See No Evil

“You need to do something about him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Cami.”

“Don’t call me that anymore! I hate that name.”

“If anyone has become dangerous, it’s you.”

“Don’t start. You were going to shoot Bowen in his office, in front of witnesses. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for-”

“You owed me, Cami. You still owe me.”

“I’m free. And if anything happens to me, you’ll be sorry.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“You bet I am. I learned from the best, didn’t I, Mother?”

“I’m not your mother.”

“If you harm a hair on my head, everything will come out. Everything. I want him taken care of. He’s been fucking Faye.”

A long pause. “Are you certain?”

“Very certain.” Cami stared at the photos in front of her. Took one and began to tear it into tiny pieces.

“I’ll do it in my own time in my own way. We need to let things die down a bit.”

“Don’t make me wait too long.”

Cami slammed down the phone.

No one would make a fool of her.

She picked up another photo and slowly shredded it, making the pieces so small no one could see the paper had once been a picture of something.

Dillon admitted Faye Kessler to UCSD’s downtown psychiatric ward while Connor drove Julia home. She’d insisted she was fine to drive herself, but didn’t argue because she was exhausted.

Connor turned off his truck’s engine in front of her house. “Come here.” He unbuckled her seat belt and pulled her across the bench seat and onto his side.

He held her tight against him. She released a pent-up breath, the tension beginning to work itself from her muscles.

She kissed him on the cheek. Then found his lips. A gentle kiss, a hint of passion. “Will you stay the night?” she asked, her heart beating fast. Last night he’d been worried about her safety; tonight he had no reason to stay.

No reason except for her.

He held her face, kissed her. “I was hoping you’d ask.”

They were walking toward the house when headlights rounded the curve leading to Julia’s home. Connor frowned and stepped in front of Julia as a dark Mercedes squealed into the driveway, braking only inches from Connor’s truck. “What the hell?”

“Crystal,” Julia said.

Crystal Montgomery jumped from her fancy car and strode purposefully over to where Julia and Connor stood at the bottom of the porch stairs.

“Where’s my daughter?” she demanded.

“She’s safe,” Julia said.

“She was released from the hospital and no one told me. She was transported out of state and no one told me until after the fact.”

“I have temporary guardianship until Victor’s murder is solved. You know that.” Julia was not going to allow Crystal to intimidate her.

Crystal tried to push past Connor, but he stood firm.

“Get out of my way.”

“You’re not wanted here,” Connor said.

“It’s okay,” Julia said, but didn’t invite her inside. “Let her talk.” When Crystal didn’t say anything, Julia put a hand on her hip and raised her eyebrow. “Well? Did you come here for any reason other than to yell at me?”

Crystal was surprised. Julia had always been gracious, almost formal, relying on etiquette and manners when she didn’t like someone. But Julia had already resolved to bring Emily into her home, no matter what she had to do. Even take on Crystal Montgomery.

“I know what you’re doing,” Crystal said.

“You do?”

“You’re trying to get Emily’s money. Victor was right about you. You just wanted control of the purse strings, not what was best for Emily.”

Julia should have been angry, but instead she laughed at Crystal’s ridiculous accusation. “Victor came to me twice trying to gain control of Em’s trust. I said no. I will not be bullied. Emily will have her money to do what she sees fit with on her eighteenth birthday. And you’re just furious that your free ride is almost up.”

“How dare you? I don’t need Emily’s money.”

“Don’t you? You’ve been receiving a sizable allowance from Emily’s trust that will end in thirteen months. Then you’ll need to live on your inheritance. And considering the lifestyle you’ve grown accustomed to, I don’t think it’ll last.”

Julia stepped in front of Connor. “Did you know that Victor raped Emily? That he molested her?” Julia took another step toward Crystal. “He hurt her under your roof and you forced her to take his name. You never cared about her, never cared about anyone but yourself and Matt’s money. It’s over. Don’t bother to return to the Chandler Foundation. I’m buying you out.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I control the board, Crystal. I’m a Chandler. I can do whatever I want. I’ll make it worth your while. You walk away quietly, without fanfare, without dragging Emily through the mud, and I’ll match the inheritance Matt left you. Cash.”

She saw the greed in Crystal’s eyes warring with embarrassment and anger.

The greed won.

“I’ll have my attorneys contact you.”

“I want custody of Emily.”

“No.”

It was an automatic answer, without passion or pain.

“I’ll continue your child support allowance until she’s eighteen.”

“Until she’s twenty-one,” Crystal countered.

“Nineteen. And you know it won’t hold up in court if you push me. Do you want to spend your money fighting me for custody?”

“I’ll think about it,” Crystal snapped. “You’re a bitch, Julia.”

“So are you.”

Crystal reddened, turned around, and left.

“Good riddance,” Julia said.

“Are you okay?” Connor asked, taking her hand.

“For the first time since Matt died, I know I’ve done exactly the right thing for Emily. And me.” She turned to him, kissed him. “I’m better than okay.”

Holding her hand, Connor led her into the house. He kissed her again and again, her face, her neck, her shoulders. She pushed the door closed, reset the alarm, and dropped her purse and briefcase in the entry, wrapping her arms around him.

Connor’s breath was hot on her neck, sending bolts of lightning down her spine, bringing a moan to her lips.

“Julia,” he whispered in her ear, her name sounding so sexy coming out of his mouth. He walked her backward until she found her back up against the wall, Connor’s body pressed full against hers, his erection hard against her stomach.

She rubbed against him, wanton and sexy, wanting him now. Without giving herself time to think, to change her mind, she unzipped his jeans. He gasped, buried his face in her hair when she touched him.