Layla pulled away and dabbed at her eyes, then turned toward the wall bearing an image of Trena’s face.
“Layla,” Trena said, “you did a great job. But now I’m afraid it’s Tommy’s turn.”
Tommy glanced worriedly at Layla, then turned back to Trena.
“Why did you move to LA?”
“Change of scene.” He kept his voice unaffected and easy.
“What else?”
“To follow my dream.”
“This is all very inspiring,” the disguised voice cut in. “But allow me to remind you exactly what’s at stake here.”
On the wall, superimposed over Trena, was a picture of Tommy standing outside the Vesper the night Madison went missing.
He looked at the camera and said, “I don’t give a crap about that. Madison’s alive. You can’t touch me now.”
“You sure about that?”
“That Madison’s alive? Absolutely. I can prove it.”
“So you’re admitting to withholding evidence? Because if Detective Larsen’s not already watching, he will be soon enough.”
Tommy shrugged. “Then all I have to do is wait until he gets here and puts an end to this bullshit.”
“Wow, you’re really sexy when you go all alpha like that.” The voice laughed. “You know who it reminds me of?”
Tommy froze.
“From the look on your face, you do.”
Tommy closed his eyes, mumbled under his breath. He’d already decided against telling Ira, and now he was being forced to do it in the worst way imaginable.
“Let’s try this again. Why’d you move to LA, Tommy?”
He stared into the camera and clamped his lips shut, refusing to speak.
“Who’s your daddy, Tommy? C’mon, you can tell us.”
Layla nudged him. She was right, of course, but this wasn’t the way he wanted it to happen.
“I came to LA to try to break into the music business.”
“And . . .”
Tommy swiped a hand through his hair. Layla stood alongside him and gave his hand a squeeze. “And to meet my dad . . .” Tommy stalled. In the next breath, he said, “Ira Redman.”
The lights flickered on and off, and the next thing they knew, another wall had slid open.
FORTY-THREE
SLEEP NOW IN THE FIRE
Aster glanced up from Ryan’s arms to see Layla and Tommy standing in the doorway. “I’m ruined,” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Even if I make it out of here, it’s over for me. How will I ever hold my head up high, or face my family?”
Ryan pulled her closer as the voice crackled through the speakers. “Wow, this is really, truly touching. It warms my heart to see everyone reunited like this. In fact, I’m having so much fun watching y’all, let’s check in on your other friend, shall we?”