by Goss, Shelia
“A glass of water would be fine,” Caroline responded.
Hailey said before leaving for the kitchen. “I’m sure Garrett will appreciate you bringing this out here.”
“I knew he had that important meeting so when he told me you were home, I wanted to make things easier for him,” Caroline said. “There was no reason for him to drive all the way to the office when I could drop it off.”
Hailey said, “Trevon told me he talked to you.”
“Trevon was here?” Caroline asked.
“Yes. In fact, if you would have come a few minutes earlier, you would have caught him.” Hailey was still standing in the doorway entrance to the living room.
“If I would have known he was coming I could have sent these over with him,” Caroline said.
“No biggie. It’s good to see you outside of the office.”
“You don’t have many female friends do you?” Caroline asked.
Hailey wondered why Caroline asked a question like that out of the blue. “I have a few. Wait right here. I’ll be back with your water in a few.”
Caroline seemed like she didn’t have a problem speaking her mind. Hailey could respect that because neither did she. She retrieved two cold bottles of water and headed back to the living room.
“Did Garrett say what time his meeting would be over?” Hailey asked, as she held two cold bottles of water. “Caroline,” she said a few times since she wasn’t in the living room where she left her. Hailey ducked when she saw Caroline coming towards her through the corner of her eyes. Caroline barely missed hitting her with the poker she had apparently picked up from the living room fireplace. “What the hell?” Hailey screamed.
“You had to go after them both didn’t you?” Caroline screamed. Hailey saw the pupil of Caroline’s eyes turn cold black.
Caroline stepped toward Hailey again swinging. Hailey was not going to allow Caroline to hit her with the poker. She ran around the couch.
Caroline tried to trap her but was unable to. “Trevon would have been mine if you would have just left him alone,” Caroline screamed.
“I don’t want Trevon. You can have him,” Hailey said, as she ran around the coffee table and Caroline ran around to the other side.
“Him and I had something good going but you just wouldn’t leave him alone. He would have asked me to marry him but no, you had to have him, didn’t you?” Caroline said.
Hailey couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Garrett had no clue he had some maniac working for him. All of this time, she had been blaming Shareeka and the guilty party was Garrett’s secretary. Hailey had to think fast. She couldn’t afford to panic. She stopped moving and Caroline followed suit. “Shareeka was Trevon’s fiancé, not me. So maybe you should be at her place instead of mine,” Hailey said.
Caroline swung the poker back and forth in front of her. “See there you go trying to dictate what I do. I’m not one of these men who seems to think the sun rises and shines with Hailey Barnes.”
“All I’m saying Caroline is that Trevon and I don’t have anything going on. That was Shareeka. So go after the right woman.”
Caroline reached the poker out towards Hailey. Hailey jumped back accidentally hitting the heel of her foot against the chair. She screamed, “Ouch.”
“Trevon and Garrett are about to end a friendship because of you,” Caroline said.
One thing Hailey knew is that she would not be able to reason with a crazy person. She was backed up in the corner of the room. Caroline came at her with full force. They wrestled until Hailey was able to get it loose. It ended up flying across the room cracking her glass table. “Look. We can talk about this. What ever you think is going on isn’t?”
Caroline brushed herself off and then pulled out a gun. She shot in Hailey’s direction but the bullet bypassed her and hit one of her expensive vase. Pieces shattered everywhere. “Okay, I see you want to go out the hard way.”
Hailey halted her step. “Caroline, you can get some help. I want press charges.”
Caroline laughed. “Of course you won’t because you won’t be around to do so.”
“Garrett knows you’re here so please think twice about this.”
Caroline let the gun hang to her side and looked directly into Hailey’s eyes that were now full of fear. “He has no idea I’m here. He never asked for those papers. I just needed an excuse to see you.”
“But why?” Hailey asked, her legs trembling. She had to get a grip, but she was losing it fast.
