right now.” The officer glances over his shoulder quickly and in a lower voice adds, “Paxton’s a good lawyer. He’ll have Chaser out by this evening.”
“I hope so.” My gaze strays behind the counter. Chaser has to be somewhere on the other side of that sad, gray cinder block wall. Pain gathers in my chest. I can’t get to him.
I drift over to an empty wooden bench and sit, watching the door for the lawyer. The second he returns, I jump up to greet him.
“How is he? When can we get him out?”
“Easy. Not here.” He takes my elbow and guides me outside. Heat simmers through my thin canvas sneakers, snaking up my legs. We cross the busy street and into a small, municipal parking lot before he’ll utter a word. “The cops have nothing. No weapon. No clear motive.”
I let out a long, slow breath. Not that I ever doubted Chaser. “What can I do?”
“He wants you to go back to the hotel.”
“And do what? Sit on my butt while he’s in jail? No.”
The corners of his mouth twitch. “I figured that would be your answer.”
“What can I do?”
“I know you said Peter’s a weasel, but can you talk to him? Flesh out why he might have pointed the cops in Chaser’s direction.”
“He’s not a big fan of mine, but I’ll do my best.” I glance over my shoulder toward the police station. “I was planning to go to the hospital next.”
He hesitates before answering. “Mallory, I need you to be honest with me. Is there anything between you and Andrew Lane?”
“God, no. Why would you ask that?”
“Because if this continues, the cops need a motive. And a love triangle between you, Chaser, and Andrew will sound nice and juicy.”
“That’s ridiculous. Chaser spends more time around Andrew than I ever have. Working,” I add just in case he has other ideas. “Andrew’s girlfriend and I work together on the same show.”
“Chaser mentioned that. The four of you are good friends?”
“Sort of. Pamela can be prickly.”
“Is there a reason for that? Is there a possibility she and Chaser…?” He lets the suggestion hang in the air, staring at me with two raised eyebrows.
It takes me a second longer than it should to understand his meaning. “No way.”
He holds my gaze.
“I understand why you have to ask, but Chaser and I…we’re close. We don’t lie to each other.” I take a moment and consider the way to phrase my next thought. “And Pamela, if she was having an affair with my boyfriend, I don’t think she’d be able to stop herself from bragging to all of Hollywood.”
He chuckles. “So, she’s that kind of person.”
“Competitive. I don’t know why, since she’s way more ahead of the game than I am.”
“Is there a reason for that?” He holds up his hand. “I believe you when you say there’s nothing going on between you and Andrew. But is it possible she’s aware of feelings Andrew has for you?”
Feelings for me? I stop and consider Andrew’s wacky behavior. His strange compliments and random moments of sweetness. His pervy questions. “Deep, specific feelings for me? No. That I’m a female he’d like to bang and add to his list? Possibly.”
“And that doesn’t bother Chaser?”
“He trusts me.” I stop and stare over his shoulder at the brick wall with faded lettering that I can’t decipher. “We haven’t been together long. But we’ve been through a lot in that short time.”
His sharp lawyer demeanor softens. “I can sense that, Mallory. Chaser’s lucky.” He glances over at his car. “Do you need a ride?”
“If you don’t mind dropping me off at the hospital?”
“Not at all.” He opens the passenger side door, then hesitates. “Be careful who sees you there, though. We don’t want word to spread that you’re sitting vigil at Andrew’s bedside.”
“Trust me, that’s the last thing I plan to do.” No, I want to find Jacob and choke him. Then whap Peter upside the head with my purse a couple dozen times.
“It’ll help to have you there, so you can call me if Andrew wakes up. If he can make a statement, exonerating Chaser, I’ll move on that. If not, then we’ll need to regroup.”
There’s no “if not” in my head. Andrew better wake up and clear Chaser, or I’ll kill him myself.
Chapter Two
Mallory
Determination and anger fuel me as I walk into the hospital. On the way over, Mr. Paxton gave me some general ideas of questions to ask Peter and Jacob if I see them. Having