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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 23
Carl threw up his hands in a mock surrender. “Okay. Okay. You win. Your college days sound every bit as wild as mine.” “Well, I should say so.” He smiled at her. Dinner had been unbelievable and he was still glowing about the fact that he was able to persuade her to come back to his place. Of course he wasn’t sure how much real persuading he had to do. The scotch bottle was almost half empty now and he could see glimpses of her camisole through the loosen buttons on her blouse. Obviously she’d liked the lingerie that he’d sent. Pink. “Oh. Oh, and I haven’t even told you about Frankie Massey. He thought he was so cute. Had a car and you know back then having a car on campus was a big deal.” “Yeah, I remember.” “Well, I talked him into planning a trip to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break with several of my gal pals--prepaid hotel rooms and everything then we took the car and left him on campus.” “Don’t tell me. He was kind of angry.” “Livid. But it was a glorious trip, although I ended up having to date him for a whole semester to make up for it.” He smiled. “Sharing these stories is fun.” “Yeah, I guess so. I mean at least you and I went to college in the same century.” “Unlike Cassie.” “Yes. Unlike my daughter.” “So you disapprove of me because of the age difference.” “Actually, no. I’ve been known to rob the cradle a time or two myself. But then I know my limits.” “Limits?” “What I can give and what I can’t.” “What do you think I can’t give Cassie?” “What she wants most—love, fidelity, a family.” “I think I’m supposed to be insulted.” “No. Actually, not. You are what you are. I understand that. I could for example play the game and then walk away because I understand the rules. Cassie, unfortunately, does not. She is not so much young as naïve. Perpetually naïve.” “Maybe I like that about her. She’s young and fresh.” “You will tire of her before the ink is dry on the marriage license.” “Marriage license?” “See, that’s exactly what I mean. You have no idea what a girl like Cassie wants.” “I’m not interested in getting married.” “Never thought you were, but something tells me my daughter will wear down your defenses. She is after all a Cramer.” “You have a lot of respect for your genes.” “Oh, yes. The thing is though, you will end it and walk away unscathed but I’ll be picking up the pieces of Cassie’s faith for years afterwards. It’s just not a fair trade, you see.” “Would you like to dance?” “What?” He walked over and turned on the tape he listened to whenever he wanted to remember. As luck would have it Moon River eased out of the stereo. He held his hand out to Dorian and she moved into his arms. They swayed and as their bodies moved in sync he knew without a doubt that he was not even going to try to fight temptation. He stared at the ceiling. Damn that was something. Good God it was like he was at a damn fireworks show. He never expected that. He rose up, balanced himself on his elbows and grinned down at her. “That was special.” “Ah, yes,” she said then fluffed her hair. “But I don’t want you to think I do that with every man who takes me to dinner.” “I hope not. Half the men in Llanview would be in a fog walking around with a goofy grin on their faces.” “I assume you meant that as a compliment.” “Oh, yes, Mrs. Lord. That was definitely a compliment.” The ringing of the phone irritated him more than he dared admit even to himself. He had plans for a second act and phone were invariably mood busters. Still he reached for it and glanced at Dorian. “Whatever this is, “ he said, “will only take a second.” He picked up the phone receiver. “Shuttlesworth” “What is wrong with you, Daddy Carl? What is wrong with Heather?” “Robyn?” “I heard about Treyscott.” “Good to see good news travels far and wide.” “This is nothing to laugh about.” “Yes it is. Of course right now your sister doesn’t quite understand that. But to answer your question I’m fine and your sister will be.” “What about my mother?” “Excuse me. What?” “Heather told me all about her coming around and—“ “What the hell!” He swung back the sheets and then realized he was naked and not alone. He glanced at Dorian who smiled at him with her right eyebrow perfectly arched. “Give me a minute, Robyn,” he said then put the phone down and found his shorts. He slipped them on and then turned toward Dorian. “I need to take this call.” “Go right ahead,” Dorian said smiling. “I know how daughters are. I’ll be here waiting with baited breath…” A flush of heat rushed over his body. “…for you to finish your sentence.” Damn. Why did Robyn have to call at just that moment? His call service had instructions to let only certain calls through. Unfortunately, Robyn was on the put through immediately list. And what the hell was that comment about her mother? He walked out of the bedroom and down the hall to his study. It was soundproof. He closed the door and slipped into the chair behind his desk then opened the line again. “Tell me what you’re talking about, Robyn.” “Cassie there with you?” “No. I was not with Cassie.” “Cheating on her already?” God he hated this attitude Robyn had picked up every since she started whoring around with the punk ass Travis. He was trying to give her enough rope to hang herself but looks like he was going to have to reel her arrogant ass back home and remind her who she was. He dipped his voice in steel. “My private life is none of your damn business, Robyn. I suggest for your own well being you remember that.” He could almost hear her whimper. “I just… I just…” “Tell me what you meant by that crap about your mother.” “Heather told me she was there in Llanview. That she came by to see her and she told her that you—“ Carl slammed the phone down. That lying crazy bitch was in town! And she went after Heather. Oh, hell-l-l, no. That was not going to happen. She forgot whom she was messing with and she damn well knew the rules. He flung open the door of the study and stormed down the hall. One damn beautiful evening blown to bits but he needed to find that bitch immediately and get some things straight. He walked into the bedroom with long strides. “Look, Dorian, it seems we are going to have to take a rain check because—“ The sight of Cassie sitting on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed stopped him in his tracks. “Mother is getting dressed.” “What are …What are you doing here?” “Having really bad timing