Caroline began picking up the magazines on the table and then throwing them one by one down on the floor. “Because you think it’s all about you. I don’t see what they see in you.”
Caroline’s hand covered her mouth. “Oops, the little accident the officer outside of your gates had to go to—well let’s just say I cut a few people off and caused it.”
Hailey was too scared to be pissed. All of this time, Garrett’s secretary was the one behind the hate mail, phone calls and emails. If she could get to the panic button then she would be okay. She had to think. One was placed in every room. She just had to remember where. She wished she would have paid more attention to Garrett when he was showing her; instead she had been dealing with her conflicting emotions for the attraction she had for him. She had to keep Caroline talking. That’s what they did in the movies. The longer she talked, the less chances it would mean Caroline would do something crazy like shoot her.
“How long have you been messing around with Trevon?” Hailey asked.
Caroline responded, “For over a year now and if it wasn’t for you and Shareeka I would have him all to myself.”
“But he’s been with Shareeka for that long,” Hailey said, trying to show her how ridiculous her claims were.
“You two are no longer going to be a problem. You and Shareeka both need to be eliminated from our lives.”
Hailey didn’t know if she wanted to know the answer, but she asked anyway, “What have you done to Shareeka?”
Caroline waved the gun back and forth. “Nothing yet. Don’t worry. After I leave here, I’ll be paying her a visit. She’s not going to know what hit her—no pun intended.”
“You haven’t thought this through. You can’t just kill me and get away with it.”
“Who said I was going to kill you?” Caroline asked, then started laughing as if Hailey had told the funniest joke she had ever heard.
“Put the gun down. Let me call Garrett. We can work something out,” Hailey said. She dug her fingernails into the palm of her hands. Hailey’s legs trembled. Hailey willed herself to not collapse.
“I’ve worked it all out in my head,” Caroline said. “Things will be perfect once you’re no longer around.”
~ 41 ~
Garrett was able to resolve his client’s problem and retain them as a customer. His joy was short lived when he heard the panic in Hailey’s voice mail. His heart almost stopped when he heard Hailey’s frantic message. He dialed Hailey’s house phone and cell phone several times, but she wouldn’t answer either one. He dialed Trevon’s number. Trevon answered on the second ring. Garrett said, “Man, you better not hurt Hailey.”
Trevon responded, “What are you talking about? Hailey was fine when I left. In fact, she kicked me out.”
“Well, she’s not answering her phone now so something’s up. I can feel it in my guts.” Garrett weaved in and out of traffic.
Trevon said, “I’ll go back and check.”
“Where’s the police officer that was supposed to be watching the place?” Garrett asked. He was furious at himself for putting business before staying there to protect Hailey himself. He hoped the gut feeling that alerted him to possible danger, was off keel. He needed Hailey to be safe. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself. She had to be okay.
Trevon said, “Oh I’m sure someone’s there by now.” Trevon caught Garrett up with the latest.
Garrett sped through traffic and didn’t care if any cops were around
. He was pissed at everyone at this point. He said, “What in the hell happened? I can’t trust you…the police.”
“Hey man, we’re on the same team,” Trevon said, “Don’t be tripping with me like Hailey was.”
“You’re closer, go check on my baby. And Tre,” Garrett said.
“Yes,” he responded.
“If you harm one hair on her head, you are as good as dead.” Garrett hung up and dialed Hailey’s house and cell number again but was still unsuccessful in reaching her. He called Morrison. Morrison was just as pissed as he was when he learned of how incompetent some of his men had been by leaving Hailey’s house unprotected. “What in the hell happened man? Someone was supposed to be outside of her premises at all times?” Garrett asked.
Morrison responded, “I’m on it. I’ll get a car over there pronto.”
“I’m on my way there now,” Garrett said. “I also have Trevon headed to her place. Man, if something has happened to her.”
Morrison interrupted him before he could finish his statement, “Nothing is going to happen. I’ll have one of my men there a.s.a.p.”
