Causing a Commotion (29 page)
Read Causing a Commotion Online
Authors: Janice Lynn
Tags: #Humor & Entertainment, #Humor, #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Romantic Comedy
“Protecting me?” His contract had provided him with a certain level of security within Wolf. “Why would you want to do that?”
“I accidentally overheard a conversation between Senator Thomas and Paul Martin that has always bothered me.” She looked away, almost guiltily. “I’m not sure if it can ever be proven, but I think he had Karen Bennett killed and planned for you to spend the rest of your days taking the blame.”
Colin’s head spun. Spun from longing to remember the night Karen died, remember more than just the hell he’d awakened to. But he had zero recall of anything from his second drink until the next morning. Nothing at all.
Had Karen been murdered while he was passed out?
Sure, he’d briefly considered it, but there was no evidence of anyone having broken into his apartment. No evidence of foul play except from Karen herself. Had someone else injected her?
“Why?”
“To destroy you and everything you cared about.”
Everything he cared about. Jessie. She’d been drugged and electrocuted. He’d put her in danger, just like he’d put Karen in danger. By Maxwell? Or Senator Bill Thomas?
“I thought you should know about the conversation. It was only enough to raise my suspicions when I heard about Karen’s death, but I knew you were innocent. I stepped in to make sure you were guaranteed a job at Wolf until you could get on your feet.” She shook her head. “Of course, I assumed you’d get on your feet.”
Instead, he’d wallowed in self-pity and been afraid to live for fear of getting hurt again. Afraid of the bottle. Afraid of losing control. Afraid of taking chances.
Jessie could have died just from being associated with him.
He was more afraid of taking a chance with her life than any of the above.
“If you want out of your contract, I’ll have Wolf’s lawyers draw up the papers resolving it. You’ve been manipulated enough over the past few years. I won’t be a party to more.”
“It was you.”
A dark black brow that was pencil thin and perfectly shaped rose. “Pardon?”
“The yahoo account. It was you. Ever since you overheard that conversation, you’ve been watching Senator Thomas, having him investigated.”
Marian’s expression held perfectly still, then her lips lifted. “I always did say you were a great investigative journalist, Colin. Wolf would be wise to woo you back to work in that capacity.” She smiled shrewdly and Colin knew Marian would accomplish great things at Wolf. “Particularly in regards to a continued investigation of Senator Thomas’ dealings.”
A million questions ran through his mind, but hell if a single one came out of his mouth. Not until he thought of the ramifications of his walking away from the show.
“If I leave, what will happen to
Causing A Commotion
? Jessie? You wanted her away from Wolf.”
“The last ditch efforts of a desperate woman who believed she could save her marriage.” Marian shrugged. “You know that old saying, the show must go on. It will. Either we’ll find a replacement or Miss Davidson will go on by herself. The network will leave that up to Miss Davidson and J.P.”
“You’ll keep him on?” After J.P. going to so much trouble to get him out of the building, Colin felt a loyalty to the older man. He didn’t want to see him given a raw deal.
“Of course. He’s a brilliant producer. Any network would be lucky to have him.”
“Yes,” Colin admitted. J.P. did know what the public craved. Jessie.
“I’m sorry about Maxwell.”
Marian’s smile faded. “That makes two of us, but there comes a point in time when cutting one’s losses and moving on is best.”
“You’ll be okay?”
“My lawyer says I have enough on Maxwell that he will accept my settlement offer for a relatively quiet divorce.”
“He’s a fool.”
She laughed. “Aren’t all men?”
Colin thought about that a moment. “Yeah, I suppose we are.”
He certainly had been. Blindly foolish.
And now that Marian had planted the suspicion, he had to know the truth. Had Karen been murdered, and he’d been so caught up in guilt that he’d failed to see the truth? He owed it to her to clear her name, to place guilt where it belonged.
Senator Bill Thomas.
