“They were lethal, if that’s what you mean,” Laura said. “It was fun, and it was exactly what I needed after a really awful day.”
“That’s the goal,” Helen said, her expression sobering. “I heard a little about what’s been going on with Misty Dawson. Anything I can do to help?”
Laura smiled. “That’s exactly what I’m hoping you can tell me.” She spelled out the situation and showed her the printouts Paula Vreeland had given her. “I understand this is just the tip of the iceberg. The person who brought them to me didn’t print out even half of what’s online.”
Helen’s eyes widened as she read through the papers. She actually gasped when she saw the pictures. “You’re kidding me! Anyone can see that these pictures have been doctored.”
“Of course, but in the meantime, they’re a huge embarrassment to Misty, as you can imagine. What can we do to get them taken down as quickly as possible?”
“This is a little out of my area of expertise, but I’ll make some calls and see what I can do. I assume you plan to handle this situation at school?”
“I’ll call Betty, and I’m sure she’ll be all over it first thing on Monday morning,” Laura confirmed.
“What about the Dawsons? They should file a lawsuit of their own.”
“I think Diana is still reeling, and I’m not sure she’s even had a chance to fill her husband in yet. I just left there a little while ago.”
Helen nodded. “I’ll give her a call and explain her options. How’s Misty?”
“Terrified,” Laura said frankly. “She thinks going after Annabelle is going to make things even worse for her at school. She’s been skipping a couple of classes practically since the beginning of the year because of this. Once the pictures went online, she just stayed home. Unless this is handled well, I’m really worried about the impact it will have on her. So far she’s managed to keep her grades up, but not coming to class will take a toll, even on someone as bright as she is.”
“She’s a junior, right?”
Laura nodded. “And counting on getting into a premier school.”
“So her grades this year are crucial,” Helen concluded. “Could you arrange for a meeting with Betty Donovan first thing Monday morning for all of us? We’re going to want to coordinate what the school’s doing, what the Dawsons want and what I’m able to handle.”
“About your fee,” Laura began.
“There is no fee,” Helen said at once, her expression grim. “This one’s on me. There’s nothing I hate worse than a bully. My entire career has been built on going after men who bully their wives in one way or another. It’ll be a pleasure to stop this one.”
“Thank you,” Laura said with total sincerity. “You really are an angel.”
Helen laughed. “I imagine you could find a whole lot of people in this town who’d tell you otherwise.”
She began gathering up her papers. “I’m going to tell Erik I have to head home, and then I’ll start making those calls,” she promised Laura. “I’ll phone you as soon as I know anything, and I’ll see you at the high school first thing Monday morning. Let me know the time. I’ll cancel whatever might be on my calendar if there’s a conflict. This is too important to waste a single second.”
Laura was about to stand up and head out herself, but Dana Sue approached, her expression somber. “The whole Misty situation is about to come to a head, isn’t it? That’s why you were talking to Helen.”
Laura nodded.
“Anything I can do? We all want to help.”
“Just try to keep a lid on whatever gossip you might hear. The poor child’s been humiliated enough.”
“Will do,” Dana Sue promised. “Why don’t you stay? I’ll bring you the night’s special. It’s fried catfish, J.C.’s favorite, and I have it on good authority that he’s on his way over right now to have it.”
Laura lifted a brow. “Good authority?”
Dana Sue grinned. “Okay, I called and told him you were here and looked as if you needed company.”
“How did I manage to go so many years in this town flying under the meddling radar?” she asked with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“None of us ever saw you with the right man before,” Dana Sue said.
“And the consensus is that J.C.’s the right one?” Laura asked. “Even though he works with Bill Townsend? I heard that was a huge strike against him in some circles.”
Dana Sue shrugged. “Hey, everybody has flaws. So far none of us have seen any evidence that he shares any of Bill’s less attractive traits.”
“Then you have thoroughly vetted him?” Laura inquired, only partially in jest.
“Thoroughly,” Dana Sue said without so much as a hint that she wasn’t dead serious.
“Astonishing.”
Just then J.C. appeared. He studied Laura worriedly, then turned to Dana Sue. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Anytime,” she assured him. “I’ll send over a bottle of wine. Red or white?”
He glanced at Laura. “White, I think.”
Laura nodded.
After Dana Sue had gone, she regarded him with amusement. “Prince wasn’t enough. Now you’re going for knight-in-shining-armor rushing to the rescue of the fair damsel?”
“I didn’t hear you needed rescuing,” he said. “At least not exactly. Just that you came in looking pretty intense, then hunkered down in a corner with Helen. It didn’t sound as if you were here for a fun rendezvous with a friend.”
“True,” she confessed. “It’s been another perfectly awful day.” She met his gaze. “Would you mind if we didn’t talk about it right this second? I need to put it aside for a little while before I charge into battle again.”
“I’d like to help.”
“And, believe me, I’m counting on that. Just an hour of inconsequential talk and good food and I’ll tell you everything.”
“Okay, then. Whatever you need,” he said. “How about those Panthers?”
She blinked and stared at him, uncomprehending. “Panthers?”
“Carolina Panthers,” he explained. “The pro football team in Charlotte.”
“I know this will probably change your impression of me, and not in a good way, but I don’t follow football beyond the games at the high school.”
He regarded her with apparent shock. “Now that is just wrong,” he declared.
She grinned. “Does it cut me out of the running?”
He reached for her hand and tucked it into his.
