Never Look Back (19 page)

"Maybe I can just sell my shares."

"Vladimir, are you out of your mind? You've forgotten how your father built this business and you—"

"I'm not destroying the business. I'm thinking of selling my shares. That way, you can handle it and I—"

"Have you thought what you'll do?"

Vladimir strode down the trail overlooking the harbor and mediated by the water. He closed his eyes, imagining how peaceful life could be while Constantine continued to lecture him. "I don't know. Maybe do what normal people do: have kids, a family." Contemplating how he could disappear, he picked up a pebble on the ground and tossed it, watching as it bounced.

"Oh, no," Constantine exclaimed. "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with this woman."

Acting upon impulse, he ditched the phone into the water, never looking back as he ran as fast as he could.

***

Dana slid her hand on the satin sheets and peeked to see if Gio was still asleep, but instead, she found a note.

Went for a run. Get dressed. Want to take you somewhere nice.

A warm sensation tingled inside of her. Gio was full of surprises. After slipping out of bed, she hopped into the shower and allowed the hot water to lather her body. There were decisions she needed to make and no matter how much she weighed them out, Dana knew she couldn't imagine what life would be without Gio. She hoped this wasn't some kind of whirlwind romance that ended in a disaster. Even though she didn't know much about him, she knew enough to trust him.

Once she finished her shower, she toweled off and slipped into a satin robe. She applied lotion and moisturizer and combed and blow dried her hair. Forget her disguise. She wanted to look extra beautiful for Gio. Not Abigail Madison beautiful, but the Dana Simmons supermodel that she was.

Vladimir dashed inside a phone shop and exhaled in relief when he was the only customer inside.

The clerk approached him. "Looking for a phone? We have the latest Samsung Gala−"

"Sure, I'll take that." He agreed.

"Great. Do you have an account with us?"

"I need a prepaid service. Won't be here for long."

The clerk circled around the counter and handed him the pre-paid card. "How are you liking Austin so far?" He assisted Vladimir with the phone.

"Love it."

"That's what everybody says." He giggled, covering his mouth as his gaze darted back and forth to Gio. "So, do you know how to do this?" he asked, ringing up the charges.

Gio took the bag from him. "Yes, thanks for your help."

"Have a great day."

Gio exited the shop and walked a few feet down the road so he could be alone. He scratched the card and plugged in all the info then made a phone call. Shivering, he turned around to see if there was anybody nearby. Then he cocked his head and transferred the phone to his right ear.

A sleepy voice picked up after four rings. "Hello."

"Courtney, it's me. Gio."

"Gio." She paused. "How's it going?" She yawned.

"Listen, I need you to do me a big favor."

"Anything for you. You made my dream come true."

"You're aware that your agent is in jail."

"Rob?"

"Don't you watch the news? Anyway, I'm going to text you instructions on what to do, but you're to tell nobody I sent you."

"Wait? What is going on?"

"Just wait for my text." Gio hung up. If he needed to make things right for Dana, he needed someone on his side to help him and Courtney would do it.

***

Stanley's squeaky shoes woke Rob from his sleep inside the jail cell. He had been dreaming of Dana and knew she was still alive and his exasperation and fear kept him awake at night. He was surprised to see a guard there.

“Rob Hanson, you’re free to go.” The guard opened the cell.

Rob beamed in delight. “Really?" Facing Stanley, he asked, "How did you get the bail money?”

“No bail was needed, but let's discuss more in my office about the findings,” Stanley said.

Rob furrowed his eyebrows and followed the guard who escorted him to the front to retain his belongings.

“There are people outside ready to pounce at you. Please keep a straight face and answer no questions.” Stanley kept Rob within arm’s length.

A stream of reporters paraded themselves around him as soon as they exited.

“Mr. Hanson, what do you have to say about the murder of Stacy Kestav? Did you kill her?”

A splurge of anger burned within him. Rob could feel his face flushed. He struggled to maintain composure.

“Mr. Hanson, is it true that you blackmailed the models to have sex with you in the hope of building a successful career?”

Rob gasped, but Stanley squeezed his arm and faced the crowd. “My client is not answering any questions. Please respect his privacy.”

A reporter sneaked in from of them and positioned the microphone in front of Rob. “Is it true that Stacy Kestav is dead because she threatened to expose you?”

Rob drew in an exasperated breath. “For the record, I am no murderer.”

Stanley pushed him inside a black Cadillac. “Weren’t my instructions clear?”

With head bowed down, Rob moaned. “I’m sorry, I can’t believe they would say such horrible things.”

“Trust me. Scandals sell.”

"I don't understand. How'd you get me out?" Rob asked, fastening his seat belt.

Stepping on the gas, Stanley flashed him a grin. "It turns out that Stacy's father was in the pornography business. "

"Oh my God!"

"Her sister discovered about it in their basement. She phoned the FBI agents, and they came in with a warrant. They found the knife with a trace of blood and it matched Mr. Kestav's DNA as well as Stacy's."

"That's sick," Rob coughed. "How could he kill his own daughter?"

"I know, but at least they found evidence and you're a free man."

Rob kept his gaze glued to the road and scratched his head. "Something's not right here. If the Kestav family is involved in the pornography business, they might know where Dana and her mother are."

"Will you get a grip on yourself and stop playing detective for once?"

His lips formed a hard line. "I need to speak with Agent Wayne and tell them what I found."

Swerving to the left, Stanley glared at him. "You need to stop, Rob. Aren't you happy you're not in jail anymore?"

"I don't think the Kestav family is alone in this business. This is bigger than you think. They need to find Michael Downey. Once they find him, they'll get answers."