* * *
Jessie paced across her living room. The living room she’d shared with Tamara. Her spying roomie who’d begged for forgiveness. A forgiveness Jessie had given. After all, she understood Tamara’s desperation to not be a failure in her family’s eyes, and she hadn’t told Maxwell anything harmful. Just reports on Jessie’s social life, which was pretty much non-existent.
How had things gotten so complicated?
Things were complicated. Colin was in jail. Colin was out of jail. Now he was missing. Tamara was supposedly missing. Found and arrested. She was a spy for Maxwell. Now she’d gone home to visit her parents and re-evaluate her dreams. Senator Bill Thomas was in jail. Now he was out on bail. It all made Jessie’s head hurt.
She’d been there when they released Colin. Not that it had done her much good. The press had been in a frenzy, and she hadn’t gotten to talk to him. A chauffeured limousine whisked him off without his ever acknowledging her presence. Had he even known she’d been there?
“You’ve got to quit pacing,” Jill scolded from the sofa. “You’re wearing a hole in the rug.”
Jessie frowned at her sister. Jill tried to convince Jessie to go to her and Rob’s house, but Jessie refused. She wanted to be home when Colin called. Or came by. Surely, he’d come by.
Where was he?
“Maybe I should call him.” She reached for her purse, planning to use her cell he’d returned to her prior to their going back to Wolf to pick up his car. A police cruiser had pulled up before they’d even had time to properly say goodbye.
Jill placed her hand over Jessie’s. “No. You’re not calling him.”
Jessie sighed. “I know you don’t like him, but you would if you knew the man I know.”
“He used you to get himself out of jail.”
“Colin knew nothing about my relationship with Steve.” It wasn’t exactly the truth, but close enough. “Or that he had connections inside the company in question.” At least, she didn’t think he did. “Anyway, I contacted Steve on my own. Colin never asked me to.”
That much was completely true. Without ever questioning her, Steve said he’d check into the information she gave, and he had. Turning up enough evidence Senator Thomas should be put under the prison. Instead, the guy posted bail and was probably home relaxing in his Jacuzzi.
“Fine, Colin didn’t have ulterior motives.” Jill didn’t look like she believed it. Jessie always trusted her sister’s instincts, but not this time.
Where was he? It had been hours and hours since he’d left the jail.
“I can’t believe he hasn’t called. Where can he be?”
“Who owned the limo that hauled him off?”
Jessie shrugged. A woman was inside. She’d caught a glimpse of her hosed legs. Nothing more.
A knock rapped at her front door.
She jumped, practically ran to the door and flung it open. “Colin!”
“You don’t even have the chain on,” he scolded, looking angry. And exhausted. “What if I was here to hurt you? Use your head, Jessie. Be safe.”
Jessie frowned. “Yes, it’s good to see you, too.” It was. So good she wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him silly. But he looked like he’d topple over if she so much as placed the lightest popper on his cheek.
“It’s good to see you.” He didn’t sound as if he meant it. Bad vibes reverberated from him.
“Come in,” she motioned into the living room, hoping it was just fatigue and the stress from the past few days causing the strange look in his eyes.
Colin took one glance at Jill and bristled. “I didn’t realize you had company. I’ll come back later.”
Jessie placed her hands on her hips. “You don’t have to leave because my sister is here.”
“We need to talk. In private. I’ll come back later.”
“Fine.” Jill stood, glaring at Colin. “But I just want you to know that if you hurt my sister I’ll track you down, chop you in to shrimp-sized bits, and feed you to Shammoo.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Colin’s brow rose, and Jessie admitted Jill’s threat did seem odd. She supposed being fed to a killer whale was an unpleasant way to go, all things considered.
“I don’t trust him,” Jill warned, lingering in the doorway.
“I know, but I do. It’ll be okay, Jill. I promise. Go home, give Rob a kiss, and tell him what a lucky man he is.”
Jill sighed. “When did you grow up and me miss it?”
