you going to call her back?”

  “Probably not.”

  She cocks her head to the side. “If she doesn’t hear from you, she’ll call back and blame me for not passing messages on. How about I finish by telling her you’re overwhelmed right now? If she presses to get on your calendar, I will tell her she needs to take it up with you. That way, you can be an adult and break up with this girlfriend.”

  “She was never my girlfriend. She wants to be, but I’m not interested.”

  “I’m old enough to be your mother, but you need to tell her that, not string her along.”

  “I know you’re right; I just don’t usually have a good reason why I don’t want to date them, and I hate tears.” I chastise myself silently as soon as I hear the words. Here I am telling everyone what a shit Bobby Sanders is for breaking up with Corrine on the news, and I’m trying to have my assistant get rid of a woman who doesn’t hear that I don’t want to see her.

  “I understand. But ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ is a stupid platitude. Try being direct without being hurtful. ‘You’re beautiful and wonderful, and you will one day make someone very happy, but it needs to be with someone else and not me.’”

  Ugh. That would definitely bring on the tears. I nod. I need to say it more diplomatically. “For now, please cancel the dinner, and she can call me to reschedule. She has my cell phone number.”

  I need to block her.

  Ms. Day leaves, and I pick up the phone and call Mason.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call you back yesterday. Corrine is dealing with the estate in Maui for a few weeks since the majordomo quit.”

  “Running off the staff already?”

  “Sure does sound like it.” I turn my chair and stare out at the gray, almost-spring day. We get spoiled when we have a beautiful day here and there this time of year. “What’s going on?”

  “I was curious if you’d heard anything more from Jeff Wong?”

  I sit up straight in my chair. “I haven’t. He left a message a while ago, but never got back to me after that. H
ave you? Is Hydro making a move?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. It’s going on four months since you applied for the patent, and I thought we’d have heard if we’re being moved on to the next step by now.”

  “I’ll have Corrine look into it.”

  “Are you around this weekend?”

  “I was thinking about going out to the estate. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing really. Caroline and her friends are headed out of town. Dillon and I were putting together a few rounds of golf.”

  Not tempting enough to miss seeing Corrine. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”

  “I was serious about going somewhere else for our poker game. Do you think we could hole up at your place?”

  “Corrine was going to find out if Jonathan Best could come out and manage it. But really, the biggest issue is that I won’t know where we are with the renovations until next week.”

  “That works. Let me know. And let me know about the patent situation.”

  “Sure thing.”

  I call Corrine.

  “Hey,” she says in greeting. Her voice brings my blood pressure down a few notches. “What did the police want?”

  I tell her how great Damien was. “Also, they say they found my fingerprint in Cecelia’s room. I was never in her room.”

  “Is that all they have?” she asks.

  I take a deep breath. Corrine and I are not on solid ground, but I feel like if I don’t say something, I’ll be sorry. “Two things actually. Jefferson Industries was trying to sell Cecelia a solar battery for the computers she was working on. She and I got in an argument about it at breakfast.”

  “That doesn’t mean you’d kill her.”

  “That’s what I say. But the police seem to think Cecelia was upset with me over a friend of hers she’d set me up with, because things didn’t work out.”

  “Why would she care about that?”

  “This woman is now saying I’m the father of her child.”

  “I see.”

  “Corrine, things aren’t as solid between us as I’d like, but I promise you, it would be impossible for me to be the father of her child. She and I met once for drinks. That’s it. Nothing more. I swear.”

  “I believe you. You have a history, and I’m sure this is bound to happen. Bobby had women who did the same thing to him.”

  I rub my hand over my face. “I’m not an ass like Bobby. I’m embarrassed to tell you how many women I’ve slept with, but I’ve always been careful. I promise.”

  “Did the police say anything else?”

  “Those were their talking points. Damien was good. We got all we needed out of them, and he shut it down.” Corrine’s quiet a moment. “He’s older than I thought he’d be,” I add.

  “Damien used to work for Gabby’s dad. They met her sophomore year, and he was smitten. He came out with us from Texas. Well…he came out to San Francisco for Gabby. He’s a good lawyer. I’m glad you liked him.”

  “Did Gabby decide you both were coming here or did you?”

  “She did. She wanted me away from my dad.”

  “I’m glad she did—not just because she brought you, but because today would have been hard without Damien.”

  “Hopefully the police get this figured out soon. I can’t believe you’d be a serious suspect. Nate must be so frustrated at this point.”

  “Speaking of Nate, any luck with Jonathan?”

  “He’s going to talk to Gillian and get back to me.”

  “Outstanding.”

  “I may have to do a bed count and check to make sure things are up to your friends’ standards. Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “I think so. We have the space if the renovations are done. Maybe in a month or so?”

  “Okay. And, you know, if the police come by again, you should reach back out to Damien.”

  “Yes, I will. Damien’s sending a retainer agreement. I’ll also have you know that Ms. Day scolded me today.”

  “She did? About something other than doing personal errands?”

  “Yes.”

  She chuckles. “What do I need to stop doing?”

