The Mistaken (16 page)

“It’s company policy,” he explained as he wiped a
towel across the bar. “We recently had a problem with an employee
and someone who came looking for her here. The police were
involved, and there was a bad scene afterwards, so policy now
prevents us from giving out information. But if you’d like, I can
get a message to her.”

He threw the towel over his shoulder and began
stacking glasses along a shelf above his head, but he never once
took his eyes off me. I thought his offer over and decided against
it. The bartender might tip my hand if he described me to her.

“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.” With a wave
and polite smile, I left the bar.

I walked back through the lobby, out the main door,
and into the warm sunshine. Seconds later, a waitress from the bar
approached me from behind and tapped hesitantly on my shoulder.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” she whispered. She took a small
step back as I turned around. “I heard you inside talking to Jared.
Would you mind if I take a look at that picture?” She raised her
hand toward me and wiggled her fingers.

“No, not at all. Please…” I handed her the
photo.

The girl looked back and forth between me and Erin’s
picture. “That is
so
weird,” she said.

“Hmm, yes, I agree. So tell me, do you know
her?”

She nodded. “Well, yeah, sure. Everyone here knows
Erin. Some a little too well, if you know what I mean.”

I raised a brow at her. “Do you know where I might
find her?”

The girl looked around to make sure no one was
watching or listening before she turned back. “Yeah, she’s cleaning
out her locker. She was just fired. Management is waiting to escort
her off the property.”

“Really? That’s very interesting. Do you know why
she was fired?”

The girl propped a fist on one hip and flipped her
ponytail back over her shoulder as a false smile twisted a corner
of her mouth.

“Well, she has some legal issues
and
,” she
said emphasizing the word, “she just got into a huge argument with
a guest. It was pretty heated and really embarrassing,” the
girl—looking around carefully—delighted in telling me.

“Really? What happened exactly?”

The girl leaned in, like we were old friends sharing
a sordid secret. “Well, her boyfriend, who, I might add, is a
regular guest here, well, it seems he caught her with another guy.
God, he was so pissed. You should have seen him. He screamed at her
in front of
everyone
.” The girl was positively giddy as she
shared her news.

“Really? Umm…listen, would you mind walking with me
for a few minutes? I wouldn’t want to get you in any trouble for
speaking with me, and I’d love to ask you a few more questions.” I
linked my arm through hers, reinforcing the image that we were good
friends.

“Sure thing.” She pointed in the direction in which
we should walk to get away from prying eyes and ears.

“So what’s your name?” I asked.

“Tracy.”

After walking some distance, I stopped and turned to
her. “Well, Tracy, I gather you don’t like Erin very much.”

“Is it that obvious?” she asked, and I raised one
brow in answer. “Well, no, I don’t like her at all, and I’m
thrilled she’s leaving. She’s been nothing but trouble since she
got here.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Erin’s a slut, always running around with the
club’s guests when she’s off work. That guy I told you was her
boyfriend? Well he’s just one of many. That other guy was another.
A new one. I’m just surprised it took this long for one of them to
catch on. The hotel makes a lot of money off them and she keeps
them…uh…satisfied, so they don’t mind none. Hell, they practically
pimp her out themselves, though I heard Erin got caught swiping
credit card numbers from clients, and that a guest caught her and
confronted her about it.” Tracy looked distant for a moment, caught
in a memory as she tapped her index finger against her chin. “There
was a really bad accident and someone got hurt, like real bad or
something...” She shook her head and turned back to me. “I don’t
know, but Erin was involved somehow. That’s what I heard anyway.
I’m telling you, that girl’s nothing but trouble.”

Hatred flashed like a light in Tracy’s eyes as she
rambled on. I was most interested in Erin’s boyfriends. Knowing how
often he was here, I bet Tracy would recognize Beck if I showed her
a photo. I pulled my wallet out of my purse, selected a picture of
Beck, and held it up for her.

“Tracy, have you ever seen this man?”

Recognition sparked within her as a smile spread
across her face. “Yeah, that’s the boyfriend who caught her, the
dude who screamed at her earlier. He’s here quite a bit.” She
handed the photo back. “Who is he anyway? I mean, you obviously
know him so...” She shrugged.

