Chapter Seven
Luna
The knock on my door brought me to my feet, but I hesitated to answer. Peeking through the tiny hole, I recognized Mason Whatley, Gabriel’s handsome blond attorney with impeccable style, and opened the door. “I’m ready.” I walked away and gathered my things in a hurry as he stepped in and closed the door to shut out the reporter who was being persistent.
“Do you have sunglasses? I’d suggest you put them on. The crowds are onto me. I’m afraid getting you back to the new suite is going to be a challenge, and after that, they’ll surely be onto our new location.”
Mason took my suitcase as I grabbed my carry-on and purse and slung them on my shoulder before picking up the briefcase. Good thing I packed light because I couldn’t say the same for the heavy case. “Keep your head down and don’t let go of me.”
We took a deep breath, and he threw the door open. Sure enough, the man who had camped out all night had called his buddies and the crowd outside my door was growing. We headed for the elevator and if we were lucky, we’d stay one step ahead of them all.
I closed my eyes on the way down and tried to steady my breathing. The crowd was only going to be worse below, and I hoped Mason had parked close. He took out his phone and had his driver ready. Minutes later, we were ducking through the crowds as cameras flashed, and I was grateful to finally get into the limo.
Before I could get myself righted in my seat, my phone rang. I figured it was Gabriel, but when I glanced at the screen, I saw it was an unfamiliar number. I answered it and held my breath.
“Ms. Spencer. This is Detective Hatcher. My partner, Detective Schaffer, spoke with you earlier, and I’d like to have a chance to speak with you. I can send a car if you need, but I’d like you here within the hour.”
My heart dropped to my stomach like a rock, and I nodded as I responded as if the man could see me. “Yes, Detective, I understand. I’m actually in the car now, so I won’t need a ride.” Mason’s head swung around and he narrowed his eyes. “Yes, thank you.” I hung up and held the device in my lap.
“He wants me to come in for questioning.” I raked my hand through my hair and wondered if we had time to go get Gabriel first.
“Dammit. Do you even have representation?” Mason fidgeted with his cuff before brushing off his pants.
“No. I’ve never needed any.” I looked through my phone to see if there was anyone I could call, but came up short aside from my father and Kim.
“I’ll help you out for now, if you like. But if it becomes a conflict with Gabe, I’ll have to drop you. Don’t worry; if that happens, I’ll find you a respectable replacement.”
I wanted to ask him to define respectable before refusing his offer, but I had no one else to help me. Besides, he’d been good to come to get me and was taking care of me so far. I wouldn’t let the man’s reputation hinder the situation.
Besides, despite his womanizing ways, Mason was the best lawyer I knew, and he’d helped Gabriel win a recent court battle. More importantly, he helped keep it quiet, too. “Thanks.”
“No need. I’m sure things are going to be fine.” He called up to the driver and told him our newest destination, and I sank back in the soft leather and tried to relax my nerves.
Lucky enough, there wasn’t much of a crowd at the police station, and we made it in the building without issue.
Detective Schaffer approached and led me down to a private room. It was small and closet-like with a table and three chairs. The security camera overhead was black and bore the gold G2 logo. I turned off my phone while the woman ducked out and then a minute later, a tall, older man with graying hair came into the room and took a seat.
“Hello, Ms. Spencer, we spoke on the phone. I’m Detective Hatcher. I’d like to ask you a little about what happened last night, particularly your whereabouts after midnight.” He glanced at a stack of papers he’d carried in and placed them on the table between us. I glanced down, but couldn’t make anything out and didn’t want to stare too long.
I swallowed a hard lump in my throat and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I am afraid I don’t remember very much. I had a little bit too much to drink.”
“I think you’d do best to try and jog your memory. My partner claims she found you in the suite? She thinks you were there while we took Mr. Grant in earlier.”
“I was ill. I was in the bathroom and then I took a shower, but yes, I spent the night.” I hated the expression he gave and wondered what exactly he was thinking.
“Well, that’s understandable with you traveling together and all.” His eyes lingered on my hands that were placed on the table. I placed them in my lap and shifted in my seat. “During the course of the night, where all did you and Mr. Grant go?”
As nervous as I was, I choked out a laugh. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember anything much after the first couple of hours.” His brow cocked, and he glanced at me sideways as if gauging my sincerity.
“Well, that’s very interesting indeed because Mr. Grant has stated that the two of you hung out in the bar for a fair amount of the night, gambled at the casino, and then went across the street to the Vegas, Baby Wedding Chapel before going to the gentlemen’s club in the back of the casino bar.”
He thumbed through the stack of papers and folded them back. On the page in full color were scanned photographs of what appeared to be Gabriel and me at the gentlemen’s club. Two of them showed me on a stripper’s pole, one straddling his lap, and in all of them, I had taken my shirt off to reveal my black lace bra. There was another gentleman there, as well as another woman.
