|
The Tessarae Inn |
|
Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 22 “Damn that was close!” “Yeah,” Blair said and tried to get her breathing back to normal. She checked the rear view mirror and both side mirrors then focused on the road ahead. “That’s all we need right now, a car accident.” “He aimed directly at us. He tried to hit us.” “He was distracted. He wasn’t trying to deliberately hit us. He just didn’t see us.” “Well, I don’t think so. I mean there was this ugly expression on his face and he looked scary.“ “Cut it out, Toni. You’re just being paranoid. How could you even see his face through the sun reflecting off his window shield and wasn’t he wearing sunshades?” “Yes, but—“ “Everything has to have some hidden meaning for you right now. We almost had an accident. Operative word accident but we’re okay. We need to focus on what we are going to do about the JStarr Key Largo campaign.” “Okay. Okay, I get it. You’re pissed that I’m leaving you in the lurch by moving to San Diego. But, look, in all fairness you weren’t expecting me to be around for several weeks anyway and Lauren really is ready to handle things.” “Lauren is good but she’s not you. I made a deal in good faith with the RanSun Group and they have high expectations.” “You’ll be okay and I’m okay.” “Toni, you’re not okay. I know you, remember?” “What do you want from me? I’m trying to do the right thing here but that doesn’t mean it hurts any less.” “I know, but, Toni, I don’t think—“ “I’ve finished a list of wedding arrangements this morning that need to be cancelled. I have the guest list all typed out with phone numbers. I’ll start making calls this afternoon when I get back home from JStarr. I’m being responsible. What more do you want?” “I want you to stop spinning. I want you to stop trying to deny what you feel. This isn’t right, Toni.” “At least I’m not calling him on the phone and hanging up like some demented middle-schooler.” “What?” “He’s been calling me and hanging up as soon as I answer. Sometimes he breathes heavily for fifteen seconds or so.” “That doesn’t sound like RJ.” “Whatever. All I’m saying is that I didn’t create this situation.” “No, but you were so convinced that something was going to happen that you seized on finding out about RJ’s first marriage like it was a life preserver.” “Life preserver? Hello. Are you paying attention? I nearly drowned behind all of that.” “The marriage was years and years ago. He was young. Your father had—“ “Look, I know all of that. And none of it explains why RJ lied to me about it.” “Well, look at how you’re reacting.” Toni crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t believe you just said that. You more than anyone should understand what I’m getting at, why I’m reacting the way I am.” Blair shot Toni a glance. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Toni sank back into the seat. “ Sorry. I don’t mean to drag you into this.” “I’m already in this. I’m your friend. Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.” “I don’t have any illusions about RJ’s past and after what I did to him, he had every right to close the door on me forever and a day. But he didn’t. He didn’t, Blair. And we started over and there was one thing we promised to hold true—no more lies, no lies about the important stuff. Without that we knew we didn’t have a chance.” “He loves you, Toni, and with Carmen getting killed and all it was just a wickedly sticky situation.” “Why?” “What do you mean, why?” Toni leaned forward and rotated her head toward Blair. “You said you didn’t think Trescott really killed Carmen.” “I don’t really know. I mean considering what we found out and what Todd and RJ found then the finger does seem to point in his direction.” “So now you believe that the Treyscott you and I know," Toni said, "would stab a woman multiple times and leave her to die alone on the floor in her hotel room.” “I don’t want to believe that.” “But think it’s possible. So, well, what about someone who’s been lying about even knowing Carmen? Lying to his fiancé for months? Maybe that person has been keeping other secrets about his relationship with her. Do you think he could—“ “Shut up, Toni,” Blair hissed. “Just shut up. Enough people have hurt him already.” Toni stared at her with wide eyes that quickly filled with tears. “I know what you’re doing,” Blair said softly and gripped the steering wheel. “I know how much pain you are in. And I know you’re circling the wagons and trying to survive but you can’t do this because once you put that possibility on the table there will be no going back with RJ.” Toni shook her head slowly. “How did I end up here, Blair? I had my life under control. There was no way that RJ was ever going to forgive me for Keri and Jason. I didn’t expect him to. Not one child but two that I kept from him. Forgive me? No way. He should have kicked my ass from one side of the world to the other. I shouldn’t even have to worry about this Carmen stuff now because we shouldn’t even have been together. But he forgave me and he loves me. How am I supposed to deserve that?” “By having faith in him now. Giving him the benefit of the doubt. Stop making it all about you and your amends. Maybe this is about things he has to make up for. Did you ever consider that? It’s not all about you, Toni.” Toni jerked back but then smiled slightly. “You sure about that? I mean the-world-centers-around-me crap that I’m so good at has gotten me a long way for a lot of years.” “Swimming in circles and treading water.” “I guess that’s one way to describe it.” “That is a fair offer, Manning. Don’t try to pretend that it ain’t.” “It’s a third of what you offered originally.” “Things change. I mean this business with Treyscott is going to rain down bad publicity like smelly wet cow chips in a thunderstorm and squash our chances of making it big this year. Shoot, their chances of going to the Super Bowl just went from good to zero, if not lower. No, this is a completely different team on the table now.” “I won’t sell.” “Don’t misunderstand me, son. You still are going to sell. We have that in writing. I’m just renegotiating the terms of our little exchange.” “The hell you are.” “It’s a fair offer and within the time specified.” “No. It’s not a fair offer but it is within the specified time span we agreed upon.” Asa sipped his drink. “That’s right, son. Seven days. We agreed and I’m putting that clause into effect.” “Treyscott killed Carmen Duvet.” “Yeah and that’s a damn shame given that boy’s talent and all. The Tornadoes were a shoo-in for the Super Bowl this year. The rest of them teams were like a bunch of long tail cats in a room with a mighty big rocking chair.” “Do you remember the rest of that clause?” Asa chewed on his cigar for a second. “What’s there worth remembering?” “The part about my being able to axe the deal within seven days.” “So?” “Consider yourself officially notified that The Tornadoes are no longer for sell.” “Wait a minute, Manning. You can’t do that. I’m not fooling about Blair and—“ Asa’s eyes grew wide and he slumped back against the sofa. “Damn Bryan Treyscott.” Todd grinned at him then laughed. He loved every second of watching that old coot slink down off his high horse. No blackmail. No deal. Nice doing business with you, chump.
