Lovers & Players

by Jackie Collins

  ‘You can’t, sweetie,’ he explained. ‘Daddy’s got things he has to take care of. Important things.’

  ‘Then I want my mommy,’ Lulu said, putting on a stubborn face. ‘Where’s my mommy?’

  ‘We had to take Mommy to the hospital, but she’s going to be okay, and she wants you to spend the night with Amy.’

  ‘We go see Mommy, Daddy,’ Lulu said hopefully. ‘Just you an’ me. We go see her now!’

  ‘Soon,’ he promised.

  ‘Then Lulu stay here with Nanny.’

  ‘Nanny Reece has to fly back to England.’

  Lulu’s pretty face crumpled. ‘Why, Daddy? Why?’

  ‘Because she does. Don’t worry, sweetie, Amy will take care of you. It’s only for a day or so.’

  ‘Do I have to go with stupid Amy, Daddy?’ Lulu said, scowling.

  ‘Please don’t call Amy names,’ Max warned. ‘It’s not nice.’

  Jett stepped forward and scooped Lulu up into his arms. ‘Hey, pretty girl, how about I too? Is that okay with you?’

  ‘Yes!’ Lulu squealed, her scowl turning into a coquettish little smile. ‘My uncle come too.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Max said gratefully, as Lulu snuggled up to Jett. ‘That’d be a big help.’

  Amy was silent. She was horrified enough about Mariska’s brutal murder, and now she was going to have to deal with Jett. This wasn’t the right time for them to sort out what had happened between them.

  ‘I’ll call you later,’ Max said, kissing Amy’s cheek as he accompanied the three of them to the elevator. ‘Take care of my girls,’ he said to Jett. ‘They’re both very precious.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Jett said. ‘I’ll do my best.’

  As the elevator doors closed, Amy turned to Lulu. ‘We’re going to have so much fun,’ she said brightly.

  ‘No, we’re not,’ Lulu responded. ‘We’re not! We’re not! We’re not!’

  Amy exchanged a quick look with Jett. ‘It’ll be fine,’ he mouthed.

  Easy for him to say. He wasn’t a quivering, nervous, guilt-ridden wreck.

  After everyone left, Max began filling Chris in on the Vladimir story–including Mariska’s threat to have the man taken care of.

  Chris listened intently. ‘And you think he took care of her instead?’ he said thoughtfully when Max was finished.

  ‘That’s exactly what I think,’ Max replied, his expression grim.

  ‘But you can’t be sure?’

  ‘I’m sure all right. Vladimir is an evil son-of-a-bitch with a big agenda. He was after money and plenty of it. Somehow Mariska must’ve got in his way, so he decided to get rid of her.’

  ‘Shouldn’t you tell the detectives what you know?’

  ‘Are you shitting me?’ Max exploded. ‘Have you any idea what the press would do to me if they got hold of the truth? They’d crucify me. And what do you think they’d do to Lulu? She’s illegitimate, Chris. And God knows what Mariska did back in Russia–it’s possible she was a prostitute.’

  ‘Then you’re not telling the detectives anything?’ Chris said, frowning. ‘You’re allowing this Vladimir to walk around loose, a suspected murderer?’

  ‘I need to see if Mariska kept any documents concerning him.’

  ‘What about close girlfriends? Someone she might’ve confided in?’

  ‘I doubt it. All Mariska cared about was running with the social set. She was relentless–only interested in who had the most money and what charity board she should get on that would elevate her social position.’

  ‘You didn’t know she was like that when you married her?’

  ‘Unfortunately not.’

  ‘Too bad,’ Chris said. ‘You could’ve saved yourself a lot of grief.’

  ‘Do you think I don’t know it?’

  ‘Well, if you want my advice, you should tell the detectives everything, let them get into it, that’s their job.’

  ‘I appreciate your concern, but I have to wait.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘Vladimir.’

  ‘It’s your call.’

  ‘I know,’ Max said, walking over to the window. ‘Have you seen what’s going on downstairs?’ he muttered, peering out. ‘The press are getting ready for a siege. You do realize that the entire family will be involved. Red, you, possibly even Amy. And—’

  ‘Not me,’ Chris interrupted quickly. ‘I’m not part of this family.’

  ‘You’re my brother,’ Max stated grimly. ‘They’ll find a way to drag you into it.’

