Courting Gossip

by Kimberly Dean

  ‘Her fingerprints were found in your home. Has she ever been inside your house before?’

  ‘No.’ Not invited, at least. Genieve began to pace more quickly. She hadn’t expected the attack to come from that direction. She’d thought for sure that Samuel and his politics had been the target.

  ‘Were you aware that Gunderson tasked her with purchasing most of the gifts he gave you?’

  ‘No…but I’m not surprised. He liked to delegate.’ Others might call it laziness, but he was a boss. He got away with it.

  Had Maggie bought things she liked? Things she wished he’d buy for her? Had she wanted them back once their relationship was over? Why not just make a play for the senator herself?

  ‘Well, it fits,’ the detective said. ‘The thief knew exactly what she was looking for.’

  ‘But why come after us like that? I don’t understand. Did she just snap?’

  ‘I’m still trying to piece together a motive – and I still haven’t connected her to the break-in at the Emissary. From what I saw, though, her feelings for the senator ran deeper than anyone realised. But in her own words? We might never get that.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Haven’t you talked with your boyfriend? She lawyered up. I’m pretty sure he arranged it.’

  Genieve was so blindsided she tripped. She caught the back of the easy chair before she fell, and her fingernails bit deep. ‘Brody?’ she said, barely able to push out the air.

  ‘Somebody got her one of those high-powered defence lawyers.’

  ‘He’s helping her with her defence?’

  ‘I don’t know if I’d go that far, but he’s definitely trying to pull strings. Isn’t that what he does?’

  Yes, and that was precisely what he’d said he was going to do. Genieve’s range of vision narrowed. ‘Not if I break his fingers first.’

  The detective let out a cough. ‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’

  Hurt and rage jumbled inside her. Why would Brody stab her in the back like that? What possible reason could he have? If that woman got off…Fear congealed inside Genieve’s gut. ‘Do you think you’ll still have a case against her when they’re through?’

  The detective’s voice turned gravelly. ‘Don’t worry about that. We’ve got her dead to rights. She’ll pay, but you might not get the explanation or apology you want. They’ve shut her down. I doubt we’ll get another word out of her.’

  But Genieve wanted words. She wanted an explanation. She wanted an apology. If the lawyer was big enough, would the DA settle? Would they try to sweep it under the rug? Fire filled her throat as anger bubbled up.

  ‘Thank you, Detective. For everything.’ She hesitated a moment, and then jumped in with both feet. Someone deserved to be happy when the dust cleared from this mess. ‘You’re a good guy. Don’t give up on Nina.’

  He went quiet, but then let out a low curse. ‘Don’t hurt the guy too badly, Jen. I think he’s caught between a rock and a hard place.’

  ‘With the rock being his head?’

  Morgan chuckled. ‘Call me if you need anything. And I mean that – anything.’

  Genieve hung up the phone and looked around the empty house. She’d been happy here, in the land of make-believe. Brody had said he wanted the real her, and she’d given him that. The problem was, she’d forgotten that they’d been pretending. Worse, she’d come to believe they might have a future together. But one phone call, and he’d shown his true colours. He worked for the senator, and he made sure that nothing touched the man. Not a sex scandal or an obsessed assistant…

  She pressed her hands to her head. It felt like it was going to explode. Maggie had broken into her home. She never would have thought Brody would take the senator’s aide’s side over hers, but that was what he did, wasn’t it? Protect the political players from smears against their reputations. And what was she in all of this?

  Flesh for hire.

  Her eyes stung, and her throat got thick. Damn him. He’d told her he wasn’t a good guy. He’d warned her that he did what he had to do to get his way. Everyone had warned her he was a snake in the grass.

  But she’d fallen for him.

  She’d fallen so hard, she’d been blind to his tricks and true intentions. He hadn’t lied. He’d told her exactly what he was doing. He’d hired her to keep her out of the limelight with Samuel. He was attracted to her, so why not go in for the sex, too?

  She threw her phone, and it bounced off the sofa and onto the floor.

