Chapter Eight
Gabriel
Other than a few words, Luna hadn’t talked to me for three days, and the two of us had retreated to separate areas of the suite. I kept waiting for word from Mason, but since he’d gotten the two of us settled in the new suite, he’d flown back to LA to check on his family and a few other clients. He promised he’d return before the end of the week, though.
With Luna not talking, and since I had my briefcase, I decided to work on a few deals I had upcoming. Unfortunately, two of them had heard the news and asked for an extension.
I couldn’t blame them. No one wanted their security in the hands of a potential murderer, and I assured them that after the misunderstanding was cleared up, I’d be in touch. Luckily, none of my existing accounts had backed out on me, and I made sure to call a few of my clients to assure them everything was going to be fine.
I missed having Luna’s help, but whatever pit of emotions she was wallowing in, I had no time for it. I’d heard the TV go off and on every night and her phone ring, but other than her coming out to grab her food, or when I passed through on my way to the bathroom, there was no interaction.
I should have told her about the lap dance, but I didn’t think it was a big deal, and not a big enough deal to go days without speaking to me. She had to be as bored in her room as I was. Things couldn’t go on this way. As soon as Mason got back, I’d have to clear up the marriage, no doubt pissing her off further, but I hardly felt it was a big deal considering we didn’t even consummate the damned thing.
I supposed she at least had a right to know. Part of me thought waiting for Mason was a perfect idea. If there were any legal threats, it would be best if he were there to hear them. However, if I let another minute go by without telling her, then what kind of person was I? She already thought I was scum for letting her get nasty on the pole for me, so I couldn’t imagine what kind of wallop I’d get for this. At least it would get us talking.
I dropped my pen in my case and closed my planner before tidying up my papers. It was only busy work, something to stall me from facing the music. I stood and crossed the room, and knocked on the door.
“Luna?” I walked in and found her propped up in the bed, leaning back against the mound of pillows with a book in her hand. “We need to talk.”
“As long as I’m a prisoner to your investigation, I’m staying to myself.”
“Come on, you have to be bored out of your mind in here.” I looked around the room and noticed she not only had the book she held, but three others and her laptop. With all of those things plus her phone, her prison room was as good as a vacation suite.
“I’m perfectly capable of keeping myself busy. Besides, I’m hoping this punishment doesn’t last that much longer.” She sat up straight and turned a page in her book.
Was it so bad being stuck in a fancy hotel suite with me? Before I could respond, the door opened in the next room and I heard Mason’s voice. “Honey, I’m home.”
I left Luna to her novel and went to meet the guy. “You have any news for me?”
“Only that we’re waiting for the time of death to officially come through. Those assholes think they’re making us sweat by taking their time, but I’ve got news for them.” Mason placed his briefcase down on the coffee table before sitting down on the couch. As I lowered myself in front of him, Luna came out of her cave and crossed the room to lean on the sofa arm.
“Please tell me I can go home soon.”
“No, ma’am. You’re going to have to call in another week, I’m afraid. Good thing your boss is an understanding man.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” She regarded her fingernails and then the floor.
“Okay, enough with the cold shoulder. I didn’t force you to strip off your damned shirt and grind a pole, and it certainly wasn’t my idea for the lap dance.”
Her eyes met mine as they narrowed. “Well, you certainly didn’t discourage it.”
“Why should I? Despite your delusions of being virtuous, it was harmless.”
Mason slammed down his briefcase and the two of us turned our heads to see his rather bored expression.
“Could you two children stop bickering for five minutes and please pay attention? While we’re waiting on the damned evidence to roll in, could you please call a truce so we can figure out our best course of action? If this time of death doesn’t match up, I’m going to need you to say that you were with him.”
“I can’t do that.” She lifted her shoulder.
“You know I was right here with you.” The casual way she disregarded me made me want to scream. “How can you not trust me?”
“I trust you, Gabriel. I don’t think you murdered anyone. But the fact remains that I don’t remember the whole night, and I don’t feel like committing a crime to keep you in the clear. If this goes to trial, I’d be committing perjury if I said otherwise.”
Mason held up a finger as if to make a point. “Not necessarily. Phrasing is everything. You could simply say that to the best of your knowledge, he was right beside you all night. As long as you stop saying you don’t remember, you’ll be in the clear.”