  ‘I’ve never traded on the Diamond name,’ Chris pointed out.

  ‘You think I have?’

  ‘None of us did, so there’s no reason why we’d get brought into it.’

  ‘The media will start digging for anything they can.’

  ‘I’m a lawyer,’ Chris said, scratching his chin. ‘They say or print anything inaccurate and I’ll sue their asses.’

  ‘Keep that thought. It’s not going to stop them.’

  ‘You don’t think so, huh?’

  ‘Not the New York press. They’re relentless.’

  ‘You missed the morning meeting with Red,’ Chris said.

  ‘Is he leaving us everything?’ Max asked sarcastically.

  ‘He walked in with two hookers on his arm.’

  ‘Am I supposed to be surprised?’

  ‘Lady Jane was sitting in the library pissed as a cat on a hot tin roof, and in he marches, bold as shit.’

  ‘Friday he fails to turn up, and today you’re telling me he walks in with hookers. What kind of game is he playing?’

  ‘Who knows?’

  ‘I’d better call Clive Barnaby,’ Max said, glancing at his watch. ‘He was meeting with the Japanese bankers on my behalf.’

  ‘Before you make the call,’ Chris said, ‘you should know that Lady Jane let it drop it was Red who forced the U.S. banks to withdraw from your building project. Seems he has that kind of leverage.’

  ‘What?’ Max said, shocked and angry. ‘Red is responsible?’

  ‘She showed us copies of his e-mails to the banks involved.’

  ‘That conniving bastard!’

  ‘Sorry, Max, he really screwed you.’

  ‘Do you realize what that son-of-a-bitch has put me through? I could lose everything.’

  ‘Guess what? Me too. Remember my gambling debt? Well, the pressure to pay is apparently coming from Red. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s a major shareholder in the fucking casino. He’s got his bony fingers in every pie.’

  ‘Jesus Christ!’ Max said, still steaming. ‘Nothing changes, does it?’

  ‘Hey, the bastard can’t beat us with a stick, so he devises other ways to punish us. Dear old Dad, always full of any crap he can hand out.’

  Standing in the elevator as it descended to the lobby, Jett glanced over at Amy. She was staring straight ahead, her perfect face quite impassive. ‘You okay?’ he asked, in a low voice, wondering what she was thinking.

  ‘Thank you, yes,’ she replied, trying not to look at him. She was not okay at all, her stomach was churning and she felt sick.

  ‘Uh…I guess we need to talk,’ he said tentatively.

  ‘Not now,’ she said, staring pointedly at Lulu. The little girl was busily sucking her thumb, her arms firmly clutched around Jett’s neck.

  ‘I didn’t mean now,’ he said, remembering the incredible softness of her skin and the way she smelt of soap and perfume and all things nice.

  ‘Maybe later,’ she said hesitantly, for she knew they couldn’t continue to ignore what had happened between them. She didn’t know about him, but for her the tension was a killer.

  ‘Definitely later,’ he agreed, thinking how vulnerable and pretty she looked in spite of everything.

  Max’s car was waiting downstairs in the garage. The three of them got in and the driver whisked them straight to Amy’s apartment.

  As soon as they walked into her place she felt awkward. Having Jett on her territory was extremely uncomfortable, they�
�d shared such intimacy, yet they were still virtual strangers.

  ‘Uh…can I get you anything?’ she asked, glad that she’d tidied up before leaving in the morning. Unlike her mother, who had maids on twenty-four-hour call, she preferred to have a cleaning lady come in only once a week–something Nancy never stopped complaining about.

  ‘No, thanks,’ he said, removing Lulu’s arms from around his neck and putting the little girl down.

  ‘Wanna see a movie,’ Lulu said, immediately aware that she was not the centre of attention.

  ‘I’m afraid I haven’t got any children’s DVDs,’ Amy said helplessly.

  ‘Anything in particular you’d like to see, pretty girl?’ Jett asked, bending down to her.

  ‘Wanna see The Incredibles,’ Lulu said, in a high-pitched voice. ‘Wanna see it with you.’

  ‘Maybe we should take her out for something to eat,’ Amy suggested. ‘I’ve got nothing here. There’s a coffee shop on the corner.’

  ‘You hungry, Lulee?’ Jett asked.

  ‘Wanna see The Incredibles,’ Lulu repeated.

