“She’s great. She was sleeping by Ruthie’s swing this evening. I hope that’s a sign of things to come.”
“I’m sure it is.”
Mitch got right to it, eager to find out what was going on. “Who’s your friend that needs help?”
“This is just between us, okay? No one can know he’s here. I know you understand the need for privacy.”
“I do.” Mitch frowned, wondering who she could be talking about.
“Jack Marsh is currently staying in my guest house.”
Mitch’s brows shot up. “Jack? How is he? I haven’t seen him in years. Wait—is he in some kind of trouble? You said you had a friend that needed help?”
“Yeah, he is. And he does. Listen, this is all still private and personal, but he’s got a woman stalking him. Well, it’s more than that now. She said if Jack doesn’t pay her off, she’s going to the press and saying he forced her to sleep with him. She has pictures.”
Mitch groaned and rubbed his forehead. This was bad news.Bad. “Not good. Not in this day and age. What’s the real story?”
“He had too much to drink and hooked up with her at the restaurant where he was drinking. She was an employee there. All he remembers is overdoing it and waking up at her place. This could ruin him, Mitch.”
He nodded. “He’s already got a reputation as a playboy, but he’s still a beloved figure. This really could be bad. How on Earth can I help?”
“I’m telling you all of this with Jack’s permission, because I thought maybe you could help him write a carefully worded text to her. She’s been pretty smart so far, only leaving one voicemail that doesn’t have anything on it that could really incriminate her. We’re hoping you could come up with a text or a series ofthem that might charm her into saying something that could be used against her.”
Mitch took a breath. “I have racquetball with Lucas tomorrow, but after I get home and shower, I can swing by and sit with Jack. Try to draft something.”
“That would be fantastic. Thank you. I really appreciate this. And Jack will, too.”
“No problem. You want me to text him? I have his number.”
“Sure, if you want.”
“I’ll do it right now.”
“Thanks again. Have fun with Lucas tomorrow. Don’t hurt yourself.”
He laughed. “Thanks, I’ll try not to.”
“Talk to you later.”
“Night.” He hung up and scrolled through his contacts until he came to Jack’s number. He tapped on the messaging icon and stared at the blank screen, putting his words together in his head before typing them out.
Just heard from Harper. Be glad to help. I can come by mid-morning, if that works. I’ll text before. Let me know?
Then he quickly added.It’ll be great to see you again.Wish it was under different circumstances.
Jack answered not long after.Be great to see you too, man. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the help. IOU
Mitch shook his head. He hadn’t done anything yet. But he hoped he could help. He’d known Jack a while. As long as he’d known Arlington and Teddy. They weren’t users and abusers.
Arlington had been, well, Arlington. Strong, patriotic, a firm believer in God and country and all of that. He’d raised his boys the same way.
Teddy had some past issues with substances, but he’d gotten through that. He was a dedicated family man now.
And Jackson, while definitely a lover of women and life, had his own sort of do-no-harm creed that extended beyond people to animals and the land he lived on. Jack would never force a woman to do anything, except maybe recycle. He just wasn’t that kind of guy.
Mitch knew what Jack needed him to do. He grabbed a pen and notebook and took it back out with him to watch television. He’d make some notes on these texts, see what he could come up with.
By tomorrow, he’d have something for sure.