“This can’t be happening,” Garrett said over and over..
“Calm down Garrett. I’ll get someone there right away,” Morrison assured him before ending their call.
Garrett called Caroline’s desk but she didn’t answer. He took a quick glance at the clock on the dash of the car. Caroline should still be at work. Where was she when he needed her? While maneuvering through traffic, Garrett dialed Caroline’s cell number.
“It’s about time,” Garrett said, when Caroline answered.
Caroline sounded out of breath. “What’s up boss?”
Garrett said, “I need you to call Sam and find out Shareeka’s location. I’m in a time crunch and don’t have time to look for Sam’s number.”
Caroline responded, “I’m sort of busy right now but I’ll do it as soon as I finish up here.”
“Drop what you’re doing and do it pronto,” Garrett insisted.
“Anything for you,” she said, before ending the call.
Garrett thought that was strange. Normally, Caroline would be eager to do any task he gave her. He didn’t have time to think about Caroline, he needed to get to Hailey and fast.
***
“Garrett,” Hailey screamed.
“He didn’t hear you. I had already disconnected the call,” Caroline said. “You know we’re going to have a little fun before they get here. Why don’t you take that pen and write a note to your fans. Let them know how much you hate to leave them, but life had gotten to be a little too much for you to handle.”
“That sounds like suicide. I’m not doing it. If you’re going to kill me, kill me. Because there’s no way I’m going to write a note.”
Caroline kicked the magazines that were now on the floor. “I guess you don’t think I mean business.” She aimed at the glass table and shot. Hailey used her arms to cover her face, as glass flew in lots of directions.
Hailey felt like she didn’t have anything to lose. She yelled, “I still want to know why you’re doing this. I’ve never done anything to you.”
“If it wasn’t for you, I would be with the man I love.”
Hailey wanted to confuse her. “Garrett? I had no idea you and he had a thing going on.”
“You’re not the brightest are you. No stupid. Not Garrett. Who have we been talking about? Trevon. I thought once he got with that slut Shareeka you would be out the picture. But you just wouldn’t go anywhere. I could have gotten rid of her with a check. You. You just wanted to hang on to a man who didn’t want you.”
“News update. I’m not messing with Trevon anymore. I’ve moved on.” Hailey was pissed now that Caroline had her in this situation. If she was going to die, she was going to speak her mind.
“He hasn’t moved on. You’re all he talks about.”
Hailey said, “If Tre loved you, he would have asked you to marry him, not Shareeka.”
“He could love me if you would stop trying to entice him. Tre knows I love him. It’s just a matter of time before he feels the same way.”
Hailey threw her arms up in the air out of frustration. “Caroline, look at me. Look at me closely as I say this. I do not want Trevon. I am in love with Garrett.” She said it. She hadn’t even admitted it verbally to Garrett yet, but here she was telling a crazy person her feelings.
Caroline said, “And that’s another thing. How are you going to go from one friend to the other? That’s low down.”
“Since we’re being honest and I probably only have a few minutes of my life left anyway. Let’s get something straight,” Hailey said. “Who I’m with was never any of your concern. Maybe if you had gotten the psychological help that you obviously need then Trevon may have taken you seriously and you and him could have written off into the sunset.”
Hailey wished now that she hadn’t run Trevon off. Caroline paced the floor swinging the gun back and forth as if she was trying to think of what to do next. “I suggest you get to writing,” Caroline said. She threw the notebook at Hailey. It fell right in front of Hailey on the floor.
Hailey kicked the notebook away. “You might as well kill me because I’m not writing a suicide letter. If I write anything it would be to let them know how crazy you are,” Hailey snapped.
Caroline aimed her gun directly at Hailey. Hailey closed her eyes as she prepared to die. Her entire life passed before her eyes. She recalled her childhood. How fun it was growing up with her parents. The trips she took to her grandparents in Grand Cane, Louisiana. The fun of modeling and travelling all over the world and lastly she thought about the love she had for Garrett that she now regrettably never told him about.
