View Park, page 19
One of the guards lifted a wire from under his collar to his mouth and yelled. “Subject under control.”
“I’m sorry, Haley,” Carly said, flat on the ground. “I didn’t want to.”
Haley was grabbed by the arm by another guard who rushed in the room. She fought the man as he attempted to drag her away. “Stop it! You’re all crazy.”
“She’s not your friend,” the guard argued. “She’s connected to the man trying to kill you.”
Time seemed to come to a halt as Haley called Carly’s name over and over again before she finally looked up.
“He threatened to kill Alex,” she exclaimed. “I’m sorry, Haley. It’s…Alex is everything to me.”
On pure adrenaline, Haley dragged the guard halfway across the room as she rushed Carly, hoping to beat the life out of her, but the guard regained control and pulled her back. As she was being dragged out of the room, Haley was threatening to kill Carly, her brother and anyone else she could get her hands on.
Alicia stood next to Leigh, surveying the finished paint job at Hope Clinic. “It looks even better than the last time.”
It did look better, Leigh thought. There was something about this second time around that made it feel more victorious, more deserved. With everything that was going on in her life, every little bit of happiness meant so much more.
The doorbell rang and Alicia and Leigh looked at each other. The complicated new security system was stressing them out. IDs and security guards made it resemble a government facility more than a neighborhood clinic. They both rushed to the door and looked at the monitor. Richard was staring up at the camera, waving his hand.
Alicia punched in the code that opened the door.
“The sign is up,” Richard said as he entered.
Eager to see it, Leigh started after Alicia, but Richard closed the door in front of her. She looked at him and the look on his face told her he wasn’t interested in a few seconds alone to mess around.
“I want to see it,” she said.
“You’re not going anywhere until you talk to me.”
“Richard, honestly. Let’s not get into this today. You know what happened to my brother.”
“Sorry, but I’m not waiting any longer. You’re being so damn cold to me. You just want me to look the other way, but that’s not how this is going to go.”
“Since when did you start calling the shots?” she asked, feeling a little cornered.
“Since right now,” he fumed. “You’ve been calling the shots from the beginning and now I’m out in the cold. I’m not taking it anymore. You’re telling me why you’re lying to me now.”
“I’m not lying to you!”
“When I called you Wednesday you said your mother wasn’t there, but I heard her voice in the background. You said it was Maya, but that voice didn’t have her accent.”
Leigh looked down and sighed, flattening her palms against her thighs. “God, Richard. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“I know what this is about. You’re ashamed of me.”
Leigh gasped.
“I know everything about what you come from. I’m just a poor kid from Chicago trying to make it as a doctor and that’s not like the men you’re used to taking home.”
Leigh reached out to him, but he backed away. She could see the hurt in his eyes and she hated herself at that moment.
He nodded tensely at her, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I’ve become obsessed with finding out everything I can about your family and the types of men you dated, hoping that there was some way I could be more like what you wanted, but I can’t do that. I am who I am and I’m not going to be ashamed of it.”
She reached for his hands, lacing her fingers around his. She pulled him to her, placing one hand on her chest. “Richard, whatever it is you think I wanted, you’re wrong. I have never, ever met a man like you and you’re not just good enough, you’re too good. The way you make me feel; strong, powerful, soft and feminine at the same time. I love you. I’m not ashamed of you. I’m ashamed of myself. That’s what this is all about.”
Leigh tried to confess everything to him, but she wasn’t sure she could completely explain her reasons. She couldn’t explain her mother’s possessive behavior or her compelling need to please that woman even if it meant making herself unhappy.
“What have you done with this guy?” he asked.
“Nothing, I swear. It’s just a few dates and I’ll tell Mom it’s not working out. She’ll leave me alone then.”
“Why don’t you just tell her now? About him, about me.”
“I’ve explained that to you. My mother wants her way and you’ll be a glitch in that. That’s not how I want to introduce you to her. She’ll resent you for it.”
“This guy is going to think you’re…”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks.” She placed her hand on his cheek, but she could feel he wasn’t warming to her. “I said I love you and that’s all I care about.”
He backed away, shaking his head. “It’s too much for her to ask of you and for you to ask of me. I’m supposed to what, just stay home and watch the game while you go out with this guy?”
Leigh knew that men thought on different planes than women. He couldn’t see past the idea of Leo and what that did to his ego. “This changes nothing between us, Richard.”
“It’s already changing everything between us. Lies, cover-up, hiding the truth. I never thought you would do something like that, Leigh. I thought you were better than that.”
Leigh felt the tears welling in her throat. “I’m doing what I have to do for this clinic. For you, me, Alicia and all of those people depending on us. We need my mother!”
“I need you!”
“Richard, please.”
“No,” he stated. “I know what your intentions are, but it’s wrong. It’s wrong to us and it’s wrong to this guy. I want you to stop seeing him and tell your mother the truth. I can deal with what she thinks of me. I can’t deal with my pride being slapped around while you pretend like I don’t exist.”
“Richard!”
