“I’m sure everything will work out for you. It usually does.” His ex gave Bree a quick hug. “Love you. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Sure, mom. Have fun with your garden tour tomorrow.”
“I plan to.” Her gaze latched onto his before she flashed Talia a quick smile. “Enjoy your time in Santa Monica.”
“I hope so. It was a pleasure meeting you, Serena.”
Wyatt followed her around the Lexus to the driver’s side. “Well?”
She opened the door and slid onto the seat. “Well, what?”
“You gave me a look like you had something to say.”
Serena shrugged. “That one isn’t your usual type. I’d say a definite cut above. She made a good impression on Bree the last time she was here.”
“Talia’s a nice person. Also, very smart. And funny.” He hesitated. “I’m not saying this is anything serious right now, but maybe it could be.”
“As long as Bree’s happy, I don’t care who you date.”
With effort, he held his tongue and retreated a few steps. “Right. See you around, Serena.”
After she started her car and backed out onto the street, he rejoined Talia and his daughter.
“What did Mom say? I told her Talia is cool.” Bree swung the strap of her backpack over her shoulder and bent to scoop up Stella.
“Nothing much. Everything’s fine.” He led the way toward the house.
“That’s good. Do you have any food? I’m hungry.”
“Since we literally just got home, I probably need to go to the store. Let me check the fridge, and then we can—”
“You two shop while I work.” Talia followed him inside and headed straight to the bag holding her laptop. Her gaze shifted to Bree and back. “I have a ton of research to do if we want a positive outcome to this situation. Time’s ticking.”
Her emphasis didn’t escape his notice. “Sure. You work. We’ll run errands.”
“I’ll stay here, too. Stella needs a walk.” His daughter set the dog on the floor. “Then I should start my English paper that’s due on Monday.”
“Okay, I’ll go to the store alone. I’m sure there are crackers or something you can snack on to stave off starvation until I get back.”
“Let’s hope.” Bree sauntered toward the kitchen with the dog following. “I’ll make a grocery list. We’ll all eat better that way.”
“Smart ass,” he muttered beneath his breath. When Bree disappeared, he approached Talia and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I know you’re anxious to get this job done.”
“That’s what I do when there’s a problem to solve. And this problem may cost innocent lives if we don’t stop these people.”
“I know.” He bent to kiss her, lingering for a moment before pulling away. “I’ll be back shortly.”
After adding a few more essentials to Bree’s list, he drove to the nearest market and parked. Grabbing the cloth bags off the rear seat, he climbed out and slammed the door.
“Wyatt, you’re home.”
The familiar voice caught his attention, and he turned quickly to wait while Lindsey approached. “I flew in this morning.”
She frowned and shifted the bag in her arms. “I thought you were staying longer on the East Coast.”
“There were complications.”
Her eyes were a clear blue without any hint of deception clouding their depths. The fact that he was looking for duplicity behind her innocent question irritated the hell out of him. If her motives were innocent. The seeds of doubt Talia had sowed in his mind had obviously taken root.
“Do you have time for a quick lunch?” With her groceries clutched tightly to her chest, she seemed to radiate a need to self-protect. As if she expected rejection.
He didn’t have the heart to walk away. “We’re out of food at the house, but my daughter will probably survive for another hour. I’ll buy a couple of deli sandwiches, and we can go hang out at the beach and eat them. If that’s okay with you?”
“Sure. I’ll wait out here for you. I have a phone call to make, anyway.”
He nodded and headed into the store, wondering who she was calling. Telling himself he was an idiot for believing it had anything to do with him. He made short work of collecting the items on the list and skipped the ice cream, substituting a package of cookies instead. Once he’d ordered the sandwiches at the deli counter, he called Talia.
“What’s up?” Her tone was distracted.
“I ran into Lindsey. We’re having lunch on the beach.”
“Oh?” Apparently, that piece of information had gotten her attention.
“Anything you want me to ask her?”
