OLIVIA HUSTLED DOWN the courthouse steps. It was only eleven thirty and she had already filed preliminary motions on both cases. She was trying not to feel too proud of herself, but this week had gone rather well. She had located a case that set precedence for the search and seizure in the Lafferty case. That combined with the other evidence, she was sure that they had a slam dunk. The Hardman case was coming along and she was able to file for a search warrant based on additional DNA evidence.
When she reached the bottom of the steps a town car pulled up to the curb. Just before she reached it, the door opened and Vincent Trudeau stepped out in a navy pinstripe suit. He flashed the smile in her direction and Olivia did her best not to vomit on his eight-hundred-dollar shoes.
“You’re in a hurry,” he observed with mock concern. “Don’t tell me you forgot some crucial evidence and you have to rush back.” He puffed out his lower lip in a gesture of sympathy.
“No, actually I’m all done here. Good luck today.” She smiled and side stepped him.
“Hustle back to your hole, little rabbit. Unless you’d like to come watch the big boys work,” he offered, as he raised his eyebrows and grinned at her.
“Thanks, but I’ve seen all the circle and sniff I care to for one day.” She turned and left him standing on the sidewalk.
She sort of wished she could see the look on his face when he read her motion and the charges in the Lafferty case. No dice though. In law, like in life, anything could go wrong at any time. She wouldn’t allow herself any real congratulations until the perp was convicted. Just a quick stop by her office and she would be on her way to meet Piper. Mr. Davis had already given her the afternoon off. He had babbled on about too much overtime. Normally she would have ignored him and worked anyway, but today was going to be different. She could feel it.
Olivia slipped into her midnight blue Audi A3 sedan. Even though she had the car almost a year now, she loved the fact that it still looked new. Extensive research had gone into the purchase of this safe and fuel efficient machine. Olivia liked every detail of her life controlled and precise. She didn’t leave anything to chance. She paused at the light on City Hall Avenue and realized that this whole weekend was taking a chance. She hadn’t seen Piper in ten years. Who was she fooling, they weren’t kids anymore. The last carefree thing Olivia did was during that crazy summer with Piper and Grace in Miami. She didn’t even know that girl anymore. That girl died right alongside Grace.
At least she could escape to her own room if she needed to. Olivia had called earlier in the week and booked a room on the same floor as Piper. She was not about to share a room with someone she hadn’t seen in a decade. What if we have nothing to talk about? What if all I can think about is Grace? Maybe this weekend is a mistake. Olivia gripped the wheel a little tighter than she meant to as she pulled away from the light. She blew out a slow steady breath. It was time to live a little. Her boss’ words still stung her ears. I’m not a machine. I have a life. Of course that revolves around work and . . . well . . . okay, just work. My last date was . . . well shit, that doesn’t really matter.
Olivia rounded the corner and could see the Sheraton Waterfront Hotel. Man, they are busy. Could that many people really be going to this thing? Cars lined the valet lane into the street. Olivia pulled into the lane to wait her turn. She tapped impatiently on the steering wheel. Patience had never been a virtue that she possessed. She watched groups of women clad in brightly colored leggings, load multiple boxes and totes onto overburdened valet carts. Are they moving in? Sweet Jesus, that’s a lot of stuff. She glanced in the rearview mirror at her small overnight bag in the back seat. “We might be a little underprepared,” she said to her luggage and giggled. Suddenly, she pictured Grace with her Gucci overnight bag. Grace was so proud of that damn thing. Olivia couldn’t help laughing at how she and Piper had teased her for the floral design. (Property of Grandma Petunia). It wasn’t until after Grace was gone that she found out how expensive that stupid bag was. She still didn’t understand how Grace could have afforded something like that. What secrets were you hiding, Grace? Olivia wondered for the thousandth time.
Tap, Tap, Tap. The valet tapped on the window and scared the holy bejesus out of her. Olivia snapped back to reality and rolled down the window. July in Norfolk was already as hot as Hades. The warm air slapped her in the face with instant humidity.
