Bittersweet

by Francine Pascal

  Mona hesitated. The shock was wearing off; now she was beginning to think. “I never left L.A., so I couldn’t have murdered Robin.”

  “But who knows that you were here all this time?” Elizabeth didn’t wait for an answer.

  “Me. I’m the only one who knows where you were.”

  “But you wouldn’t—”

  “Look, if you tell me everything, I’ll help you. Otherwise, do it on your own.”

  “But I need you.”

  “Let’s start with Warner. If he really is the one behind this rape charge, I have to know.”

  Mona nodded and took a deep breath.

  “It was a setup. All Warner’s idea, and he had the bartender in his pocket. The spilled drink on Bruce was on purpose, so that he’d go to the restroom to clean up and I’d be waiting when he got out. I had a story to tell him about my dad abusing me. I cried a lot.”

  Elizabeth sat up straight. This was exactly how Bruce said things had happened. That the girl had been upset and Bruce had offered to help.

  “He was actually really nice. He didn’t come on to me at all. I felt bad about it, but what could I do? Warner had me. Bruce bought me a Coke and he got a club soda from the bartender, who’d already slipped something into his drink. It made him dizzy and nauseous, like food poisoning. And then the bartender helped Bruce lie down in the back. He was out for about an hour.”

  It was all exactly as Bruce had originally said. Drugs! Why hadn’t Elizabeth thought about the possibility that Bruce had been drugged? Bruce had just assumed it was food poisoning, but it was much more. Elizabeth couldn’t believe she’d ever doubted Bruce’s word.

  “After the bartender laid him down in the back room, then I could leave. All I had to do was go to the priest, make the confession.”

  “Was the priest in on it, too?”

  “No, he wasn’t. Warner had me go to the church a month in advance so I could build a relationship with him. The priest thought I was telling the truth. I begged him to go to the papers because I said I was afraid. They had to keep my name out of it. Of course, he believed me.”

  That would explain why he seemed so sincere when I interviewed him, Elizabeth thought.

  “That was horrible.” Elizabeth shook her head, disgusted.

  “I know I did a terrible thing. I can’t even bear to think about how I hurt him, but I had no choice. You have to believe me.”

  “Why should I believe you, Mona? You’ve lied to me again and again. And now you’ve almost destroyed Bruce. He’s a good man and you’ve trashed his reputation.” And ruined our relationship, perhaps forever. Bruce can never forgive me now, she thought.

  He had been right all along. Elizabeth felt the truth cut through her like a sharp knife. If only she’d trusted him from the start. If only she’d believed in him. He had been telling the truth.

  “You have to understand, Warner made me do it. And he made me…” Mona choked back a sob.

  “Made you what?”

  “Made me do things with him.” Mona shuddered. The girl clearly didn’t like Warner.

  “He wanted sex. Lots of sex. He insisted if I didn’t do what he wanted when he wanted, he’d have me arrested.”

  Elizabeth was struck silent for a moment. For the first time, she saw just how frightened Mona really was. Elizabeth knew Rick Warner was conniving, but she hadn’t realized how manipulative and abusive until that moment. She put her hand on Mona’s shoulder. Now she realized why Mona had been able to act the part of the traumatized victim so well. She had been one. Only it hadn’t been Bruce who’d caused it. It had been Rick Warner.

  “Mona…” Elizabeth’s anger at the girl faded. She was a victim, too, just like Bruce. Unless she was lying again. “You’ve lied to me so often. I don’t know what the truth is anymore.”

  “But…I…”

  “Do you have proof of anything you’re saying? I need proof.”

  “But you have to believe me. I am telling the truth.”

  “How can I? Do you have any evidence Warner framed Bruce?”

  Mona shook her head slowly. “No, I don’t.” She shifted uncomfortably. “I know I’ve lied. But this time I am telling the truth.”

  “I need some kind of proof. Anything that can corroborate your story.”

