Cut to the Chase (22 page)

E
rin hadn't known what she had been missing all this time. Sitting on Chase's bed with Mia as they talked about the new relationship that had blossomed while she was away on the island was as natural as breathing. They were like two old friends as they giggled and swooned over their men.

Mia didn't hold back when it came to talking about the feelings she had for Paul. So, Erin was happy that Mia was having a little chat with her uncle. It was pointless to even try to hide or gloss over the attraction between Paul and Mia. The moment Erin stepped off the elevator and caught sight of Mia's pink cheeks and slightly wrinkled skirt, she knew that Mia and Paul had taken what she had witnessed in the park and had moved it to a whole other level completely.

Erin walked over and pressed her ear against the bedroom door. She felt like a child eavesdropping, but she wanted to be sure that all seemed quiet before walking out into the hallway. But the sound of claws grinding against wood forced her to open the door…only to find Mia's adorable Lab staring up at her. God, he was so cute. She hadn't realized that she had said those words out loud until she heard Chase say, “I've been replaced.”

Erin looked from Henry to her gorgeous man and said, “Henry's cute…but you're handsome…and so…”—planting a kiss on his full lips—“sexy.” She whispered, trying desperately not to gross out the company, which included her brother, in the very next room.

Chase sighed. “As much as I want to lock you away with me in our bedroom for all of eternity, you know that we can't.” And that was when reality really set in. Her coveted girl talk with Mia, the discovery that her brother's heart had finally thawed, seemed trivial compared to the threat against not only her but everyone under Chase's roof.

Just minutes into their conversation, Erin realized that it wasn't reality setting in; it was a nightmare spilling over into her waking hours, one she would never escape.

Erin looked at Chase and then Paul. No, there had to be a mistake. It just wasn't possible.

“I don't believe you. He couldn't have sent that text,” she said, her voice escalating and filling Chase's expansive kitchen. “Josh would never hurt me. Hell, he never once made a move on me in all the years that I knew him!”

Erin shook her head as she thought about all the times Josh could have done just what her brother had accused him of and didn't. “All those late nights studying alone in his apartment, he didn't even try kissing me. Walking back from a party, when he could have easily taken advantage of my drunken state, he chose to hold back my hair while I threw up instead. Tell me, does that sound like someone who rapes women?”

Erin's hands were shaking and it was clear from the looks on Paul's and Chase's faces that she had rattled both of them with her rant. But as Mia came toward her, Erin realized that Mia did not appear flustered. Actually, she was calm and more poised than everyone else in the penthouse combined.

“No. And that is why we can't accept even the text at face value. Does it make Josh look guilty? Absolutely. Has Josh moved to the top of my short list of suspects? You're damn right he has. But always be leery of what is handed to you on a silver platter. There are only a few things in this life that come easy, like your unshakable bond with your brother, and the way my uncle continues to love me no matter how much I drive him crazy.” Mia looked over at her uncle, who was giving her a knowing grin.

Mia's attempt to diffuse a tense situation that could have easily spiraled out of control was successful and truly miraculous. If there was any doubt that Mia couldn't handle the pressure, that she wasn't up for the challenge of a lifetime, it was laid to rest in that one shining moment. Erin realized that if Mia, a woman who had lived through murder and suicide, could remain optimistic as she trudged through every obstacle, then Erin could freak out less and focus more.

Erin had been standing in the middle of the kitchen when Paul had dropped the Josh bomb on her. But if she was going to share Josh's story with Chase, Erin and Mia, it was best that they all grab a bar stool and take a seat.

“So, maybe it's time you know the man behind the one I befriended within my first semester of college?”

The three of them nodded and she told Josh's painful tale, one that he hadn't shared with anyone else at Penn, but her.

Josh and Julia Graham were the children of multimillionaire Richard Graham, the CEO of White Spring. Based in New York City, White Spring was a multinational investment management corporation that was thriving, appearing in
Forbes
for many years and from the looks of it, would continue to for many more to come.

Josh and Julia had never wanted for anything, at least not when it came to material things. They were set for life. All they had to do was agree to take over their father's company when the time came. But leading a corporation that they respected but had no interest in whatsoever was never their dream, causing a permanent rift within the family.

Josh and his twin sister, Julia, made the conscious decision in their senior year to rock the boat and apply to separate colleges that would fulfill his dream of being a doctor and Julia's lifelong desire to attend Rockhill School of the Arts. Julia was an accomplished pianist with superior intellect. But to Josh, she was just his easygoing sister that enjoyed hanging out, going to a ballgame and wearing jeans, sneakers and t-shirts.

Most parents would have been proud of the careers they had chosen for themselves, but not Richard Graham and his wife, Ava. They were furious that their children had turned their backs on the family and the roles they were bred for. Considering that their upbringing was devoid of warmth, love and support from their parents, Josh and Julia were not at all surprised by their reaction. Despite their parents' threats, Josh and Julia proceeded to enroll in school the coming fall, not allowing their parents' hurtful words and pleas to tarnish their dreams.

