The Third Sin (13 page)

Irina knew what had given her son this new, tough attitude. He was the executor of Wade's estate and could do what he wanted with the Braganza.

She would have to be careful now. Everyone would want to get their hands on the diamond now that Wade was dead. But she would win. The Braganza would be hers in the end, just as she'd always intended.

 

Chapter
16

F
RIDAY, 4:00 P.M.

Sonya's office

Sonya smiled in gratitude as Sabrina, her friend and favorite makeup artist, placed a salad on her computer keyboard and perched on the edge of her desk.

“I know you skipped lunch, so eat this. Now. You're looking tired and you're getting too thin. If you keep starving yourself, that handsome detective you're so crazy about will move on.”

Sonya peeled the plastic cover off the cardboard container and bit into a slice of cucumber. “Maybe it would be a good thing if he did. His kids are coming for a long visit and I'm not crazy about the role of stepmother.”

“Then forget him and make your favorite cameraman happy.”

“Don't start on me about Perry. He's a great cameraman and a friend, but that's it. I am not, repeat,
not
attracted to him. And stop taking his side—you're
my
friend.”

“You ought to reconsider your feelings about him. He's mighty talented, you've said that yourself. He's also dependable and has great values. Okay, he'll never be a millionaire, but he's a guy you can respect. And you can work together; you can set up a company of your own with him and do pieces for private companies. With your work ethic and his eye, you'd make a fortune.”

“I don't have to marry him to do that.”

“Oh yes, you do. Perry won't be able to work that closely with you without falling even more in love with you than he already is. Reject him and he'll find someone else. He's a young, healthy male, remember. How will you feel when he falls for some pretty young thing, gets her pregnant, and marries her?”

Sonya thought about that for a moment. She would feel put out, no doubt about it. But would it change her relationship with Perry? She certainly would miss his devotion, the way he was always there when she wanted him, the way they were so comfortable together. But that wasn't love, wasn't enough to build a whole future on. And she was in love with Keith. Wasn't she?

“You're almost forty and you're working in a young person's industry,” Sabrina went on. “You might be happy here for five more years and then what?”

Sonya laughed. “Marrying Perry isn't the only option I've got.”

“I know what you think your options are. You're thinking of getting serious about Detective Keith Harris, your lover with the ambitious ex-wife and the kids who are coming for a two-week visit with their daddy.”

Sonya took a deep breath. She knew Sabrina meant well, but enough was enough. “Honestly, Sabrina, don't you think that my relationship with Keith is my business?”

Sabrina's voice rose. “Oh, really? Remember, I'm the one whose shoulder you cried on after your disastrous marriage. You made me promise to stop you if you ever got mixed up with a divorced man with kids. And that's what I'm doing now—stopping you. You know in your heart that this is a mistake.”

Sonya sank back into her chair. Sabrina was right. She remembered how bitterly she'd fought with her ex-husband over his ex-wife and his two kids and their constant demands for extra money. Their marriage had been a disaster almost from the beginning, and when it had finally fallen apart, she had been brokenhearted. And she had vowed to never date married men again, to never get involved with a man who already had children.

Yet here she was, living with Keith and trying to prepare herself for a visit from his kids. What was she thinking?

Sonya sighed. She'd never had much luck with men. Or perhaps she just didn't know how to relate to them. Her father had left when she was three years old and she'd never seen him again. Her mother had never remarried, and hadn't even dated much after that. But after the divorce, Sonya's father had quickly married again and started a second family.

He'd ignored his first wife and daughter as completely as if they'd never existed—no birthday cards, no Christmas gifts, no communication at all. And when Sonya tried to contact him, when she was in college, his second wife told her that they'd gotten divorced years earlier. She told Sonya that her father had moved to New Zealand. And Sonya had decided not to chase him any further. He'd gone halfway around the world and she had to think that was a message of some kind.

Since then, she'd dated, and married, and divorced, and dated again. None of her relationships had lasted longer than a few years, and most had lasted only a few weeks or months. She was living with Keith, but she'd known and worked closely with Perry longer than her last two or three boyfriends put together.