  “Wait…” Mona straightened her shoulders. “I do have one thing. I don’t know if you can consider it proof. Warner liked to tape us when we…you know.” Mona rubbed her arms like she was cold and couldn’t look Elizabeth in the eye. “Sometimes he talked about Mr. Patman. It was like it turned him on. Warner doesn’t know I have a copy; he thought he deleted them all, but I managed to steal this one yesterday.”

  “Yesterday?”

  “I saw him at his house. I was freaking out about everything and he left me alone in his office for a minute. I managed to copy one of the files from his home computer. Laura, Elizabeth, whoever, I swear I never hurt Robin. You have to help me.”

  Elizabeth covered Mona’s hands with hers. “I know you’re telling the truth. I know you haven’t been out of L.A., and if you give me that tape, I promise to do everything I can to get you help. If you’ve been honest, Warner is the one who’s going to jail.”

  Tears slid down Mona’s cheeks and she wiped them away furiously.

  “Are you willing to show me part of the tape?”

  Mona nodded. The recording was an electronic video file on her laptop. She booted up her computer and pulled up the file. It was grainy and dark, but Elizabeth could distinctly make out Rick Warner and Mona. Neither one had clothes on.

  “What…is this just a sex tape?” Elizabeth couldn’t help sounding skeptical.

  “No. Keep watching. There’s more.”

  Mona looked miserable, like a girl being forced. She really was a rape victim. And then Warner spoke.

  “So, if the police ask, Patman did this to you…and this…”

  “No, please…Rick…You’re hurting me,” Mona pleaded.

  “And this…”

  “Oh, my God.” Elizabeth felt disgusted. Warner was acting out the alleged rape that Mona was supposed to pretend had really happened. “I’ve seen enough.” Elizabeth clicked off the video.

  Mona was silent for a moment. “But…Robin? Tell me. How did she die? She was such a great person. I really liked her. She was so nice to me. And she was going to be so happy going to New York and changing her life. What happened? Who did it?”

  Elizabeth looked at Mona and saw a devastated friend. Whatever Mona was guilty of, she had truly cared about Robin. She braced herself to admit the truth.

  “Mona.” Elizabeth took in a fortifying breath. “I’m truly sorry, but I had to lie. At least it was a good lie, if there’s such a thing, because Robin is alive and well in New York.”

  “What?” Mona’s face was a blur of emotion: relief, surprise, and then, most of all, outrage. “You lied about that? You’re just like Warner. How could you do that?”

  Mona moved to go. Elizabeth grabbed her wrist.

  “Mona, wait. I needed to get the truth to save a man’s life and it was the only way I thought I could get it.”

  “Still, it was terrible. And I’m leaving. You people are all crazy.”

  “You’re right. It was crazy, but I had to take the chance. And it’s going to be good for you, too. Don’t you see? You’re free now. What you have in this video is enough to put Warner away. We have to go to the police.”

  “And testify against Warner? No way. I’m not going to risk my life for anybody. I’m getting out of here.”

  “Mona, I can help you.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “I can get you into the best rehab facility in Los Angeles. Not that rinky-dink place in Kentucky. Mona, if you leave now and you don’t face this addiction, someone else will just use it against you. Aren’t you tired of being used?”

  Mona paused a moment, letting the truth sink in.

  “Yes,” she said softly. “But I can’t do it. I tried, more
than once, and failed.”

  “But this time you won’t be alone. I’m here.”

  “You’re going to help me through rehab?”

  “I will. I’m your friend, Mona. I really do want to help you.”

  Mona looked into Elizabeth’s earnest face and believed her.

  “I don’t know if I can do it.”

  “You can. This time you’ll make it. I know it. And I’ll be there for you. All the way through.” Elizabeth squeezed the girl’s hand, and Mona squeezed back, giving her a faint smile.

  “What do I have to do?”

  “Testify against Warner and, I promise, I’ll help you recover. You can have a life free of drugs, and free of people like Warner.”

  Mona nodded slowly. “But Warner is a powerful man…and he swore he’d have me arrested.”

  “No, he won’t. We’re not going to let him. I told you, you’re not alone anymore. And we’re powerful, too.”

