Guarding the Socialite

by Kimberly Van Meter

  “I think I’ve had quite enough of your polite inquiry.” He stood and waited for Dillon to do the same. “If you wouldn’t mind, I have things to attend to and I’ve just realized the time. It’s been a pleasure,” he said, his lip curling just a little.

  Dillon stuck his hand out. “No worries there,” he said good-naturedly, giving Robert’s hand a hard, quick shake. “I’ve found what I need here. I’ll be in touch. Don’t leave town. I’d hate to have to chase you down,” he said with a wink.

  Dillon was barely out the door when it shut behind him. That fellow wasn’t very friendly. And he was plainly ashamed at having carried on with a former prostitute. No matter what he might’ve told Charlotte during their stolen interludes, he’d had no intention of squiring her about on his arm. Good for a tumble, not for a ring. Which meant he still had his sights set on Emma, because she was worthy of his economic stature.

  So that told him Robert Gavin was a horny snob but it didn’t make him a killer.

  At least not on the surface. Dillon sent another look toward the house before walking to his car. Something about Robert Gavin made him want to look a bit deeper.

  Emma was sipping her coffee when Chick came in, mad as hell and pulling a recalcitrant Bella along with her.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, alarmed at Chick’s actions.

  Chick pushed Bella in front of her, earning a nasty look from Bella, as she said, “She’s done it this time. And I, for one, am tired of trying to get her to clean up her act when she doesn’t give a damn about how hard everyone around her is trying to help her. I’m done. She’s your problem, Emma. I can’t do it any longer. I’m sorry.”

  And with that Chick stomped from the room.

  “That’s one way to start a morning off on the right foot,” Emma murmured, taking one last bracing sip of her coffee to savor the mouthful before she had to jump into the latest fray involving their youngest boarder. She laced her hands in front of her and looked Bella square in the eye. “What happened? And please, Bella, don’t bother lying. We both know it’s pointless because I’ll find out the truth eventually anyway, and besides, I don’t have time to deal with that right now. Just level with me.”

  “She’s out to get me. She has been from the start,” Bella said with an angry pout. “I didn’t do nothing.”

  “Chick doesn’t react without cause. What did you do? Something at school? Something here? Tell me, please, so we can find a way to fix it.”

  “Why do you care?” Bella shot back, her gaze darting from Emma to the floor. “Just kick me out and be done with it. I know you want to, and frankly, I’m tired of hanging around this dull place. No boys, no parties, no fun. I don’t know why I’ve stuck around this long.”

  “Cut the crap, Bella,” Emma said bluntly, not in the mood to coddle the teen at the moment. She had her own issues to deal with, and Bella’s surly I-don’t-care-about-anyone attitude was wearing thin on her already-taut nerves. “What did you do that was so bad that Chick is fed up with you?”

  Mutinous silence met her question. Her jaw tightened. “Fine. Perhaps Chick is right. I can’t continue to reach out to you when all you do is snap at me and anyone else who tries to help. I will find out from Chick what happened. In the meantime, go to your room and pack your things. I will call your social worker and give her the regretful news that you will no longer be staying at Iris House. You win, Bella. Congratulations.”

  Bella’s eyes watered, but only for a second. Then she stuck out her chin and shrugged. “It was only a matter of time anyway. I knew it wasn’t for real. I knew you didn’t want me any more than anyone else.”

  “That’s not true, Bella. I wanted you here more than anyone. But I learned a painful lesson a long time ago. People who don’t want to be helped, simply won’t be helped. Be ready within the hour, please.”

  Bella’s lips thinned, but her brow dipped as if she were at war with herself, wanting to beg to stay, tempted to burn every bridge. Emma held her breath, hoping she would break down and ask to remain, but she didn’t. She simply turned on her heel and slammed the glass door behind her, causing Emma to flinch.

