Shooting Star

by Bradley Wright

  Lexi was defensive.

  “You don’t think someone can figure that out by the look of the house and the surroundings? Delete your account, right now.”

  “Dad! I’m not deleting my account. You can’t make me do that!”

  “Delete it. I’m not playing. It’s dangerous to—”

  “I’m not deleting it! No!”

  “Lexi—”

  “Hang on,” Taylor interrupted. “Maybe there’s a way you can both be happy.”

  Lawson gave her a stern look. “You stay out of this. You and I are going to have a talk next.”

  Taylor put up her hands, politely suggesting he pump the brakes and calm down for a second. Lawson took a deep breath and let her speak.

  “I’m not trying to get in the middle. Lexi, just delete all the pictures of anything that might remotely show your location. Your dad is right. There are a lot of crazy people out there. Trust me, I know.”

  Lexi took back her phone and began deleting.

  “Lawson, once she deletes those, I’ll show her how to make her account private so only her friends can see her photos. It won’t be open to the public. Okay? Then the two of you can sit down and go through the photos so both of you are satisfied that they are okay to be on there.”

  Lawson didn’t really understand any of what Taylor was saying, but it sounded reasonable. Lexi looked up at him, and he nodded his head. She rolled her eyes, a reaction he supposed he’d better get used to. She was a teenager now after all.

  “Taylor, you and I need to talk. Lexi, keep doing what you’re doing. We’ll be right back.”

  Lawson turned toward the stairs, and Taylor followed him upstairs to Lexi’s room. After she walked in, he shut the door behind her.

  “Have I outstayed my welcome?”

  “Listen, Taylor, I agreed to help you because Lexi likes you. But I told you last night, if you weren’t honest with me, I can’t help you. You lied to me about your sister, and I’m having a hard time finding a reason not to throw your ass back out there where I found you.”

  Taylor’s shoulders slumped and she looked down at the floor.

  “And don’t do the puppy dog routine, it won’t work on me.”

  She looked back up at him and straightened her posture. “I’m not a child.”

  “You’re not? Then stop acting like one.”

  “Who the hell—” Taylor stopped herself, realizing there wasn’t much she could say. She was the one who needed him.

  “Why did you lie to me?” Lawson said.

  Taylor turned away from him and walked over to the window. She slid something off her wrist, took her long hair in her hands and put it up into a ponytail. Lawson looked out the window; he didn’t want the way she looked to sway him from being as harsh as he thought he needed to be.

  “I’m sorry.” She turned back toward him. “You’re right. But I can’t tell you why I lied to you.”

  Lawson opened the bedroom door. “Then you can get the hell out of my house.”

  The two stared at each other for a minute. Neither making a move. Then Taylor started to cry. She took a seat on the bed. Lawson stood like a statue. He was incredibly uncomfortable. He hadn’t had a woman cry around him in far too long to remember. He honestly had no clue what to do. On one hand, he just wanted her to stop and tell him why she lied. On the other, he just wanted her not to be upset. Maybe there was a little of his old self in there somewhere after all. But no part of his old self was giving him any ideas about how to console her.

  She continued to cry, and Lawson thumbed through his brain for what to do next. Of all people, Lauren’s voice is the one he heard. Often when he needed answers, his late wife would whisper in his ear. In this case, she was telling him to comfort Taylor. Like he would if it was Lauren herself crying. She was still doing her best to make Lawson a better man, even though she’d been gone for over a decade.

  Lawson moved slowly and sat next to Taylor on the bed. He awkwardly put his hand on her shoulder.

  “You don’t have to do that. I lied to you. Even though you helped me when I needed it most.”

  “Tell me what’s going on. Maybe I can help.”

  Taylor looked up at him. Her emerald eyes were swimming in tears. Most people looked unattractive when they cried, but not her. Lawson couldn’t imagine a situation where this woman could ever be unattractive. Seeing her hurt, he felt something inside him that he hadn’t in a long time.

  He wanted to kiss her.