it seems.” “Cassie, look, I…I…” “No need of groping for an explanation. I know my mother and once she set her sites on you, you didn’t have a chance.” “Cassie, it really isn’t what it seems.” “Yes, it is and probably more. Walking into this room and seeing my mother propped up in your bed like a big cat with canary feathers stuck to her teeth was like coming up for air after trying to walk underwater for months.” “Did she call you? Was this all a setup?” “Wow. You care. You care whether she was just using you. Should let you sweat it, but I don’t have the interest or the energy to waste on you anymore. So, no, she didn’t call me. I just needed to see you and finally I couldn’t stay away any longer. Sheldon told me you were here--that you'd come in the private entrance a couple of hours ago. Told me to just use the key if you didn’t answer because those were his standard instructions concerning me. Just go right on in, Miss Callison, because Mr. Shuttlesworth would be thrilled to see you…anytime.” Carl dipped his head. Damn. Hadn’t thought to change those instructions. “Why did you need to see me?” “Treyscott. It looks like he killed Carmen Duvet. What kind of world is it when someone like Treyscott stabs a woman ten times and leaves her on the floor to die?” “He fooled all of us, Cassie.” “Not you. You weren’t fooled for a minute. You fool people but people never fool you, right?” “Cassie, please.” Cassie turned and looked to the right. He followed her gaze and saw Dorian standing in the doorway of the bathroom. She was fully dressed, perfectly coiffed and there was a glow in her cheeks. “Cassie, darling,” Dorian said, “I hope you will let me explain.” “Why bother, mother? I’ll just pull out one of the many excuses and explanations you’ve offered in the past when you stepped in and decided to trash my life.” “That’s not fair, Cassie. You know I love you more than anything. I will always protect you. I always protect my girls.” “Yes, indeed. With your body if you have to.” Dorian’s face flushed a bright red. “Cassie, you shouldn’t talk to your mother that way,” Carl said. Cassie stared at him with wide eyes then laughed. “My god, Carl, you’ve just been Cramered. I hope you enjoyed the experience.” He glanced over at Dorian. Cassie stood up and walked out of the bedroom. Dorian sighed. “She’ll be all right. Life is full of tough lessons. Some more so than others.” Yeah. She was right about that. The question was what exactly had he learned tonight?”
“Kind of late for a meeting, Asa.” “What’s time when you got money, boy? I say it’s day when it’s night and vice versa and there’s not a lot of people who can dispute it.” “What the hell ever. What do you want?” “I want my team and I want it now.” “Buzz. Didn’t you hear the sound of your pathetic blackmailing dying on the vine?” “Treyscott has an alibi.” Todd sat up straight. “What?” “That boy wasn’t even in town that night AND he’s got about hundred or so witnesses to prove it. Seems he was down in Miami making some kind of personal appearance for one of his buddy's new restaurant. The events started sometime in the afternoon and the party lasted all night. Scores of people can vouch for his presence as well as confirmations from the airlines about his flight down and back.” “How do you know this?” “I got my sources at LPD.” “Your boy?” “Goodness no. That boy never tells me nothing.” “This makes no sense, Asa. If Treyscott has such a rock solid alibi, why did he let Bo arrest him?” Asa sighed. “That girl’s got his shorts in a knot.” “What girl?” “Shuttlesworth’s daughter. What’s her name.” “Heather?” “Yeah, that’s the one. And I don’t think the boy realized that the press was going to be all over that arrest so soon like a Sunday preacher with a Saturday night sin.” “But what does that have to do with Heather?” “The boy is smitten but he still high tailed it out of here with her sitting up in a jail cell. Then I hear he took advantage down there so to speak of the full range of sweet distractions offered him, if you know what I mean. He’s a man after all.” “He was with another woman?” “One or three or so. I hear it was quite the show.” “And he let himself be arrested because he didn’t want Heather to find out.” “Ain’t that a bitch?” Asa chuckled. “You young boys just too soft. In my day, that wouldn’t have even warranted a dozen roses or two. And there that boy is letting himself be suspected of murder to keep his secret. Thought he could keep his alibi on the down low as you young guns say.” “Damn.” “Damn, right. Now, I want my team. May as well hand it over now. You only got three more days in that little out clause and there is no way you’re going to find the killer before then. And there is an object lesson in what happened to Treyscott. Just bringing Blair in and letting the word murderer hang over her head for a while will be enough to cause the JStarr stock dip to a point where she can kiss her sweet little company goodbye.” Damn! He glared at Asa and counted a hundred and one ways to ring his neck.
Blair was sitting up in bed reading a business report. She looked like she was working but he spotted the wine bottle next to a glass on the side table and the jukebox was playing softly in the background. She was trying to distract herself. “Hey,” he said. She looked up and smiled. He took off his shoes and crawled next to her in bed. “Want to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked. “Nope.” “Talk to me, Blair.” “Toni is losing her mind.” “What’s new about that?” “I went by Capricorn to talk to RJ.” “Okay.” “He was drunk.” “Agreed. The man drinks too much.” “I don’t mean a nice buzz sort of thing. He was totally wasted, Todd. Talking about losing everything that mattered to him. You should have heard him. I’m really worried.” “They’ll work it out, Blair. It’s not really our concern.” “Jason is here.” “Yeah?” “I practically kidnapped him. Figured if he was here Toni couldn’t pack up in the middle of the night and run off to only God knows where.” “You planning to ransom him?” “They’re going down for the count, Todd. It’s just breaking my heart.” “Treyscott has a rock solid alibi.” “What?” “According to my sources he’ll be released tomorrow.” “Then who killed Carmen?” “Good question. And we need to find out fast because Asa is not backing off of on his threat.” “To hell with Asa. We need to find out before Toni and RJ crash and burn beyond recognition.”
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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