  Damn it. Emma cradled her head in her hands and fought the urge to pound her fists against her desk, frustrated and at her wits’ end on how to get through to that girl. The fights at school, the ditching, the drugs, the parties, it was the same MO as Elyse before the big checkout. She swore she wouldn’t let that happen to Bella. Somewhere deep down there was a sweet girl who just wanted to find her footing in a life that had nearly run her over at a young age. But Bella was fighting her every step of the way. Just like someone else had. Bella…what do you need? The question hammered at Emma, but all Emma received in return was a headache. Chick returned, a frown on her face.

  “What now?” Emma asked, weary of the day when it had barely begun. “Is she up there breaking things?”

  “No. She’s packing. Are you really throwing her out?”

  “Yes. Maybe you were right. She’s a lost cause.”

  Chick looked miserable yet still pissed off. “Of course I’m not right. I never expected you to agree with me. You’re the champion, I’m the hothead. Those are our rules. It’s our version of good cop, bad cop. I tear them down and you build them back up again. It works. Now you’re changing the rules midgame. What gives?”

  “What are you saying? You said you were through. I figured it must’ve been bad enough for you to flip out on her. And she wouldn’t tell me so I assumed you must’ve been right.”

  Chick cursed under her breath, muttering, “Well, it was bad. She broke a house rule.”

  “Drugs?” Emma held her breath, hoping it wasn’t that. Anything but that.

  “No. She sneaked a boy in the house last night.”

  The pent-up breath escaped in a confused whoosh. “A boy?” She hadn’t expected that. Bella didn’t like to be touched. By anyone. “How’d you find out?”

  “I realized she was taking a lot of food up into her room and the kid hardly eats at all on a normal day. So first thing this morning, I went in there and he’d just slipped out the window. I saw his backside as he went over the side.”

  “Oh, Lord, was he hurt?” Emma envisioned a lawsuit if the kid broke something. “Where was I when all this was happening?”

  Chick waved away her concern. “He’s fine. He used the fire escape to shimmy his way down. But when I confronted Bella about it, she refused to talk. I tried to get her to open up, but you saw her—she clammed up tight. I just got fed up. She breaks the rules with impunity and never seems to suffer the consequences. I got hot under the collar about it and that’s when I marched her in here, but I never expected that you’d throw her out. I was thinking you might scare her a bit and straighten her out that way. You know that kid isn’t going to make it out there without some guidance.” Chick stared, expecting Emma to make it right, and Emma knew with certainty that Chick felt terrible for losing her temper with the girl. Emma nodded and Chick’s shoulders relaxed. “So you’re not going to kick her out?”

  “I should…but no. You’re right. I do bend the rules for her. No sense in stopping now.”

  Emma rubbed Chick’s shoulder on the way out and headed up to Bella’s room.

  She opened the door and found the teen packing slowly, as if she was hoping Emma would come and stop her. Damn if the child wasn’t smart. Emma sat on the bed and sighed. “Okay. Who is he?”

  “Who is who?” Bella hedged.

  “I’m not going to play this game,” Emma told her. Best to be honest. Her nerves were frayed. “You know the house rules. By all rights I should stick to my original dictate and send you packing but if you tell me what’s going on I’ll see what we can do about the situation.”

  Bella stilled, her hands fidgeting with a folded turtleneck before dropping it in her suitcase. “He’s no one.”

  “Is this how we’re going to play this, Bella?” she asked, exasperated. “I’m trying to help you. I want to help you. All I
’ve ever wanted was to help, but if you don’t want my help, I’ll stop. But let me tell you something…out there, outside of Iris House…no one gives a damn. I’d hoped after your time here you’d recognize the difference.” Emma’s voice was cutting but she couldn’t help it. She wanted to throttle and hold the girl close but could do neither. She rose to exit the room but Bella’s voice, tremulous at her back, stopped her.

  “He’s just a kid, like me. And he didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

  Chapter 13

  Dillon swung around the corner of the hallway and bypassing a drunk snoring off a bender in the corner, gave the apartment door two kicks with his booted foot. No way he was going to touch anything in this nasty place. Not even his knuckles to the front door. Dillon heard a muted crash, some cursing and then a bleary-eyed Mad Johnny opened the door.

