Page 17 of Wild Tonic
Lexi grabbed it from his hands. “I don’t want to talk to the police. I don’t want anyone else seeing these grubby pictures. Tommy says if I give him ten thousand pounds then he won’t go toThe Gosswith it.”
“He’s definitely got evidence then? Tommy’s not just bluffing?”
The laugh Lexi gave was hollow. “Oh, there’s definitely evidence.” She stood up, swayed a little unsteadily and walked over to her bag, reaching into it for her own phone. “Do you want to see it?” She waved it at him.
Not really,he thought, although he wanted to be sure that there was some truth in what Lexi was telling him. Her obviously distraught state went some way to confirming it. However, he wasn’t sure he wanted to see her in that position. He glanced up at the ceiling, trying to work out what the best thing was to do. After a couple of moments, he spoke. “Show me.”
Lexi sat on the edge of the bed and sobbed. “I’m so embarrassed.”
Parker went to join her. He put an arm around her shoulders and held her while she wept, her slender body shaking. When she’d calmed down, she took a deep breath and tapped her phone, opening up the album from her deleted items. Without saying another word, she passed it to Parker and stood up, going to pour herself another drink.
Silently, Parker scrolled through the shots. They were exactly as Lexi had described and he couldn’t imagine how Tommy had even persuaded her to do any of the things in the photos. He looked over to where she stood, her shoulder shuddering sporadically and her breathing heavy.
“I’m so sorry.” He went up behind her, his arms enveloping her in a protective embrace. “We can sort this mess out together.”
She wriggled around to look up at him, her mascara smeared. “Really? We can?” A weak smile crossed her lips and before he knew what was happening, Lexi had launched herself at him, kissing him full on the lips.
“Wait, stop, what are you doing?” he asked. He held her at arm’s length. “I didn’t mean that. I’m prepared to help you, but we’re not getting back together or anything.”
“Oh, I knew that!”
Parker knew Lexi well enough to know she was lying. “I’m with Poppy now.”Who would kill me if she knew I was here,he added silently.
“I know that too.” Lexi touched his arm. “I’m just happy that you can help. When can you get the money?”
“Hang on, I never said I’d give you the money. I still think you need to go to the police and I’m perfectly happy to come along with you when you go to make a statement.” Parker was adamant that’s what should happen. He had no intention of giving Tommy a penny.
“But he said he’d release the pictures if I didn’t get him the money by tomorrow!” Lexi’s tone was desperate. “I can’t have them in the public domain, my career would be ruined!”
“Tell him you’ll get him the money, but you can’t get it for a couple of days. Try stalling him and see if he backs off,” suggested Parker. “Maybe he’ll forget about it.”
“I doubt he will.” Lexi looked defeated. “Okay, I’ll try that.” She bit her lip. “Then maybe I’ll think about going to the police. If you promise me you’ll come with me.”
“I promise.” Parker gave her one last hug. He thought that would be the end of it.
Chapter Twelve
Clothes were strewn all over Clem’s bedroom, including the bed and the floor, and garments spilled out of the wardrobe. Leona sat cross-legged in the midst of it all passing comment about each of the outfits that Clem modelled for her. They were trying to find something for her to wear to Finola’s launch party that night. Reluctantly, she had agreed to go, partly in deference to the contract agreement forPretty Rich Thingsand partly because Finola had stuck up for her with Byron at the PA the other night. She had to look amazing, yet demure and also healthy. Given the amount of alcohol and greasy food she had consumed over the past few nights, it was going to be a tough ask.
“What do you think of this one?” She twirled around in a white dress that had a tiny sunflower print on it.
Leona wrinkled her nose. “Are you meeting Finola’s parents? Or maybe her grandparents?”
“Right, too prissy.” Clem pulled the dress over her head and tossed it onto the floor with the other rejects.
“What’s this?” Leona held up a blue soft cotton checked shirt that had been nestled among the clothes on the bed. “You’re weren’t going to wear this were you?”
Clem snatched it away from her. There was still a slight lingering smell of Nate’s aftershave on the shirt and she had taken to sleeping in it, a reminder of the last time they’d seen each other. Since the PA, they’d exchanged hundreds of messages and talked almost every day, although they hadn’t managed to see each other again. Nate was preparing for the band’s upcoming studio trip and seeing as much as he could of India before he went away. Clem had her own demands, mostly from Stelle D’Oro and the show, plus the appearances she had to make. The fact they were living in different cities was making things even more difficult.
“It’s Nate’s,” she admitted. “I, um, had to borrow it the other day.”
“What do you mean ‘borrow’ it?” Leona’s eyes narrowed as she sensed gossip. “What happened?” Suddenly she sat up straighter. “Actually, you never did tell me about that night. I know you were heading off with Byron and Finola.”
Clem reached for her bathrobe and pulled it around her underwear clad body. Somehow she didn’t feel she could share all her secrets with Leona dressed in just a La Perla bra and panty set. She sank down onto the bed beside her friend.
“It was probably one of the best PAs I’ve ever done.” She balled up the shirt and shoved it under her pillow for safekeeping. “Started off with the usual nonsense from the others, mostly Byron was being a total prick. Then Nate arrived.”
“Uh oh, what happened with Byron?”