“But I don’t remember. Isn’t that the basic truth?” She shook her head and looked down to her hands where she picked at her fingernails. The things looked horrible, with peeling polish and all of their lengths mismatched instead of their usual uniformed look.
“Ah, but it’s only the basic truth because you don’t know any better, and if you leave it at that, it lends to the idea that he wasn’t with you all night. You need to lend to the idea that he was.”
It was time I told them about the marriage. I shuffled through a few pages, looking for the rings and our license, but before I could pull them out, Mason’s phone rang.
He stood and paced as he spoke to whoever was on the other end, and I looked up to see Luna perched on the sofa arm, leaning toward Mason’s direction, like the anticipation of his having good news was killing her. What a mess we were in, I thought.
I looked down, and as if my instincts had guided me, my hand was on our certificate. Mason’s voice pulled my attention away from the calligraphy, though, and I left the thing in my case.
“I’m going to have to go down to the station and get the official papers, but I have bad news: the time of death was not until four a.m. That’s more than enough time for you to have committed the crimes.” Mason leaned against the sofa opposite of Luna, who put her hands to her face before retreating to her room.
Mason looked to her as she fled. “She’s going to have to remember. You need to jog her memory. Talk to her.”
“She hates me, and not without reason. I should have never let things go so far.”
“If you get arrested and this goes to trial, she’s going to lose the case for you. I suggest you get her in line.” He met my eyes directly and nodded. The gleam in his eye made me wonder if he wanted me to seduce her.
“Come on, it’s not like that.” I shook my head.
“Like hell it ain’t. She’s in your bed for the past three days and you’re telling me you’re not tapping that? You’re telling me that little Ms. Pole Dancer hasn’t been on your pole?”
“She’s a good girl. She’s probably the most level-headed woman I’ve ever met. And no, for your information, I haven’t fucked her. She’s been sheltered, and her dad’s a preacher, for God’s sake.”
“Oh, nice. The sluttiest girl I was ever with was a PK.” He met my eyes with a wide grin like I was supposed to know what that meant before he lowered his voice. “You know, preacher’s kid. PK. It’s common knowledge that girls raised by preachers all have daddy issues. You throw a little dick and money her way, and she’ll be singing whatever song you want her to.”
I didn’t know what to think as I stared at the man. For someone as smart and talented as a defense attorney, he could sound like the dumbest sack of shit in world. The things he suggested pissed me off even more.
I hardened my glare, narrowing my eyes and leaning forward. “I said she’s not like that. You back off about her and let me handle it.” He leaned back and looked surprised.
“You love her.”
His words had my hackles up even more. “Don’t be ridiculous, man. I think she deserves better is all, and I’m not pushing her into anything she doesn’t like. You get that through your thick head right now.”
Something was boiling up inside of me, but I refused to believe that it was anything more than respect for a friend. I’d spent every day for the past two years with this girl, not counting weekends. Sure, I’d had impure thoughts more than once or even twice about her, but I hadn’t acted for a reason. She deserved better. She wasn’t like all the rest.
Mason snapped his fingers in front of my face. “What?” Suddenly, I heard my phone ring and went to pick it up.
“The things been ringing for three minutes,” he said.
Knowing I could end up in a long, drawn-out conversation with my sister-in-law Sandra, I answered the phone. I had put her off too long already. “Hey, Sandra, what’s going on?”
“Well, aside from you giving me the brush-off while I freak out over the shit I’m seeing on the news, nothing much.”
“I’m sorry I hadn’t been in touch; I’ve been busy getting things sorted. You know it’s not true. I’m being framed.”
She let out a giggle on the other end, reminding me how much she’d like to see me fall. The only difference was, unlike this person who was framing me, she needed me. Since my brother’s death, which left her penniless and was partly my fault, I’d taken care of her and my nephew. “You and Harbor sit tight at home, and I’ll be back to town as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know where Harbor is. He’s never around when I need him. I swear that kid is more and more like his father every single day.” She never missed an opportunity to remind me how much time I’d taken away from her and my brother’s relationship. It was one of her many digs, and as much as she liked dishing them out, she liked cashing my checks.
“He’ll turn up. He’s probably out somewhere trying to sober up before he comes back home. Call me if you need me.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure you’ll answer in your own time, as always.” That summed it up perfectly: in my own time. God knows she’d wasted enough of it. I ended the call and shoved the phone into my pocket.