“He’s my husband,” I informed her dryly.

“Oh my God, really?” She giggled then drew herself
up short. “I mean, well, I’m sorry, it’s just that… I can’t get
over how weird that is, you know, that you two look so much alike
and all. I mean, he’s your husband and her boyfriend? Kinda freaky,
don’t you think?”

“Yes, I do.” I replaced the photo and held out my
hand. She shook it with a hesitant grip. “Tracy, it has been a
pleasure. Thank you so very much for your time.” I smiled and
turned away, but she caught my arm with her hand.

“Wait! You don’t want to talk to Erin? Because I
could take you down there. I’d
love
to see the look on her
face when—”

“
No, no, Tracy, please. I don’t
want her to know I was here just yet. You understand.”

“Um, okay, sure.” Tracy looked disappointed, but
shrugged. “Whatever.”

“Thanks again.” I turned again to leave, but quickly
turned back to ask one last question. “Say, Tracy? How long ago
would you say it was that my husband and Erin had their little
disagreement?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe an hour or so, I guess. He
was really pissed when he left. I saw him check out of the hotel
before the big fight so he might be on his way home...just so you
know.”

“Thanks.” I turned away and walked through the
parking lot.

I guess I had my answers. Beck was in over his head,
and the girl was just having a little bit of fun at his expense. It
was funny how everything changed in those moments I spent talking
with Tracy. I climbed back into my rental car and looked through
Sam’s photos one last time, stopping on a close-up shot of Beck as
he kissed Erin’s cheek.

I flicked his image with my finger. I had only
contempt for him now. The feelings I’d been carrying around with me
the last few days soured all of a sudden, leaving a bitter
aftertaste. I knew now why I’d never tried hard enough to save my
marriage. I didn’t really want to save it. I realized I was just
having a hard time letting it go after all the years I’d invested.
It was simply an old habit I needed to break, a bad one.

I snorted at the photo and shook my head. I was
amused that Beck had caught his little girlfriend cheating on him.
Serves him right, the bastard. I knew what I wanted to do. I was
going to divorce Beckham. I would leave him, The Plateau, and all
the ugliness of both far behind me. I pulled out my cell and called
my attorney, waiting several minutes before her assistant put me
through.

“Hi Sarah, this is Hannah Maguire. Those divorce
papers you drew up for me last week? Yes, file them immediately,
please. And I want full custody of Conner. Please see that it’s
taken care of today. Okay? Great. Thanks.”

I hung up with a satisfied smile, feeling better
than I had in years.

Chapter
Seventeen

Tyler

I requested a meeting with Alexi to sort out the
details of handing Erin over to Dmitri. He summoned me to a
waterfront warehouse south of Market. As I stood waiting, his black
Mercedes appeared out of nowhere, like a phantom emerging from the
swirling fog. With his bodyguard remaining tucked away in the
warmth of the idling car, Alexi emerged, stepping out onto the
chilly parking lot with his standard grin.

I confirmed our previously discussed plans, and he
promised his crew would provide any information and assistance I
might need. I had only to ask. Alexi seemed quite smug that I would
go to such extremes over the girl, but I assured him that it was
not solely for revenge. I had an even greater issue motivating me
now.

Dmitri would likely receive a large sum for
Erin—blood money—none of which I wanted for myself. My terms were
of a more personal nature, one that he certainly would not like or
welcome. But I’d waited a long time for this opportunity, and I
wasn’t about to let it go.

“In return for the girl, I want Dmitri to release
Nick from any further responsibilities within the organization. I
want him out, Alexi. Completely,” I demanded. “And I want his debt
wiped clean.”

He didn’t have any reaction that I could see. He
simply stared back with the same smile as always.

“And what if you cannot provide what you are
promising? If we make arrangements for the sale and receive
payment, there is no going back. You understand this, my friend?”
he asked, his tone dripping with the implication that there would
be consequences if I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain.

I nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“Well then, I need to speak with Dmitri and see if
he is averse to the idea of letting Nick go. I am not sure he will
be too receptive to the idea. Even with all the years of bad blood,
he quite likes your brother,” he said with a casual wave of his
hand. “But I wonder, does Nick know about this little condition of
yours?”