  “But . . .” Taylor stopped to stifle more tears. “I still can’t tell you. Only two people in the world know this about me. Well, apparently more now, which is why I’m in trouble.”

  “I can’t help when I don’t know what’s going on. You understand that.”

  Taylor nodded. “I know. Okay. Just bear with me—”

  Lawson stood from the bed and looked toward the window.

  “What’s wrong?” Taylor said.

  “Sirens. You don’t hear that?”

  Taylor cocked her head. Then a terrified look came over her. “Did you call the police?”

  Lawson watched as two police cars hurried onto his driveway and came to a stop just outside his house.

  “Stay here. Unless whoever shot you told the police you were here, there’s no way they could know.”

  “Dad!” Lexi shouted from downstairs just as the sounds of banging on the front door made it to Lawson.

  He rushed past Taylor. “Don’t move.” He jogged down the stairs and looked at Lexi. “It’s fine. Just don’t say anything.”

  Lexi nodded.

  After more banging on the door, Lawson opened it. Two police officers were standing in front of him, one of them holding a pair of handcuffs in his hand.

  “Lawson Raines?” the short and stocky one said.

  Lawson nodded.

  “You’re under arrest. Keep your hands where I can see them.”

  It never even crossed his mind that they could be there for him.

  14

  The empty room, cold by nature, with its concrete floor, single table, two chairs, one of them empty opposite Lawson, and a camera perched in the corner, sent chills up his spine. It was all too familiar being brought in like this, and the nostalgia wasn’t pleasant in the least. And just like last time, Cassie had to be there for Lexi when he was arrested, but at least now she wasn’t a two-year-old child.

  Though Lawson wasn’t expecting it, he supposed he should have. He knew the video of the bar fight was circulating. The police had tracked his face and found him in the system. It didn’t take them long to trace him to the house in the Hollywood Hills. A lot of things were swirling through his mind. Victoria Marshall disappearing, Martin Sloan Jr. having him followed, Clint Hues and his band of misfits seeking revenge, and the thing that Taylor was about to tell him in the bedroom were all eating away at his conscience. But the thing gnawing at him most was disappointment in himself.

  Lawson’s plan was to lie all the way low after getting Lexi back and surviving the nightmare in Vegas. He had done a good job of it for a year. But he really stepped in it when he took the phone call from Victoria Marshall. It had been like a domino effect of falling mishaps ever since.

  The door to his holding room opened, and just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, they doubled down. Time hadn’t been good to Frank Shaw. The brown hair he used to have now looked Just For Men black, the lines on his face read like a map, and his eyes, they just looked tired.

  “Lawson Raines. Long time no see,” Frank said as he took a seat across from Lawson.

  “Not long enough.”

  “You just can’t seem to stay away from trouble, can you? You must be one of those people who just don’t feel alive unless they’re miserable.”

  “What is this, Frank? Did you have me brought in because I hung up on you earlier?”

  “First off, I’m here to do you a favor. I didn’t have you brought in. That bar fight with known criminals did that for you, and i
t was the police who brought you in. But I already got you cleared. I was just trying to see if I could—”

  “Does that mean I’m free to go?” Lawson interrupted.

  Frank shook his head, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. “You mind?” He took a long drag and puffed a cloud of smoke into the air. “What are you chasing here, Raines? ’Cause I’m here to tell you, you’re messing around in the wrong circles.”

  Lawson’s mind was telling him to get up and walk out. His skin was crawling just being in the same room with this guy. But while he had him there, he may as well use it to his advantage. Of course, if Frank Shaw could ever be an advantage to anyone.

  “What do you know about the Victoria Marshall disappearance?”

  “Why, she your girlfriend?”

  Lawson just stared while Frank took another puff. He couldn’t stand the fact that Frank was getting enjoyment out of this, but it was clear that he was.

  Frank said, “I don’t even know who she is. Just what I heard on the news, same as you. But I do know who Clint Hues is. Been building a file on him for a while now. Not the kind of guy a man would want his daughter bringing home, that’s for sure.”

  “What about Martin Sloan?”

