He leaned over and placed his hand beneath her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Did you set this television interview up now as a way to piss off Mary Perkins? To scare her into showing her hand?”
She bit the inside of her cheek. “Maybe.”
“Dammit,” he exploded, slamming his hand onto the table. “Have you no respect for your own safety?”
She narrowed her gaze. “I have plenty, thank you very much. I’m not safe as long as that crazy woman is sitting in her big old Victorian house, hiding behind her family power and the fear she’s instilled in people over the years. I’m not safe as long as she has the time to plan and to make sure she’s not caught trying to hurt me or the people I love!” Gabrielle’s voice rose with her temper.
“Then let’s go to the police. Let them handle it,” he said, his voice low, calmer than hers. His tone imploring.
“Like they’ll believe us? That the pillar of her own community is pulling strings to keep herself in power as mayor? That she wants to rule by fear? It sounds crazy.”
Derek shook his head. “We’ll give them enough information to investigate.”
“Richard already tried sending someone to talk to Stan Mancusi, the guy on the waterfront that Sharon’s ex-fiancé told them about. He denied calling Tony. He denied knowing about the photos, and he claimed that while he was in prison, all Tony talked about was revenge on Sharon for putting him away.”
Frustrated, Derek ran a hand through his hair. “Could it be true?”
“Doubtful. Richard did some investigating into Stan’s history. It seems he has a daughter with autism. That’s how Stan got into the petty thefts and things he was sent away for—trying to raise money for special schools. Guess where Stan’s daughter is now?”
Derek rolled his shoulders back and groaned. “Some expensive school that nobody knows how he’s paying for?” he said, obviously hazarding a guess.
“Bingo. Something else nobody can trace back to Mary Perkins, but I’d lay odds that that’s how she got him to get those photographs. We just can’t prove it.”
Derek rose and spilled his coffee into the sink, then ran water to rinse it away.
She stood and walked quietly to his side, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Do you really expect me to sit back and do nothing while she tries to stop me from doing the thing in life that gives me peace? She’s not going to take my writing away any more than she’s going to take my life. And she sure as hell isn’t going to dictate what my subjects are!”
“So you’ll write your book, my feelings be damned? Even at the expense of my daughter?”
Gabrielle stepped back, shocked by his words. “What are you talking about?”
“Marlene wasn’t pleased that her daughter was displaced so I could protect you. She wasn’t happy that I knowingly brought danger to her daughter’s doorstep, and you know what?” He ran a hand through his hair. “She’s right. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let her sue me for sole custody on the grounds of the danger that’s surrounding you.”
Gabrielle’s stomach cramped and she eased herself into the nearest seat. “She threatened to do that?”
Derek treated her to a curt nod.
“I had no idea.”
“And now that you do?”
Gabrielle swallowed hard. “I’ll cancel the television crew, of course.” With shaking hands, she fished for her cell phone, and a few minutes later, she was speaking to Kayla Lawson, a friend she’d met from a prior interview for an older book.
Gabrielle made her request and listened to her friend’s reply. “I understand, but—”
A few minutes later, she hung up and faced Derek. “It’s too late. Kayla’s producer thinks this is a solid story. The money’s allocated, the time’s booked, nobody will pull the plug now.” She stepped forward. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m out of here.”
Nausea rushed over her. “Where are you going?”
“To see a lawyer in case Marlene goes through with her threat,” he muttered, storming past her.
Alone, Gabrielle settled back into her seat and exhaled a long breath. She’d have done anything to keep Derek with his daughter, even sacrifice her book. Now that retreat was no longer an option, the logical part of Gabrielle was glad. Because Mary Perkins had to be stopped.
But the emotional side of Gabrielle was torn in two. She’d unintentionally hurt the one person she loved most in the world and she’d do anything to make it right.
If only she knew how.