“Can I help you, ma’am? Are you checking in?” the pimple laden young man asked in a voice just breaking into puberty.
Olivia stifled a giggle. “Yes, sir, I am checking in for the weekend. Looks like you guys are pretty busy.” She turned off the car as he opened her door.
“Yes, ma’am. We have an author event and a boat race. Going to be a packed house this weekend.” He beamed as she stood and handed him the keys and a twenty-dollar bill.
Olivia remembered what it was like to be young and living on tips. She shook her head. Could she really be longing for those days? She grabbed her overnight bag and made her way into the lobby. Immediately she spotted Piper. Even after all this time the sweet little pixie was unmistakable. She sat in a tan leather chair, her petite frame tucked into the seat as she twirled a tiny strand of her short blond hair lost in a book. She looked like Tinker Bell, no doubt being swept off her feet by some alpha male with a shady past and a heart of gold.
Olivia’s heels clicked as she crossed the marble floor causing Piper to look up. “Olivia! Is that you?” she exclaimed jumping up and dropping her book in the seat. “Oh my God, look at you! You’re so grown up! I mean, not old, just professional like Gra . . . a grown up.” She corrected herself and blushed.
“I’m a lawyer now. I had to grow up a little,” Olivia offered. “You look beautiful. I swear you haven’t changed a bit!”
Piper stood, her deep teal oversized shirt hid her petite frame. She wore floral printed leggings and a bright yellow necklace and earrings that matched her sandals. Quite the contrast to Olivia’s dark blouse, pencil skirt and kill you in the courtroom heels. They were quite the pair. Olivia had to admit that all of her wardrobe was some variation of this dreary tribute to Anne Hathaway. The resemblance had always been a running joke.
“I’m sorry!” Piper gushed. “It’s really good to see you, Liv. I can’t believe you are really here. This weekend is going to be incredible.”
Classic Piper. She was the single most optimistic person Olivia had ever met. Just being in her presence Olivia felt a decade younger. This was going to be an incredible weekend she could feel it already. “Okay, I just need to check in. You’re in charge, what are we in for?”
Piper began her flight attendant run down of the weekend’s agenda. Olivia did her best to listen but she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching them. She glanced around the lobby. She saw women coming and going with their overstuffed carts. A woman with five children made her way through the entrance struggling with bags like a furniture mover herding cats in the rain. Smallish people swarmed her asking for everything under the sun. Olivia reaffirmed her self promise to never have children and quickly turned back to the counter. No one other than the front desk clerk was looking at her. I am probably just overdue for a drink, she thought as she stepped forward to get her room. Movement in the upper balcony caught her attention. She looked up but whoever it was had just moved away. A large potted plant swayed with the void left by the recent occupant. No one. Oh it’s way past wine thirty. Olivia stepped up to the counter and put it out of her mind. She was going to have fun this weekend no matter what.
OH, FUCK! IT COULDN’T have been. Sweat beaded up on his forehead. Dominic Kain took a deep breath and walked quickly toward the elevator. He had to get the fuck out of there. He just needed some fresh air and a fucking drink. There was no goddamn way. Everyone has a doppelganger, right? He was just tired. This was crazy. He had been walking through the upper level when her voice floated up and took his breath. Like a moth to a deadly flame he had been drawn to the balcony and there she was. So casually she just walked in as if she wasn’t ripping him apart. He could feel every move she made. Each breath she took flowed through him. What the fuck? Had she seen him? What would it matter if she had? She didn’t know him from Adam. Fuck, he really was going crazy, but he knew every move by heart. The impatient way she tapped her delicate finger on her overnight bag. The dark waves that caressed her expensive suit. The curve of her legs into those fuck you heels. He choked back the urge to run down the stairs and pull her into his arms. What he needed was a drink. He was not about to accost a complete stranger. But he knew exactly how she would taste and nothing else on earth would do to quench the thirst. He stepped into the elevator, pushed the button for the fourth floor and closed his eyes.