Page 4 of Silk and Steel

I can’t argue with her. We head out to the fashion district and eat at one of those deconstructed places. Not my favorite, to be honest. Why should I have to assemble my own avocado toast when I’m paying over twenty dollars for it?

But Jenny is good company, and helps take my mind off of Julian. She reminds me that he’s in prison, where he can’t hurt me or anyone else, and we go back to talking about the Boys R Us band and their ability to absorb dance choreography.

I manage to keep the good vibes going when I return to the studio. TJ looks greatly improved, so much that I’m worried someonedidslip him a drink. But he hits all his marks and moves well, without any hint of clumsiness brought on by booze.

“Okay,” I say when the boys start sniping at each other again. “I think we’ve done enough for today. Let’s call it a night, and start fresh tomorrow, all right?”

No one argues with that. Everyone is happy to go home, myself included. On the way out, I see some of the boys low key practicing their moves as they pack up. I can’t help but smile.

“You guys did great today. Really. You’re totally going to nail this video.”

“No doubt,” says the guy with the dreads.

“We know you’ve got our backs,” Mitch chimes in.

“Yeah, you’re our girl, Emory,” says Cody.

On the drive back to my place I almost…but not quite…forget about my nasty call with Julian.

In fact, I’m feeling so normal that I don’t even think anything of it when I see a black and white police SUV sitting outside my house. Only when I come up the sidewalk and realize the cop is standing at my door do I start to get worried.

“Is everything all right, officer?”

The cop puts one hand on her utility belt as she approaches me.

“Are you Emory Thorne?”

“Um, that’s me. I’m not under arrest, am I?”

I’d actually been arrested a few years back, because Julian had been writing bad checks in my name. Most unpleasant, and I feared the worst.

“No, Ma’am,” she says, shaking her head. The look in her eyes worries me though. Whatever this is, it isn’t good.

“Then what is this about?”

She flips open a notepad and scans it.

“I was sent here as a courtesy by the department. I’m afraid I have some bad news. Julian Lovejoy has escaped custody and is at large.”

My knees feel weak. I sit down on the porch steps before I collapse. The cop sits down beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Is there someone you want me to call?”

“No, no,” I say, trying to smile though I want to cry. “I’m fine. I mean, he wouldn't be stupid enough to come after me, would he?”

The blank stare I get back is more frightening than anything she could have said.

“Ms. Thorne, I’m going to recommend that you leave town for a bit. Go visit a relative, or take a trip.”

“No, I can’t!” I gasp. “I just landed the biggest gig of my life! I can’t give it up, even if my ex has broken out of jail.”

“Technically, he broke out of prison. What about protective custody?”

“That won’t work either. I have to go into the studio pretty much every day for the next couple of weeks, until this music video is done. Can’t you, I don’t know, assign an officer to watch over me or something?”

She shakes her head. “I’m afraid we don't have the manpower for that right now. If you aren’t going to leave LA, and you aren’t going into protective custody, I might recommend you hire private security.”

She stands up and nods toward me. “Ma’am.”

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