  “Martin Sloan?” Frank repeated. “The movie producer?”

  “Never mind.” Lawson stood.

  “All right. Settle down.”

  Lawson sat back down.

  “Word is, he’s a softy, but I know for a fact he’s not. You asking for Victoria Marshall?”

  “Why, are they connected?”

  “You mean you really don’t know?”

  Lawson was tired of constantly playing catch-up. He’d already made up his mind that when he walked out of the police station he was going to go on the offensive.

  “Clearly not.”

  “That meeting you broke up was for Sloan. Clint Hues has been seen leaving Sloan’s office on a few occasions. A couple of my sources say Sloan wants a film that Victoria has the rights to. Must have sent Hues in to persuade her to sell it to him. Anyway, what’s it to you? Why do you care?”

  Lawson’s wheels were turning. He didn’t understand why, if Hues was working for Sloan, Sloan would have someone else follow him. Something was off about what Frank was saying.

  Lawson sat back. “Then it sounds like Victoria Marshall’s disappearance is pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

  “You think Sloan kidnapped her? You haven’t been in this town long enough, Raines. Nothing is what it seems.”

  “So you know that Sloan tried to strong-arm Victoria, and when it didn’t work she went missing a day later, and you don’t think there is a connection?”

  “I don’t know anything for certain. All of what I’m telling you is third-party information. From informants, not known knowledge. You expect me to stir something up over a movie deal?”

  “No, Frank, you are doing exactly what I expect. Nothing.”

  Frank put out his cigarette and stood. His brow furrowed and his voice growled. “Tread carefully, Raines. My favor only goes so far. You got a raw deal in Vegas and I’m trying to throw you a bone here. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”

  “Two cliché dog lines in a row. You watch too many cop shows, Frank.”

  “Okay. I tried to help you. I know you have a daughter at home and I was trying to help you keep her safe—”

  Lawson couldn’t stop his reaction to hearing Frank mention Lexi. He reached as he stood and took the collar of Frank’s shirt in his hand, nearly pulling him across the table. Two policemen rushed in along with a woman dressed in a business suit. Lawson held onto Frank’s shirt until they ripped his hand free. His eyes remained locked in.

  “You want me to lock him up?” the police officer asked Frank as he straightened his shirt.

  Frank stared for a moment longer. “No. Let him go. The piece of shit will end up back in here on his own in no time, I’m sure.” Then he said to Lawson, “Don’t call asking me for help when shit hits the fan. You just burned this bridge.”

  “Just stay out of my way, Frank. Once again I’ll do your job for you. For old time’s sake.”

  Frank didn’t respond so his partner did. “Frank bought you time, Lawson. You should be thanking him.”

  “Yeah? Who the hell are you?”

  “I’m his partner, Claudia Henderson. You do realize you were the last person seen with Victoria Marshall? From your background, I don’t have to tell you that you are prime suspect number one, do I? Frank vouched for you with the detective, but if Ms. Marshall doesn’t turn up sometime today, you can bet they’ll be beating down your door again. If you know anything about where she might be, I suggest you tell us now. Or there won’t be someone to bail you out next time.”

  Lawson didn’t know what to say. Everything she said was true. He picked up his plastic bag of belongings that Claudia had laid on the table and walked past the police officers.

  “One final warning,” Frank said.

  Lawson stopped at the door but didn’t turn around.

  “Whatever your involvement is in this, get out of it. Take a little vacation while this gets sorted out. Maybe just move back to Kentucky.”

  Lawson twisted the handle and walked out. He didn’t know what to say, and if he did, he wouldn’t have said it anyway.

  15

  Seeing as though the police had given Lawson a ride to the station, he had to call Cassie to come and pick him up. It was best anyway, because if he wanted her help before, now he flat out needed it.

  “Okay,” Cassie said as she turned onto the main road, headed back to Lawson’s house. “So we need to find Victoria Marshall.”

  “Yeah, and we need to find her today. Otherwise, you’ll be working on this while I’m sitting in jail.”