“Oh god, Sabrina,” she said. “You're right. I didn't think.”

Sabrina softened. “It's okay, I'm not criticizing you. I just want you to remember what you went through and how you hated yourself for it.” And Sonya knew that Sabrina knew what she was talking about. They'd met when Sonya first joined the network, a year after her marriage failed. The increase in Sonya's salary had paid for her divorce.

She and Sabrina had bonded when the makeup artist caught the producer sobbing in the restroom. Sonya's ex had gone back to his first wife and kids and she was in shock.

“He used to tell me what a demanding bitch she was and that he could never live with her again.” She'd sobbed on Sabrina's shoulder. “He told one of my friends that he never really loved me and that marrying me was a dreadful mistake that almost ruined his life. I was so humiliated. I could have killed him.”

Sabrina's advice had been to forget him, but to learn a lesson and never again get entangled with a divorced man with kids. And Sonya had made that vow … yet here she was, in the same situation, with Keith's kids about to arrive on her doorstep.

Her appetite gone, Sonya pushed the salad away and was about to speak when someone knocked on her door and then rattled the handle. Sonya raised an eyebrow, glad that Sabrina had locked the door behind her when she'd come in.

“Damn, it can only be Kirsten,” Sonya said angrily. “I guess we have to let her in.”

Sabrina reached over, unlocked and opened the door. Kirsten stood there, her arms clasped to stop her shivering, tears running down her red and swollen face.

“Oh, Sonya,” she cried. “I can't believe it. It's too horrible to believe.”

“What's too horrible to believe?” Sonya snapped.

Sabrina frowned at Sonya and then put her arm around the intern and drew her into the office. “Sit down, Kirsten, try to stop crying and tell us what's upset you.”

“It's Wade. The police say someone murdered him and Cacao. They both died of an overdose of sleeping pills.” Kirsten started to sob again. “Why would anyone murder Wade?”

Sonya ignored the weeping. She knew she was being hard on the young woman, but she was fed up with Kirsten's unpredictable and overemotional behavior and her interference in the story. “How do you know all this? The police haven't released the results of the autopsy yet.”

“Mom,” Kirsten said, as if it explained everything, which it nearly did, Sonya thought, knowing Blair. After a few more sobs, the intern continued, “The police told Harold and he told Mom. The release will be out in an hour or so. The detective wanted to warn Harold to expect calls from reporters.”

“In time to make the five o'clock broadcasts,” Sabrina added. “That's the way they usually do it.”

“This changes everything.” Sonya couldn't keep the eagerness out of her voice. Wade Bruckheimer—and his unpleasant parrot—had been murdered. What a story.

She smiled. “Well, at least we have a head start. I'd better call Donna. Kirsten, go find out where Bella is. I want to interview her tonight. Tell her we're eager to get her side of the story.” She looked at Sabrina and smiled again. “Tell Bella if she wants a hair and makeup artist, I'll be happy to bring her the best in the business.”

“Happy to oblige,” Sabrina replied with a grin. “But first, I'll repair Kirsten's face. Go wash and put some cold water on those eyes. Come back when you're finished and I'll do your makeup.”

Sonya waved Kirsten out the door, then punched out Donna's number. The office line was busy and so was Donna's cell. Trying to decide if a text or e-mail would reach Donna faster, Sonya turned to Sabrina and explained, “Kirsten and Bella are extremely friendly and that's why I want her to make the first call. Bella told Kirsten that Wade was unable to perform in bed. She was heartbroken—she wanted to get pregnant as fast as she could.”

Sabrina nodded. “Sounds as if Bella has a good head on her shoulders. With all that money in the family, having a child would guarantee that she'd get some, whatever happens.”

“I don't know about ‘all that money,'” Sonya replied. “The Bruckheimers live high and spend big. My guess is the only member of the family who has real money is Irina, and even that comes from her billionaire father, who is known as the most secretive man in Cincinnati.”

She tried Donna again. This time her assistant answered the office line and said that Donna was on the nineteenth floor in an executives' meeting but was due back any minute.

