Page 6 of Gage
“Stop it. You can’t change the past. Work with Gage, uncover the facts, and prove you didn’t kill Steven.”
Even giving herself the little pep talk didn’t help, but she knew what would. Talking to her best friend, Allison. Grabbing her cellphone from the nightstand beside the bed, she quickly hit the speed dial.
“Hey, Ally.”
“Morning, girlfriend. What’s got you calling so early?”
“Just needed to hear a friendly voice.”
“Uh oh. Sounds like things didn’t go well last night. Weren’t you meeting with the guy who’s supposed to help you prove you didn’t kill Steven?”
“I did.” Suzanna chewed on the edge of her index finger. “He wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.”
“Do tell. What was he like?”
“Moody. Broody. He had a bad boy aura, but Brandon swears he’s one of the good ones.”
“Bad boy type, hmm. Tell me, was he delicious looking? All leather and stubble? Because I can be in New Orleans in about six hours, girl.” Ally’s laughter spilled forth, and just like that Suzanna’s spirit lightened.
“Yes on the leather and the stubble. Dark hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He said he’d help me. I almost didn’t expect him to, because he was a bit—distant—at least in the beginning. I have the feeling he’s not the kind to give up. I don’t want toget my hopes up, because nobody’s been able to find anything to clear my name, but Gage seems—I don’t know—different somehow.”
“But he said he’ll help? I just wish I could do more, but I’m halfway across the country right now. These clients are impossible, can’t make up their minds on any one style. As soon as the wife chooses a fabric or a wallpaper design, the husband vetoes it and vice versa. I swear if they don’t make up their minds soon, I’m going to paint every wall in their house bright Barbie pink with orange stripes and put in black carpet. And their fighting? I swear they think I’m their marriage counsellor, and trust me these twoneedprofessional help. But say the word, and I’ll head back to Dallas in a heartbeat.”
Tears filled Suzanna’s eyes and she fought them back. She adored Ally, they’d become fast friends from the moment they met. Steven had hired Ally to help Suzanna redecorate their five thousand square foot apartment in Dallas after they got married. They’d spent weeks redoing the entire space, making it elegant yet comfortable. Instead of a corporate apartment, which it had been before Steven and she married, it became a home.
“Stay where you are. This job is important. You know it and I know it too. This contract could put you in the stratosphere of exclusive designer to the stars. All the rich and famous will be clamoring for you to redo their homes.”
“From your mouth to you-know-who’s ears. I’m just wondering if it’s worth all the headaches.”
Suzanna had to bite her tongue to keep from answering. She knew all too well what it was like to get everything you’ve ever wanted handed to you. Turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. At least for her. The one silver lining in her fairy tale had been Steven. If not for him, she’d have turned her back on everything and walked away a long time ago.
“We’ll celebrate when you get back to Dallas. Hopefully by then we’ll both have something worth breaking out the bubbly for.”
“That’s a promise. I swear I’m going to have Mister I’m-too-busy-to-pick-out-flooring make a decision this morning if it kills me. Honestly, we’ve gone through sixteen different options. Sixteen! We’ve finally narrowed it down to three. Please, for the love of all things marble, let him make a choice.”
Suzanna smiled at her friend’s over-the-top attitude. Ally was the best, always raising her spirits when she’d been in the dumps. She deserved all the accolades and recognition she was finally achieving. Even if it meant dealing with an aging soap opera star and his brand new, much younger, bride.
“You’ve got this. I’ll let you go, since I know it’s way too early there in California and you need to get your elixir of life or you’ll explode.”
“As, yes, caffeine is my best friend—aside from you that is. Listen, Suzanna, I’m serious, if you need me, I’m just a call away.”
“Which is how I know you’re my bestie. I thought I’d spend today in New Orleans, seeing the sights, maybe take a ghost tour or something later tonight, before heading back to Dallas tomorrow. I figured one day away from the paparazzi and gossipmongers is only fair, don’t you?”
“Great idea. Do the whole tourist act. Stroll among the artists. Eat some amazing food at the local restaurants. Oh, go to Café Du Monde and drink some café au lait and eat beignets. Get powdered sugar all over you. That is definitely something a tourist would do on their first visit to New Orleans.”
Suzanna couldn’t stop her grin at Ally’s excitement. Oh, how she wished her friend was with her. Ever since Steven’s death, she’d felt so alone. Even when surrounded by his businessassociates, lawyers, and so-called friends, she felt a loneliness deep inside that never seemed to go away.
“I’ll do that. In the meantime, try to catch another couple hours sleep if you can. I’ll talk to you later, and you can tell me all about Mr. Big Shot and his wife.”
“Deal. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Disconnecting the call, Suzanna perched on the edge of the bed, staring at the cellphone. She’d promised herself one day of doing nothing but enjoying being alive and free and in a new place. Instead, she felt adrift, not sure where to go or who she could turn to. It seemed like her life was a never-ending cycle of accusations and sorrow.
“I can do this,” she whispered, standing and grabbing her small cross-body bag. It was small enough to hold her cellphone, credit cards and ID. She rarely carried cash, preferring to use her credit or debit cards to pay for everything. Blowing out a deep breath, she opened the door, freezing at the sight of a man wearing a ski mask standing in the doorway.
Holding a wicked-looking gun.