  “Bailed out by Frank Shaw. That’s gotta sting.”

  “It’s just plain weird is what it is.” Lawson squinted into the sun. The sky beyond the buildings was as blue as a lonely heart. “That man would never do me any favors. There has to be something in it for him.”

  “Well, you said his partner, Claudia, seemed pretty sharp. Maybe she’s been a good influence on him.”

  “Maybe hell hath frozen over.”

  “Yeah. Maybe. But it doesn’t matter. What’s important is finding Victoria, or at least finding out who took her.”

  “Martin Sloan Jr.,” Lawson said.

  “Certainly looks like it on the surface. Drug trafficker turned movie producer. Seems like the kind of thing a man like him would do with those resources and a penchant for getting his way. But don’t you think he would know it would seem a little obvious?”

  “Why would he think that?”

  “He had to know that a fight like the one at the meeting with a high-profile criminal and movie producer would get some attention from the authorities. Don’t you think he’d assume the police would be able to put Clint Hues and him together?”

  “Probably,” Lawson thought about it. “But you have to understand the kind of man Sloan is. He’s used to being above the law, used to his father being above the law. Sometimes that leads you to bad decisions.”

  “I don’t buy it.” Cassie turned up into the Hollywood Hills, not far from Lawson’s house. “It’s too obvious. There’s something else going on here.”

  “And sometimes the most obvious thing is the solution.” Lawson spun his phone in his hand. “Sloan kidnaps Victoria, holds her hostage until she signs over the movie rights. How could Victoria prove she didn’t just sign it over to him once he let her go?”

  “Umm, because she was kidnapped. Signing a document under duress doesn’t make it legal.”

  “It does when you tell the police you weren’t kidnapped. Victoria has a daughter. You can be damn sure Sloan would threaten her with her daughter’s life.”

  “Then she can’t say anything,” Cassie agreed with Lawson’s line of reasoning. “Signing over the movie rights will be the only way to ensure her daughter stays safe.”

 
“Right.”

  “So, now what? We just go beat down Martin Sloan’s door? Demand he hand over Victoria Marshall?”

  Lawson didn’t respond.

  “Lawson?”

  He wasn’t hearing Cassie speak to him. When they rounded the corner, all of his senses broke down when he noticed there was no off-duty cop car sitting in front of his house.

  “Where the hell is Eric?” Lawson’s pulse began to pound.

  “I-I don’t know. He was supposed to be here until this evening!”

  Cassie sped up and jerked the car into the driveway.

  “Whose car is that?”

  Lawson didn’t respond. Instead, he jumped out of the car and ran around the black Dodge Challenger sitting in front of his garage. Three strides later he exploded through the front door, and his mind froze when he saw a strange woman and Clint Hues sitting opposite Lexi on the living room couch.

  “Hey, Dad! What’s wrong? You look scary.”

  “Lexi, get upstairs, now.”

  Clint leaned back on the couch and spread his arms out on the pillows. “Geez, relax, Lawson. Just an old pal come to say hello.”

  Lexi said, “He said you told him to wait for you here. Said you were getting out of jail and everything was going to be okay.”

  “Upstairs, Lexi. Right now. And shut your door.”

  “God, Dad. I can’t do anything right.”

  As Lexi stormed off, Cassie walked in the front door behind Lawson. Her weapon drawn. As soon as he heard Lexi’s door shut, Lawson bolted for Clint, rage pulsing through his veins. Clint’s smug look disappeared, and he held a hand up as a stop sign just before Lawson could get to him.

  “I just saved your daughter’s life.”

  Clint was no small man, but Lawson picked him up by his shirt and tossed him over the couch. Clint scrambled to his feet, and Lawson stepped over the couch.

  “You’d better talk fast or the beating I gave you the other night will seem like a vacation.”

  Clint bowed up; he wasn’t a man used to being rag-dolled. The woman with him stepped in between them and tried to calm both parties. “Just hold on a second.” She looked at Clint. “I tried to tell you this little stunt of waiting for him in the house with his daughter was a dumb idea.”