Drop Dead Gorgeous (26 page)

“Answer the damned phone. Please.”

She went into the house, but was back out a second later. “It’s Jeff Olin.”

“What did he want?”

“He wants to speak with you.”

Sean stared at her, then went into the house.

He picked up the phone in the den, watching Lori as she followed him in. “Yeah, Jeff, it’s Sean.”

Jeff’s voice came to him, crisp, distinct, and outraged. “Sean, I’ve seen the paper—”

“I imagine most of the city has seen it.”

“That reporter—that what’s her name—Kathy Clines—is way out of line. Those of us who were there, who know you, know the truth. She’s close to libel on this. I’ll be happy to represent you to sue the ass off the reporter and the paper.”

Sean felt some of the tension ease away. “It’s all right, Jeff. I don’t think I can actually sue on what’s written, and frankly, I don’t want to sue anyone, I just want to be left the hell alone.”

Jeff was quiet a minute. “Want to have lunch tomorrow? Some high-profile place?”

“Jeff, you don’t have to do this. I admit the article threw me at first, but I can deal with it.” He hesitated. “I’ve dealt with much worse.”

“We’re going golfing tomorrow afternoon, Biltmore course, then to Jan’s place after. Join us?”

He started to say no, then shrugged, watching Lori. “Yeah, what the hell? Thanks Jeff.”

“Maybe Lori can meet us at Jan’s.”

He hesitated. Amazing how quickly everyone seemed to know just how deeply he and Lori were becoming involved. He should cut some distance from her with this going on. “Well, that will be up to her,” he said.

He set the receiver down, looking at Lori.

Her eyes were wide and troubled. “God, Sean, I’m so sorry.”

He looked at her a long moment and felt the anger and tension draining from his body. He walked over to her, slipped his arms around her and drew her tight.

“You do know that I didn’t do it?”

“With all my heart.”

“God, I don’t know, I’m afraid to leave you, afraid to be with you. I haven’t known how to trust anyone in all these years, so many backs were turned to me, I thought that you’d betrayed me just like everyone else, and now, this isn’t just a knife in my side, it’s touching your life.”

“You know, I’ve never liked the movie reviews in that paper. And some of the editorials quite simply suck. I’m not going to be bothered by something being said by a novice reporter try
ing to make a name for herself.
”

He pulled back, looking at her. “What about Brendan?”

“I’m going to tell Brendan what happened back then.”

The phone was ringing again. Lori turned from him, and he went to pick it up. “Hello?” He covered the mouthpiece. “Michael,” he told her.

“Is he upset?”

“Worried about me.”

Sean quickly assured his brother, told him good-bye, and answered the call waiting. Brad was on the line, offering to help him
sue the paper as well.

He thanked Brad, and hung up. Sitting, he shook his head. “Lori, I’d like to go and talk to your son myself.”

She stared at him a moment, about to protest. Then she shrugged. “Yes. I guess that would be right.”

“It’s his first day of school. People might be talking about this.”

She nodded. “I’ll get dressed. I have to get Brendan to school, then pick up my grandfather.”

“You’ll be with your family?” he asked her.

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ve got to take care of some things. Call my publicist, some other people. You be careful.”

He could tell by the way her hazel eyes met his—stubbornly—that she didn’t feel she was in any danger.

“Lori, please be careful.”

“I will be.”

“I intend to solve this, not you.”

“What could I do?” she asked innocently. Then she turned quickly, and left him.

He went upstairs, and tapped on Brendan’s door.

“
M
aybe we should wait on this now,” Jan told Brad.

“What?”
Brad demanded.

“Well, this is going to be a rough day for Sean—”

“
And what the hell can we do about it? I think he should sue the bloody paper. Jan, something is always going to happen in life. I’ve got the hotel reservation. I’ve—”
He broke off. Jan was in the bathroom in a black dress and little pillbox type hat with a veil.

“What in hell are you doing?” he demanded.

She flashed him a nervous glance. “I don’t want anyone to recognize me, I don’t want to be conspicuous—”

“Honey, trust me, you are conspicuous in that hat. You look like my grandmother.”

“What? You mean that isn’t one of your fantasies?”

“No, it’s not,” he said sourly. “People will notice you, and remember you, in that outfit. Put on a pantsuit or something.”

“I’ve got a blond wig.”

He groaned. “Fine. Wear your wig. But not the hat. It looks like we’re going to a funeral.”

“We may be going to a funeral again soon,” Jan informed him. “No one’s heard from Sue yet, and Ted seems to be uneasy about something.”

“I spoke with him on the phone last night,” Brad said, feeling a little uneasy himself about the dead cat.

“And?” Jan said.

‘He said that her purse is gone, her bag is gone, what else can he say? It looks as if she went away on a romantic tryst of some kind. There were a bunch of receipts from that
sweet-smelling lingerie shop you all like so much on her dresser. Sounds as if she was planning something.”

“But not to tell anyone
…
”

“Jan, if you’re really trying to get out of this—”

“No, I’m not. I said that I’d do it and I will.”

L
ori showered and dressed. When she came out of her room, she could still hear Sean and Brendan talking behind the closed door to Brendan’s room.

She hesitated, then tapped on Brendan’s door. “Come in,” Sean told her, and she entered the room. Brendan was up, dressed for school. The newspaper lay on the bed between them.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to go soon.”

“I’m ready,” Brendan said. He stood, and Sean did the same. Brendan picked up his backpack, then offered Sean his hand. “It wouldn’t have mattered what I heard, Sean. I haven’t known you that long, but I know that you didn’t kill that girl.”

“Thank you,” Sean told him solemnly.

Brendan grinned suddenly. “And you’re still welcome to date my mother.”