“No, but I’m curious to know what she questions you about. If she’s fishing for specific information, I’ll move her up my list of potential suspects to research.”
“What if she’s simply being polite and engaging in normal conversation?”
“Then no harm no foul.”
His breath gusted out. “Okay. Uh, my order is ready. I’ve gotta go.”
“Enjoy your lunch.”
He smiled as he took the wrapped sandwiches and put them in his cart. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
His grin broadened at Talia’s irritated tone. “I was talking to the girl at the deli counter, not you. This lunch with Lindsey isn’t a date, you know. She looked like she needed a friend, and I thought maybe I could learn something pertinent—or eliminate her as the potential leak.”
Talia laughed softly. “Okay, maybe I was a tad jealous. Not a date. Got it. See you when you get home.”
He disconnected and headed to the cash register to pay. A few minutes later, he loaded his groceries into his car and waited while Lindsey finished her conversation a few yards away. A frown marred her forehead, but she forced a smile as she dropped her phone into her purse.
“Sorry that took so long. I’ll follow you down to the beach.”
“Sounds good.” He slid onto the driver’s seat and started the engine.
Traffic was fairly light, and Lindsey stayed directly behind him in her Honda Civic as he cruised down the Pacific Coast Highway. Noting a few spots in a North Beach lot, he pulled in and parked. After paying, they walked across the beach, carrying their sandwiches and water bottles. He chose a spot some distance from a lively volleyball game and sat down in the warm sand.
“You seem like you have a lot on your mind.” He unwrapped his sandwich, took a bite, and chewed.
Tears dampened her eyes, and her throat worked as she swallowed. “The advertising company I worked for downsized, and I’ve been out of a job for a month. My son has been staying with my in-laws in Seattle while I search for employment, and now they’ve enrolled him in pre-school there. I feel like I’m going to lose him if I don’t get my act together. They have money, and I don’t.” Her grip on her sandwich tightened until lettuce squeezed out onto the sand. “I can’t afford to fight them in court if they claim I’m unfit or some other lie.”
“I’m sorry, Linds.” He laid a hand on her arm. “You have every reason to be upset. I didn’t know you had a son.”
“Preston is four. He’s my whole world, and I’d do anything for him.”
“I can imagine. Do you have any new job prospects yet?”
“I had an interview scheduled for later this afternoon, but they cancelled. Said the position had been filled. I found out shortly before I saw you.” She heaved out a breath. “Poor timing on your part since I needed someone to vent to.”
“I’m a good listener.” He took a drink from his water bottle. “What about moving back to Seattle to be closer to your in-laws? Maybe they’d be more supportive if their grandson was living close by.”
“I’d rather not go back, but I may have to. I’m hoping something else will work out for me.” Her tears had dried while she spoke, and she gave him a brittle smile. “Enough about my problems. What are you working on that took you to the East Coast? I’ve always enjoy
ed your show.”
His stomach knotted, and suddenly the turkey sandwich didn’t look very appetizing. He set it down on his lap and stared out at the gentle waves rolling up on the beach. Overhead, gulls screeched, and the group of young people playing volleyball cheered when someone spiked the ball.
“Wyatt, is something wrong?”
He turned to look at his old friend and lover, wondering how well he really knew her. “Nothing’s wrong. I can’t talk about upcoming shows. We want to keep the surprise factor intact for viewers.”
“I wasn’t planning to blab your business to the world. I was just wondering if you’re staying in town for a while, or if you’ll be off on another trip soon.”
“I’m honestly not sure. We’re trying to work out a few snags we hit with the current project.”
“Sounds like I’m not the only one with work complications. I imagine you miss your daughter when you’re traveling.” Her tone was flat.
“Sure, but Serena and I share custody of Bree, so I don’t have her with me full-time, even when I’m home. Since we both have our daughter’s best interests at heart, we’re willing to compromise when we need to.”
“Obviously, you have a good relationship with your ex.”