  The walls began to press in around her. She’d allowed herself to be cooped up with him here. She’d allowed him to clip her wings. She raced back to the door she’d just closed and slid it along its tracks. It bounced against the stopper, and she shoved it again. She pushed back the screen and went out into the open.

  ‘I’m here,’ she yelled. ‘I’m right here.’

  But it was the middle of the morning on a work day. Nobody else was around.

  She was shaking with anger as she marched back inside the house. ‘But not for long.’

  Her legs felt stiff and her arms swung in punches as she strode down the hallway to the guest room. She pulled her suitcase out of the closet and tossed it on the bed. She didn’t have many things left in here, but they all went into the bag.

  She zipped it up and moved on to Brody’s room. Their room, she’d thought. God, she was usually smarter than this. She’d bragged that she could read people. What a laugh.

  She couldn’t read anything!

  Her nerves were raw as she tossed things into the bag. At least the bed was made, and she didn’t have to look at impressions of where they’d lain together. The covers were crisp with hospital corners, and pillows lined up along the headboard. She began yanking her clothes out of the dresser and the closet. She went to the shower for her toiletries. Soon, she had everything she’d brought with her. It hadn’t been much in the first place.

  She couldn’t stay in his bedroom one more minute. She couldn’t stay in his house.

  Her chin trembled, but she lifted it determinedly. She’d seen him push down his feelings enough times. She focused her thoughts as she pulled her roller bag along behind her. She retrieved her phone and called for a cab. Then she made the most important call of her life.

  ‘Nina?’ Her voice wobbled when her boss answered.

  ‘Genieve,’ Nina said comfortingly. ‘Josh told me he’d made an arrest. You must be so relieved.’

  She would be if things hadn’t gotten so screwed up. ‘I want out of my contract with Brody.’

  Nina hesitated, but then her voice turned warm. ‘You two want to make a go of it without it?’

  ‘No, just cancel it. Please.’

  ‘But, honey…I don’t understand. Rielle and Darien said you two were getting along so well. What happened?’

  What happened? Brody had chosen another woman over her – somebody he didn’t even know. A psychopath. His job meant more to him than she did, but she’d gotten so wrapped up in him, she’d forgotten what they truly were to one another. Client and escort.

  She cleared her throat and hugged her arm around her waist. ‘We were, but now that an arrest has been made, there’s no reason for me to be stuck out here. The contract has run its course. Please, Nina.’

  ‘It’s done,’ Nina said without hesitation. ‘No questions.’

  Genieve let out a shaky breath. ‘Thank you, I—’

  A horn sounded just outside in the driveway, and it made her jump. She went to the window and saw her way out. ‘My cab is here. I need to go.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Genieve. Take care of yourself. Call me when you’re ready to talk.’

  ‘I will. Thank you.’ She tossed the phone aside and rolled her bag out the front door. She locked it behind her and looked over the house she’d almost come to consider a home. ‘Goodbye.’

  * * *

  Brody didn’t make it home until late afternoon, but he hadn’t been willing to leave the office until he was certain he had ev
erything locked up and bolted down. The lawyer he’d secured for Maggie Harris understood his job. He was to muzzle her. The man had already stopped any additional questioning by Detective Morgan and the Metro PD. If the case went to court, she’d never take the stand. He didn’t know how much the woman knew, but he didn’t want to take any chances.

  Her jealousy of the senator’s relationship was enough. He’d let that play in the press. The public would eat up the latest twist in the story like candy.

  The Senate was already abuzz with the gossip. Apparently Morgan had arrested her on Capitol grounds. Brody had nearly had an aneurysm when he heard that, but in the end he liked the poetry of it. It put a nice cap on the whole Gunderson scandal. A few more days, and everyone might be able to walk away from the whole thing.

  Everyone except Miss Maggie. She’d done the crime. She was going to get a top-notch defence, but she’d do the time.

  He pulled off his tie and undid his collar. He hit the garage-door controls and walked into the laundry room. They were almost there. It was almost over.

  ‘Jenny?’ he called.