  ‘Okay, here’s the deal,’ he said. ‘You, me and Amy will go downstairs to the video store and buy you the DVD of The Incredibles, then we’ll take you for a burger. You like big fat burgers with onions and relish and all the trimmings?’

  ‘Mommy says I mustn’t eat hamburgers,’ Lulu said primly.

  ‘Special treat,’ he said. ‘burgers and french fries, and after that we’ll come back here and watch the movie. How does that sound?’

  ‘Only if you carry me,’ Lulu said, quick as a flash. ‘Carry me! Carry me! Carry me!’

  ‘I can’t carry you everywhere we go,’ he said, laughing. ‘You’re too heavy. You’re like a big lumpy sack of potatoes.’

  ‘Potatoes,’ Lulu repeated, almost cracking a smile. ‘Big sack of lumpy potatoes!’

  ‘That’s right, little girl.’

  ‘I’m not little.’

  ‘Fine–big girl. How’s that?’

  ‘Carry me! Carry me! Carry me!’ Lulu chanted.

  ‘Okay, okay,’ he said, sweeping her up into his arms again. Then, glancing at Amy, he said, ‘Y’know, Gianna and I, we’re not a couple.’

  ‘You don’t have to explain anything to me,’ she said, thinking how patient and understanding he was dealing with his niece.

  ‘I thought you should know. That’s all.’

  ‘Now I do.’ And it makes no difference. I’m engaged to Max, and that’s that.

  ‘Okay, Lulee,’ Jett said. ‘We’re going on an adventure. Let’s blow this pop stand.’

  ‘Pop stand!’ Lulu said, bursting into a fit of giggles. ‘Pop stand! Pop stand! Pop stand!’

  Sonja was looking forward to getting back to her apartment. Weekend jobs were not her favourite, even though they paid handsomely. She’d worked long and hard to have her own apartment, and now that she did, she enjoyed her time alone.

  One of her rules was never to entertain any of her clients at home. It was either their place, a suitable venue, or a hotel. She made no exceptions.

  Walking in, she was dismayed to find her cousin Igor sprawled on her pristine white couch in front of her new flat-screen TV, stuffing potato chips into his mouth.

  ‘What the hell you doing here?’ she demanded. ‘I told you not to use my key. You’re supposed to phone first.’

  Igor gave her an unconcerned look. ‘I’m your cousin,’ he said reproachfully. ‘Do not speak to me like that. What it matter to you anyway? You were away all weekend, didn’t think you’d mind.’

  ‘You know I mind,’ she said bad-temperedly. ‘I like my privacy.’

  ‘Privacy,’ he scoffed. ‘How much privacy do the johns you spend all your time with give you?’

  ‘My clients pay lot of money,’ she said, stepping out of her shoes. ‘And you never object to taking some of it.’

  Igor was her favourite cousin, the only family member who’d made it to America. She had a soft spot for him, but he was always getting himself caught in ‘situations’, and she was always helping him out.

  Sometimes she wished he’d find himself a legitimate job and stop sponging off her.

  ‘I’m in a…situation,’ he said. ‘It’s best I not go back to my place for day or so.’

  ‘Why?’ she said accusingly. ‘What you done now?’

  ‘Nothing,’ he answered, yawning. ‘Just bringing you gift ’cause you nice cousin.’

  ‘What gift?’ she asked suspiciously.

  ‘Good one,’ he said, scratching his belly.

  ‘Let me see.’

  Raising his body from the couch, he fumbled in his jacket pocket and produced a string of perfect white pearls.

  Sonja grabbed them, held them up to the light and inspected them with a practised eye. ‘Is real?’ she asked, although as a canny connoisseur of jewellery she was quite sure that she already knew the correct answer.

  ‘Of course real,’ Igor replied indignantly. ‘Very excellent quality. Cost me lot.’

  ‘Liar,’ Sonja said, fixing the pearls round her neck, noticing the intricate diamond clasp shaped like a flower, and wondering where he’d come across such a prize. She was no longer mad. Real pearls were real pearls, and they went nicely with her recently acquired Rolex.

  All in all it had been quite a profitable weekend.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  The two brothers were sitting in Max’s living room, sharing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and several cartons of Chinese food Chris had sent out for. ‘You gotta eat,’ he’d informed Max. ‘You’ve had nothing all day.’

