What? I don’t like her. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
“Right.”
I turned to Jake irritably. “Shouldn’t you be doing your hair so you’re camera ready?”
“I’m always camera ready,” he replied calmly. “I’m naturally pretty.”
“I wouldn’t go around announcing that,” I told him.
“I’m comfortable with my masculinity.”
“Of course you are,” a saccharine voice emanated from the hallway behind Jake. He turned and smiled when he saw Shelly standing behind him.
“Hey,” Jake greeted her warmly. “You look really nice.”
“Thank you.”
I rolled my eyes and looked over at Derrick. He was watching me for my reaction. I stuck my tongue out at him in response.
“What is everyone doing?” Shelly asked. Her tone never shifted, but I could tell she was a little uncomfortable finding Jake with me – again.
“Talking about the merits of men wearing dresses,” I said smoothly.
“Like kilts?” Shelly looked confused.
“No, like chiffon.”
Derrick shot me a dark look, while Jake shook his head in my direction. “The press conference will be starting in a few minutes. Why don’t we all go over to the conference room?”
Shelly smiled at Jake obligingly. “Of course.”
“I’ll be there in a second,” I said. “I need to talk to Derrick about something.”
“What?” Shelly asked suspiciously.
“Family stuff.”
“Meaning?” Shelly obviously didn’t like me. I didn’t blame her. The feeling was entirely mutual.
“Meaning you’re not family,” I shot back.
Jake grabbed Shelly by the elbow and started to lead her away. “Behave,” he admonished me.
Once he was gone, I turned back to Derrick. I was running out of time. “I heard you guys talked to the au pair?”
“How do you know about the au pair?”
“I’m omnipotent.”
“I didn’t believe that when we were eight and you kept telling people you were really a magical alien, and I don’t believe it now.”
“A little birdie told me,” I tried again.
“She doesn’t know anything,” Derrick said finally. “She’s a dead end. Don’t waste your time.”
He’s hiding something.
“Okay,” I said, getting to my feet. “I believe you.”
“That’s your lying voice,” Derrick replied.
“It’s no different than your lying voice,” I countered.
Derrick and I eyed each other carefully. We were at an impasse. Unfortunately, this wasn’t an unusual scenario for us.
I left Derrick’s office and went into the conference room. Most of the television reporters and newspaper representatives were already present. I helped myself to a donut and then made my way over to Tony Winters. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” Tony said. “I can’t believe how big this story is blowing up.”
“Me either,” I said. “It must be a slow news cycle.”
“It’s getting national mentions now,” Tony said. “Nancy Grace mentioned it on her show last night.”
I knew it.
“She’s asked me to be on her show tonight,” I heard a voice behind me say. I turned to see Shelly standing behind me with a smug look on her face.
“Good for you.”
“This is a big deal,” Shelly said. “Jake and I are going to be on a national news program together. That’s a big step for us.”
“Will you be naked?”
“What?” Shelly furrowed her brow.
“Just curious.”
Tony was smiling at our exchange. Everyone likes a girl fight.
“What is your deal?” Shelly asked me angrily.
“What do you mean?”
“You have an attitude with me.”
“Avery has an attitude with everyone,” Tony supplied.
Shelly shot him a dirty look. Tony looked appropriately abashed and walked away. I could see him heading directly for Derrick in the corner. Probably warning him that I was about to throw down.
“I want to know what your problem is,” Shelly repeated.
“I don’t have a problem. I just don’t like you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t like all television reporters. Don’t take it personally,” I said flippantly.
“I think it’s more than that. I think you’re jealous because I’m with Jake.”
“You’re entitled to your opinion.”
“You’re not denying it.”
“I don’t deny being an elf either. That doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Shelly looked confused again. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Derrick was making his way across the room towards us. He was clearly worried. He should be.
“Listen, Shelly, you’re not my problem. Let’s just agree to stay away from each other.”
“That’s not a problem for me, but you seem incapable of staying away from my boyfriend.”
“That sounds like a problem for you and Jake to discuss,” Derrick interjected, moving to my side.
“I’m discussing it with her.”
“This isn’t the place to discuss it,” Derrick replied. He was clearly angry. “Maybe you should pick a playground and fight it out there.”
Shelly shot Derrick a disgusted look. “Your whole family is nuts, from what I’ve read. It shouldn’t surprise me that you’re taking her side.”
“She doesn’t need me to take her side,” Derrick replied curtly. “She’s more than capable of doing it on her own. “ Derrick took a step towards Shelly. “And you’re not equipped to take her on. She’ll eat you for lunch and still have room for dessert.”
Shelly narrowed her eyes and regarded him. “I’m telling Jake that you’re disrespecting me in favor of your low-class cousin.”