“Better than most, and I’m grateful for that.” They finished their sandwiches, and he helped Lindsey to her feet with a hand under her elbow.
“Thanks for lunch and for listening to my woes.”
“I hope you find a new job soon, and if you need to talk again . . .”
“I’m not usually this whiny. You caught me at a bad moment.” She walked beside him through the sand back toward the parking lot. “Everything will work out for me and Preston. I’ll make sure of it.”
“I hope so. Take care of yourself, Linds.”
“I will. Bye, Wyatt.”
She was still in the lot when he pulled out onto the street. All the way home, he replayed their conversation in his mind. She hadn’t pushed when he’d shut down her questions about his work. Because she’s innocent of any wrong intent, or because she doesn’t want me to get suspicious?
He was no closer to an answer when he pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine. When his cell rang, he checked the screen and swiped to connect, wondering what his director wanted.
“What’s going on, Oren?”
“Apparently, not a hell of a lot. Rita announced the shoot at Bedford House is cancelled, but she couldn’t tell me where we’d be filming next.” The frustration in his tone increased. “The crew is wondering if the whole series is on the rocks. After the Egypt episodes air, we’ll be out of new content. Running repeats mid-season isn’t good for ratings.”
Wyatt ran a hand through his hair. “I hope like hell it won’t come to that, but someone is trying to shut down this story. And they aren’t afraid to use deadly force to do it.”
Oren was quiet for a moment. “Rita didn’t mention anything about that. What happened?”
“Attempted robbery, abduction, and murder. Luckily, the bad guys are the ones who wound up dead instead of me or Talia.”
“Holy shit! No wonder Rita was keeping her mouth shut. She probably didn’t want to scare off half the crew.”
“Her discretion is warranted.” Wyatt got out of the car, slammed the door, and headed toward the house. “We can still film Talia’s segment, but that’s all we’ve got for now.”
“I asked Kaitlyn what she and the other researchers had come up with. Apparently, nothing substantial. She said the work is slow and tedious, and all they’d done so far is eliminate a few potential inheritors.”
Wyatt paused when he reached the porch. “Maybe that’s a good thing. I wouldn’t want to put more innocents in the crosshairs of these assholes.”
“You’re sure you don’t have any new clues?”
“Not yet. I’ll talk to Talia about going forward with her episode, but I’m not sure where or when she’ll want to film.”
“The sooner the better. We’re working on a tight timeline here.”
“I realize that. I’ll be in touch.”
Wyatt disconnected and stood still, wondering if he’d said too much. The idea that his well-respected director, who was also a friend, would sell him out . . . With a snort, he jammed his phone into his pocket. Suspicion was turning him into a nutcase, and he didn’t like it one bit.
Chapter Twelve
Talia leaned back against the couch cushions and blinked tired eyes. From the dining room drifted the rumble of voices, intermittent bursts of giggling, and an occasional squeal. She smiled as she rose to her feet, tucked her laptop beneath her arm, and headed toward the light and laughter.
Wyatt glanced up when she entered the room, and Bree’s palm came down hard over the card she’d just played with a slap that rattled the table. Beneath it, Stella scrambled to her feet and barked.
“Ha! You blew it buddy. You’re getting slow in your old age.”
Wyatt’s scowl was ferocious. “No fair. Talia distracted me.”
She approached the table. “What in the world are you two playing?”
“Slap Jack. Mindless but entertaining. Bree is kicking my butt.”
His daughter grinned. “My reflexes are excellent. Dad’s, not so much.”
“Probably because I keep wondering what you’re doing in there. Did you learn anything useful?” His tone was hopeful.
“We can talk after you finish your game.”
“You can talk now.” Bree pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ve been off my phone for an hour, and I’m going through withdrawals. I think I’ll head to my room.”
Talia’s lips twitched. “You have your dad’s sense of humor.”
“Thankfully. Most of the time, he’s the fun parent. G’night, you two.”
