Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“What about Virna, then? Lot of money involved there.”
Leaning back against the wall, I let the past tumble through my head. “I was still gambling then; pissed it all away.” Ackerson had likely dug up the gambling by now, or Baxter would’ve clued her in, so better not to hide it. “But I always needed more. So if it had been about money, I’d have been better off with her alive.”
I leaned forward with my forearms braced on my thighs. “I wasn’t in her will—and she’d gifted me that quarter of a million, so it wasn’t as if I was in debt to her. Her death held no benefit for me.”
“It wasn’t? About money?” Softer voice, softer words.
I considered my earlier belief that Ackerson’s anger was rooted in sympathy for the women she thought I’d conned. “You know who my mother is, right? Beautiful, striking Audrey Advani. Stunning at sixty-two and still an icon.”
“She knew Virna Musgrave?”
“Not as far as I know.” I smiled at nothing. “I was answering your question, Detective. About why I was attracted to Virna, to Joss, to other older women.” Chasing love that would never be mine. “My therapist said it was an attempt to make up for the lack of maternal love in my life.”
So pat, so easy. But sometimes, it was that banal.
“Audrey is a good mom to my brother, but she has a small heart—she only had enough love in it for a single child.”
Just like Mrs. Kumar.
Which was why I understood Shumi’s choice to stay with a man who hurt her. I’d stayed with Joss, hadn’t I? Because when she wasn’t being cruel, she could be a loving, attentive woman of sharp intelligence and wit.
“I never thought I’d fill that void inside me until I met Diya,” I continued. “It ended that night.” Under sparkling colored lights reflected in the enigmatic darkness of her eyes. “I don’t need the validation from women like Jocelyn and Virna anymore.”
“It’s a good story.”
I shrugged. “Not really. It’s a dumb one. You’ll probably find one like it in every fancy neighborhood in LA. Lot of poor little rich kids left to the nannies.” Mine had been named Inez, at least for the first three years of my life. I barely remembered her, because I’d apparently called her “Mom” once in Audrey’s hearing, and that was it.
No more nannies, just a string of babysitters that changed at Audrey’s whim.
She wouldn’t love me, but she wouldn’t permit me to love another maternal figure, either.
“I’m only interesting because I had the bad luck to be involved with Joss and Virna.” My laugh held no humor. “You know what the most ridiculous thing is? Baxter thinks I tampered with Virna’s car—but I don’t even know how to change a fucking tire, much less where the brake lines are or whatever it was that was done to Virna’s car.”
I liked to drive fast cars and learn about their specs—that was the extent of my mechanical knowledge.
“I know you think I have it in for you,” Ackerson said, “but I’m a good cop. I looked into Bobby, and into any disgruntled employees of his, along with any patients who might have held a grudge against the doctors.”
I sat back up so I could look at her. “And?”
“There’s no sign—not a single one—of it being an outsider. The Prasads had external security cameras, and that footage was stored remotely. We got access to it this morning.”
I hadn’t known that—the cameras must’ve been all but invisible. Diya had probably taken them so much for granted that she hadn’t even thought to mention it. “Then you know I wasn’t there when it happened.” It would be the second time in my life that security cameras had saved me from a cell.
“You could’ve still started a slow blaze and left.” She held up a hand before I could explode. “But that’s looking less and less likely.”
Taking out her phone when it buzzed, she glanced at it before putting it away. “I’m not out to ruin an innocent man’s reputation, Tavish, but look at it from my point of view—you’ve now been involved with at least two women who died under suspicious circumstances, and your current wife is in the ICU.”
I turned the full force of my attention on her, smiled in the way that made her the center of my world…and saw her pupils dilate. “See?” I whispered. “I don’t need to kill women for money. If one kicks me loose, there are a million more out there I can seduce with little effort. I’m really good at it—guess Mom gave me something after all.”
You’re the best chameleon I’ve ever met…Do you even know who you are when you aren’t becoming your latest target’s fantasy?
Chapter 56
Private notes: Detective Callum Baxter (LAPD)
Date: Oct 29
Time: 18:07
I tried to warn that young woman, but Advani made damn sure she was never alone where I could get to her. I should’ve tried harder, even if it got me pulled up on a harassment complaint. Now she’s lying in the ICU.