Free Hollywood Confessions by Gemma Halliday Page B

you run and get your sisters, you can stay and watch,” Nanny told her.
    The little girl thought about this for a moment then seemed to come to the conclusion that it was the best offer she was going to get. “Okay,” she finally said, turning and running up the stairs, ribbons flying behind her.
    I grinned again. “She’s adorable.”
    “ Thanks,” Nanny said, beaming like a proud mama. “She’s been rather difficult lately. Though I can hardly blame her.”
    A little frown creased her smooth forehead, and I took the opportunity to pounce on it. “Why is that?” I asked.
    “ The show. The press. It’s hardly provided a stable home life for the girls lately.”
    I nodded sympathetically. “I can only image how difficult it must be for them, living in the public eye like that.”
    “ Yes!” she agreed. “The paparazzi are relentless. Just last week a woman from a tabloid actually followed the girls into the bathroom with a camera. Can you imagine?”
    “ Horrible.” I cringed, hoping that woman wasn’t Cam. “I suppose Barker’s death must be upsetting to the girls as well.”
    Nanny McGregor shrugged. “We’ve tried to keep the bulk of it from them.”
    “ Probably for the best,” I agreed. “Do the police have any leads?”
    Nanny McGregor shook her head. “Not that they’re sharing.”
    “ What about you?” I asked, feeling her out. “You must have gotten to know Barker during filming. Any idea who might have wanted him dead?”
    She shook her head again. “No.”
    “ I heard he was a bit hard to get along with.”
    She thought about this for a moment before answering. “He was all business. Not very touchy-feely, if you know what I mean. But I suppose that’s what made him so good at his job.”
    “ Did Deb and Don think he was good at his job?”
    At the mention of her employers her demeanor shifted, her back going just that much straighter, her eyes emptying of emotion. “I wouldn’t know what they thought of him.”
    Ah, but she definitely had thoughts about them . “How long have you worked for Don and Deb?” I asked.
    “ Since the last set of triplets were born. I’ve been with the girls since the beginning, really.”
    “ It must be quite a challenge, keeping up with twelve little girls.”
    Her features softened, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes. “I enjoy every minute of it. The girls are darlings.”
    I looked over at the matching darlings. They’d abandoned the mirror and were now arguing over who got to wear the gold tiara.
    “ Don and Deb are very lucky to have you.”
    And just like that the softness disappeared again, a curt nod all the response I got. Clearly the couple was a sore spot for Nanny. I mentally rubbed my hands together.
    “ I suppose you’ve gotten to know Don and Deb pretty well since you’ve been working for them,” I pressed.
    She nodded. “I suppose.”
    “ How are they taking Barker’s death?”
    She shrugged. “Business as usual. The show must go on.”
    “ Right. Just curious…” I hedged, “Did Don and Deb get along with Barker?”
    “ They fought with everyone,” she said. “That’s what kept the show on the air.”
    Good point. “Did they have any particular issues with Barker that you know of?”
    She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why do you ask?”
    Uh-oh. Too far.
    “ Oh, no reason. I just want to know what I’m getting into—working for the family, you know.”
    She nodded, seeming to understand that concept. “I’ll be honest, between Deb’s book tour and Don booking their next public appearance, they hardly even have time to see their children, let alone me. I can’t tell you what their personal feelings toward Barker were, but I do know the show was eating this family alive. This last season was crazy. Paparazzi, the media hype, the separation. And the children are the ones who suffered for it. Poor Demetra wet her bed for a week.”
    I nodded sympathetically. “Change can be hard for the little