“Good night, Bree.” He squeezed her arm as she passed. “Don’t stay up too late.”
“Tomorrow’s the weekend. I can sleep in.” She gave Talia a quick smile as she strolled out of the dining area. Stella stretched and shook, then scampered after her.
“I like your daughter a lot.” Talia dropped onto the vacated chair. “I’m sorry I interrupted your game.”
“Bree would rather Facetime her friends or Snapchat or whatever the hell she does in there. I’m pretty sure she was just being nice to me since I probably look like a train wreck.”
She studied the lines radiating from his tight lips while he scooped up the cards and tapped them into a neat pile. “You’ve been pretty tense all day and didn’t eat much dinner. What’s wrong?”
“I can’t stop obsessing over who the rat—or multiple rats—are. One minute, guilt eats at me for doubting long-standing friendships, and the next, I wonder if I’m being naïve to trust anyone.”
“Hopefully I can ease some of your anxiety. I’ve narrowed your list down to a few people who have the most potential.”
He dropped the pack of cards on the table. “Who?”
“Not your producer. Rita Chen appears to be squeaky clean, and I couldn’t find anything on her assistant, Gretchen Berry.”
“Good to know. What about Oren Lindquist?”
“Your director made my short list of people with political contacts in D.C. As did Victor Tyson, the head cameraman. He has family in the area, a few of whom work on Capitol Hill.” She opened her computer and consulted her notes. “The key grip, Joel Picket, went to college at George Mason University, just outside D.C. A couple of his fraternity brothers know people inside the current administration.”
Wyatt rested clenched fists on the table. “Anyone else?”
“My background check on your old girlfriend turned up something interesting. An advisor for an influential senator used to babysit her when she was young.” When his eyes darkened, she softened her tone. “You mentioned Lindsey is strapped for cash. Not a combination we can ignore.”
“A babysitter? Seriously?”
“I don’t mess around when I research people.”
“I guess not. S
hit.”
“There’s one more person of interest. Kaitlyn Rice, a researcher.” When he drew in a harsh breath, she paused. “In high school, Kaitlyn participated in a summer program in D.C. The same advisor Lindsey knew was involved with the project. Small world.”
Seconds ticked by before he finally spoke. “Kaitlyn and I dated. Briefly.”
“Are there any women on the crew you didn’t sleep with?” She regretted the bitchy comment the moment it left her mouth, and she let her gaze fall. “Sorry. Not my business.”
“Just Kaitlyn.” His tone was cool. “But since we’re condemning women who were close to me, what did you turn up on my ex-wife?”
“Nothing. I’ve no reason to believe Serena is involved in this.”
He pushed to his feet and walked to the window to stare out into the night, his back rigid. “I guess I should be thankful for small favors.”
“I’m not assuming anything about these people, Wyatt. But each one of them could have been approached for information about you by someone who has clout in D.C. That gives them means. How about opportunity?”
He turned around to face her. “I mentioned you in a few conversations. Each of those people knew you had a spoon.”
“Then I can’t eliminate any of them. I assume the whole crew was informed about our trip to Bedford House?” At his nod, she continued, “And you also mentioned it to Lindsey.”
“Yes.” He let out a sigh. “Means and opportunity are covered. Does that mean we look at motive?”
“Picket has a serious gambling habit. Tyson has two kids in college and another one almost finished with high school. That would stretch anyone’s budget. Lindquist made some bad investments recently and put his vacation home on the market.”
“I already told you Lindsey’s sad story.” He gritted his teeth. “What about Kaitlyn?”
“I couldn’t find any money issues. But if you broke her heart and dumped her, she might want a little revenge.”
He let loose a string of obscenities. When he finally stopped, Talia pointed at the swear jar. “No wonder that thing is so full.”
A hint of a rueful smile appeared. “I try to watch my mouth around Bree, but I occasionally slip up.”
Ominous Legacy (Counterstrike Book 4) Page 15