Star Struck (19 page)

“Follow me,” Garrett said, as Hailey and Trevon followed him into Hailey’s home office.

Hailey fixed them a plate of chicken breasts and penne pasta and brought them drinks. Garrett and Trevon continued to pour over the information on the screen.  Trevon was getting hotter and hotter as he saw traces of emails that Shareeka had been sending to other men. After hours of looking, there was no other evidence showing she was the mystery fan.

Garrett rubbed his temple. “Something is just not adding up. This is still not enough evidence to convince the authorities to arrest her.”

“But it is enough for them to bring her in for questioning,” Trevon said.

Garrett picked up the cordless phone and handed it to Trevon. “I think you deserve the honor.”

Trevon took the phone and called the police. While Trevon was on the line, Hailey asked Garrett, “So what’s going to happen now?”

“Usually you would have to be the one to make the report, but because you hired us, we can act on your behalf.”

Hailey said, “Good because I really don’t need for this to get out to the media.”

“I’ll do my best but as you know there’s no guarantee. Reporters have ears all over the place.”

“Let’s hope they don’t.”

Garrett pulled out his cell phone. “I need to let Caroline know what’s going on because I have a feeling neither I nor Trevon will be available tomorrow.”

“Okay, well I’ll go make us some more snacks while we wait.”

Garrett admired how calm Hailey was. Before she was ready to scratch Shareeka’s eyes out, but now she was cool as a cucumber. In fact, she was too cool. It was taking her a long time to make the snacks. He went to the kitchen in search of Hailey. He got there just in time to see the headlights to Hailey’s car. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Hailey’s number.

“Hailey, answer your phone,” he yelled. His calls kept going to voice mail. He went back into the room where he left Trevon. “Come on. I have a feeling Hailey’s on her way to Shareeka’s.”

“I’ll drive,” Trevon said.

“Give me the keys,” Garrett said. “I’ll drive.”

Garrett had to drive way above the speed limit, but still couldn’t catch up to Hailey.  He wondered how Hailey knew where Shareeka stayed, but shrugged that thought out of his mind. He knew from experience that women made the best investigators because of their natural skills. He lost Hailey, but sped up and dodged in and out of traffic.

Shareeka’s door was opening before Garrett could pull up into the driveway. He saw Hailey push Shareeka. He ran up to the house with Trevon on his heels. Hailey had Shareeka by the hair. “I’m going to teach you who to mess with. You want to hide behind some letters and emails. Take this.” Hailey had a hand full of Shareeka’s hair and looked like she was trying to break her neck. Shareeka tried to hit Hailey but Hailey blocked her shots.

As much as Garrett enjoyed a good fight, he didn’t want Hailey to do more harm than she may have already done. “I’m going to sue you,” Shareeka yelled.

“It’ll be a cold day in hell before you see one red cent of my money,” Hailey spouted back at her.

“Well bring your coat.” Shareeka started swinging.

It was hard getting the two apart, but Garrett and Trevon finally did. Garrett said, “Ladies, enough!”

Trevon said, “Looks like we have company.”

Garrett saw a police car pull up and two uniformed officers exited the vehicle. The front door was still open so when they made themselves known they all turned in their direction. “Is this the residence of Shareeka Johnson?”

Hailey pointed in Shareeka’s direction. “There she is officer.”

Garrett could feel the tension in the room between Hailey and Shareeka. Garrett went and stood near Hailey. “Officer, our company, GT Securities reported the issue.”

The officer took off his handcuffs. He walked over to Shareeka. Shareeka’s hair was a wild mess all over her head. “We need for you to come with us.”

Shareeka yelled, “I didn’t do anything.”

“We’ll decide that at the station, but for now,” the taller officer said, “Please come with us. I’m sure one of your friends will lock up for you.”

“I don’t have any friends here. I want my lawyer.”

“You can call one when we get you down to the station.”

“You’ll pay for this,” Shareeka yelled, looking in Hailey’s direction.

“Officer, I hope you write that down. That’s another threat,” Hailey said.

“Sheeee attacked me,” Shareeka stuttered.

“Is that true?” the officer asked all in attendance.

Neither Trevon nor Garrett would confirm Shareeka’s allegations.

“Ma’am, since no one witnessed it happen, it’s her words against yours. Since we have an arrest warrant for you, we’re subject to believe her.”

“But look at me. My hair didn’t get like this. My clothes. See my blouse is torn here.” Shareeka pulled on her sleeve to show him.

“You could have did that yourself. Now we’re trying to be patient with you.”

The officers handcuffed Shareeka. “All of y’all can go to hell,” she yelled as the officers led her out.

“Trevon we’ll wait here until you’re sure everything’s secure here.” He led Hailey by the arm. “Come on, we’ll wait in your car. Keys please.”

Hailey hesitated, but handed him her keys. “You didn’t have to follow me. I had everything under control.”

“If I wouldn’t have come, Shareeka wouldn’t be the only one hauled off to jail.”

~ 33 ~

Hailey had a hard time sleeping. Every time she dozed off, she could see Shareeka’s face. Her irritating voice sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard as she taunted Hailey. “Garrett was mine first. Welcome to my left overs,” Shareeka kept saying over and over with a sinister look on her face as Shareeka chanted Garrett’s name. 

Hailey woke up in a cold sweat. She was disappointed to find herself alone in the bed. Garrett went to the police station so he could be there when they questioned Shareeka. Hailey called John. “I know I said I didn’t want to do this, but in light of what’s happened, let’s reschedule the shows for a later date.”

After Hailey assured John, she was okay, he said, “Be careful. Call me if you need me.”

“I will. Please apologize to everyone for me,” she said. Hailey called Jackie and repeated the same to her as she told John.

“Do you need me to come over?” Jackie asked.

