“I’m not married?” he asked, feeling hope for the first time since this whole fiasco began.
“She’s a fraud, and you were duped.” Becky held up one hand. “Not finished. In the file, you also have an affidavit from the reporter who fielded that question about the wife. Seems his only lead was an anonymous tip from a woman. My guess is Dani was biding her time to come forward after you hit the big time, but she saw the pictures with Silver, recognized you—or parts of you—and decided to become Mrs. Rivers again. More than likely, she’ll disappear once you show her this information and a nice check.” She gave him a big, cheesy smile. “How’d I do, boss?”
Justin picked her up and whirled around. They were both laughing when he set her down. “I will double your salary! Triple it! You’re worth every penny. Becky, you’ve saved my life!” Then it dawned on him. “You already had this information when I begged you to come back to work for me.”
Becky snorted. “What can I say? I’m good. Better than those high-priced lawyers you keep on retainer. Besides, I just finished getting all the information last night.”
“How can I ever thank you?” he asked as he leafed through the file. She put a hand on the pages to stop him.
“By answering one question. Justin, how do you really feel about Silver?”
He locked eyes with her. “I think I love her and I want the chance to find out.”
“You only think?” she mumbled then rubbed her hands together. “I can work with that. Send Dani packing back to her little skuzzy cave with fuzzy dice.” When she turned to him, she caught him grimacing at the room. “What? You don’t like my house?”
“Tell you what,” he said. “You get the raise if you do two things.”
“Doubled and retroactive. What do you want now?”
“First, let me pay to have my cousin Trinity redecorate this place.”
“Hey, I like this place. It has character.”
“It’s a symphony of horror.”
“Well, geez, boss, don’t hold back. What else?”
Putting his hands on his hips, Justin faced his manager. “Find out what Jeffrey Hatcher is doing with Silver.”
* * *
Silver sat with Jeffrey at a small café near the school. He’d called to follow up on their discussion about image management, so she’d agreed to have lunch with him. It certainly wouldn’t hurt for reporters to see her with him and take their minds off Justin Rivers.
“Jeffrey, do I need an image consultant?” she asked as she toyed with her chef salad.
“No. When you slapped Justin on live television, it exonerated you in the public’s eyes. They see you as a victim now.” Grinning at her, he added, “It sure made an impression on me.”
“I’m not sure what to think about that. I slap someone and you’re impressed? If I don’t need an image consultant, then why are you here?”
He shrugged. “Because I want to be. Is that all right?”
She speared a cherry tomato with her fork. “I don’t know, to be honest. It depends on the provocation.”
Jeffrey grinned at her. “Well, I can assure you that my only motivation is friendship.”
Justin’s recitation from The Merry Wives of Windsor floated across her mind. “I guess having another friend won’t hurt, will it?”
Silence hung in the air between them as she chewed on the tomato. The door to the café opened and she turned her head.
Hunter Rivers, dressed in a heavy work coat, black T-shirt, and black jeans, walked to their table, his boots slapping against the tile floor. “Hi, Silver!”
“Hi, Hunter,” she answered tentatively.
Hunter didn’t wait for an invitation and pulled out a chair to sit down. “I stopped by the school, but they said you’d come here for lunch.” He gave Jeffrey the once-over, then turned away from him. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good, thanks. Do you know Jeffrey Hatcher?”
Hunter shrugged like he didn’t care. Jefferson’s mouth parted in surprise as if he weren’t used to being dismissed so easily. Taking one of Silver’s carrot sticks, Hunter bit off a small piece, grimaced as if he found it distasteful, then put the uneaten portion back. Silver frowned with irritation.
“Hunter, why are you here?”
Jeffrey leaned back in his chair.
“Did you know Justin’s been asked to do a Thanksgiving concert, live from the Ryman Theater in Nashville? We’re having a get together at the house to watch and you’re invited.”
Puzzled, Silver frowned. “Why in the world would I do that?”