The night after they graduated high school, Josh and Julia's parents informed them that if they weren't willing to change their minds and take their positions at White Spring, then they were no longer welcome in the home they had lived in all their lives. Josh and Julia packed their bags that night and left, never once looking back.

Their first stop was the bank, where they withdrew as much money as they could before their parents either froze or closed their accounts completely. Sadly, Josh had been preparing for this day, the day when his parents would cut them out of their lives. A few months before graduation, Josh had opened an account at a small chain bank in New Jersey. Little by little he would withdraw money, some from this account, a few thousand from another, and dump it all into this secret account in New Jersey. According to his last online bank statement, he and Julia had enough money to get them through their first few years of college. Beyond that, they would need to get jobs and work their ways through. Despite growing up with ridiculous wealth, Josh and Julia were not afraid of hard work or with what it took in this day and age to make it on their own. They would have each other to complain to when times got tough and that thought allowed them to leave everything behind, including their parents.

With money in their pockets, Josh and Julia cruised along the Garden State Parkway toward Avalon. Their maternal grandmother had been living alone in the quaint shore town ever since they could remember. Her husband's high blood pressure due to job-related stress had made her a widow, and she would forever regret not putting her foot down and forcing him to leave his high-power, high-profile job sooner. So, needless to say, it sickened her when she discovered that her only child, her beautiful Ava, had been seduced by the lifestyle that had killed her husband.

Julia had insisted on driving, being hopped up on adrenaline over her first taste of freedom. Tears turned to smiles, smiles turned into laughter as they realized that they had really made the leap. They were finally free of their parents, their threats and their harsh and unforgiving words of hatred. Josh called his grandmother and asked her if he and his sister could stop by for a visit. It was almost ten o'clock on a Friday night, but she was elated to hear from them and was ready to welcome them within the hour. And that was right around the time when the laugher stopped. Josh and Julia looked up just in time to see the headlights of a pickup truck directly in front of them. There was no time to swerve, curse or brace for impact.

Josh was in Bayville hospital when he came to, hooked up to a number of machines with an IV sticking out of his arm. Although his head ached from what he suspected was a concussion, he remembered the accident, how one minute they were coasting down the Parkway and the next minute, they had come face-to-face with a truck travelling into oncoming traffic. But the aches and pains he suffered paled in comparison to the loss he felt deep in his soul. Call it twin intuition, but without anyone telling him, he knew his sister was gone.

His parents had been present at Julia's funeral, but neither his mother nor father spoke to him. They were colder than usual, keeping their distance from not only him but also his grandmother, who had opened her home to him for as long as he needed. Josh prepared the eulogy, but was ready to step aside if his parents had grown a heart and wished to speak loving words about their daughter. But as he suspected, they hadn't prepared a goddamn thing and were content to be viewed as guests, rather than grieving parents. Josh stood at the podium and spoke at length about the beautiful woman who the world would never get the privilege to meet. How no one would be able to witness her fiery spirit or her unwavering persistence ever again. Although his words got jumbled from time to time due to frequent emotional breaks, his final message came across loud and clear. He had lost more than a sister that night; he had lost his twin, his best friend.

Josh was in no shape to attend college that coming fall. He continued to live with his grandmother as he took on a job at Avalon's only coffee house. His grandmother kept quiet as she watched her grandson mourn in his own way, which was working most of the day, eating dinner in silence and going to bed even before an old lady like herself. The next day, the next eleven months, were more of the same. On the one-year anniversary of Julia's death, Josh's grandmother had given him the kick in the ass he needed and told him that it was time to start living, that Julia's dream of seeing him make it and be the doctor he always wanted to be, was fading a little each day.

Josh finally understood from whom Julie acquired her fire, that feisty dose of spice that made a man reassess his life and put things into perspective. The next day, he called the college and spoke to his advisor. A week later, he went to Penn to pick up his schedule, paid for his first year of college in full, and found a one-bedroom apartment that was small but clean. His grandmother made the trip into Philly to help get him settled, which had touched him tremendously. With his sister gone, his parents unreachable in every sense of the word, his grandmother was the only family he had left.

M
ia tried desperately to distance herself from the man Erin had just described and the facts that she had in front of her, which at the moment, did not work in Josh Graham's favor. A text was sent from Josh Graham's cell phone, identifying him through the use of the word “Angel” as the rapist. Josh Graham possibly had access to mass quantities of money and resources through estranged family members. Josh Graham still had ties to New York City. Josh Graham was intelligent and, from what Erin described, persistent, patient and practical. He didn't up and leave his parents' home with just the shirt on his back. He had thought ahead and shuffled money around to sustain himself for a few years. Josh Graham could not be accounted for immediately after he and Erin finished their last final exam. Those were the facts, like 'em or not.

“Uncle Drew, have you put someone on Josh, yet?” Mia asked.