Oh, I was in this now. “Why don’t you do that,” I seethed. “Why don’t you go tell him that I was being mean to you and see what that gets you?”
Shelly shifted her gaze between Derrick and me for a second. She seemed to be collecting herself. “This isn’t over,” she said finally before turning on her heel and stalking away.
“I can’t wait for the encore.”
Twenty
After the press conference – which equated to a big pile of nothing – I was getting ready to leave the sheriff’s department when Derrick approached me. “Come to my office,” he said in a low whisper.
I followed Derrick dutifully. I was still reeling from him coming to my aid in the Shelly fight. When we got to his office, Derrick closed the door behind us. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t need you to ride in with your white hat – even though I appreciate it.”
“I don’t like her,” Derrick said finally. That was pretty much as close to a compliment – and cease fire -- as we were going to be able to maintain.
“What did you want to tell me?” I asked him, changing the subject.
“I can’t give you specifics,” Derrick said. “You know that.”
“Then why did you call me in here?”
“I wanted to make sure that she was gone before you left,” he said honestly. “I didn’t want to have another crime scene in the parking lot if I could help it. You’d beat the shit out of her and then I’d get stuck with the paperwork – and explaining to your mom why you’re spending the night in jail.”
Yeah, no one wanted that.
“By the way, can you get her to stop texting me?”
“No, I can’t get her to stop texting me,” I said ruefully.
“She’s starting to follow me around on Facebook, too,” Derrick added.
“Get used to that.”
Derrick sighed. He knew there was nothing I could do, so I don’t know why he would even ask.
“Are you guys watching Brian Fra
nk?” I changed topics.
“We’re investigating the case,” Derrick said evasively.
“That means yes.”
“That means we’re investigating the case,” Derrick affirmed.
“Are you watching the au pair, too?”
Derrick sighed. “She’s probably gone now. It’s probably safe for you to leave.”
I took the hint and left. I didn’t need him to confirm it for me anyway. I knew that the police were holding their cards incredibly close to their vests for a reason. I could figure out why on my own.
I headed back to the office, but not before I looked to see if Shelly was in the parking lot. The Channel 7 news truck was still there – but there was no Shelly in sight. She was probably still inside tattling to Jake. I could only hope Derrick didn’t get in any trouble for taking my side. If he did, there was going to be a rather loud fight in the sheriff’s personal office in the next few days.
When I got back into the office, I saw that a couple of reporters were grouped around Duncan’s desk and watching something on his computer. It was probably that hilarious video about the news reporter going ghetto in the middle of a story on YouTube. We rediscovered it periodically – and it was always funny.
“Nothing new at the press conference,” I announced to Fish as I approached his desk.
“So nothing happened at the press conference?” He raised an eyebrow as he regarded me.
Crap. What had Duncan told him?
“No,” I said evasively. “Nothing we didn’t already know. She’s still missing.”
“So you didn’t get in a fight with the Channel 7 reporter?”
“Define fight.”
Fish fixed me with a tired look.
“There might have been some words exchanged,” I admitted.
“Why?”
“I don’t like her.”
“You don’t like any television reporters, none of us do, but you usually don’t get in big bitch fights with them at the sheriff’s department.”
Not that he knew of, at least. It’s not like it was the first time. Devon and I had exchanged words a few times. Ironically, that had also happened at the sheriff’s department. And a couple of crime scenes. And the family restaurant.
“She started it,” I protested.
“You didn’t have to engage,” Fish argued. We both exchanged a look. That wasn’t true. I can’t stop myself from engaging.
“I’m sorry,” I said finally.
“It won’t happen again?”
We both knew I couldn’t promise that. “It won’t happen again . . . I hope.”
“Fine,” Fish said. “Where do you go from here?”
“I’m going to try and find the au pair,” I said simply.
“Do you think it will be that easy?”
“Probably not. I think she knows something, though. That’s why the cops are trying to hide her so desperately.”
“Is she still working at the house?”
“As far as I know.”
I heard the reporters grouped around Duncan’s desk laughing maniacally. “What are they looking at? Did Duncan take the point-of-view camera to a Civil War reenactment and forget that the war has been over for more than two hundred years?”
“No,” Fish replied. “He taped you fighting with the Channel 7 reporter.”
“He did not!”
“He did, and he’s showing everyone in the room.”
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Why would I? It’s funny.”
I hate these people. If that shows up on YouTube, Duncan is going to be sorry.
Twenty-One
After filing my story from today’s press conference, I found myself at a loss. Not only was I plotting retribution for Duncan, but I was also at a wall I couldn’t quite see over. I needed to learn more about the au pair, but all I had was a first name. I figured I would probably need some help on this. I couldn’t go to the police – because they had no intention of helping me – so that left Eliot.
We had agreed to have dinner and spend the night together at his place again. What can I say? He’s addictive. Plus, Lexie and her yoga obsession were making my two-bedroom house seem even smaller than it was.
