She wanted this memory to help blot out the righteous anger she’d felt for most of the afternoon.
Her attorney nodded once.
“Sure,” Joy said to the young officer and took the napkin. She sat back down at the table and started to write a quick note, but then her world went black. When it cleared again, she saw Carly standing in front of the large Victorian house where Harlow was being held. And Baldy was with her.
Chapter Twenty
“Ms. Preston asked me to relay the message that she will call you this evening,” the lawyer said as he walked Joy out of the station. There was a crowd of photographers across the street who suddenly perked up and started taking picture after picture. Joy wanted to scream when she saw them there. Didn’t they have any better stories to chase? Though she supposed her arrest was going to get a lot of clicks. At least they were on the other side of the road. She imagined there was some rule requiring them to stay a certain distance away from the station, otherwise they’d be all up in her face like normal.
Joy stared up at the polished man, still reeling from her vision. When she’d come to at the conference table, she’d been breathing hard and her heart was racing, and she had a bone-deep sense that she needed to keep her vision to herself. “Do you know where she is?”
He shook his head. “Her message was short. She asked that I come get you out of here and said she’d call you as soon as possible. Do you need a ride somewhere?”
“Yes, I—” A silver Lexus that was going way too fast swung into the parking lot and came to a stop right in front of them. Joy’s blood pressure eased slightly as she spotted Gigi climbing out of the car.
“Joy! Thank the gods. Are you all right?” Gigi wrapped Joy in a hug and held on tight and whispered, “Who is this goon? Do I need to get rid of him?”
“He’s fine,” Joy said with a relieved chuckle. “But thanks for having my back.”
Gigi let her go and said, “Anytime.” Then she turned to the lawyer and held her hand out. “Hello, I’m Gigi Martin. Joy’s friend.”
“Sebastian Knight. Joy’s lawyer.” He shook her hand and held it, seeming resistant to let it go.
Gigi let out a tiny gasp and stared up at him with wide eyes. Then she whispered, “Sebastian? Is that really you?”
He nodded slowly, his gaze roaming all over her, and then he suddenly dropped her hand and took a step back. “It’s been a very long time, Clarity.”
Clarity? Joy thought. Where had that come from?
Gigi cleared her throat. “I go by Gigi now. And it’s been way too long. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you.” Her smile turned soft as she added, “It’s the hair… and the suit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything other than jeans and a concert T-shirt.”
His lips twitched. “High school seems like a lifetime ago.” His phone buzzed, and he said, “Excuse me.”
Joy stared at Gigi and mouthed, He’s hot!
Gigi gave her a look that said not now and turned back to Sebastian, who was tucking his phone away.
“I’ve got to go,” Sebastian said, smoothing his tie. “Work emergency.”
“That’s too bad,” Gigi said. “How long will you be in town? Do you think we can grab dinner and catch up?”
His eyes lit with interest, but then just as quickly, the interest vanished and was replaced by regret. “Sorry. I’m headed to the airport now. But it was really nice to see you again, Clarity—I mean, Gigi.” He took a step forward, his arms slightly apart as if he were going to hug her, but then he took a step back and shook his head. “Gotta go.” He glanced at Joy and quickly handed her a business card. “Call me if you run into any more issues.”
Then he strode across the parking lot, climbed into a gray Toyota, and was gone.
Joy cleared her throat. “Old boyfriend?”
Gigi pressed a hand on her chest, and while still staring in the direction his car had gone, she said, “Something like that.”
Joy let out a low whistle. “There’s definitely a story there.”
With a sigh, Gigi nodded and said, “Let’s go. Everyone is freaking out.”
“They are? About me being arrested?” Joy closed her eyes and shook her head. “How bad is the press?”
“Let’s just put it this way,” Gigi said, pulling the driver’s side door