Alicia jumped aside just in time to avoid being knocked over by Richard on his way out. “What’s wrong with you two?”
“It’s all blowing up in my face,” Leigh said, reaching for her ringing cell phone. “I’m going to lose him.”
“Is it anything a good pint of rum raisin couldn’t solve?” Alicia asked, smiling nervously.
“More like a rum straight up.” Leigh answered her phone, assuming it was a reminder from her mother of their luncheon at the country club. “What’s up, Mom?”
“It’s Haley,” Janet said. “Just come home.”
The kitchen had always been a refuge for Avery. Growing up, she would sit at the table coloring while her mother prepared dinner. The family always gathered in the kitchen before dinner and the room held warmth and reflection for her. Without meaning to, it made her think of Carter and all the nights he came home to a dorm room with a cafeteria instead of a family kitchen and she felt for him.
Putting the dishes away after a silent, animosity-filled lunch with Alex, Avery tried to get back to her own, happier memories. All she could think of now was dinner at the Chase mansion. Janet’s warmth and Steven’s coldness; Leigh’s distance and an obvious sadness that no one seemed to notice; Haley’s jarring rudeness and Michael’s insults. What stayed with her the most was Carter by the pool, talking about his detachment from his family. It made her reflect on all the things she thought about him before, all the names she’d called him, and she regretted it all. She’d tried to make it simple by labeling him cruel and rude, but Carter wasn’t simple at all and neither were any of his motives or actions.
She couldn’t excuse either his actions or her feelings for him, but she couldn’t ignore them, either. It was all too dramatic for her, a woman used to a simple and mostly predictable life. Whatever man Carter really was, it was he and his family who’d brought this all on. Craig had no reason to blow her store up. He was getting what he wanted until Carter threatened to take it away. Still, she found herself fighting the urge to call him even though she had no idea what she would say.
“Avery!” Alex yelled from the living room in between laughs. “Come in here, you gotta see this.”
What she saw was a picture of Carter standing outside the police station talking to reporters.
“I’m lovin’ this,” Alex said. “He’s getting what he deserves and you know it’s killing him.”
The sight of Carter looking tired and haggard bore into Avery. She hadn’t expected to hurt so much at the sight of his suffering. She only hoped the reason she didn’t believe he blew up her shop was for more than just that she wanted to.
The screen switched to the reporter. “Those were the only words we’ve heard from the Chase camp, but there are still too many questions to count. No charges have been filed yet, which says the district attorney is still investigating, but it’s safe to say a Chase wouldn’t have been arrested without some evidence.”
“That’s for damn sure,” Alex added.
“Carter Chase,” the reporter continued, “whose very public assault on former congressman Jack Flay didn’t even make a blip on the department’s screen, has a lot at stake this time: his reputation as a leading lawyer; his firm; his license to practice; and of course, his freedom. When asked how this investigation will effect the investigation into the recent attempt on his sister Haley Chase’s life, Chief Jackson had no comment.”
Avery couldn’t take it anymore. When she was in the kitchen again, she placed her hand on the phone, trying to reach inside her heart to know the right thing to do. When the phone actually rang, she jumped back a few feet. Picking it up, she accepted the sign that was given her. Whatever direction she was going, this call had to be a clue.
It was Aaron Hanson, the loan officer from the most recent bank she had applied to for a loan to keep her from drowning. From the tone of his voice, she got the feeling he was about to break what was left of her heart.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Jackson, but the financing isn’t going to come through for your shop. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do for you. I can give you the names of some other banks that might…”
“…charge me twenty percent interest. I don’t think so. Thanks, Mr. Hanson, but I’ll take it from here.”
Hanging up, Avery leaned against the counter, refusing to cry. This was it; her sign. For some reason God didn’t want her to keep Essentials. As upset as that made her, she was willing to accept it. After all that had happened and all she had done, there was no way she could win this one and she had to believe she wasn’t meant to. Whatever plan He had for her, it was to start after Essentials would end.
She picked up the phone, taking a deep breath before dialing. It was ironic in a way. She finally had a reason to call Carter.
“What are you talking about?” Sean asked the security guard standing outside the Chase mansion. “I’m the detective on the case!”
“I’m sorry, sir.” He blocked the door as Sean tried to pass him. “We have specific orders not to let you in the house.”
“You can’t be serious,” Sean said. “Now, step aside. I’m a police officer, man. I’m not asking you.”
“You don’t have a warrant,” he answered back.
Sean took out his gun. “I have this. Is this good enough for you?”
“I have one of those, too,” the guard smirked.
“Well, I’m ready to use mine,” Sean added, watching the smirk slip away from his face. “So unless you are too, I suggest you step aside.”
Inside the house, Sean found it eerily quiet. There weren’t any guards in sight and barely a sound. It felt empty. He had a bad feeling that something had gone wrong. It had been some time since he’d called the security detail to detain Carly and met them at the police station to interrogate her. He’d wanted to see Haley first, but he had to do his job. Since the interrogation, he hadn’t been able to reach her at all.