  The house loomed silent as he entered the living room. The space seemed open and empty. He frowned. Usually when he walked in, he was hit with a blast of energy and sound. Was she taking a nap? He glanced into the guest bedroom as he passed and was happy to see she’d chosen his bed instead.

  Only she wasn’t there. The bed was rumpled as if someone had sat upon it, but the sheets were tucked and the throw pillows were in place. He tossed his tie and jacket onto the bed and went in search of her.

  Maybe she had headphones on? Only she wasn’t on the computer…and when he went upstairs to the man cave, she wasn’t watching a movie or playing video games…Worry prickled between his shoulder blades. He looked out into the back yard. Had she snuck outside to do more gardening?

  ‘Jenny!’ he called more loudly.

  When he got no response, the nip of worry turned into a bite. He made a quick trip to the basement to check the gym and the shower. It was dry as a bone, and no Zumba music played. He began looking in every room and every corner in case she’d fallen or hurt herself. Yet when he saw the open closet door in the guest room, an empty spot made him ache. Her suitcase was missing.

  ‘No.’ She couldn’t have left. Not now.

  He hurried to the master bedroom and tore open the closet. Clothes had been rumpled, and all of hers were missing. Her shoes, her dresses…He checked the dresser. All her skimpy lingerie…

  She was gone.

  He dragged a hand through his hair and turned in a circle. What had happened? Why had she left? She’d kissed him this morning when he’d gone out the door. She’d kissed him like a bonfire, all hot and crackling.

  ‘No,’ he repeated. He planted his hands on his hips and lowered his chin. Something had made her leave. He needed to find out what. Had something scared her into running?

  He blew out a breath and pulled out his phone. He dialled her number, and his chin snapped up when he heard it ringing. He followed the sound out to the living room where he found the cheap temporary one he’d given her, lying on the floor.

  His stomach bottomed out, and he grabbed the phone. She wouldn’t have left it behind, would she? He hurriedly pulled up her call history. Maybe there was a clue in there. Had somebody called her? Had she tried to call him, and he’d missed it? His forehead rumpled. Nina…and the detective…

  ‘And a cab,’ he growled. The knot in his stomach turned cold.

  What had those two told her? What had Nina put into her head? He tossed the phone onto the coffee table and used his own to dial the Luxxor CEO. He let out a curse when the call rolled over and her assistant answered instead. ‘Where’s Nina?’ he snapped.

  ‘Oh, hi, Brody,’ Rielle said. ‘We just got back from a late lunch. She and the detective are looking into something pretty important right now. Could I have her call you back?’

  ‘It’s about Genieve,’ he said flatly. ‘Put me through.’

  ‘Is everything all right?’

  He looked around his empty house. No, things were definitely not all right. ‘It will be, if I can talk to Nina.’

  She finally caught on to his urgency. ‘One moment, please.’

  It didn’t take long until her boss was on the line. Nina’s voice was calm, but his phone nearly iced over from the chill she sent out. ‘Mr Haynes?’

  They were back to that now? What the hell had happened while he was out? ‘Nina, where is she? Where did you send her?’

  ‘I didn’t send her anywhere, Brody. Genieve is a big girl. She can go where she wants.’

  ‘You two talked, and now she’s not here. What did you say to her?’

  ‘She called me.’

  ‘Why? What did she need?’ Why hadn’t she called him?

  Nina paused. ‘Did she not tell you?’

  ‘Tell me what?’

  ‘She asked me to cancel your exclusive arrangement, Brody. She’s no longer your escort.’

  His heart jumped. ‘She did what? Why?’

  ‘She didn’t say.’ The woman’s fingernails ticked against her phone. The sharp taps sounded like a firing squad, but then she let out a long sigh. ‘But Detective Morgan told me how you swooped in to rescue the woman who’d broken into her house. I can only assume—’

  ‘Wait. Stop. I wasn’t rescuing her.’

  Nina let silence speak.

  ‘Oh, hell,’ Brody swore. His head dropped back, and he looked at the ceiling. Things had happened so fast, he hadn’t thought through every angle.

  ‘Where is she, Nina?’ he asked, rubbing his brow.

