Novel Palace
433 Inviting Judy
433 Inviting Judy
(Jayden)
Back in London, I stare at the text my mother sent after I got the photos.
Hard to believe that was just a few days ago. Now it feels like a lifetime. Everything has changed.
My best friend relationship has imploded in the worst way. We'll never be the same again. I can barely remember my life without Lance. We were like brothers. Not any longer.
Even if Winona and I can get through this together, once again we are forced apart by my mother's doing. Okay, Winona gave her the ammunition.
But the way she's used that to be the most damaging, isolating me from my close relationships, trying to give me no choice but her as my sole support. It makes it all icky.
Regardless of the wrongs or rights of this situation, I need Judy to not be influencing my life behind the scenes. I need her to just let me go. If getting her in jail does that, then that's what I do. The no-contact order wasn't enough to make her see that it's over for her and I. I won't keep running away. Okay, I need to get this rolling so I bring up her text again.
I reply: you were right.
Just enough to keep up the pretense that I'm open to her contact.
The idea of playing nice with my mother makes my skin crawl, but if it keeps her off guard, it's worth it. This is what I need to do now but I also cannot do this forever.
I pace around the hotel suite Viktor secured for me. The burner phone Viktor gave me buzzes in my pocket, and I answer immediately, recognizing Gus's voice on the other end. "Jayden," Gus says. "Viktor's filled me in. You're trying to do the right thing, but it won't be easy."Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
"I know," I reply, keeping my voice steady. "I need evidence. Real evidence. Can you give me anything on Judy? About Greg's death or the car accident? Anything at all."
Gus exhales. "Nothing solid, Jayden. She's always been too careful. The only thing I have is what she told me after your accident-that she had a hand in it."
"Okay."
"But it's just her word against ours, and even if you overheard her in the hospital, she can argue you were in no state to understand anything. The doctors thought you were in a coma." I rub my forehead, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I know what I heard, my brain went into defense over it and blocked memories that would relive the trauma, but you're right. She'll twist it, claim I wasn't lucid. We need Something concrete, something she can't wriggle out of."
"Records," Gus says. "Paper trails, bank transfers, anything tying her to illegal activities. Or people willing to testify. But, Jayden, you should know... she's always made sure to cover her tracks. The man who was driving the truck that you smashed into is now dead." "Then I'll get her to talk," I say, the resolve hardening in my chest. "I'll wear a wire if I have to. If it's the
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433 ring Jody
only way to catch her slipping, I'll do it."
Gus pauses, and i sense the conflict in him. "You think she'll fall for it? You think she'll trust you enough to confess anything?"
"I have to try," I insist. "She wants me on her side. I have to make her believe it."
"You're playing a dangerous game," Gus warns. "And if she catches wind of it, there's no telling what shel do."
"I know the risks," I say, even though the idea of Judy turning on me sends a chill down my spine. "But the won't stop coming after Winona, I won't let her have that kind of power anymore
There's a beat of silence before Gus's voice softens. "There's something else you need to know. Cass she's gotten mixed up in some drug stuff."
My grip on the phone tightens. "What? How do you know?
"I'm still tracking the smuggling ring in Cuba and South America, indirectly," Gus explains.
"From jail?"
"Yes, anyway, anything involving drugs and the Cuban family gets flagged to me. Cass has been with Ma- the youngest sister, Mia's working at Brennan Industries, sponsored by Judy on a work visa. I think she's involved in something deeper." "Judy or Mia?"
"In this case, Mia. I thought Gabriel, and I'm still not sure but he's been away for a while working on his own business development. But Mia, she's learning the business as part owner."
"So she might be involved with her grandfather?"
"There's nothing suggesting that, but it's definite she and Cass both use recreational drugs. Cass has been selling. There's more but I'm not sure exactly what yet..."
A wave of worry crashes over me. "Cass has been pretty elusive but assuring Winona she is fine."
"Cass hasn't been seen for a week," Gus continues. "Her place was ransacked. I'm trying to find out more. If you hear from her, let me know."
I clench my jaw, the urge to protect my family overwhelming. I won't tell Winona yet. She has enough to handle right now. Plus she's heading back to the States anyway so she can sort Cass out if needed.
"Cass knows the streets and I believe she would contact Winona if things got too bad. I'm not panicking just yet about that."
"Viktor is tracking everything in my files to try and get something solid on Judy. But I don't know about that. Jayden, it's complicated, you know I've loved Judy for a long time. It's stupid of me, but the heart wants what the heart wants." "Maybe one day she'll see that and settle the fuck down on me and my life."
"Be careful," Gus says, and for the first time, I hear genuine concern in his voice. "But if you're doing this, you'll have to do it properly."
"I will," I promise. "Thanks, Gus."
Take care, Jayden," he says before the line goes dead,
Viktor walks into the room. "What's next?"
"I need to set the stage. Make my mother believe I'm on her side."
I pull out my phone, hesitating only a moment before typing out another message to Judy:
Panorama Suite, Nexus Hotel
I hit send and look up at Viktor. "It's done. She'll be here at some point."
Viktor's expression hardens. "I'll be right outside your door."
434 Kids Are Full of Surprises
434 Kids Are Full of Surprises