Suddenly, like a rush of hot lava burning away a heavy curtain, the memories came flooding back. “Oh, God.” My hand rested over my mouth, and I felt the tears well up in my eyes. How could he keep that from me? He knew we’d been there.
“I’m still waiting on more security footage from some of the other locations, but it seems from this photograph, you and Mr. Grant had a good time, including this image from the casino bar.” He pushed a still from the footage in front of me, and it was Gabriel talking to a woman. I was in the background and one of the men had me bent over with his mouth at my cleavage. “You seem pretty awake to me.”
“I don’t remember that.” I raked my hands through my hair before covering my eyes. I wasn’t at all comfortable around my boss. Who was I kidding?
“Do you remember the woman he’s talking to?” The man pointed to the image of the woman. The image was fuzzy, but she didn’t seem familiar from what I could see.
I shook my head. “No. I don’t remember her.”
“That’s Cindy Clarke, Ms. Spencer. She’s one of the victims and your boss’s ex-girlfriend. Are you telling me you’ve never seen her before?”
I met his eyes directly and leaned forward. His harsh tone was hardly called for. “I’m telling you that I don’t recognize the woman in this photograph. As for knowing Ms. Clarke, I don’t. Mr. Grant doesn’t make a habit of mixing his business and pleasure.”
“Says the woman who did a lap dance for him.” He tapped his finger on the incriminating photo. “It’s only fair to assume that with you being in his room and using his shower, that your statement isn’t exactly accurate.” He pulled the papers toward him and flipped back to the front page.
“As I’ve already said, Detective, I don’t remember most of the night. I’m afraid that last night was my first experience with alcohol and one I regret terribly.”
He stood and straightened his pants, hiking them up at his waistline and fidgeting with his buckle like a John Wayne wannabe. “Well, I’m sure if you remember anything, you’ll give us a call.”
He motioned toward the door. “Unless you have more to say, you’re free to go. I appreciate your cooperation.” The last bit was steeped in sarcasm, and as he waited, I scooted my chair out, stood, and exited the room without meeting his eyes.
Mason waited out in the hall, and as I approached, he got to his feet. “That went rather well.”
“How could you know?” I bit out the words and marched out of the building.
“Well, you didn’t have to call me in. With you not being under arrest, that’s always best.”
I shook my head and threw out my arms. “There’s nothing good about any of this.” I couldn’t believe any of it was true, but had seen the photos for myself.
As soon as I spotted that image, the memory rushed back to me. I’d wanted to dance like the girl, and I’d all but insisted that she teach me, begging like some utter fool. And Gabriel had encouraged it, as well. He and that other man, who I believed was the club owner.
The worst part of any of it was that Gabriel knew I’d made a fool of myself and neither stopped me nor told me about it. What else has he kept from me? And what the hell was he doing with that girl?
I ignored Mason as I tried to sort it all out in my head, but before I knew it, we were at the new suite. This place wasn’t as crowded with reporters, but there were a couple of familiar faces who had tracked us down. I barged right through them and made my way into the elevator with Mason, who carried my suitcase. I had my purse, carry-on, and Gabriel’s briefcase and when we walked through the door, it was the first thing he noticed.
“Luna! You have my briefcase.” He rushed across the room toward me and took the heavy case from my hand. “Mason told me-”
The crack of my hand slapping against his cheek echoed throughout the room, and he stood stark still in shock as I walked away and dropped my bags on the sofa.
“What the hell was that for?” He closed the distance I so desperately wanted between us. “Dammit, Luna, look at me.” His arm on my shoulder spun me around to meet his gaze. My handprint was still glowing red on his cheek.
“You let me strip on a pole and take off my top for strangers. How could you not tell me about that?” The rest of his face turned red to match the handprint.
“I didn’t think you’d want to know; besides, it’s not like you got naked.” He turned to glare at Mason, who chuckled.
“I gave you a lap dance like some wanton whore.” I grabbed up my two bags and hurried into the bedroom where I slammed the door behind me, but Gabriel followed, catching it before it latched and throwing it back open. I cowered back, unsure of what he would do.
He registered my movement and stepped back himself. “You’re afraid of me?” Mason stepped in behind him and dropped my suitcases by the door.
“I saw the photographs. Why didn’t you tell me that you’d been with her last night?”
Mason’s eyes grew wide as he nudged Gabriel. “What the hell?” It was apparent I wasn’t the only one he’d been keeping things from.
“Get out!” The voice that came from within me was steeped with venom and so loud it burned. I couldn’t stand to look at him another minute, and as the door closed behind me, I collapsed on the bed in a fit of frustration and tears.