“Good question, but Mom told me to ask. Frankly, it doesn’t make any sense to me at all, but very little does about this whole thing. Especially when it was so obvious to everyone how you two felt about each other.” He stared and waited.
Silver stood, picking up her purse with trembling hands. Join the family watching Justin? What a bizarre invitation. “I have to get back to the school.”
“Don’t rush on my account,” Hunter said, sounding innocent.
“My class begins in a few minutes. Jeffrey, thank you for lunch. Hunter, tell your mother hello and thank you for the invitation.” She left Hunter with Jeffrey.
Hurrying back to the school, Silver scoffed at the idea of going to the Rivers’ mansion. There was absolutely no way she’d watch Justin Rivers do anything.
When she walked back into her classroom to find Becky waiting for her, the fake everything-is-great smile signaled everything was not great.
“Hey, Sil. The office said you were at lunch, so I thought I’d wait.”
“It seems to be my day for visitors. What’s going on?” Silver sat down behind her desk, sorting through papers to be handed back in her next class.
“What do you mean? I’m here to say hello to a friend.”
Silver’s hands stilled. “I had lunch with Jeffrey Hatcher, interrupted by Hunter Rivers who gave me an invitation to the Rivers’ home to watch Justin sing on a Thanksgiving show.” When Becky’s eyebrows went up nearly into her hairline, Silver continued sorting papers. “Yeah, a day of surprises. Now tell me why you’re here.”
“Well, um, you know that I love you like a sister, right? And if anyone knows how important my job is to me, it would be you. Because we’re so close. Joined at the hip. Nothing comes between us. Not even men.”
Silver gave up on the papers. Leaning back against her chair, she patiently asked, “Are you here for affirmation? Or absolution?”
“Maybe both?” Becky said weakly with a shrug. “Anyway, I’m going back to work for Justin. I won’t go into it all right now, but come to my place for dinner and I’ll tell you everything.” Leaning forward, she took one of her friend’s hands. “Sil, trust me. Justin is nothing like Chase. He’s not the two-timing self-centered jerk we thought, and you need to know why.” She hesitated a moment. “OK, he’s self-centered, but he’s an artist. And a man. They’re all weird like that.”
Silver took a deep breath to steady herself. Another shock to deal with. Nothing she couldn’t handle, though. The loud ticking of the clock reminded her that she had class in a few minutes. “Thanks for telling me, but I don’t know what you’re worried about. I think it’s great. You’re perfect as his manager.” To reassure her friend, she smiled at her.
“Really? I mean, you’re not mad?”
“Not at all. Why would I be?”
“Considering everything that’s happened…” Becky let her words trail off.
Silver stood up and hugged Becky. “It’s all in the past. Like I said, there is no reason why you should hold yourself back. You love everything country, and I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for you.”
“I feel so much better. You don’t know how long it took for me to work up the courage to tell you about it. I’ve been agonizing over it for hours.”
“When did he hire you back?”
“This morning.”
Silver chuckled and shook her head. The bell rang and students bega
n jostling into the room. Silver smiled again. “Go for it, Becky! You’ll be awesome! See you tonight!”
With a quick hug, Becky left the room. Silver sat back down at her desk and swallowed against the threatening tears. Becky deserved this chance. No one could bring passion to a job better than her best friend, and after Hunter’s news, it sounded like Justin’s dream was coming true.
But why in the world would Connie Rivers ask her to watch Justin’s show with the family? As if she’d actually accept that invitation. Part of her wanted to be there, but at what cost emotionally? It would serve no purpose to open healing wounds again.
Blinking away the tears, she kept her head down as students laughed and talked, waiting for the last bell. What could Becky possibly say that would convince her to see the cowboy as anything other than a liar and a user? Maybe the dinner tonight would help her put everything to rest once and for all.
Despite all the unexplainable events of the past few weeks, her heart told her not to give up, which was absolute craziness because Justin had a wife. It was ridiculous to wish things could be different.
“‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,’” she said softly. Shakespeare got it right. And she certainly wasn’t going to beg.
But one thing hadn’t changed and probably wouldn’t for a long time.
She still loved Justin Rivers.
* * *
Silver put down the file on Danielle Rivers. It had been interesting, to say the least.
When she’d walked into Becky’s apartment earlier, she’d been both wary about and eager to hear what Becky had to say.
“Read this,” was all she’d been told. Silver had sat down at the kitchen table and gone through the sheaf of papers while Becky fixed dinner.
Now, an hour later, she grew angry on Justin’s behalf. He had been a victim as much as she had. Becky sat down across from her.
“Any questions?”
“I understand that he was taken in by this demented floozy, but why did he stay married to her? Why didn’t he have lawyers take care of things?” Silver asked. “And why didn’t he tell me about her?”
“There’s another story you need to hear, one that Justin told me a couple of days ago.” Becky shook her head when Silver opened her mouth. “It’s not my story to tell, Sil, and you might have those answers if you’d take his phone calls. But I will say this much—he’s not a flake, and he blames himself for all of this. When he came and asked me to take back this job, I’d already done the research, so it was a simple matter of negotiating certain things.”
Not commenting seemed like the best option to Silver.
Becky stood and walked to the kitchen, signaling for Silver to follow.
“I think you should go next Friday night to the Rivers’ place and watch the Thanksgiving show with them.” She turned to the stove and checked on their dinner.
Silver took a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. “Becky, Connie’s invitation is very sweet, but I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable there.”
“I understand, but you should go with me and we’ll cheer him on.” She turned to stir the spaghetti sauce on the stove. “Besides, things are different now.”
Silver narrowed her eyes. “Different? What are you not telling me?”
“All I’m saying is we both had a lot of things wrong.”
Sipping her water, Silver considered what to do. If she went, it would be like admitting that she still cared, which she did. If she didn’t go, it would be a direct slight to the Rivers family. And she had no reason to slight them, especially Connie. She looked up to see Becky watching her.
“For once in your life, don’t listen to your head. What does your heart say to do?” her friend asked.
As Silver opened her mouth to answer, a loud pounding on the front door startled both women. After turning off the stove, Becky ran to the peephole then turned back to Silver.
“It’s Sam Fletcher!” she whispered loudly.
“Justin’s old manager?” Silver asked in surprise.
More pounding accompanied a loud, drunken voice. “Open up, you job stealing tramp!”
“Get lost, Sam,” Becky called out through the closed door, then frowned. “How does he know where I live?”
In answer to her suggestion, the pounding continued. Becky walked over to a coat closet, reached inside and pulled out a double-barreled shotgun.
“Becky!” Silver squealed. “What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m going to introduce our friend out there to Molly.”
The weapon had been given to Becky by her father when she was twelve years old, and she’d named the shotgun with the first thing that came to mind. He’d spent weeks teaching her how to shoot, giving her safety lessons, and instructing her on the proper way to clean the gun. Silver never went to the gun range with her. What sane person likes getting bruises on their shoulder just to hear a long piece of metal named Molly make earsplitting noise?
“I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“One way to find out.”
Becky cracked the door with the chain lock on while Silver hovered behind her. Sam stood there, swaying back and forth, rage contorting his face. His dirty hair hung limply around his unshaven face, and his hands were fisted at his sides. The smell of stale beer and old sweat wafted through the opening.
“I’m not leavin’ until you let me in,” he slurred.
Becky snorted. “That makes no sense, you idiot. I let you inside, then you leave? Get out of here before I call the police.” She turned and mouthed to Silver: “Call 9-1-1.”
He wiggled his hands sarcastically. “Ooh, I’m so scared. Big words from the backstabber that took my job.” Before she and Becky could react, he shoved the door, ripping off the chain. Becky fell to the floor, pushing Silver back and dropping the gun. When Sam stomped into the apartment, Silver reached for the gun and raised it to her shoulder, pointing it at him. She hadn’t gone to target practice, but she’d watched enough movies. She hoped.