  It was past seven, and Max was finally starting to think sensibly. The day was a blur, although at least the news from Clive Barnaby was good. The Japanese bankers were prepared to secure the loan he needed to support his multi-million-dollar building project. That was excellent news.

  Saved by the Japanese, thank God. No thanks to Red. That wily son-of-a-bitch had almost put him out of business.

  ‘I have to get into Mariska’s apartment,’ he said, standing up and starting to pace restlessly round the room.

  ‘To do what?’ Chris asked, chewing on a spare rib.

  ‘There’s a box she kept hidden and locked. I should get to it before the police.’

  ‘Her apartment will be deemed a crime scene,’ Chris cautioned. ‘There’s an ongoing police investigation. It’ll be off limits for now.’

  ‘You’re forgetting her apartment is in my building.’ Max stated. ‘I’ll have no problem getting in.’

  ‘You’re planning on crossing a police line?’ Chris said, shaking his head disapprovingly. ‘Is that what you’re going to do?’

  ‘It’s my property.’

  There was no doubt in his mind that Mariska’s murderer was Vladimir, even though the police were saying it was a robbery. He’d spoken to his lawyer earlier, and found out that the detectives had interviewed Irena, Mariska’s personal maid, and she had supplied them with a list of missing jewellery and furs. So what? It didn’t make any difference. Max knew in his heart it was no mere robbery. Somehow there was a story he was not privy to. Mariska and Vladimir had been up to something, and their deal had gone sour, so Vladimir had lost his temper and stabbed her to death.

  To find out more, he needed access to her apartment, the sooner the better.

  ‘I’m going over there,’ he said, heading for the door.

  ‘Should I come with?’ Chris asked, wiping his hands on a napkin. He didn’t approve, but in case of trouble he thought it would be easier if he was by Max’s side.

  ‘No,’ Max said, shaking his head. ‘I’m better off doing this alone.’

  ‘Then I think I’ll go back to my hotel,’ Chris said. ‘That is, unless you want me to stop by Amy’s and see how Lulu’s doing?’

  ‘I’m sure they’re fine.’

  I hope so, Chris thought. As long as Jett is behaving himself and not getting out of line.

  ‘You should check out of your hotel and stay here,
’ Max said. ‘I could use the company.’

  ‘I guess I could stay for a couple of days,’ Chris mused, thinking of everything he had going on. He’d already postponed his flight back to L.A. and, according to his assistants, several important clients were screaming for his attention. Plus he had Birdy’s wedding to oversee. ‘I’ve got to work out my house disaster,’ he said, thinking aloud. ‘Then there’s the gambling debt I still owe…’

  ‘I understand,’ Max replied. ‘And now that the Japanese are coming through, maybe I can help you with that.’

  ‘A loan would really help me out.’

  ‘You might be my brother,’ Max said drily, ‘but I’m still a businessman, so how about we call it a non-interest loan?’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’

  ‘Give me the details and I’ll work out how to handle it. Oh, yes, and there’s one condition.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘This marks the end of your gambling career.’

  ‘Ain’t that the truth.’

  Amy, Jett and Lulu had just returned from the corner coffee shop where Lulu had consumed two hamburgers, a strawberry milkshake and a dish of chocolate ice-cream, when Nancy appeared at the front door.

  ‘Mother!’ Amy exclaimed. ‘What are you doing here?’

  Nancy looked from Jett to Lulu, then back at her daughter. ‘Perhaps if you answered your phone I wouldn’t have been forced to drag myself over here,’ she said, in an extremely pissed-off tone.

  ‘Oh, God! I’m sorry,’ Amy said. Then, lowering her voice, she added, ‘With the tragedy and all, I’ve just been so busy. Max is in a state. He asked me to take Lulu, so I did, and fortunately Jett came along to help because—’

  ‘Hey, Mrs Scott-Simon,’ Jett said, coming up behind Amy.

  ‘Good evening,’ Nancy responded, with a frosty nod.

  ‘Uh, I’m gonna put the movie on for Lulu,’ he said. ‘Is that okay?’

  ‘Thanks,’ Amy replied, realizing how this must look to Nancy. ‘Let’s go into the kitchen, Mom,’ she said, leading her mother away.

  Tight-lipped, Nancy followed her daughter into the kitchen.

  ‘You do realize what this means?’ Nancy said, fussily brushing off one of the kitchen stools with her hand before perching uncomfortably on it.