She jumped out of the seat, hitting the floor as the boat’s movement jerked her around. They were moving, that was all that mattered, and she didn’t have the nerve to turn around and see if anyone was coming after them.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Her mother’s cultured tone sent dread through Leigh who slowly turned around. She had thought she could escape just for a second alone, but there was no escaping this woman.
“Leigh, this party is for you.”
“Mom, I’ve been flying for almost twenty-four hours straight.”
“You’re twenty-six. Stop acting like an old lady.”
“I wish you had consulted with me before planning this big party.”
Janet wasn’t sure how to handle this side of her daughter. She seemed unappreciative, more like Haley. “You don’t consult with someone when you’re doing them a favor.”
Leigh knew she was defeated. After the flight, she didn’t have the strength to fight her mother this soon in the game. With her mother’s hand firmly leading her, Leigh’s expression pleaded with Carter for help as they passed, but all Carter offered was a sympathetic shrug. He was much more interested in the sexy young woman who was showering him with attention. Leigh knew it would be a long night.
As the woman’s mouth moved, Carter didn’t hear a word she said. He was trying desperately to remember what her name was. She was hot and new to Los Angeles. She’d come as someone else’s date, but Carter had an idea she was going to leave with him.
Michael was a charmer, but only selectively. If he didn’t think you mattered, he was ruder than anyone Carter had ever known, which was why he didn’t take too well when Michael joined him and all but ordered the woman with no name to go away. Carter didn’t push it. He and Michael agreed they would never let a woman come between them. He certainly wasn’t going to sweat one whose name he couldn’t even remember.
“What do you want, Michael?”
Michael leaned in. “To know what you’re gonna do about Avery Jackson.”
Carter pushed him away with his shoulder. “I just found out about this. I haven’t come up with anything yet.”
“I have.” Michael’s face creased into a sudden smile. He loved these moments when he had the upper hand. Whenever their father was involved, he had the upper hand. Carter was the big brother, always making the right choice, so unassumingly confident. But he lacked the tenacious edge that Michael had and Michael relished the moments when that came in handy. When Carter’s honest character put him a step behind. “What are you gonna tell Dad?”
“Dad doesn’t expect me to—”
“Carter.”
Carter turned to his father who seemed to come out of nowhere. He had a way of doing that and always with a face that let you know he’d been thinking about you and not in a good way. The man was overbearing, seeming twenty feet tall, and it killed Carter that he always felt like he was on a hot plate in his presence.
“What have you decided about Avery Jackson?” Steven asked.
Carter glared at Michael who didn’t bother to hold back an icy grin. “I’ll figure out something. I haven’t even read the file.”
“It’s gonna be harder than you think.” Michael knew he was wicked, but he wanted Carter to succeed for two reasons. He loved his brother and he had come to hate Avery Jackson. “There’s something seriously wrong with that woman.”
“What are you planning for Performance, Michael?” Carter asked, hoping to deflect the attention from himself.
“You don’t want to know.” Michael turned to his father. “But I do have something planned, unlike Carter here.”
Steven wondered if they were taking him seriously. He couldn’t tell sometimes when they got in their stupid competitive mode. It annoyed him, but he knew that nothing would build their character more than competing with each other. No one else was at their level. He leaned into Carter. “Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t.” Carter blinked, cursing himself inside for doing that.
Chief of Police, Charlie Jackson, the do-right man, was an attractive, well-built man in his forties, whose dignity and poise was evident in the way he carried himself. He had his island parents’ light complexion, but no hint of the accent since he left at the age of five. He had been poor most of his life, but a stellar career in the police force carried him and his family out of the ghetto and into View Park, where they lived an honest middle-class life. Still, Charlie couldn’t get used to the other side of View Park. Ten million miles above middle class; the side the Chase family represented. When their maid opened the expansive doors to the home for him, he had to smile. He had never had any desire to live this well, but he loved the fact that black folks were.
“Can I help you, Chief Jackson?” Maya asked.
Charlie looked around the immense home. So many homes in this town were extravagant, but there was something different about the Chase home. He felt it every time he came here, and every time he came here it was because of Haley Chase.
“I need to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Chase.”
Expecting to see Haley, Janet rushed to the door. When she saw Chief Jackson, her chest tightened. She was a mother first and foremost. The expression on his face sent a chill through her. Something was wrong. She turned back, looking for her rock.
“Steven!”
Haley wanted to explode. She was cold and wet, wrapped in a thin blanket and sitting on a wooden seat that was harder than rock. The room was gray and morbid and nothing like the room she was in the last time she was at the police station, but that was another story. Her entire life was crashing down on her and facing her parents was still to come.
The detective in the room with her wasn’t helping the situation any. He had introduced himself as if she gave a damn what his name was. She was shocked they sent her someone who looked like a college kid and pissed that he was staring down at her with judgment written all over his face.
“What are you looking at?” she asked.
Sean Jackson, the Boy Scout, rolled his eyes and turned away as the door opened. Grady McCann, a middle-aged uniformed officer entered and dropped a file folder on the table.
“She’s got a little rap sheet of her own,” McCann boasted. “Property damage, shoplifting and disorderly conduct. Surprisingly no convictions. Money goes a long way.”
Haley wasn’t insulted. Her last name made her better than him and certainly better than the junior detective.
“Thanks.” Sean didn’t need to look at it. He knew all about Haley Chase. Who didn’t?
“You think you can handle her?” McCann asked. “If not, I can stay and help you.”
“Go on home, McCann.” Sean looked at Haley. “I can handle Ms. Chase.”
“That’s what you think,” she mumbled under her breath just loud enough to be sure he heard her.
“You two should have a lot in common.” McCann folded his arms across his very large stomach. “Both kids of big shots.”
Did this guy think he could rile him up? Sean had heard every little jab about his father being chief of police since he’d joined the force five years ago. They