Page 148 of Sapphire Sunset

“But that’s not the only reason you came back to the hotelthe other night, is it?” Connor asked.

“What is that?” the lawyer asked, gesturing to the letter.

Rodney’s wide eyes suggested he knew exactly what it was.

“You wanted me to tell you what my dad said in the letter heleft for me. Isn’t that right?”

“Don’t play with me, sport,” Rodney whispered.

“I’m not playing, but I am dealing.”

“What do you want?”

“I will let you read this entire letter, includingeverything he wrote about you in it. On one condition.”

“I’m listening,” Rodney said.

“This morning I spoke to a producer at CNN who wants to do alive interview with you tomorrow evening here at the—”

The lawyer sat up as if a gun had gone off. “That isabsolutelyout of the—”

“Let him finish,” Rodney barked.

Once it was clear the lawyer wasn’t going to interruptagain, Connor continued. “And during this interview, you will explain in detaileverything you said to me the other night. About Logan. You will tell them thatnot only did Logan Murdoch have nothing to do with your little blackmailscheme, but that Buddy Haskins wanted you to fire him last year and you refusedbecause he was so competent and skilled. You’ll also include the detail thatthe day of the raid you were planning to have him written up over bogus chargesas part of what would be a larger pressure campaign to drive him out becauseyou knew good and well that you could never make a man as good as him, as loyalas him and as honest as him, a part of your crimes. You will say that clearlyand without reservation and you will say it to the world. Is that clear?”

For a long while, no one spoke, and the most haggard breathsseemed to be coming from Rodney’s attorney. She finally broke the silence. “Itis my duty as your legal representation to strongly advise you against doingany press or media prior to your sentencing.”

“Maybe some honesty now will play well with the judge whenthat time comes,” Connor said.

“I’ll do it,” Rodney said. “Just read it to me.”

“Afteryou do it,” Connor said. “Deal?”

The lawyer sighed.

Rodney glared at him for what felt like an eternity.

“Deal,” he finally said.

Evacuees were departing, returning to homesspared by the fire. Moments of healing for them, but the quiet they left behindexposed the wounds the hotel had suffered and made Logan’s absence echo. As thesun sank toward the ocean, Connor dreaded another night alone in his palatialbed, had even considered changing rooms. But what would it matter? Penthousesuite or closet, it would be another night spent tossing and turning,obsessively checking his phone as he searched for any attempt by Logan to breakthe silence he’d plunged them into after walking away.

Watching sunset from the very spot at the balustrade wherethey’d first talked probably wouldn’t help pass the night, but as soon as workhad died down, he’d felt a magnetic pull.

Now, he was hit by a blast of Chanel No. 5. Suddenly hismother was next to him, chest up as if she was carrying every single call hehadn’t returned atop it.

“Am I to understand that you actually met with Rodneytoday?” she asked.

“I did.”

“And you didn’t think this was worth discussing with me?”

“I had a bolt of inspiration,” Connor said, “so I went withit.”

“I want you to step down,” she said.

“You’re not serious,” Connor said.

“I am.”

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