View Park, page 28
“I’m so sorry,” she kept repeating. “I’m so sorry.”
“What happened?” Janet asked. “What are you afraid of?”
Leigh couldn’t hold back anymore. “It’s Leo. He’s crazy, Mom.”
“What are you talking about?” Janet asked.
“I…I…”
“Calm down, first.” Janet began to run her hand gently over her hair to soothe her. “Tell me what he did.”
Leigh took a deep breath, looking at the floor because she was too embarrassed to look anyone in the face. “I broke things off with him because I love Richard and I want to be with him.”
“Did you tell him that?” Richard asked.
She shook her head. “No, but he knew. He’s been following me and he knows all about you, Richard. He started to bang his head against the steering wheel.”
“Did he hurt you?” Janet asked.
“I thought he was going to, so I tried to get out but he locked the door.” Leigh looked up just in time to see Richard’s hand clench into a fist. This was what she wanted to avoid. “Don’t be mad. He didn’t touch me. He was just so upset, but he let me out after I yelled for Jay.”
“Then what?” Richard asked, his voice almost growling.
“He just drove off, so I thought it was over.” She looked up at her mother. “I didn’t want anyone to be upset because things were going so well with Carter and Haley’s case.”
“You have to tell me these things.” Janet wondered how she could have been so wrong about Leo. “Has he bothered you since?”
She nodded. “He just called me on my cell phone. I picked up because it was from the hospital.”
“My hospital?” Richard asked.
She nodded. “He must have called me from there knowing I would think it was you and pick up. He said I was going to be sorry for doing this to him and I hung up.”
Richard picked up the phone. “We need to call the police now!”
“No,” Leigh pleaded. “Don’t do that. Everything was just calming down.”
“She’s right,” Janet said. “I’ll call my husband first. He’ll know what to do.”
Leigh looked up at her mother, not comfortable with the calm look on her face. “Mom, please don’t tell Dad to do anything. It will pass, I’m sure.”
Janet smiled at her. “It’s okay, honey. Your father and I will fix everything.”
“What can you do without the police?” Richard asked.
Janet just looked at him and the expression on his face seemed to show he understood. “We can do whatever needs to be done. Give me the phone.”
Haley was waking up, but Janet wished she wouldn’t. She enjoyed looking down at her baby sleeping peacefully in her own bed. Because she was the youngest, more than any of the other children, Janet still saw a baby when she looked at her. She saw the wide, curious eyes and the curly hair that went all over the place. She saw that stubborn mouth and those fat kissable cheeks. Wiping a tear from her own cheek she said another prayer, thanking God for protecting Haley and bringing her home. She wouldn’t thank God that Rudio was dead, but she was grateful he was.
Haley opened her eyes, thinking at first she was still in that hotel room, but when she saw her mother staring down at her, the present rushed back to her and she beamed, stretching her arms wide.
“Morning.” Janet leaned down to kiss her cheek.
“What are you doing?” Haley asked.
“Watching you.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s eleven, sweetie.”
“Where’s Sean?”
Janet’s smile faded. Haley had never asked for a man so much. She hadn’t let him leave her alone since Rudio’s death Friday night. “He’s at work, dear. It’s Monday.”
Haley sat up. “He said he would come by this morning. What did Maya make for breakfast?”
“Stop being so spoiled.” Janet offered Haley’s bathrobe to her, but she didn’t take it. “Go on downstairs and make your own breakfast. It’s time to get back in the saddle.”
“You make me breakfast,” Haley said. “Please.”
“Please? When was the last time I heard that word from you?” Janet stood up. “Sorry, dear, but I’m having lunch with your father.”
“Is he here?”
“He’s at work.”
“Mom, you know what he did for me? He tried to…”
Janet put her finger to her mouth to silence her. “I know, but we won’t talk about that.”
She nodded. “Why are you leaving?”
“I don’t want you worrying about anything. Now get up.”
Haley frowned, kicking her covers away. “Leigh, right? Everything is about Leigh.”
“Don’t be so selfish.”
“I’m not being selfish. After what I’ve been through, all anyone can talk about is Leigh and her stupid boyfriend calling her on the phone.” Haley got out of bed, grabbing the bathrobe from her mother and tossing it to the floor. “Doesn’t anyone care about what happened to me?”
“You know we do.” Janet sighed, looking at her watch. There wasn’t enough of her to go around today. “You’re just upset. Now—”
“Sean!”
Janet watched Haley’s entire demeanor change as she rushed to hug Sean, who was standing in the doorway. When Haley told her that she was in love with Sean, Janet took it with a grain of salt. It was Haley after all, but now she wasn’t so sure.
Sean leaned away from Haley’s kisses, conscious of Janet’s stare. “Hello, Mrs. Chase.”
“You can call me Janet,” she offered.
“I told you,” Haley stated, dragging him to the bed. “He doesn’t think you like him, Mom.”
“Don’t be silly,” Janet said. “I wouldn’t have any justification for not liking him. Sean made sure of that when he saved your life.”
