I thought I’d found someone to share my life with, to build one with. Now it’s just another bad Hollywood story.”
“You’ll ride that part out. It’s what we do, isn’t it? Have you called a lawyer?”
“On the way here.” Breathing out, Darlie mopped her face. “Because you’re right about taking his offer and running with it. I want to get that written in blood—his—then he can have whatever the hell he wants. The only thing that matters is Luke.”
“That’s right. What we’re going to do is get you and Luke something to eat, then we’ll go down and get you settled at my place. You can count on me and Consuela to fight over the baby. Add my grandfather into that when he gets back. He’s in New York for a few more days.”
“I’m going to owe you for the rest of my life.”
“Friends don’t owe friends. Wait until I take you two over to see the ranch.”
“And the supersexy rancher. Oh, Cate, we’re going to be so in the way of that.”
“No, you’re not. You’ll like him, and his family. And Luke is going to go crazy over the animals. I know he likes dogs—you said dog was his first word. Dillon has two sweet ones.”
“We were—I was going to get him a puppy. I’d started looking at puppies.”
“Well, he can have a trial run with Dillon’s Stark and Natasha. Right now, we’re going to have some lunch. And some wine with that.”
“Oh hell, I didn’t pack a high chair, or a crib.”
“I guarantee you we have them in the house, and whatever else you need. The Sullivans are always having babies.”
By midafternoon, she had Darlie settled, with the baby in the bedroom—facing the hillside—adjoining the seaside room by a Jack and Jill bath.
She had one of the high chairs in her kitchen, a bag of toys in her living area, and both mother and baby taking a much-needed nap upstairs.
She called Dillon.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“Somebody’s in a good mood.”
“Having a real good day.”
“I’m having a busy one. My friend—my closest friend’s here.”
“Yeah? That’s Darlie Maddigan, right?”
“It is. You pay attention. She needed a friend. Her marriage just went into the sewer so she came here with her baby. I’ll give you details on that if she tells me I can.”
“Got it.”
“So, I won’t be able to make it tonight.”
“Don’t worry about that. Can I help?”
“I actually think you can. When she’s feeling steadier, I’d like to bring them over. He’s about fourteen months old, loves animals.”
“We’ve got a few of those.”
“Dogs are the big love now. And I think your ladies will add something for Darlie. Just that female spirit.”
“You know you can bring them, anytime.”
“He’s energetic,” she warned.
“Bet we can wear him out. I’ll miss you tonight.”
“I’ll miss you.”
She would, she realized. She’d gotten used to seeing him almost every day, of sleeping with him almost every night.
Turning to the glass wall, she looked out. She wasn’t ready to look past today, or maybe tomorrow on that part of her life. But she began to see that maybe, just maybe, it could roll like the sea. It could roll into forever.
Sparks worked out the timing and chose movie night. Well, movie on the communal TV night. And The Great Escape won the vote. Again.
He didn’t give a shit.
What he cared about? A good group of inmates and guards in one place.
It wouldn’t be easy doing what he had to do.
The cops had given him the idea, and the more he’d played with it, the more he saw it as perfect.
He’d already whined to Jessica about the police harassment, enlisted her—so fucking easy—to roll that over and add it to his pitch for parole. Maybe push that to early release.
Her client might be in physical danger. Police were investigating just that possibility. Not safe in prison, and blah yadda yadda.
Tonight would seal that one.
He’d figured to wait until the movie ended, and everyone filed out, then realized he might lose his courage.
Now or never, he decided.
He knew where to aim—personal trainer—and jabbed the shank into his side, toward the back, just above the waist.
He stumbled a couple of steps—motherfucker hurt—got an elbow, a shove. He managed to keep his grip on the shank, as if trying to yank it out. Went to his knees.
Blood, he thought. A lot of blood. His blood.
Seeing it, inmates scrambled back; guards pushed forward.
And there went movie night.
A baby changed things. A lot of things, Cate realized. It changed her friend. She witnessed for herself