I left work and returned home long enough to pack more clothes in a bag and change my outfit. Eliot hadn’t said where we were going, so I settled on simple black pants and a billowy top from Express. I ran my straightening iron over my hair, touched up my makeup, and left a note for Lexie. I didn’t know if she was at work or at the gym – but I figured she would be just as relieved to have me out of the house, as I was to be out of it.
I drove to Eliot’s place and knocked on the door. He opened it, greeting me with a warm hug and a kiss.
“How was your day?” He asked, taking my bag from me.
“Interesting,” I said briefly.
Eliot raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t question me further. At least for now. Instead, he led me into the bathroom and opened one of the drawers. It was empty. “I figured you could keep some of your stuff here so you didn’t have to keep packing a bag everyday.”
“You’re giving me a drawer?” I was surprised, and touched.
“It’s not a big deal,” I could see his cheeks redden slightly. “I emptied out some drawers in the bedroom, too.”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t quite sure what to say to him. It felt like things were moving incredibly fast – and yet it felt comfortable.
Eliot reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He handed it to me wordlessly.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a key to the apartment,” he said. “I figured that way you could just let yourself in if you need to.”
I was stunned. “You trust me in your place? Alone?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m nosy,” I admitted.
“I have nothing to hide.”
Eliot and I decided to drive over to Hall Road so we could have a nice seafood dinner. Once we were seated and had ordered, Eliot turned his attention back to me. “So what did you do today?”
“There was a press conference at the sheriff’s department.”
“Anything new?”
“Absolutely nothing. They’re holding daily press conferences there, though.”
Eliot looked surprised. “Why?”
“I don’t know. The way they’re approaching this case is just really odd.”
“I agree. They know a lot more than they’re saying.”
“Derrick says they’re keeping surveillance on Brian Frank.”
“He told you that?” Eliot looked startled.
“No, he said they’re investigating the case, but I could tell by the way he wouldn’t answer me.”
“Only you would say something like that,” Eliot laughed.
“I know him,” I said simply. “He can’t lie to me. He can evade, but I know when he’s lying.”
“Does he know when you’re lying?” Eliot asked curiously.
“Yep.”
“Did anything else happen?” Eliot was eying me purposefully.
Crap. What had he heard? “That’s all that happened regarding the case,” I said finally.
“So, you didn’t get in a fight with Shelly?”
“Who told you that?”
“It’s on YouTube.”
“I’m going to kill Duncan,” I muttered.
“Why were you fighting with her?”
“She started it.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“She has an issue with me.”
“You have an issue with her, too,” Eliot pointed out.
“I have an issue with . . . “
“All television reporters, I know,” Eliot interrupted. “You really don’t like her, though. Is it because of Jake?”
“No,” I said. Although, I wasn’t sure if that was true. “I don’t like the way she’s always following me around. Trying to find out what I know. That’s not how this busin
ess works. We don’t do the legwork for each other. We try to win.”
“And this is just about winning?”
“Yes.”
Eliot let it go. We ate our meal in compatible silence. When we were done, Eliot led me out of the restaurant by my hand. “I want to meet the au pair,” I said finally.
“Why?”
“Because I think she knows something.”
“What is it with you and the au pair?” Eliot seemed genuinely curious.
“I think it’s weird that everyone is trying to keep her a secret. That automatically piques my curiosity.”
“I don’t think she knows anything,” Eliot said.
“Have you questioned her?”
“I’ve talked to her. She seems like a young girl from another country who is confused by what is going on.”
“Is she hot?”
Eliot barked out a laugh. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“It’s just a question.”
“She’s attractive,” Eliot ceded. “I don’t know if I would call her hot, but she’s cute.”
“Do you think Brian Frank had anything going on with her?”
Eliot looked surprised. “Why would you ask that?” That wasn’t an answer to my question.
“An older man seducing the naïve nanny is an old story,” I supplied.
“I haven’t seen anything that would make me think they’re sleeping together,” Eliot said.
“But you have your suspicions?”
Eliot sighed as he looked at me. “You really are better at this than people give you credit for.”
“So, they are sleeping together?”
“I don’t know that,” Eliot cautioned. “I just get a weird vibe from them.”
“Like they’re humping like bunnies?”
Eliot shook his head, but he couldn’t hide his smile. “Maybe,” he conceded.
“Have you asked her?”
“You don’t just come out and ask something like that,” Eliot admonished me.
I would. “Can you arrange a meeting between us?”
“I can try,” Eliot said.
That was a start.
Twenty-Two
I woke up in a tangle of arms, legs and a pile of tousled hair. I could feel Eliot breathing deeply beside me. He was still asleep. I took a few minutes to just enjoy the feeling.
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