Layla locked eyes with Trena, the wall went blank, and next thing she knew, the wall had slid open a crack, allowing her access to the adjoining room.
FORTY-TWOCARELESS WHISPER
The second Tommy saw Layla, he pulled her into his arms. “You okay?” he whispered, smoothing a hand over her hair. When she nodded, he said, “I know who’s behind this. I know who it is.”
He was about to tell her when a voice shot through the speakers and said, “Everyone loves a good love story. You two are sure to be a crowd favorite, but try to keep it G-rated, okay? People are watching.”
Layla pulled away and dabbed at her eyes, then turned toward the wall bearing an image of Trena’s face.
“Layla,” Trena said, “you did a great job. But now I’m afraid it’s Tommy’s turn.”
Tommy glanced worriedly at Layla, then turned back to Trena.
“Why did you move to LA?”
“Change of scene.” He kept his voice unaffected and easy.
“What else?”
“To follow my dream.”
“This is all very inspiring,” the disguised voice cut in. “But allow me to remind you exactly what’s at stake here.”
On the wall, superimposed over Trena, was a picture of Tommy standing outside the Vesper the night Madison went missing.
He looked at the camera and said, “I don’t give a crap about that. Madison’s alive. You can’t touch me now.”
“You sure about that?”
“That Madison’s alive? Absolutely. I can prove it.”
“So you’re admitting to withholding evidence? Because if Detective Larsen’s not already watching, he will be soon enough.”
Tommy shrugged. “Then all I have to do is wait until he gets here and puts an end to this bullshit.”
“Wow, you’re really sexy when you go all alpha like that.” The voice laughed. “You know who it reminds me of?”
Tommy froze.
“From the look on your face, you do.”
Tommy closed his eyes, mumbled under his breath. He’d already decided against telling Ira, and now he was being forced to do it in the worst way imaginable.
“Let’s try this again. Why’d you move to LA, Tommy?”
He stared into the camera and clamped his lips shut, refusing to speak.
“Who’s your daddy, Tommy? C’mon, you can tell us.”
Layla nudged him. She was right, of course, but this wasn’t the way he wanted it to happen.
“I came to LA to try to break into the music business.”
“And . . .”
Tommy swiped a hand through his hair. Layla stood alongside him and gave his hand a squeeze. “And to meet my dad . . .” Tommy stalled. In the next breath, he said, “Ira Redman.”
The lights flickered on and off, and the next thing they knew, another wall had slid open.
FORTY-THREESLEEP NOW IN THE FIRE
Aster glanced up from Ryan’s arms to see Layla and Tommy standing in the doorway. “I’m ruined,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Even if I make it out of here, it’s over for me. How will I ever hold my head up high, or face my family?”
Ryan pulled her closer as the voice crackled through the speakers. “Wow, this is really, truly touching. It warms my heart to see everyone reunited like this. In fact, I’m having so much fun watching y’all, let’s check in on your other friend, shall we?”
An image of Madison blazed on the wall. She was curled up on the floor with her hands pressed tightly over her ears. Although the sound was muted, whatever she was listening to was clearly unbearable.
“You can help lessen her agony by answering one simple question.”
Aster braced for the worst. If it was about her brother again, she wasn’t sure she could help. Javen would always be her first priority, no matter what.
“Since we have all the couples gathered, I’m going to turn my focus to romance. As a reminder, if you choose to lie, Madison will pay. Take it away, Trena!”
Trena gazed dully at the camera and said, “Ryan, did you ever love Madison?”
Aster immediately dropped his hand. She didn’t want him to feel any sort of pressure coming from her. This had nothing to do with them. Whoever was behind this was trying to upset his fans.
Without hesitation, he said, “No, not really.”
“Did you ever cheat on Madison?”
This time he hesitated, but only for a handful of seconds, before he said, “Yes.”
“How many times?”
He took a breath, rubbed a hand across his jaw. “A couple—few times.”
“And was one of those times with Heather Rollins?”
Ryan closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. When he opened them again, he chanced a sideways glance at Aster, who urged him to go ahead. Staring directly into the camera, he said, “Yes.”
“How many times did you cheat with Heather Rollins?”
Ryan shook his head. “I don’t know. Once, twice maybe?” He shrugged. “It meant nothing, okay? Heather, if you’re watching, or somehow behind this, it meant nothing!”
“Did you tell her she was hot, beautiful, irresistible? Did you tell her she had a rockin’ bod and you liked screwing her more than you liked screwing Madison?”
“What the—?” Ryan looked pained. He glanced at Aster, his gaze pleading for forgiveness. “It was before you,” he whispered.
“Yes, yes, it was before Aster,” the voice cut in. “Just answer the question, please! Did you, or did you not, tell Heather Rollins that screwing Madison made you feel like a necrophiliac, because she was so cold and stiff it was like doing a dead person?”
Ryan emptied his lungs of air and said, “I never said that. I would never say a thing like that. I didn’t hate Madison. I just wasn’t in love with her. I don’t know where you’re getting this nonsense, but—”
“Relax.” The voice laughed. “Let the record show I was having a bit of fun. Let it also show that you went after Heather a few times, so you must’ve liked that first taste more than you’re willing to admit.”
Furious, Ryan swung toward the camera. “Let it also show that I didn’t go after her. She came after me. The only reason I went along was because Madison wasn’t all that into me and I