“Well, thanks again.”

Lori smiled, her eyes meeting Sean’s. “You’re no monster,” Brendan told Sean.

Sean frowned at that. “I’m glad that you believe that, Brendan, but one of the scariest things in life is that monsters don’t always
come
with horns and tails and vampire
teeth. There
are monsters out there that are hard
to
recognize.”

“I know that. But monsters are hideous inside, and lots of the time, no matter what’s on the outside of people, if you look hard enough, you can see the monster inside.”

“You’ve got good vision,” Sean told him quietly.

Lori smiled, proud of her son. “I’ll see you later,” she told Sean.

“I’ll be out of here soon. I’ll lock up.”

Brendan hurried down the stairs ahead of her, was out the door and into the car quickly. She followed him, and eased out into the street. Things were still quiet, the traffic still light at this hour.

“You really all right with all this?” she asked him.

He was looking straight ahead, hazel eyes level on the road. His hair was getting longish, and she felt a sudden sinking in the pit of her stomach as he brushed it back. The gesture was amazingly familiar.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Mom. I was just thinking
…
I feel so bad for you all. You weren’t much older than I am now when you had to face something so awful as the death of your friend—and then he was blamed for it!”

Lori didn’t know exactly what Sean had told Brendan, but she was sure he had downplayed his experiences in the jail. “Bad things happen in life,” she murmured.

“Makes you wonder why we go through it, huh, Mom?”

She looked at him, perplexed. Then she smiled. “Because good things happen, too.” They were nearing the school. “Wow! Big place,” Lori said, worried. “It’s grown since I lived here.”

“Things have changed since the dark ages, Mom,” he teased. “Don’t worry about me. I come from the Big Apple. Nothing’s too big for me.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll just jump out. Don’t park or anything—there, right there, that’s where everyone is getting out.” The school was on Lejeune, a major thoroughfare, but school-zone signs were posted everywhere, and it was true that all the cars ahead of her were dropping off in the same spot. She came to a stop and let Brendan off, and was proud again to see her son’s natural, easygoing confidence. If he was afraid, he wasn’t going to show it.

She didn’t return home, but drove on to her parents’ house, dreading what awaited her. As she expected, her mother opened the door with a worried look. “Lori, dear—”

“I know, Mom, I’ve see the newspaper. So has Sean.”

“Well, I’m really trying hard not to make judgments—”

“Then, don’t allow a newspaper reporter to make them for you, Mom!” Lori said with anger.

“Sweetheart
, I’m just thinking of Brendan.”

“Brendan is fine.”

Her father had come into the living room. He didn’t embrace her and kiss her; he kept his distance. “Lori, what if—just what if!—Suppose he did kill your friend Mandy in high school. He’s back in town, and suddenly Ellie Metz is dead, and now Sue Nichols is missing. What if you and Jan are next, have you thought about that?”

She hadn’t. She drew her breath in sharply, and stuttered out an answer, “Sue is just missing, Dad.”

“Yeah, but Ted was by here the other night, and he’s very concerned. She was supposed to be in this weekend to pay her mother’s bill at the nursing home, and she didn’t show. Sue is a devoted daughter, so Ted tells me. She never misses a visit with her mother, and she sure as hell never forgets to pay her bill!”

Lori put her hands on her hips, feeling ill. “Maybe something has happened to Sue, but—
”

“Oh, sweetheart!” her mother interrupted miserably. “I don’t
want
it to be Sean, either. I like him, honestly like him.”

“We’re just so damned scared for you, Lori,” her fat
her said. “What if Sean is inno
cent, and it’s his brother—”

“If Sean is innocent, why should it be
his
brother who is guilty?” Lori demanded.

“Michael Black used to get into a lot trouble,” her mother said.

“Kids do get into trouble.”

“But you’re seeing so much of Sean and Michael.”

“Yes, I am. And don’t be worried about me. I’m okay. I promised Gramps some time out. Is he ready?”

“Should be,” her mother said. “I’ll just—” she began, but broke off
because the phone was ringing. “I’ll just get that, and check on Gramps.” She answered the phone on the desk, and looked at Lori. “For you,” she whispered. “Sean.”

She arched a brow, and went to the phone. “Sean?”

“Yeah. Can you stay with your folks tonight?”

She frowned. “I’m sure I could. But why?”

“An old friend of mine is in Palm Beach. I’m going to go see him this afternoon, and I may run late.”

“Why don’t I come with you?”

She heard his hesitation. “Lori, I told you—”

“You want me safe, don’t you? I’ll be safe with you.”

“Let me think about it. Call me at the hotel after you’ve gone out with your grandfather. But promise me, if we miss one another by any chance, you’ll stay with your parents.”

“Sure.”

J
an had never been so nervous in her whole life.

Nor had she had ever been in such a hotel before. Heart-shaped whirlpool, heart-shaped
bed, brass posts everywhere, pink sheets, heart-shaped champagne tray, heart-shaped chocolates.

“I can’t imagine why they didn’t manage a heart-shaped champagne bottle,” she murmured to Brad.

He dropped the little case bearing their toiletries and wandered over to where she stood by the Jacuzzi. He kissed her nape. “This is the best gift I’ve had in my entire life.”

“It’s a one and only.”

“I know. That’s all I want.”

Jan hoped that was true.

“Why don’t we get into the Jacuzzi?”

“Sure.”

Sure. She felt about as sexy as a watermelon; this was so awkward, and she still didn’t really know how it was going to work. Did they just introduce themselves to this woman: Hi,
I’
m Brad’s ex-wife, the mother of his child, and then, oh, yes, how do you do, I’m the prostitute he’s hired for the day, should we get right to it, or what?