“No one ever tries to set me up,” Miranda said.
“You don’t want to get set up with Gary,” her mom replied.“He’s a lovely young man but you are not his type.Now Gabe…”
“Is not dating either,” Gabe said.“Who the hell is thiswitness?”
Olivia was about to say she had no idea, but then her gazecaught on a woman sitting at one of the many desks.Her back was turned, butthere was something about the way she held herself that seemed extremelyfamiliar.Then she turned slightly and all doubt was removed.
“Jessica Fellows.”Olivia braced herself.“What a surpriseto see you here.”
Jessica’s eyes went wide and watery, and she stood lookingdelicate and fragile.Olivia had to admit.She was beautiful.She was also asnake who liked to play games with her prey.She started crying in earnest.“Olivia, I’m so happy you’re okay.I saw what that man tried to do to you and Ireported it immediately.”
Had she?“Jimmy, when were the police called?Were you inyour normal spot on the highway behind the sign for GrabItQuick?You shouldhave been roughly two minutes away.How did Garrett and Keane get by you?”
Jimmy stared for a moment and then looked down at thereport.“Yeah, that call didn’t come in until you were already gone.You wereprobably at the hospital when her call came in.Keane called earlier.He toldus he was taking you to the hospital.You know it’s weird.If he was kidnappingyou, why would he call us?”
“Dumbass, he wouldn’t have,” Olivia shot back.“You arrestedan innocent man.Again.You are racking up those frequent flyer miles.”
“Olivia, don’t take it out on Jimmy.He’s trying to do hisjob.”Jessica was crying but the tears were awfully pretty.Artistic.Like shepracticed them in front of a mirror.“I know you hate me because I fell in lovewith a man you were dating, but I still care about you.You’re still a friend.”
Jimmy stood, looking Jessica over with new eyes.It seemedlike he did have some instincts for his job.Buried.Really deep.“You told meyou saw Keane put something in the drink and you called immediately.But thedrug would take a few minutes to set in, and from what I can tell she didn’tget the drink until Miranda… I need to look at that tape again.I think we’remissing something.”
Jessica’s eyes flared, a bit of panic coming into them.Likeshe knew she was losing control but had no idea how to get it back.So shetried what always worked for her.She batted her eyes and lied.“I think I wasin shock.I’ve never seen a crime before.”
Olivia simply sighed.“Jess, you literally grew up in theroughest part of this town.Your brother went to prison for dealing meth.”
She put her hand over her mouth like she couldn’t believeOlivia said it.She shook her head and looked Jimmy’s way.“That’s not true.Hewas innocent.”
“Like Keane is innocent?Or like you don’t want to beassociated with criminals?Because I’m pretty sure the evidence was clear.”
“Olivia, I was trying to help you.”She moved in, gettingcloser.“I am still trying to help you.Please, listen to me.”
Was she going to try this?It wouldn’t be the first time.Jessica liked to play the victim, and when she couldn’t find someone to turnher into one, she did it herself.It was straight out of her playbook.
As she approached, Jessica put a hand on Olivia’s shoulderand then fell back on a gasp.
Yep, she was playing that game.
“Olivia, why did you push me?”Jessica asked on a cry.
She suddenly had Jimmy’s attention again.He rushed over toher.“Olivia, did you push her?”
Miranda shook her head.“She did it to herself.Livie didn’tlay a hand on her.”
Jimmy looked so confused.He now had a trembling doe in hisarms, clutching him like he was the hero she’d been waiting all her life for,and it was working.He looked up at Olivia, his expression going dark.“Lookslike your boyfriend won’t be the only one in a cell tonight.”
“Please help me.She has so much money and she will use itto ruin me and all I tried to do was help her,” Jessica sobbed.
Jimmy stood up, his shoulders squaring.“OliviaBarnes-Fleetwood, that is assault.”
Olivia wasn’t really thinking.It had been a rough night,and the last thing she needed was this moron walking in and causing trouble allover again.She should have known the minute Scott showed up that the worldwould go to hell.But she wasn’t about to let Jessica think she could get outof this without some damage.
“Oh, shit,” Miranda said.“I know that look.”
“She asked for it.That fake-ass falling.Girl, if you werein the NBA, you would get fined for that,” Gigi said with no sympathy.
Her papa stepped forward.“Livie, sweetie…”
Her mom put a hand on his arm.“There are some things awoman just has to do.Let her take it out on that mean girl so she’s calmerwhen she deals with her dad.”