  ‘I don’t know, and if I did I wouldn’t tell you.’

  ‘Then what am I supposed to do?’

  ‘You’re the fixer,’ she said bluntly. ‘Fix it.’

  * * *

  It didn’t take Brody long to figure out where she’d gone. Once he pushed down the panic and frustration – and, most importantly, gotten away from the scent of fresh bread wafting from the kitchen – he was able to focus. And he remembered where she’d wanted to escape to in the first place.

  Soon, he was in his bedroom packing a bag. He was a man with resources. He could do a property search.

  He threw his suit in a corner and grabbed T-shirts, jeans and even a few pairs of shorts. Gunderson and all the other hapless politicians were going to have to fend for themselves. He was the one who’d screwed up this time. He had his own life to fix.

  With barely a thought, he jumped in his car, turned on the radio and headed east. He had plenty of time to think as he passed through Maryland and crossed Chesapeake Bay. By the time he hit Delaware, his fingers were tapping on the steering wheel. Two and a half hours gave a man time to ponder. The sun was low on the horizon behind him when he made it to Rehoboth Beach.

  He let GPS guide him to Jenny’s condo and parked in her driveway. The place was right on the beach. With stacked box units lining the shoreline, the neighbourhood was smaller and more private. The townhome architecture spoke of money and class. She had a one-storey end unit with a deck facing the ocean. It was raised on stilts and painted sparkling white with sky-blue trim around the windows. It looked exactly like what it was, a beach getaway.

  And she’d wanted to get away from him.

  He pulled back his shoulders as he got out of the car. He half expected her to fly out the door, eyes blazing, but everything was quiet as he climbed the steps to her porch. When he knocked, nobody answered.

  Was she avoiding him, or had he guessed wrong?

  He cupped his hand against the window to stop the glare and looked inside. There weren’t any signs of movement, but he saw open windows. She was here. He could feel her.

  He turned and looked around the sleepy community. It was a popular getaway for DC residents, but it was early in the season. More importantly, it was midweek. There weren’t many people around. Without tourists, the place was a small town.

  He took off his shoes and walked aro
und to the back. The sand swallowed his feet up to his ankles, but down closer to the water, where it was packed, he saw a trail of footprints. They led down the beach. It was a beautiful spring night, and she’d been cooped up inside for too long. She must have gone for a walk. The tension in his shoulders eased, and he took a seat on a blue Adirondack chair to wait for her.

  The ocean before him looked calm as it lapped lazily against the shoreline. One lone fishing boat puttered along, coming in for the day. The pace of life was different here. Slower, calmer. The pressure cooker had stopped rocking. With the sun setting, it didn’t take long before he spotted her heading back along the beach. She came around a curve of the shoreline, and he immediately knew it was her. Only Jenny walked like that.

  He sat up straighter in his chair. As she came closer, he got a better look at what she was wearing, and he nearly swallowed his tongue. She was in a bikini – and it was purple.

  ‘Holy shit,’ he whispered.

  The thing fit her like a glove. The top wasn’t big enough to cover all of her curves, and she jiggled. She’d tied a sarong low on her waist, but the breeze made it billow, giving teasing glimpses of her legs and a skimpy bikini bottom with string ties at the sides. His heart began to pump a tattoo against his ribcage. Her hair streamed out behind her like flames dancing in the wind. Her hips swung, and he saw a gold chain glint around her waist.

  The woman was so naturally sensuous, he didn’t think she understood the power she held over men. Over him.

  He rose from his chair when she started up towards the house. She was halfway there before she spotted him. Her footsteps stopped, and he saw her toes dig into the sand.

  She pushed back her sunglasses. ‘What are you doing here, Brody?’

  ‘Hiding again, Jenny?’

  ‘I’m done hiding.’

  She seemed to be done with a lot of things. ‘I heard that we’d broken up. I thought we should talk about that.’

  ‘We didn’t break up. We’d have to be together to do that.’ She pushed down her sarong when it flipped up to her hip. ‘I merely ended our agreement.’

  ‘Why? I thought things were going well.’