“No, he doesn’t. And I don’t want you to say
anything to him about it. I need time to get him warmed to the
idea. But he’ll see reason…eventually.”

Alexi chuckled and threw me a reproachful look. “I
would not be too certain of that if I were you. You will hear from
me tomorrow.” Then with narrowed eyes, he scrutinized me. “You
know, you look a bit out of sorts. This is a very delicate affair.
I suggest you sober up before undertaking it.” He began to walk
away but turned back with a raised brow.

“I must say, I am a bit surprised by how you are
handling the death of your beloved wife. Your brother once
complained that you were rather hard on him after his accident a
few years ago. And yet now, you take to the bottle like a baby,
just as he did. It must be a family thing, eh…my friend?”

He laughed, turned away again, and waved two fingers
in the air as a parting gesture. “Tomorrow then,” he said, his
shoulders shaking as he laughed and laughed.

My lip pulled up into an involuntary sneer of
disgust as I watched Alexi climb back into his Mercedes. I wanted
to believe it was a reaction to his accusatory tone, his smug grin,
or my distaste at the mere sound of his voice, but I knew it was
the message itself that had found its mark.

It shamed me to admit that he was right, that I was
the very definition of a hypocrite. But as much as I recognized my
shortcomings, it was not enough to deter me. There was no hope in
my heart, no reason to stop my downward spiral and straighten out
my life. The very realization only made me want to drink more. And
I did, for the rest of the day and most of the night. I was
surprised I even heard my phone ring early the next morning. I
fumbled around blindly and knocked it off the nightstand before
finally retrieving and answering it.

“Yeah,” I ground out, wincing at the pain that tore
through my head. I pressed the heel of my free hand against my
brow.

“Good morning! Or maybe not, eh?” Alexi laughed as I
moaned into the phone. “I am sorry if I have awakened you too
early, but it might make you feel better to know that Dmitri has
agreed to your terms and has already made a deal with a special
client to whom he owes a favor.”

I reached for a bottle of pills turned over on the
nightstand and struggled with the cap. “Go on,” I replied.

“This is Dmitri’s best customer we are talking about
here.
Very
wealthy.
Very
powerful. A man not to be
crossed. And he expects his merchandise delivered within one week.
One. Week. Not a day more. You understand? There will be no
renegotiations of any kind, so do not fuck this up, my friend. Your
life and that of your brother may very well lie in the balance if
there is any trouble. You understand all this, do you not?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you,” I offered as respectfully as
I could, though it stuck in my throat to do so. I popped a small
pill into my mouth and swallowed it dry. “I’ll be in touch in a day
or two,” I said, returning my hand to my forehead and falling back
onto the pillow.

I ended the call with apprehension, but I believed
this to be my only opportunity to accomplish what I had failed to
do years ago, to free Nick from the Russians’ control, while also
getting the revenge against Erin that my heart so ruthlessly
craved.

Chapter
Eighteen

Tyler

Nick and I spent the following day discussing how we
would find Erin and bring her down into The City. I’d never
actually seen her before and knew very little about her, only where
she worked, though Alexi had promised me a photograph so I could
easily identify her. My plan was to get acquainted with her
schedule, locate her at work and follow her home, see if she lived
with anyone.

I needed to determine the best way to grab her. It
would be difficult to just nab her off the street or even out of
her home. If she was single, perhaps I could try to pick her up at
a bar and lure her away. I couldn’t decide until I knew more about
her, so I left to find her at work.

I arrived at the spa early on a warm spring morning.
It was just as lavish as Jillian had described with a long,
palm-lined drive that led uphill to the Mission-styled building.
Glass and wrought-iron doors opened to a towering entry hall with a
large sculpted chandelier and polished marble floor. Tuscan columns
were set at steady intervals and led up to a long reception desk
finished in burnished granite. It shone in the warm light of the
stained glass rotunda some thirty-five feet above. And a gentle
musical soundscape was piped into the voluminous space, creating
the peaceful, Zen-like atmosphere. The place screamed of money, as
did the clientele, fashionably dressed in high-end designer
clothing. Not the kind of place in which I could ever envision
Jillian.