“Good riddance,” Caroline said.
Hailey’s eyes remained closed. She prayed to God as she heard the clicking sound of the gun. Her eyes jerked open when she heard the shot that changed her life forever.
Caroline fell forward. The trigger on the gun was released and the bullet barely missed hitting Hailey as she ducked to the side. Trevon rushed over and got the gun. “Are you okay?”
Hailey dazed responded, “No. I mean Yes.” The realization of her being alive hit her. “I’m alive. I’m alive,” she kept repeating over and over.
The police entered the front door. “Drop your weapon now or we’ll shoot.”
Trevon placed the gun down on the floor and turned around with his arms up.
“Officers he’s okay. It’s her. She’s the one who tried to kill me,” Hailey explained, as she pointed where Caroline’s body laid.
~ 42 ~
“She’s still alive,” one of the officers said. “Someone dispatch an ambulance.”
Those were the first words Garrett heard when he made his way through the commotion outside. His heart didn’t beat until he saw Hailey. She was sitting on the couch next to Trevon with a blanket wrapped around her. They must have been talking about Shareeka.
Hailey’s body trembled. Her eyes lit up when she saw Garrett walking towards her. Garrett said, as Hailey wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here,” he said, as tears filled his eyes. He was relieved that she was safe.
“Sir, we need to ask Ms. Barnes some questions,” one of the uniformed officers said.
Trevon stepped in and said, “Give them a minute will you.”
Garrett appreciated Trevon stepping in for him. Hailey filled him on what had transpired. He was just as shocked as she was. All of this time, his secretary, the one he trusted, was behind everything. “If Trevon hadn’t showed up when he did, that would be me on that stretcher,” Hailey said.
Garrett said, “Trevon, I owe you.”
“No you don’t,” Trevon said, “I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately. It’s time that I made a change.”
The officer said, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but we really need your statement now Ms. Barnes.”
Hailey relayed the information as best as she could remem
ber. “I’ll never forget coming so close to losing my life,” she said, as she told her story.
Garrett said, “There are reporters out there. Do you want me to handle them?”
Hailey took a few deep breaths. “No. I have to face them sometime so it might as well be now. Just let me go get myself together.”
Garrett said, “Tre, let them know Hailey will be out to talk with them shortly. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but you know Hailey always get her way.”
Trevon left to do as he was instructed. Garrett surveyed the room where the tragedy happened while he waited on Hailey to return downstairs. “I’m ready,” Hailey said. She still wore the same casual outfit she had on before but her hair was now pulled back into a ponytail.
“You sure you want to do this?” Garrett asked.
“Let’s do it,” she said, as she took his hand and they walked outside.
Cameras flashed and question after question were asked. Garrett said, “Please. Ms. Barnes won’t be answering any questions. If you don’t hold it down, she’ll just go back inside.”
It immediately became quiet. Hailey cleared her throat and spoke. “I’m so fortunate to be able to stand before you. Less than an hour ago, my life was in danger. I pray that the woman who attempted to take my life can now get the help she needs. A lot of things will come out over the next few weeks I’m sure. Some will be true and others might not be. I will be as honest and forthcoming as I can through my publicist from this moment forward. Before I go, I want to thank GT Securities because it was the owners Garrett Morgan and Trevon Swint who were instrumental in me still being alive at this moment. Thank you Trevon for what you did and thank you Garrett.”
Hailey turned around to walk back inside. Garrett followed her. The reporters were not satisfied with her statement, they wanted more, but Hailey kept walking as the questions kept coming. “Thank you for what you said about GT Securities,” Garrett said.
“I meant it.”
“I feel guilty because Caroline was my secretary. I should have figured it out. It should have never come to this,” Garrett said, as he wiped the hair hanging in front of her eyes.