  “You again? What the fu—”

  “Hey, watch your mouth…there are kids around here, you know. May I come in?”

  Mad Johnny had the presence to give Dillon a dirty look then sneered. “You got a warrant?”

  “Nope.”

  “Then piss off.”

  “There you go getting all surly and unfriendly-like. I’m just here to chat.”

  “I’m not in a chatty mood,” Mad Johnny said, and then tried to slam the door in Dillon’s face, but Dillon anticipated that and put his foot between the door and jamb, then shoved the door into Mad Johnny’s face, causing him to stumble back screaming something about his nose. “You crazy, mother…You broke it again!”

  Dillon cast his gaze around the disheveled room before quietly closing the door behind him. Pizza boxes, flies and a putrid smell seemed to be Mad Johnny’s decorating style. “You’re a pig,” Dillon observed casually, moving past the punk as he blinked against the pain and sucked back snot. “We have to talk.” Mad Johnny shot him another nasty look that said go screw yourself, and Dillon saved him the time by saying, “Don’t start with your mouth. I’ve come for some information and I think you might be able to help. Now, if you’re wondering how I will be able to compel you to cooperate, I’ll tell you because I’m feeling generous. You were one of the last people to see Charlotte alive. You were also blackmailing her with something to get her to do your dirty work. I want to know what you had on her. If you don’t tell me I will make it my business to make your life miserable with frequent visits by police and I’m sure that will cramp your—” he glanced around at the pigsty Mad Johnny called home and then finished with a shudder “—style.”

  Mad Johnny tilted his head back to stem the trickle of blood leaking from his busted nose and wobbled to the equally vile kitchen where there wasn’t a clean spot visible, grabbing a towel to mop up the mess on his face. He took his time in answering but Dillon gave him a little latitude. He wasn’t heartless. He’d just broken the man’s nose—again—for God’s sake. A man had his pride. Even scum-sucking bottom feeders like Mad Johnny.

  “What’s in it for me?” he finally asked, his voice nasal and slightly muffled by the ugly towel pressed to his face.

  “The ability to keep breathing,” Dillon answered evenly.

  “Right,” Mad Johnny sneered. “There’s rules even you have to follow. You can’t threaten me like that.”

  To that Dillon just smiled and Mad Johnny visibly quailed. “Try me. Have I mentioned I’m a bit of a loose cannon?” He swirled his index finger around his temple. “Doc says my clock’s not wound right.” He shrugged. “Occupational hazard of dealing with scum like you and psychopaths on a regular basis.”

  Dillon held Mad Johnny’s bloodshot gaze and finally the punk relented with a defeated shrug. “I got pictures of her doing some old guy.”

  “To run the risk of being blunt…so? She was a former prostitute. I suspect there are plenty of those floating around.”

  “Yeah, but this guy was real particular. She was afraid if he found out he’d dump her, and for some reason, Char had it bad for this guy. Once I realized she’d do anything to keep the pictures hidden…I knew I had her back.”

  “How’d you get the pictures in the first place?”

  He smirked. “That was easy. All I had to do was slip the night desk guy a little cash and then set up a digital camera at the skank motel she and him liked to use for their little visits. Like I said…easy.”

  Dillon mulled over the information. “So, basically, you paid the clerk to give the couple whatever room you had rigged with the camera. What was in the package you had her deliver?”

  “Do I get some kind of immunity for helping you out?” Mad Johnny asked.

  “Sure,” Dillon lied with a smile. “What was in the package?”

  “Heroin. But it wasn’t mine. I was just the middleman moving it around. Unfortunately, cops got my face on their radar and so I needed someone they wouldn’t look twice at. Since Charlotte started living at the group house, she cleaned up pretty good. I figured she’d get the package delivered no sweat. And she did. It went down smooth.”

  “Yeah, but then she ended up dead. Doesn’t seem so smooth for her.”

  “Hey, I told you I didn’t have nothing to do with that,” Mad Johnny exclaimed, alarm coloring his voice until it got a little shrill. “She was fine the last time I saw her.”