“Sam, meet Molly, the best shotgun in Tulsa. Want her to say hello?”
“You don’t scare me with your big gun or your big friends. You need to pay for the way you ruined my life. You and that bimbo reporter friend of yours. Both you women are life wreckers.”
“How long have you been drinking?” Silver asked.
“Dunno. A few days, maybe. Why?”
“You think Silver and I are to blame for all your troubles?” Becky chimed in as she got to her feet.
“No doubt in my mind. I lost everything, all because of you!”
Silver gasped. “You lost everything? What about me?”
Becky nodded as if agreeing with him. “You’re right, Sam.”
“Huh?” Had her friend gone nuts?
Becky reached out with one hand and took the gun. “I say we sit down, have a beer, and let you say everything you want to say to me. Hey, Sil, grab a few beers and bring them in for Sam.” Then she mouthed it again: “Call 9-1-1.”
He stumbled a bit to the right. “That’s right. A beer would help me get it all out in the open.”
When Silver didn’t move, Becky motioned with her head toward the kitchen. Silver left the room, punching buttons on her phone as she went. She grabbed the beers and ran back to her friend.
“Come on in, Sam, and have a seat,” Becky said loudly. “You know, as a reporter, I think there are several newspapers out there that would like to hear your story. Let me get my phone so I can record our interview.” She walked over to the green desk and grabbed her phone with one hand, still carrying Molly.
Plopping down in a chair, Sam belched loudly. “I’m pissed at you. People need to know what a life wrecker you are.”
Sitting down in another chair, Becky propped the shotgun against the right side. “Life wrecker. Is that one word or two?”
He looked at her like she was stupid. “It’s one word. L-i-f-r-e-k-e-r.”
“Got it. Thanks. Now, what do you want t
o say to your readers?”
Silver came back with the beers and handed one to Sam, who sneered at her. “You sure got what you had comin’ to you.”
“That’s right, she did,” Becky said. “Can I quote you on that?”
“You sure as hell can. And I’ll tell you somethin’ else, there’s no way that Rustin Jivers is gonna make anythin’ of himself.” He took a long draw on the beer and belched again. “I tried to make him a star. He should’ve listened to me.” He pointed at Silver. “Then you had to come along and almost ruin everything…”
“Me?” Silver said. “But you’re the one who almost ruined him and the one who put the photographer up to hiding in my closet.”
“You’re damn right I did. Me…Sam Fletcher. I knew the press would pay big bucks for those shots, but he wouldn’t have been ruined on account of them. People love a scandal. Look at the Kardashians!”
Becky laid her hand nonchalantly on the arm of the chair close to Molly, and Silver tried to keep his attention diverted. “Sam, I’m impressed,” she said. “It takes hard work to put a plan like that together.”
Squinting at her, the man set his beer down on the floor and stumbled to his feet. “I don’t care what you think. All I want to do is make you pay. Make both of you pay.” Pulling a switchblade out of his pocket, he lazily flipped it a few times until it opened, then he took a drunken step toward her. “I’m tired of you getting’ the best of me. All my life I been treated me like crap. I’m gonna enjoy this.”
As Silver stepped back, Becky jumped up, grabbing Molly with her right hand. She swung the gun up and knocked Sam’s wrist, causing the knife to fall with a clatter to the floor. Sam wobbled and lunged at Becky, grabbing the barrel of the rifle and knocking her off balance. They both crashed against a small wooden table, which fell under their weight, scattering pictures and stacks of mail.
Silver yanked a mirror off the wall and smashed it over Sam, shattering the glass. Grabbing the mirror frame, she forced it down over Sam’s shoulders, effectively pinning Sam’s arms to his sides. He struggled for a minute, but the frame held him prisoner.
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