  Mona hesitated for a moment.

  “Trust me, Mona. I promise you that bastard is finished. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

  “With all my heart.”

  “Well?”

  “Okay, I’ll testify.”

  “Good. And we’ve got the best attorney in Southern California on our side,” Elizabeth said as she pulled out her phone and dialed Annie’s number. She tried to calculate what time it was in Cannes but wasn’t sure. “We’re going to fix this. You’re going to be all right, Mona, I promise you.”

  Annie answered on the first ring. Elizabeth had expected to hear the soothing sounds of the Bruce’s villa in the background, but instead heard the bustling sounds of an airport.

  “Annie, where are you?”

  “At LAX, getting my baggage,” she said. “We just flew in from Cannes.”

  “With Bruce?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t tell him who told you, but I’ve found out everything. Robin Platt’s name is really Mona Thomas and she was working for Rick Warner and being blackmailed by him, which is why she’s made up the charges against Bruce. They’re all false.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “She’s willing to swear to it. And she has an incriminating video.”

  “Okay, then I have to call the D.A. and set up a meeting at the police station. Colton will need to know his star witness is a fraud. He might even drop the charges. Can you bring her there?”

  “Can you protect her?”

  “If it’s blackmail, I think I can get her immunity. Meanwhile, let me tell Bruce.”

  “Wait! Bruce can’t know I’m involved.”

  Annie hesitated on the line. “Are you sure?”

  “He can’t, Annie.” Elizabeth’s tone left no room for argument. “Promise me.”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “Thank you.” Elizabeth hung up. She speed-dialed her sister, hoping Jessica would be the one to take Mona to the police station. Elizabeth didn’t want to take a chance of Bruce seeing her.

  Jessica’s phone went to voice mail—again.

  Where was she?

  Chapter Eleven

  Jessica put Jake down for his nap, closed his door, and walked down the stairs. Liam was waiting for her in the living room. Her mind raced, trying to come up with something—anything—to distract him. His cool blue eyes watched her every move. He looked the same as he always did, close-up ready, with his dark, nearly black hair worn a little bit shaggier than usual for his new movie role as a mob hit man.

  Jessica had never seen Liam as dangerous before, but now, sitting in her living room, he looked like a man who could be violent. She swallowed her fear. He was still upset. His calm expression did nothing to mask the anger and frustration Jessica could see simmering under the surface.

  “Is he asleep?” Liam asked her, his eyes giving her body a slow sweep up and down. She regretted wearing her fitted pencil skirt and heels. She wished she were wearing baggy old sweatpants. Maybe then Liam wouldn’t be looking at her like she was on the menu.

  “Not quite,” Jessica said. “It takes him a few minutes to settle down.”

  Liam sat on the couch. “Come here,” he said, his arm stretched out on the back of the sofa like he owned it.

  Jessica hesitated.

  “Come here,” Liam said, shifting and patting the seat next to him.

  “I think we need to talk first,” Jessica said, hoping to delay and keep as much physical space between them as possible.

  “We can talk when you’re sitting. Sit.” Liam knitted his eyebrows, his impatience clear.

  “Do you want something to drink first? Coffee? Tea? Wine?” Jessica edged to the kitchen door.

  “Jessica, you know what I want, and it’s not a drink.”

  Jessica felt her stomach lurch. He wasn’t going to be dissuaded. But he had to be.

  “Liam, I…I want that, too.” She’d say anything, she decided, to calm him down and get him out of her house. What she needed was for him to leave. She could figure out everything else later.

  “You do?” Liam sounded skeptical.

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then come here.”

  “But Jake…”

  “Is sleeping by now.”

  “Maybe. Even if he is, I can’t enjoy it when Jake’s here. Besides, I want to go out to dinner tonight. Have some wine, and then we can go to your place. Really take our time. Doesn’t that sound nice?” Jessica couldn’t believe the lies coming out of her mouth. She hoped they sounded convincing. She was never going to be with Liam ever again. As soon as she got him out the door, she’d never let him in again. That much she knew.