“We’re going to be all right, Pumpkin,” said Heather as she gently stroked her stomach. She glanced around quickly. Her father’s rage still seemed to be a physical presence in the room even though he had been gone for a half hour or more. A knock on the door made her sit up straight but she didn’t get up. She didn’t want to see anyone. “Heather, it’s me, Cal. Open up.” Damn. She was not in the mood for this. He was almost like a cat that sensed when she didn’t want to be bothered and rushed right over. “Come on, Heather.” She opened the door and he smiled at her then raised to eye level two large bags of take out, one in each hand. “I brought breakfast.” She threw herself on him and wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. “Okay, okay,” he said gently and edged his way into the apartment. He kicked the door closed. “Bad night?” She nodded her head. He maneuvered them close to the coffee table and then bent his knees with her still clinging to him and put one bag on the table and then the other. He stood up and put his arms around her and held her tightly. Heather stepped back and tented her hands in front of her face. In God’s heaven what had just happened to her? Why had she thrown herself at him? “Sorry,” she said, “I don’t know what got into me. I didn’t mean to—“ “It’s okay. Everybody needs a hug, every now and then. And I have a few hours or days or so free to hug you.” She laughed then rubbed her eyes quickly and hoped he didn’t see how close to tears she had been. “What’s for breakfast?” “Scones, fruit jam and coffee. All the basic food groups except pork products. Something told me that you weren’t exactly a pork products kind of girl.” “I’ve been known to have a BLT once or twice.” “Stop. You’re shattering the illusion. Rich folks like you actually eat bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches? I’m shocked. Never would have guessed it.” “There are all sorts of things about me that you don’t know, Mr. Evans.” “Yeah? Well, how about serving up that breakfast I brought. Since I hunted, you need to gather.” Heather nibbled the last of her third scone. She watched Cal eating with gusto and smiled that it didn’t seem to bother him at all that she was eating like she was a linebacker after practice. He looked up and met her eyes. “Want to tell me what had you so upset when I got here?” “No. I’d rather not.” “Okay. But like I told you before, I’m a good listener.” “I told you, I’m fine.” “Is it Treyscott? Has he been around trying to convince you that’s he’s innocent?” “No. He knows better than to think I would believe that.” “So exactly what is the deal between you and the quarterback felon?” “It’s not about him, Cal. It’s my mother.” “Yeah, yeah, you told me last night that you’ve been thinking about her lately.” “She dropped by the other day.” “What? Wait a minute. I thought you said your mother hadn’t contacted you in years…since she left. Are you saying…?” “Yep. There she was on my doorstep big as life.” He frowned. “What did she want?” A bitter chuckle escaped from Heather’s throat. “That’s the question I asked too. Thank you for not trying to sugarcoat it.” “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. It’s just that she hurt you and now she’s sitting on your doorstep when you least need one more complication in your life. Did she want money? I’ve seen that a lot. Someone’s name appears in the paper or on TV and suddenly long lost relatives appear with an outstretched hand.” “I wish it was as simple as that. Money I’d gladly give her if she’d just go and stay the hell away.” “So what is it? She need a kidney or something?” How was she supposed to answer that? She had no idea what her mother wanted. The sound of the phone ringing pierced the air. She instinctively sank back into the cushions of the couch. “Want me to get that?” Cal asked. She shook her head and picked up the receiver. “Hello.” “I just read that they brought Bryan in for questioning about some murder!” “Robyn?” A wave of relief so powerful it made her gasp swept over her. She couldn’t believe how happy she was to hear Robyn’s voice. A weight that had been sitting in the center of her chest lifted suddenly and dissolved into thin air. “What’s going on, Heather? I couldn’t believe it when I read the papers this morning.” “Where are you?” “We’re back in London. You know this is all a big mistake, don’t you. Do I need to come home? I can catch a flight out tonight.” “You’d come home because Bryan is being questioned?” “Of course I would. I’m sure he needs all of the support he can get. I know how you are, Heather, and that you two are on the outs, but you shouldn’t hold a grudge at a time like this.” “What the hell is wrong with you?” Robyn sighed loudly. “Heather, please grow up. This is serious. The news was splashed across the front page of the tabloids an entire ocean away. I didn’t even get a chance to read the articles. I just saw the headlines and dashed to call you.” “You didn’t call before. You didn’t call when—“ “Why should I? I was in no mood to fight with Daddy Carl about Travis. And I knew you and he could easily take care of everything without me. I needed and deserved a break.” Take care of everything? What things? Like her sitting in a jail cell without any friends or one single member of her family who gave a damn. “Go to hell, bitch. And by the way your mother was here the other day looking for you.” Heather slammed down the phone.
Comments?
Do you have a comment or question about Suspicions In Scarlet Repose? Feedback is always appreciated. Post your message in the Capricorn Deluxe Suite at:
Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
|