Jessie shrugged. “Be careful on your way home, and I’ll call you later.” They hugged, and she closed the door, turning to Colin. “Now, what’s taken so long that you couldn’t even call to let me know you were okay? And who was the woman in the limo?”
* * *
Colin blinked. How did Jessie know he’d gotten into a limo with a woman? No one knew Marian had been in the limo. He was sure of it. At Jessie’s suspicious glare, his surety declined.
“I had business that had to be attended to.”
“You couldn’t call?”
“Some things have to be said in person.”
Her gaze narrowed, and her mouth twisted. “I don’t like the way this is sounding.”
“No, but things need to be said between us. There’s not an easy way to do so.”
“What’s going on?”
“Maxwell was fired from Wolf.
Causing A Commotion
will resume airing as soon as you feel ready.”
She smiled. “Oh Colin. That’s wonderful news.”
“Yes, it is. You and J.P. have turned the show into a hit.”
“You, too.”
“I have little to do with any success that show’s had. It’s your insights and suggestions that have made the show outside the box. J.P.’s complete faith in your abilities what has made the show competitive.”
“You’re an important part of
Causing A Commotion
.”
“That’s just it. I’m no longer a part of the show.”
“What?” Her face went pale and for that he’d never forgive himself, but she wasn’t safe as long as she was in his life. Not as long as Senator Thomas walked a free man. “They let you go? Over this? We’ll fight them. They can’t do this. We’ll—”
“I quit
Causing A Commotion
this afternoon,” he interrupted before she launched an all out war against Wolf.
Confusion shined in her eyes. “I don’t understand. You said Maxwell was gone. Why leave?”
“Because my stint as a talk show host was never anything more than my hiding from my real life, Jessie. For your role in helping me see that, I’ll always be grateful. For your role in helping me gather the evidence needed against Senator Thomas, I’ll also always be grateful.” He met her gaze and called upon acting skills he hadn’t known he possessed, but knew he’d need to get him through this next part. “I’m moving on with my life. Something I should have done years ago.”
Jessie laughed nervously. “It almost sounds like you’re breaking up with me, Colin.”
“I suppose I am. Whatever was between us is over. I’m leaving for Washington in the morning.”
“No.” Jessie’s fists clenched at her side and her green eyes flashed fire.
“What?”
“You heard me. I said no. I won’t let you go.” She appeared immobile, ready to fight to hold her stance.
Part of him wanted to take her in his arms and hold her forever. The other part reminded that if he stayed he was putting her life in danger, real danger. One woman had already died because of him. He wouldn’t risk another. Wouldn’t risk Jessie.
The only way to remove the danger was to stay away until he knew the truth and put Senator Thomas behind bars permanently. Perhaps even then anyone Colin cared about wouldn’t be safe.
“You don’t have a choice. I’m putting my life of the past couple of years behind me and don’t want any part of it in my future. I’m taking a lead investigative reporting position with Wolf and will be working in Washington for a while.”
“We’ll no longer be working together? Perhaps that’s for the best. From the beginning you said our sleeping together and working together would be problematic.”
“We won’t be sleeping together.”
“Why not?” Her jaw jutted out with defiance of any answer he gave.
“Because I don’t love you.”
“Is that all?” She sighed. “I’ve never once asked for you to love me in return.”
“In return?” He hated himself for asking, but the question slipped out. She’d said
in return
.
“After the past couple of days, you have to know how I feel.”
She loved him. It’s what she was implying. What he refused to say or to hear her say. This was already hard enough. Thinking that she loved him, or at least thought she did, would only cloud the issues. The issues being Senator Thomas could be responsible for Karen’s death. Any woman Colin was involved with was in danger.
He wouldn’t risk Jessie’s life.
He’d already risked it one time too many. Because he was sure Maxwell or Senator Thomas was behind the spray paint, electrocution, and coffee although it hadn’t been proven yet. It would be. With Marian’s help, Colin accessed areas of Wolf’s security cams that he hadn’t known existed. Cameras he hoped would lead to something that would link either of the men to the incidents.