“I'll come and wait for her,” Sonya said. She linked her arm with Sabrina's as they walked out of her office. “Thanks for everything. You are a pal. I'll call you as soon as I have the time of the interview.”

Sabrina kissed her on the cheek. “All I want is your happiness. You know I don't approve of Keith, but if you are really serious about him, go for it.”

“I won't see him tonight. He's working and I have a hot story to keep me busy.”

Sabrina shook her head. “Talk about history repeating itself. Remember your ex-husband? You told me you worked so hard while you were married that you were too tired to have sex with him.”

Sonya hardly heard her as Kirsten approached, waving an assignment sheet. “Bella at seven? Great. I'll tell Donna.” She left Kirsten to Sabrina's tender loving care and headed for Donna's office.

 

Chapter
17

F
RIDAY, 7:00 P.M.

Wade Bruckheimer's apartment

As she climbed out of the van, Sonya looked up at the Bruckheimers' impressive Fifth Avenue apartment building with its dark blue awning. In the autumn twilight, the gray stone structure had the solid look of unostentatious wealth.

Bella had been eager to set up the interview. Sonya wondered why this was such a high priority, given that her husband had been dead less than twenty-four hours.

Kirsten appeared to have recovered from the impact of learning that Wade had been murdered. Sabrina had done a good job of giving her a fresh look. Kirsten flashed Sonya a smile as she climbed out of the backseat of the van and began to help Perry with the equipment.

“Thanks for pitching in. You're a great helper. I wish you were around all the time,” Perry said. Sonya could tell from the pitch of his voice that he meant her to hear and she almost laughed, knowing he was trying to make her jealous. Sonya was sorry that their genuine friendship had become strained as her relationship with Keith had developed.

Kirsten grinned at Perry, obviously enjoying the attention. She turned to greet the building's doorman, who confirmed that the police were gone. She asked him to keep an eye on the van, then swept past him, leading Sonya to the passenger elevator while Perry pushed his equipment cart toward the service entrance. Sabrina was at his side, carrying her makeup cases.

Bella was waiting when Sonya and Kirsten stepped off the elevator. She cried, “Oh, Kirsten, at last you're here,” and rushed into the other woman's arms. Kirsten embraced her tightly for a moment.

Then Bella pulled away and turned her attention to Sonya. “I feel so alone. I talked to my brother Rico when it first happened, and he promised he'd take care of things, but I haven't heard from him again.”

Sonya wondered if Bella was as naïve as she appeared. If Rico hadn't called, it was probably because he was in an airplane. If what Bella was saying was true in the first place, she thought. Someone must have encouraged Bella to act the grieving, helpless widow. The logical suspect was Rico; perhaps he was advising her secretly and Bella's complaints were all an act.

Seeing the look of disbelief on Sonya's face, Kirsten put her hand up to stop Bella. “This is my boss, Sonya Iverson. She'll interview you as soon as the cameraman sets up.”

Bella brightened and offered Sonya her hand. “Pleased to meet you. Is it all right if Kirsten waits with me and helps me get myself together?”

“Yes, of course. But Sabrina, our makeup artist, should help you too. She'll be here in a minute and I'll send her right in to you.”

As she and Kirsten moved away, Bella thanked Sonya and added, “I'll send Kirsten back as soon as I'm a little calmer. I know you can't get on without her; she's always telling me what a help she is to you.” Sonya didn't know what to say, but was saved from the necessity of replying when Bella shut the door between them.

Perry and Sabrina arrived just as the door closed. “Wait a minute, then go in and work your magic on Bella. The better she looks, the better the piece will be,” Sonya said to Sabrina.

“How
does
she look?”

“Well I may be unkind, but I think she's putting on a great act. She may have shed a few tears but I'm sure they are of the crocodile variety. You won't have to cope with red and swollen eyes.”

“Thank goodness,” Sabrina said. She knocked on the door and was told to come in. Perry had already positioned the chairs they'd use for the interview; Sonya sat in hers and reviewed her questions while Perry set up and adjusted the lights and positioned his camera.