Free Treacherous by Barbara Taylor Bradford Page A

existed?”
    “I worked
there, remember? I kept my eyes open.” Hayley studied the DVD, turning it over
and over in her hands.
    Mikey took the
wine out of the refrigerator and downed another slug. “Where’s my money?”
    “What money is
that?” Hayley was rather enjoying tormenting her brother. It was a nice change
of pace.
    “Don’t pull
that!”
    Hayley
extracted a large wad of bills from under the icemaker in her freezer. “I want
you to go directly to that blood sucker, Eddie Rivers. Give him this, get a
receipt, and get out of there, for good.”
    Mikey counted
the money eagerly. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
    “Did you hear
me? This is the end of the line. I mean it, Mikey. You mess up again, you're on
your own.”
    Mikey turned
on the charm, hugging her. When she tried to pull away he picked her up and sat
her on the kitchen counter. “You say that, but we’re a team, you and me. When
one of us needs something, the other provides.”
    “Gee, Mikey,” she
said. “Seems to me like one of us is always the needy, the other the eternal provider.”
    “Families don’t
keep score,” he said, planting a big kiss on her cheek. He headed for the door,
taking the half-empty bottle of warm wine with him.
    “Hey, I didn’t
ask. Is this for some bachelorette party prank on Fiona?”
    “Something
like that,” she said, sliding the DVD into her handbag. “Something like that.”

TWENTY-FIVE
    There
was an enormous turnout of dignitaries who wanted to honor Luke and his team
from CNN, when they were presented with the Edward R. Murrow Award for
excellence in electronic journalism.
    Even before
the train crash, demand for tickets and prime seating had been brisk. After the
crash, and the tidal wave of publicity, the dinner had become the hottest
ticket in town.
    Fiona arrived
early. She was dressed in a delicate lavender lace creation that clung
gracefully to her voluptuous body. Her earrings, an engagement gift from Luke,
were emerald-cut amethysts surrounded by diamonds, and they enhanced the color
of the gown. She had been nervous about not being on the floor, but she had
checked everything half a dozen times, and Hayley assured her she could handle
things perfectly well. Their crew had been trained by both of them, and most
events went off without a glitch.
    “You deserve
everything you’re getting tonight,” Hayley told her, hugging her fiercely. “Now
you go up to the dais and join Luke. I’ll take care of everything.”
    Fiona hugged
her back. “You have been so great through all this. Tonight wouldn’t be
happening without you.”
    Hayley ran her
fingers through her electric blue wig. “Go. We’re starting.”
    Up on the dais,
Luke was looking around for Fiona. He caught her eye and smiled.
    “Okay, I’m
going.” Fiona walked a few steps, and then turned back. “And you're sure the video
clips are in the proper order? I haven’t even had a chance to screen them, and
I always do that several times.”
    “There’s been
no time,” Hayley said. “The network held up the footage of Eddie Rivers’ joints,
until the lawyers could tell them categorically that they wouldn’t be sued. Stop
being a nervous nelly. It’s all good. Now let me go and change into my party
clothes.”
    “You look
fine, Hayley. Really. I’m getting to like the blue hair.”
    “It’s a
statement. But I’ve got something else in mind for tonight,” Hayley said,
hurrying away.

TWENTY-SIX
    So
far the party had been a smashing success. The women looked beautiful and the
men were elegant in their tuxedos. The food was exquisite, and gracefully
served, and, most importantly, the speeches weren’t too long. And now it was
time.
    The governor
of the state of New York was to present the award to Luke and his team. It was
their reporting that had largely curtailed the activities of Eddie Rivers and
his thugs. It was only a matter of time, the governor remarked, before someone
came forward with the evidence that