After rushing up the widening staircase, he turned straight for Haley’s room. There was the chair, but no guard outside. Getting closer, Sean heard voices and with one hand on his gun in his holster, he opened the door. Steven and Janet turned slightly to see before completely turning to face him.
“Where is she?” he asked, too anxious for small talk.
“How did you get in here?” Janet asked. “I specifically told them not to let you in.”
“Where is she?” Sean asked again.
“It doesn’t matter to you,” Janet said. “Not anymore.”
Steven placed a hand on Janet’s tightening shoulder. As much as he wanted to punish anyone related to Chief Jackson, Sean had saved Haley’s life, so for Steven, this was regretful but necessary. “Detective, I want to thank you for what you’ve done for—”
Sean couldn’t take this anymore. “Tell me where she is, please.”
“I’m having you taken off this case.”
“You can’t do that.”
“He has,” Janet answered back. “It’s a conflict of interest.”
Sean knew Carter’s arrest would bring problems, but he couldn’t believe it would have to come to this. “This is my case. I’m working it and I’m making progress.”
“You have,” Steven affirmed. “I’m sorry, Sean. Our lawyer is already talking to the lieutenant and the DA. After this situation with Carter, it’s just not right.”
Sean knew it probably wasn’t right, but that wasn’t what mattered. “I’m a professional only focused on solving a crime that has nothing to do with Carter.”
“She’s his sister,” Janet said. “I don’t know how your family works, but when something happens to one of us, it’s happening to all of us. There’s no way you can be trusted to put your all into finding justice for the woman whose brother you think tried to kill your sister.”
“You can’t say it doesn’t affect you,” Steven said. “You’re human.”
Sean could only shake his head. “I’m so close.”
“In more ways than one,” Janet offered.
Steven observed the exchange of looks between Sean and his wife. “What’s going on here?”
Sean didn’t want it to come out this way, but that was exactly why Janet was going to make sure it did.
“He’s been carrying on with Haley,” she maintained. “I caught them having sex in the library just the other day.”
Steven’s lips pressed together, his brow pulled into an affronted frown. “Do you understand what kind of a delicate state she’s in right now?”
Sean had to believe this man was talking about a different person than Haley. She was stronger than they were giving her credit for. “Sir, I care about your daughter very much, but we weren’t having sex.”
Janet huffed. “I have four children. I think I know what sex looks like.”
“Stop it,” Steven said. “This is something we’ll deal with later. Including, Janet, how long you’ve known this without telling me.”
All the time, she was left alone to deal with their children while he went off and made millions, but now he was going to question her?
“Just let me talk to her,” Sean pleaded. “Then I’ll leave.”
“She’s not here,” Steven said. “I’ve sent her somewhere safer.”
“I understand. Where?”
“You can’t talk to her.” Steven noticed the desperation in the young man’s eyes. How had he missed this? “No one can see her. Not even Janet or I can see her and since you’re not on the case anymore, neither can you.”
Sean couldn’t believe this and he wasn’t going to accept it. He was trying to keep his wits about him, but the two of them together was like a fortress. “I think you’re making a mistake, sir, asking me off this case. We’re too close to change leadership now.”
“Tell that to your father,” Steven said.
After he got back in the car, Sean leaned back in his seat and gripped his steering wheel. He had to think of how to handle this with his father, the lieutenant and the D.A. He couldn’t stand the thought of being taken off this case, but the situation with Carter made it seem impossible for him not to. Why had his father insisted on being the one to arrest Carter?
Either way, Sean didn’t believe he stood much of a chance of staying on this case, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He was going to get Rudio one way or another and he was going to find Haley. With all her stubborn pride, she had to need him right now. He certainly knew he needed her.
It was almost November in Los Angeles, and Avery felt a little nip at her nose as she sat on the park bench. It reminded her of the Christmas she spent in New York with her cousin. She was sweet sixteen and had never seen or touched snow in her entire life. She loved it. Then it kept falling, and falling and falling. Thirteen inches later, she was stuck in the small Harlem apartment, begging to go back to her beautiful California.
She knew Carter was somewhere near thirty, so being ten years earlier, he would have been in Boston at the time. She imagined him traveling to New York to visit Michael at college and passing her on the street. She imagined him being one of those guys she’d smiled at and wished she had the nerve to stop and talk to. She thought of all the choices people made every day and what course that placed their lives on.
One year ago, Alex’s proposal had meant everything to her. She loved him and wanted making him happy to be all that mattered. What choices had she made in the past year to change that? Had it really changed, or was she just working through the next stage with him?
Hearing Carter’s footsteps snapped Avery out of her trance. She studied the way he walked, wondering if it was a conscious decision to look so in control, so self-assured all the time.
“A smile for me?” he asked, joining her on the bench.
Avery hadn’t even been aware she was smiling and it embarrassed her. “Just ’cause it’s a great day.”
“Any day under seventy degrees I can do without.” Carter felt the tease of anticipation as he looked at her. She looked different. She looked happier than usual and it only made him think good things about why she wanted to see him today.
