Sunset Beach(129)

“She’s not wild about a press conference,” Marianne replied. “Hold still and look up, please.” She brushed his lashes with three coats of Chanel ultra-black. “So I called back and spoke to the police chief, and she looooves the idea.”

“Of course she does,” Brice said. “How often does a department that small crack a two-year-old cold-case homicide? With good old-fashioned shoe-leather detective work? Of course, we’re the ones whose shoes did the work, but it won’t hurt to let them take most of the credit.”

“Does that mean what I think it does?” Drue asked.

“Herman Byars was arrested without incident yesterday. He was actually mowing his lawn when the police pulled up to his house. Hernandez is pretty close-mouthed, but when I called her last night, she said they were confident they have a watertight case.”

“How about Neesa? Is she talking to them?”

“Hernandez says she’s cooperating, so I’m assuming so.”

“What about Ben?” Drue asked.

“Not as cooperative. But I don’t think it’s going to matter that much. I fired off a letter to counsel for the hotel’s insurance company first thing this morning. This matter is a huge black eye to them. There should be serious criminal implications for whomever Ben was dealing with there.”

“Isn’t it a major black eye for Campbell, Coxe and Kramner too? Since Ben worked for us and extorted the insurance company?” Drue asked.

“That part isn’t so great,” Brice admitted. “I’ve already retained counsel for us. Frankly, the whole thing is a shit show all the way around. But the bottom line is, eventually, there will be a settlement for Jazmin’s family.”

“And how long will all that take?” Drue asked.

“It takes as long as it takes, Drue. The wheels of justice grind slowly sometimes.”

“If at all,” she said. “Was that what you wanted to talk to me about? I guess I better get out there to the phones.”

“Don’t worry about the phones,” Brice said. “Just finish up whatever you were working on and ship it over to Wendy. She’s set up a command post in our bedroom. For today, we’re routing calls over to the offsite call center, and in the meantime, Wendy has posted openings for two positions online.”

“Two?” Drue said.

“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you,” Brice said. “Jimmy’s been talking about slowing down for a while now, and after yesterday, he came over and we had a couple of drinks and talked about a succession plan.”

She let the phrase sink in. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“If you want it to,” Brice said. “I admit I had my doubts about it, but Jimmy insists you’re more than capable. You’ve got good people skills—he claims yours are much better than his, by the way—a strong work ethic and, the most important thing, at least according to him, killer instincts. What do you say?”

She looked up at the ceiling and down at her hands, then across the desk at him. “Let me think about it, okay?” she said.

Her reply obviously took him by surprise. “What’s to think about?”

“Well, I’d like a job description, for one. And I’ll need to know about the compensation and benefits package.”

His face began to redden beneath the pancake and he began to sputter.

She balled up a piece of paper and tossed it at him. “Just kidding, Dad. Yeah. I’ll take the job. But it does come with a raise, right? I really have to do something about my roof.”

“Did I not mention your signing bonus?” Brice asked. “How does twenty-five thousand sound? That should buy a roof and replacement doors for the cottage, right?”

Drue found herself grinning despite herself. “A roof, and maybe even central air.” She stood up and stuck out her hand.

Brice laughed, shook her hand and went to give her a hug.

“Brice, please,” Marianne protested. “Your shirt! You’ll get it wrinkled and then it’ll look like you slept in it.”



* * *



After Brice left for his press conference, Drue went back to her cubicle. She had paperwork to finish up, and calls to field from the firm’s newest television ad campaign. At one point, she looked up and saw Zee walking through the bullpen. She reached out and snagged him by the fabric of his shirt.

“Dad told me about the new succession plan,” she said. “Can I take you to lunch today? There’s some stuff I need to ask you about.”

“Can’t. Brice wants me to do follow-up interviews with some of those other current and former housekeepers at the Gulf Vista. He thinks there’s a potential for a class-action lawsuit against the hotel for sexual harassment. That place is the gift that keeps on giving.”

“Okay. Then how about a drink? After work tonight?”

“Maybe. Text me when you leave here and let me know where you want to meet.”



* * *



Drue stopped at Target on her way home from work and picked out several more coloring books and a Little Mermaid bathing suit and beach towel.

When she got to Yvonne Howington’s house, she saw the Plymouth parked in the driveway. The hood was open and the vehicle, which was missing two tires, was raised up on concrete blocks. Drue got a very intense sense of déjà vu.