Free Double Exposure by Rhonda Laurel

it all. If I force him to come back, I don’t know if it would be good for Zoe. Being here the past month is the closest thing she’s hadto normal in a long time. She misses Brianna.”
    “Athena’s been doing some digging around. Before she died, Brianna was making some rather large deposits into her bank account. They weren’t from Jack. She’d been meeting with a real estate agent as well. She’d been looking to buy a mansion and she’d been vetting some pretty exclusive schools for Zoe. That doesn’t sound like someone who wason the brink of suicide.”
    “No, it doesn’t. I made a new friend on the police force. The rumblings are the investigating detectives don’t believe it was suicide either.”
    “There’ve been some pretty strange things happening lately. I think someone paid her very well to start up that rivalry with you in the media again. Then that Harding guy pops up out of nowhere trying to buy your Pinnacleshares from you. Someone is orchestrating your downfall, and I’d like to know why before they up the ante on the game.”
    “I’d love to say it was Raymond, but the Council squashed the notion that he’s the super villain behind all of my life tragedies. Which is a shame. He makes an awfully good villain.” Kate smiled.
    “Raymond’s essentially more bark than bite. I know he wasn’t too happyabout the things Henry told me.”
    “How is Henry?”
    “He’s still detoxing in Wyoming.”
    “I’ve been wondering why you…why you let him live.” She didn’t want to say it, but the thought had crossed her mind.
    “You have Dominic to thank for that. He got involved.” Billie rolled her eyes.
    “Thank goodness for Dominic.”
    “The bigger picture was you looking Clara in the eyeand knowing how her son had died. You wouldn’t have been able to live with the guilt.”
    “You wouldn’t have told me what you did with him.”
    “Perhaps.” Billie looked out to the ocean. “I know things are kind of quiet, but it’s worth continuing the investigation into Brianna’s death. I think Scar should continue to look after Chris. Athena and I will be around.”
    Kate reached intothe pocket of her cover up and handed her the note Mr. Monroe had given her that day. “A gift from the Council. I would like to say it was a contrived list to appease me so I would join their round table of Hollywood supremacy, but I think there are viable names on it.”
    Billie scanned the list. “Wow. Didn’t see that coming.”
    “Think you can find some answers for me?”
    “I promiseI will.” Billie put her arm around Kate.
    Kate put her head on her cousin’s shoulder. “When’s Dominic coming for a visit? I miss him.”
    “Dominic and I are taking a break.” Billie took a deep breath and turned Kate to face her.
    “A break?” Kate’s mouth gaped open. “As in separation or getting divorced?”
    “As in we need some space to figure some things out.” Billie shrugged.
    Kate searched her cousin’s face. “You love him. I know you do.”
    “Right now I’m more concerned about watching your back. It’s time I put down some proper roots here in California. Scar, Athena, and I are starting a private investigation firm in L.A. I’d like you to be our first client.”
    “Do you promise to sort things out with Dominic while you’re starting this new business venture?”
    “OK. I will talk to him. So what are you going to do in the meantime? In addition to your businesses you now have secret council meetings and a child to take care of.”
    “Business as usual.” She shrugged. “The Council knows to call in the future when they want to meet. So there will be no more abductions. And Chris and I will work out a schedule for Zoe. I’ll handle Jack when he returns.”
    “You know, Jack finally got what he wanted. He always wanted you to be the mother of his child.”
    Kate bit her lip. “Find out who was responsible for Brianna’s death. Some day I’m going to have to explain all of