“I made a call from the plane. My guy said he would contact me when they have located him,” Uncle Drew said.

“Good. Now, let's shift for a second. We have had a tail on Morris for days. Any new developments there?” Mia asked.

“Frank checks in with me hourly. Morris's routine is pretty much the same each day, but his nights differ. It appears that he has a girlfriend. He is at the movies with a Ms. Jennifer Freehold as we speak. Last night, Frank followed them to La Mer, an upscale restaurant in the city, where they dined for several hours,” Uncle Drew said.

“And let me guess, Morris's phone records do not indicate anything of concern and he hasn't come within a mile of any of us?” Erin asked.

“Correct,” Uncle Drew said.

Mia soaked in everything in order to review and dissect later. But first it was important that everyone had the same information. For the next hour or so, Mia and Paul discussed their trip to both Dr. Mitchell Morris's office and Dr. Scott Morris's former place of employment. Mia relayed to the group how each Morris was perceived by those who knew the men. In a nutshell, Morris Senior was loved and respected. Morris Junior was arrogant and lacking the warmth his father so easily conveyed on a daily basis.

The conversation grew more difficult when she discussed the reason for their abrupt departure from Philly. Paul must have sensed her discomfort because he came over and took her hand. Mia wondered how her uncle felt about that, but Paul didn't seem to care, so why should she?

“My neighbor's death has been ruled an accident, but I feel that we shouldn't close the book on that one. We know that Gabrielle was deemed a suicide…but she was also conspiring with someone she thought was Erin's ex-boyfriend. And let's not forget Dr. Mitchell Morris's own untimely death.” Mia could tell from the looks on their faces that she hadn't said anything that they weren't already thinking.

Chase had been quiet for most of the conversation, but he suddenly sprung to life. “We'll need more men, Andrew. The girls shouldn't step foot outside this door without someone glued to their sides.” Chase looked over at Erin. “In fact, I don't want you leaving the penthouse for any reason.”

Erin looked annoyed at the thought of being held captive in her own home. Mia was just about to interject when Paul said, “I agree.” Paul then stared at her and said, “And you shouldn't either.”

This was not happening. There was no way she was going to hide away for Lord knows how long, missing work, putting a complete halt to life. “I can't do that, Paul. I won't,” Mia said.

“It's the same as running,” Erin said.

Mia looked over at Erin and Chase. It was obvious that Chase wanted to plead with her, make her understand that all he wanted to do was keep her safe. But in the process, while she was locked away in his penthouse, he would make her go insane. Mia looked at Paul, who also appeared to be on the verge of demanding that she and his sister remain in Chase's tower.

“You can't go home, Mia,” Paul said. “It's not safe enough.”

“I agree with that, Mia. There are too many points of entry to secure,” Uncle Drew said. Mia knew her uncle had a point, but what was the alternative?

“You will move in with me,” Paul said with absolution.

As much as Mia loved the thought of waking up with Paul every morning, she knew that wasn't a good idea. “Right now, the bastard doesn't want to kill me because he believes I'm wholesome and pure. If he discovers that you and I are cohabitating, obsession will turn to hatred and he will view me as something vile, no longer worthy of his affections or attention. Erin hasn't received a text since his perception of her changed. I don't want to cut off communication with him. The more he talks, the greater the chance he will slip.”

“Let's think about this for a minute. He's not bothered that you associate with what he considers to be filth, he just doesn't want you sleeping with it. Would that be safe to assume?” Chase asked.

“It appears to be the case. Every psychopath is different, with a different set of rules. And these rules often make no sense. I once profiled a psychopath that chose his victims based on firstborn status. It took a while to discover the connection—that each of his six victims was the firstborn son, but eventually the son-of-a-bitch got sloppy and we were able to connect the dots.”

“Perception is everything, then,” Chase said. He looked at Mia. “What if you stayed here, a place where he couldn't know for certain if you have…for the lack of a better term…gone to the dark side? It would make him uneasy, frustratingly uncertain if you were still worthy of his affections, causing him…”

“To falter,” Mia finished. She looked at her uncle for guidance, but it was clear that he was uncomfortable with the plan, as he would be with any plan that put her life in jeopardy.

So it surprised her when Uncle Drew said, “As much as I hate to admit it, that may be our best option.”

“Great. Then it's settled. We have plenty of room for you and Paul,” Chase said, weaving a hand around Erin's waist.

“Not so fast. I've agreed to stay, but I will go to work, I will attempt to lead a normal life and try not to get fired from a job I love,” Mia said.

Mia heard Paul sigh before he said, “Okay. We will have men in place everywhere you go, which shouldn't be too difficult since you will only be going to work and then returning immediately to the penthouse.”

Mia's natural instinct at such a demand was to dig her heels in and challenge the person who was trying to dictate what she could and couldn't do. But that very person was the same man she had been with just hours ago, who she had given her heart and body to for the first time in her life. And he was worth compromising for.