***

Grinning from cheek to cheek, Dana stepped outside the bathroom and walked into Gio's bedroom. She felt her face flushed with excitement as she plucked a white polo shirt and dressed up. Then she slipped on the jeans she had on the hanger and her sandals. Overhearing the door close, she called out, "You're back."

Dana dashed outside to greet him… only a tall woman with long black hair and olive-toned skin stood by the door wearing a skimpy white dress with no bra. She tilted her head and smiled. "You don't look like the other women. The last one he had didn't stop chewing gum. She tasted good though."

A knot formed in her stomach. "I'm sorry, but are you a friend of Gio's?"

"Oh." She raised her eyebrows. "He didn't tell you." She fingered his silk shirts.

"Tell me what?" Heat enclosed her body, and her breathing became more rapid.

Approaching Dana, the woman twirled her hair. "Your man loves to play. I'm Amy, btw."

Taking a step back, Dana cleared her throat. "I need to go."

Gesturing her hands in the air, Amy pouted. "Gio's going to be sad you left before the party started."

Dana grabbed her purse and stormed out, heading for the elevator. Tears trickled down her cheeks.
How dare he!
She had trusted him when her instincts told her not to. She had been about to tell him everything. She hated
him
. She hated her
life
. She hated being alone
again
.

U.S. Marshall Collins was right. She couldn't trust anyone. Everyone she trusted betrayed her. But she had a mission to fulfill and everything ended here. She could no longer be Abigail Madison. She was going to find her mother and kill Vladimir. No more distractions. Walking toward the harbor, she flung the cell phone U.S. Marshall Collins gave her on the water and fled. Dana knew where she needed to go.

***

Vladimir dashed inside his unit, breathless. "Abigail, I have exciting news to share with you." He strode to the bedroom and stopped in tracks. A dark-haired woman lay underneath the bed sheets. "Who are you? Where's Abigail?"

The woman pushed the sheets down, revealing her naked body. "Oh, that scared shitless woman?" She gave a sly grin. "She left in such a hurry."

Vladimir picked up a vase on the dresser and threw it against the wall. "Please leave," he growled.

Rising from the bed, the woman grabbed her clothes. "Gladly." Covering her body, she added, "Constantine said you were fun to be with and liked adventure. It's too bad. I would have really liked to do you and your friend." She shrugged, heading toward the door before flashing him one last look. "Your loss."

Taking deep breaths, Vladimir felt a sharp pain in his palm. He spotted a pointed glass from the vase pressing against his skin. "Fuck." Vladimir fled to the kitchen and washed his hands. He plucked a towel and wrapped around his hand.

Clanking heels and the door shut were the last thing he heard before his landline rang. After five rings, there was a voicemail from Constantine.

Don't think you can get away from me, I'll come find you and when I do… You'll regret it.

Vladimir tugged the cord and smashed the phone. Staring at the night table, he noticed Dana left her locket. Opening, the necklace, he caught sight of the family photo with a young Dana. His heart sank. He would end this nightmare of a life and not live the life his father and Constantine wanted. Depositing the locket inside his pocket,  he grabbed his keys and stormed out of the building. Today he will live his life the way he wanted it to be.

U.S. Marshalls Collins and Adams surveyed Dana's house in Texas.

"Everything seems to be normal," U.S. Marshall Collins called out to his partner while eyeing the vegetables and fruits inside her refrigerator. "She has food to last her all week."

U.S. Marshall Collins appeared from the bedroom. "She left all her clothes and shoes intact."

"Where would she go? It's only been twenty-four hours, and she's supposed to work tomorrow."

U.S. Marshall Collins rubbed his chin. "Cara mentioned she had a new assistant. Good looking fellow, she said. Gio something.

"Why didn't Dana inform us about this? What happened to Courtney?"

"Moved to New York to be a model." He paused. "Wait a minute."

"We need to find Gio." U.S. Marshall Adams pulled out his cell phone.

"Before we do that, we need to tip the press that Dana Simmons is now dead."

***

Using his binoculars, Vladimir waited and watched the two men wearing clad-suits leave Dana's house. He knew these were the two U.S. Marshalls who protected her. If they couldn't find Dana, they would be looking for him. But where would Dana go?

After the U.S. Marshalls were nowhere in sight, Vladimir stepped out of his car and checked to see if anybody was watching. He put on his leather motorcycle gloves and headed for the back. Smashing the glass door with a rock, he slipped inside Dana's house hoping to find clues. He dug his hand underneath the couch. Nothing. Marching to her bedroom, he touched the sheets and underneath the mattress for any clues, but no luck. In the bathroom, Vladimir inspected her medicine cabinet and aside from Tylenol and a shaver, there was nothing there.

Back at the bedroom, he turned on the TV to watch the news, and a photo of Mr. Kestav flashed on the screen. The reporter announced how he had brutally murdered his daughter. Then they showed Rob Hanson coming out of jail.
I need to call Courtney.

Without hesitation, he lifted the toilet, bowl lid and discovered an envelope. "Bingo." He picked it up and went to the bedroom to sort its contents—photo of her parents, a magazine photo of Dana, and a ripped out folded calendar. He flipped the calendar and spotted only one thing scribbled in August.
Kill Vladimir Marcovic.

His heart sank.
I need to find her

After pacing the room back and forth, Vladimir raised his hand in the air.
New York.

He texted Courtney instructions hoping to make things right for Dana.

***

At the station, FBI Agents Kerry and Felicia stood, watching the TV as photos of Dana Simmons flashed on the screen. The newscaster relayed how the supermodel's car skidded off the cliff and exploded in France.

"Now the whole world will believe she had a tragic death," Kerry said. "Such a waste. She was young, beautiful and had a whole life ahead of her."