“Just keep your cell phone near you,” Hailey responded. She knew she could be a little hard on Jackie, but Jackie always stood up to her.

After ending the phone call with Jackie, Hailey opted to take a long hot bath to sooth her nerves. She kept her phone near the bathtub. As the bubbles soaked into her skin, she opened her eyes when she heard the Los Angeles news reporter say her name. She fumbled for the remote and turned up the volume.

“Our sources say that Shareeka Johnson has been accused of sending Hailey Barnes life threatening messages because of one man. The man’s name is unknown at this time. As soon as we find out more, we’ll disclose that information.”

Hailey didn’t bother to dry off. She jumped out the tub, grabbed her phone off the floor and threw on her robe. She had her agent Carmen on the phone before she could get the robe on good. “Please find out who is behind leaking this to the press.”

Carmen said, “Why am I just now hearing about this? I should have been the first person you called.”

Hailey apologized but continued to rant about the leak to the media. Carmen’s attempt to calm her down, didn’t work. She was still fired up when Garrett showed up.  Garrett reached to hug her when she opened the door, but she wasn’t feeling it. Garrett said, “If you don’t calm down you’re going to work your way into an early grave.”

“Have you seen the news? Every station is talking about it.” Hailey’s hands were moving all over the place. 

“I take it you probably don’t want to see this either.” Garrett pulled the daily newspaper from behind his back.

She took it from him and looked at the front cover. There she was all glammed up in the right hand corner with a crazy looking photo of Shareeka that they must have taken at the police station the night before right next to her. The caption read – Alleged Crazy Fan Now Caught. She threw the paper at Garrett. “Some heads should roll for this. Don’t you have connections on the force?”

Garrett responded, “Yes, but there’s no telling who leaked this information.”

She pouted, “Somebody needs to do something. I try to lead a drama-free life, but no, people just won’t let me.”

Garrett started laughing. “Drama and free shouldn’t even be in the same sentence when describing you.”

“Oh you can take that negative attitude and leave for all I care.”

Garrett frowned. “Oh you just used me. Now that we got the fan, you want me to go.”

Hailey felt like he did have a point. She didn’t mean to come off as a user. “Sorry. All of this has been too much. I’ll cook us breakfast, while you tell me what happened at the station last night. Seems like everybody else knows more than I do and it’s all happening to me.”

“She admitted to the clippings because she was curious to why her man seemed to be infatuated with you. In fact, the way she made it sound, Trevon could be the culprit. The detective pulled him to the side and asked him a few questions as if he was the guilty party too.”

“Wow,” was all Hailey could say.

“It pissed him off, but he’ll be alright.” Garrett massaged Hailey’s shoulders.

“Did Ms. Thing say anything else?” Hailey asked, as she moved her head from side to side.

“Oh she called you every name but a child of God but other than that, nothing that we didn’t already know.”

“Well I’m just relieved she’s locked up. Maybe I can have peace around here.” Hailey moaned. Garrett was making it difficult for Hailey to concentrate on cooking.

“Her attorney had arrived when I left. More than likely they will be letting her go.”

Hailey couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You have the letters and the letterhead. Weren’t her fingerprints on it?”

“Actually, they weren’t. So until we can get more evidence on her, she’ll be out probably by the end of the day; if not sooner.”

“I should have cold cocked her when I had the chance.”

“Oh when she sees her photo in the paper, I’m sure she’s going to feel like you did.”

Hailey laughed. “She did look a hot mess didn’t she? Looks like I had perfect timing then. Teach her to mess with me.”

“I love a feisty woman.” Garrett’s smile was intoxicating.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet mister.”

Garrett wrapped his arms around her while she stirred the eggs in the skillet. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to burn up your eggs.” Hailey said, gently pushing him away.

“So where is Trevon? Did he ride from the station with you?”

“Yes. I dropped him off at home before swinging by here. If you don’t mind, I could use a long hot shower.”

“And some sleep,” Hailey said, as she noticed the bags under his eyes.

“Let me eat first and then I’ll shower and take a nap. Hopefully, in your arms,” Garrett said.

Hailey finished cooking and served Garrett his food. She could spoil him all day and night. She wanted him to know that too. Instead of saying it, she would show him. In between bites, Garrett said, I can get used to your breakfast.”

“There’s dessert too if you want it,” Hailey said, feeling a little feisty.

“Do you care to join me in the shower?” Garrett asked.

“I’ll think about it,” Hailey responded.

Hailey placed the dirty dishes in the dishwasher while Garrett left to shower. She heard the shower when she entered the bathroom. She stood and watched Garrett for a few minutes before removing her clothes. He looked surprised when she opened up the shower door.

“I couldn’t resist,” Hailey said, as Garrett helped her into the shower.

Garrett picked up Hailey’s sponge and poured shower gel on it. He rubbed it over her body. Hailey closed her eyes as the feel of the water and Garrett’s circular motions relaxed her tense muscles. She returned the favor by scrubbing his body. Hailey could not resist kissing Garrett on his chest. She could care less about the soap suds. Garrett released some moans as Hailey’s lips kissed his chest. She saw his manhood rise. Before long, Garrett had her pinned up to the wall. She couldn’t help but gasp as he gently entered her.

Their bodies rocked in unison as the water cascaded over their bodies. “I love you Hailey,” Garrett said, as their bodies climaxed.

They were about to make love again on the bed when the buzzer sounded, alerting them to a visitor. Neither Hailey or Garrett wanted to move. Hailey got up first. She looked at the surveillance screen. “A reporter. Why she came by I don’t know. They should know I’m not letting them in.”

The reporter shouted. “Hailey we just need your side of the story and then we’ll go.”

“I can’t believe it. That looks like Sandy Blair. I thought she moved away after she tried to run over Parris.”