Sean felt a chill from the plastic smile Janet gave him before excusing herself. It was okay, he knew she was just angry. She was angry because he could do no wrong now and she wasn’t going to be able to keep him away from Haley ever.
“Are you feeling better?” Haley took hold of his chin, turning his face to her.
“I’m not sick, Haley. I told you that. I’m sorry for the way I acted Friday, but it’s not easy killing someone.”
“You don’t think I can understand that, but I can.” Haley leaned in to kiss him gently on the forehead, still not believing she could feel this way about someone and not be scared. “I love you, Sean. I know you didn’t want it to end like that even though I did.”
“I’m fine now.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” She wrapped her legs around him. “Now, you could make me feel better.”
He moved away from her, taking everything he had to resist her. “I can only stay a few minutes. I’ve got to get back to work. I’m on a new case. It’s—”
“I gotta get out of here, Sean.” Haley was up, heading for her vanity. “I’m not talking about for the day. I mean I can’t live here anymore. Now that Leigh’s back, everything is about her again and I just get a bad vibe here.”
“Where do you want to go?” he asked, wishing she was out of this house, too. He couldn’t imagine doing anything with her in her parents’ house. It made him feel too juvenile.
She laughed. “Silly, I’m gonna move in with you.”
He swallowed hard, expected to feel panic, but he didn’t. He felt anything but. “Sounds like a plan, but my place is very small.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Haley was trying hard to ignore how much Sean’s tax bracket bothered her, but she was working on that. She was going to get him a job at Chase Beauty and he had to get a college degree. She couldn’t date a high school graduate. “We’ll get a place of our own somewhere downtown. I’ve always wanted to live where Carter lives. That’s the hot building.”
“Those places are expensive, Haley.”
“Carter’s condo only cost about three million dollars. That size would be fine for us.”
“Excuse me?” Sean hoped she was joking. “I don’t think so.”
Haley ignored his gesturing, choosing to brush her hellish hair instead. “I have to get my hair done and a pedicure and manicure. Since I’m at it, I better just get a massage. My eyebrows need—”
“Haley, are you listening to me? We can’t afford a condo.” Sean couldn’t describe Haley’s expression, but it was as if he were speaking a foreign language.
“Don’t worry, Sean. Daddy will buy it for us.”
“No, he won’t.”
Haley wasn’t interested in hearing this. “Yes, he will. If he’s willing to kill someone for me, he won’t object to a stupid condo.”
Sean stood behind Haley, placing his hands on her shoulders, massaging them gently. “You know I won’t take money from your father.”
“I’ll take it from him,” she said. “You don’t have to be a part of it.”
“If I’m living there, then I’m living off of him and I can’t do that.”
“Then what do you expect me to do?”
“We’ll get a place we can both afford.” There was that look again, but he was sure he was speaking English.
“What do you mean, like pay rent? Please, Sean. Next thing you’ll be telling me to get a job.”
Janet waited while Steven dismissed the two men in his office and she smiled kindly to them both as they walked by. There had always been an understanding between them; when Janet came to the office she would not be made to wait for even one second. In return, she rarely came by unless she knew Steven would be free, which was never.
Steven closed the door behind the men, pecking his wife on the cheek. “You’re early.”
“Just a few,” she said. “I wanted to talk to you while we’re still alone.”
“Who are we having lunch with?”
“David and Elisa Fox.” She helped herself to a seat on the sofa while he returned to his desk. “She’s new on the museum board, so I’m trying to make her feel comfortable.”
Steven leaned back in his chair, knowing that when Janet used this extremely proper tone of voice she meant to ask him something he didn’t want to tell her.
“I spoke with Giovanna this morning,” she continued. “She told me Leo has been missing for a few days now.”
Steven’s expression didn’t change. “I’m aware of that.”
“Steven, I know you spoke with him after I called you about Leigh, and—”
“Janet, I’ve taken care of it.”
Janet found it so difficult to reach him when he turned to stone. “I know, but…Steven.”
“I’m not going to talk to you about this.” He stood up. “Let’s go to lunch.”
“I know what you did with Rudio,” she said. “It didn’t work, but I know you tried to—”
“Janet.” Steven gave her an admonishing stare.
“I’m just worried about Leigh.”
“Leo is fine,” Steven said. “He’ll show up soon. What did you say to Giovanna?”
Janet knew she would never hear another word about this. Steven promised to never betray her, but he had secrets and he made it very clear to her there were things she didn’t want to know.
“I told her I was able to find out that Leo had been arrested for abuse a couple of times, but her husband had it wiped away. Also, he was kicked out of three prep schools from junior high through high school for violence. She had nothing to say to me.”
Steven walked over to Janet, joining her on the sofa. He wrapped his arms around her, wanting to take away what he knew was the guilt she was feeling. He was afraid it would only lead to her taking more pills. “It wasn’t your fault. Giovanna deceived you. You shared that with her?”
“I think I was very clear,” Janet said. Giovanna’s position in Los Angeles society was over before it even got started.
Avery dumped another stack of books in the closest box. She was exhausted having packed all day, but seemed to be getting nowhere. She had so much stuff she knew she should throw away but it was proving harder than she expected. Everything she had, even the junk, held some memory of family, friends, and better times. The idea of being in Phoenix without these things was too much for her.