  “She wouldn’t tell Valerie I would call her later if I didn’t mean it. I’m too angry with her for doing what she did to talk to her right now.”

  She laughs. “I’m the person who breaks up with your girlfriends all the time.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut in frustration. “I tell them up front I’m not looking for a relationship. It’s not my fault these women think they’re the one who’s going to change me. I don’t like tears.”

  “I understand. But I know you’re capable of restating your position. I’ve seen you eviscerate people at work.”

  “I’ve never been mean.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that, but you’re tough.”

  “Can I call you after hours tonight?”

  “Of course, I’m here at your service.”

  I sigh. I can’t ignore this any longer. “It bothers me when you say things like that. My service implies that you’re only my employee and saying yes because I’m your boss. I hope you agree because you like me as more than a boss.”

  “I do like you more than I’ve liked any other boss,” she teases.

  “I thought if we talked later, you might be in the mood for some phone sex.”

  She giggles, and I feel a bit better. “Just try not to call during our dinner. It wouldn’t be good for the twins to hear what you want to do to me.”

  “Twins?”

  “Brian’s sons?”

  “Of course. I just didn’t retain that information.”

  “Then they’re my new boyfriends—we tag team.”

  “Not funny.”

  “Guess it depends. I thought it was quite funny, being that they’re three years old.”

  “I’ll talk to you later, and I expect you naked and ready to do all sorts of naughty things I tell you to do.”

  She giggles. “Talk to you then.”

  Chapter 27

  Corrine

  It’s after two here, so it’s the end of the day in San Francisco. I dial my phone and wait for Ms. Day to pick up. “How did it go today?” I ask her.

  “Can you believe Mr. Graham got eighteen calls from various women all wanting to date him, and I don’t think he’s even met a one of them?”

  “That’s a good day. Crazy isn’t it? Wait until you get a marriage proposal. I usually just let him know he got some calls and give him the call log at the end of the day.”

  “There’s one who’s a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, but I suspect she wants a date more than to interview him.”

  “I know who you’re talking about. She’s quite pushy.” I look out and see Danny and Jimmy running circles around their dad as he checks the property, and it makes me smile. “How was Mr. Graham after the police were at the office?”

  “I won’t gossip.”

  “I’m not looking for gossip. I’m asking about his mood. Do I need to clean anything up? Often when he’s been gruff or difficult, I need to smooth things over for him.”

  “Oh, no. Mr. Graham talked to a few people and seemed fine.”

  “Okay. Will you be returning tomorrow?” I shut my eyes and will her to say she will.

  “Yes, sure thing.”

  “Great. I suggest you print a copy of Mr. Graham’s calendar, so you’re ready when you walk in tomorrow morning. And before you leave, knock on his door and walk him through the phone calls he needs to return and see if he needs any phone numbers.”

  “Of course. Have a good night.”

  “You, too, Ms. Day. I’ll check in on you in the morning.”

  I met with all the subcontractors today and offered a bonus if they get done within the next three weeks. They’ve been limping along, since that’s the island way. The money is essentially what we’d pay them if they stretched out the work like they seemed to be doing. I also sat down with the designer, and we themed the rooms around
the house so they would be easier to identify. She was resistant to some of my ideas, which is irritating at best. I’ll figure out how to bring her around. I feel like I got something accomplished today.

  I join the others in the dining room to find Leilani has made kalua pork for our dinner. With the first bite, I realize it is melt-in-your-mouth fantastic.

  “This is outstanding!” I gush.

  “It’s nummy.” Danny nods. He has rice stuck to his forehead and shredded kalua pork all over his fingers.

  His twin brother, Jimmy, is too busy to stop eating and agree.

  “What did you do today?” I ask Danny.

  “We found some shells on the beach and went swimming in the ocean with Mama.”

  “That sounds fun.”

  He takes a massive bite of his food, and it takes him a while to chew and eat it.

  “What was your favorite part, Jimmy?”

  “We raced in the yard. I’m the fastest.” He nods, waiting for his brother to disagree.

  The conversation around the table turns to things Danny, Jimmy, and Melanie can do around the island. It’s fun with all of us here, enjoying our time together and getting to know one another.

  Melanie helps with the dishes, and Brian takes Danny and Jimmy on patrol—which really means they explore the property on foot and in a golf cart. The boys love the time with their daddy, but mostly I think they enjoy the golf cart.

  I offer to help in the kitchen, but I’m shooed away, so I head to my makeshift office in the library.

  I settle in and work for a while longer, but my focus isn’t what it should be, so I switch off my computer and begin the walk across the house to my bedroom. There’s a book I started last night before I crashed that I wouldn’t mind trying to read.

  I put on a sexy negligee, and I begin reading a very saucy passage. It makes me think of Jackson. It’s half past six, and I know he’s still in the office. I decide to be a little cruel and naughty. I walk into the well-lit bathroom and let the strap of the dark blue silk baby-doll nightie fall off my shoulder. Through the material, you can see my pink nipple. I play with it a minute to make sure it’s erect. Carefully I take a photo without my head. I look at it, and it’s really sexy.