  “So she did your little errand. Did you give her the photos?”

  Mad Johnny’s gaze skittered away. “No. I, uh, didn’t get the chance.”

  “Yeah. Sure. My guess is you were planning to keep them for leverage. As long as she was seeing the older gentleman, you had something over her.”

  Mad Johnny knew Dillon nailed it. There was no sense in hiding it so he simply shrugged. “Yeah. So what? Business is business.”

  “Give me the photos.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I want them. Now.”

  Mad Johnny swore under his breath, but he stalked over to a messy desk and after rooting around for a minute, accidentally knocking a half-full Coke bottle to the floor so that it fell and splashed all over his foot, he found what he was looking for. A CD case. “Here,” he spat. “Everything’s on there.”

  “And what about the original files?”

  “Computer crashed and ate everything. This is it.”

  “Excellent.” He pocketed the case. “If you’re lying, I’ll break something else,” he warned, then smiled coldly. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  “Are you going to keep showing up at my place?” Mad Johnny asked warily.

  “Maybe. I find our visits…entertaining.” Dillon paused at the door. “One more question… Did you happen to catch the name of the man Charlotte was seeing?”

  “Yeah, some guy named Carlyle.”

  Dillon stared. “Are you sure?”

  Mad Johnny nodded and pressed the towel against his nose. “Yeah, I remember because I made some wisecrack to Charlotte about her doing a guy with a sissy name. Then I asked her if he liked to wear her panties when she’s spanking him.”

  Dillon’s mind was moving in dizzying circles. Who was Carlyle? And what the hell had Charlotte been mixed up in? He patted the CD case in his pocket. Time to find a computer and take a look.

  Emma blinked at Bella, shocked at the pain in the teen’s voice. When Bella first came to Iris House she cared about no one and was strictly operating in survival mode. The fact that she felt compassion for a stranger was a huge milestone, but Emma had to consider the rules of the house.

  “How’d you meet him?” she asked. “What’s his name?”

  Bella hesitated, biting her lip, clearly reluctant to share that information, which told Emma she was probably ditching school again. She withheld the sigh. One crisis at a time, she thought. Finally, Bella admitted, “His name is Ben. He was sleeping in the boiler room at school.”

  “And you found this out how?”

  Bella cut her gaze away from Emma. “Because I go there sometimes when I need to get away from all the stupid people.”

  “Okay,” Emma breathed, feeling a heada
che coming on. “We’ll talk about that later. How do you know he’s all alone? Is he in the system? Is he a runaway?” Bella’s stony silence was answer enough. “Bella, if he’s in the system, he has a home to go to. He can’t stay here.”

  “He won’t go back,” she said. “Bad things were happening to him, Emma.”

  “What kind of bad things?” Emma asked, though she needn’t have bothered. She could imagine. And when Bella gave her a hard look she didn’t need to hear the details. Unfortunately, social services wasn’t infallible. Sometimes a bad seed got through the checks and balances. “If someone was hurting your friend we need to alert the authorities.”

  “No one will believe him. He tried.”

  “I will believe him,” Emma said firmly. “I will help him get out of a bad home but Iris House isn’t the place for him permanently. You know that. It’s a home for women only. It’s that way for a reason.” She frowned against the pounding gathering behind her eyebrows. “So, where is he now?”

  Bella looked sullen. “I don’t know. You scared him off.”

  “Well, you must know where he went?”

  Bella shook her head. “He won’t tell me. He doesn’t want to go back to his foster family.”

  Lord help her. Emma took a deep breath, not quite believing what she was about to do. “When your friend returns…tell him he can stay until we get things figured out. But he can’t stay in your room. He can take Charlotte’s room until we figure out what to do.”

  “Really?” Hope, new and vulnerable, shone in Bella’s eyes. “You mean it?”

  “Have you ever known me to lie?” Bella shook her head. Emma smiled. “Well, I don’t plan to start now. But this is temporary,” she warned. “And if it turns out that Ben isn’t living in a bad environment, he’ll have to go back home to his foster parents. Do you think he’ll talk to me?”