  He watched her carefully.

  “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve waited long enough.”

  “Liam…”

  “You’ve kept me in limbo for months, Jessica.”

  “I know, Liam, and I’m sorry. I was just confused. The divorce and Todd…”

  “Don’t mention his name!” Liam’s voice suddenly rose to a furious shout.

  Jessica froze. Liam jumped up from the couch, agitated again, running his hands nervously through his hair.

  “I don’t ever want to hear his name again, do you understand me?”

  “Of course. I’m sorry, Liam.” Jessica did her best to look contrite.

  “You damn well better be sorry,” Liam fumed.

  “Hey, I have an idea.” Jessica tried to keep her voice light and bright, as if Liam hadn’t just exploded for no good reason. Ignore the crazy, just pretend everything’s fine and maybe it will be. “Why don’t we go back to the restaurant where we had our first date? We could go back to that hotel, re-create that night together. That night we both enjoyed so much.” When they’d had quick, furious sex.

  Liam glanced up at Jessica and their eyes met across the living room. For a split second, Jessica thought she might have convinced him.

  “Let’s start over,” Jessica said in her most soothing voice. “That night together was perfect, wasn’t it? Let’s go back there, to that wonderful night in the hotel.”

  Liam broke eye contact and looked away.

  “We could get it all back, Liam. It’s not too late. Let’s do that night all over again.”

  “That night?” Liam’s voice sounded flat.

  “Yes, that perfect night.”

  “That night you made love to me? Yes, that night was perfect, wasn’t it?” Liam’s voice sounded wistful. Jessica thought she had him. Now all she had to do was to seal the deal.

  “Yes, let’s do it again. At that same hotel. Tonight. You go home and get changed, and I’ll call Liza and it’ll be just you and me, Liam. All night long.”

  “That night.” Liam let out a little scoff and shook his head, his mood suddenly changing again. “That…night. The night you made love to me, gave yourself to me, and then ran away from me, crying.”

  “What?” Jessica felt her hope slipping away again.

  “That night, at the end, you don’t remember? You
wouldn’t even let me hold you afterward. You just wanted to leave that room as fast as you could. You made me drive you home, and on the way, I couldn’t even hold your hand. It was like I disgusted you. You made me feel like you’d used me.”

  “No, Liam, that’s not true.” But even Jessica knew that it was true. She had used Liam. She’d used him this whole time.

  “And then, and then…you wear these sexy clothes to taunt me.” He gestured to Jessica’s outfit. “And then you string me along and you barely even let me touch you. What is that, Jessica?” Liam’s eyes shone with pain and frustration. The old, tender Liam was back for a fleeting second.

  “I’m sorry, Liam. I am. I never meant to lead you on. I never meant to hurt you.”

  Liam just shook his head, the tenderness in his face gone now. He moved closer to Jessica, one slow, deliberate step at a time. “It’s too late for apologies. I’m tired of your words. I’m tired of you trying to convince me that your torturing me is okay. It’s not okay, Jessica.”

  “I see that, I do. I understand.”

  “I followed you night and day; I hardly ever let you out of my sight, and what thanks do I get for that? I get delays and excuses.”

  Jessica felt a cold chill run down the small of her back. Liam was obsessed. Beyond obsessed. Crazy. For the first time, she really believed that she wouldn’t be able to make him see reason. There might not be a rational part of him left.

  “What do you want, Liam?” The words came out as a hoarse whisper, fear choking her.

  “You know what I want,” he said.

  Liam was right in front of her now. Jessica realized she had two choices: She could have sex with him, here and now, and hope that afterward he would just leave. Or she could fight him. She had the small cuticle scissors in her pocket. Her fingers curled around them, feeling the cold metal. He had no weapon that she could see. Jake was safely tucked away upstairs.

  Give in.

  Or fight.

  She’d had sex with him before. Would it really be so bad to do it again? She didn’t remember much about that night, so how bad could it have been? The breakup with Todd had been so fresh, all she had thought about when she’d been with Liam was all the many ways he hadn’t been Todd.