It was only a few states over, but seemed like a million miles to Avery. Carter had been right. She wasn’t the type of girl to be away from her family. She knew she was on her way to making her own family, but it didn’t sooth her worries. Avery wasn’t sure she could make it without her mother close by.
Things weren’t getting better like she hoped setting a date would make them, and she only had the courage to share that with her mother. After Alex found Carter’s business card, he accused her of having an affair with him. She had to tell him the truth about the job offer, but Alex had been cold to her since. He could be a fool, but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew as well as anyone that Carter hadn’t needed to come over to offer her the job. He came over to see Avery and Avery hadn’t sent him away. Alex had every right to be upset.
Avery got up, walking to the telephone with every intention of calling him at work just to talk to him. She needed to reach out to him and reassure him, but the second the phone was in her hands, she couldn’t think of a thing to say. How could she reassure him of something she wasn’t sure she believed in anymore herself? It would take some time, but they had to be able to work it out. She put the phone down, deciding instead to go through her mail. Anything was a welcomed distraction from the reality of leaving Los Angeles. She slit open a wide manila envelope with no return address and out slipped a piece of paper written on stationery from The Westin Los Angeles.
Avery,
You don’t know me, but I’ve been in love with Alex for some time. I didn’t know about you until a week ago, which is why I’m writing. When I heard Alex was moving to Phoenix, I wanted to go with him. That was when he told me about you. The truth is, I feel relieved to be rid of him. This is not an act of revenge, but a warning. I didn’t think you would believe me so I hid a video camera in the room we meet in at The Westin. Don’t worry. I’ve destroyed the video, but I’ve left you a couple of still photos for proof. Do with them what you will.
A stunned Avery lifted the envelope an inch more and out slipped two pictures.
CHAPTER 15
“I can’t imagine your mother will be too happy with this.” Richard stepped into the elevator of his building behind Leigh.
“She’s fine.” Leigh didn’t know how her mother would react to her staying overnight at Richard’s apartment, but she needed to be with him. She felt safer with him than anyone else.
They hadn’t talked much about Leo in the past few days, but Richard told her he was beginning to wonder if it was the right idea not to call the police. Leigh didn’t want to drag Richard any farther into it, but she couldn’t hold back her concerns about what her father had done. A few people, including Leo’s mother, had contacted her asking about him. He hadn’t shown up at his job either. Richard pretended not to care, but she could tell he was worried. She didn’t understand how her father operated, and when it came to this type of thing, she didn’t want to understand.
Leigh thought of the look on her mother’s face after she got off the phone with her father about Leo. Her mother was scared. She refused to tell Leigh what he’d said. Now Leo was missing and if her father had hurt him or worse, it could come back to hurt him and it would all be her fault. Richard was insistent that it was Janet who was to blame, but Leigh didn’t want to hear it.
“You don’t have to walk me to my car.” She stepped off the elevator. “It’s really cold outside.”
Richard laughed. “I’m from Chicago, remember? This is spring for me. Usually by Thanksgiving we’re knee deep in snow.”
Leigh shivered at the thought. “Speaking of Thanksgiving, you’ll come, right?”
“Of course I will.” At the door to the building, he wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t think your mother is crazy about me, but I’ll brave it.”
“She likes you,” Leigh said. “It was her idea to invite you. With Leo, the fund-raiser and the clinic, I forgot all about it.”
“No more Leo,” Richard said. “I won’t ever let you do anything you don’t want to just to please someone else; even your mother.”
“You’ll keep me honest.” Leigh nudged him with her elbow.
“The best path to heartache is trying to please everyone but…”
Following Richard’s stunned gaze, Leigh’s heart jumped into her throat.
It was hard to tell from far away, but all of her car windows had been smashed or cracked. There were large dents on the driver’s side of the car and the hood. People were gathering around and Leigh began to feel closed in by them. She looked around, expecting to see Leo. He could be anywhere and now, not only was he mad at her, but he had revenge on his mind for whatever her father had done.
“That’s it,” Richard said. “I’m calling the police.”
Leigh grabbed him before he could get away. “You can’t, Richard. If my father has done something, he could—”
“Your father can take care of himself,” Richard said. “I’m going to take care of you.”
Janet was flawless at making the deliberate seem anything but. Which is why, as he descended the stairs in the Chase mansion, Sean would never believe she had been waiting there for him.
“I didn’t even know you were here.” She stood at the foot with an innocent smile.
“We went to lunch,” he said.
“Did Haley tell you she and I had a spa day yesterday?”
Sean nodded, trying to figure out what this woman was up to.
“She told me about your plans,” Janet said. “Your plans to live together.”
“I was meaning to talk to Mr. Chase about that.”
“She’s already told him, but that’s not the issue.”
“Is there an issue, Mrs. Chase?”
“Janet, please.” She headed for the foyer, knowing he was following. “The issue is the life my daughter is accustomed to.”
Sean knew this would come eventually. “I don’t have a lot of money, but I love her and I know how to take care of the woman I love.”
