Entangled Read online

  ENTANGLED

  (BRUISED SERIES BOOK 4)

  BY

  STACY-DEANNE

  Copyright © 2015 Stacy-Deanne

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Readers: Thanks so much for choosing my book! I would be very appreciative if you would leave reviews when you are done. Much love!

  Email: [email protected]

  Website: Stacy's Website

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  Twitter: Stacy's Twitter

  Other titles by Stacy-Deanne Include:

  Bruised Series

  Stripped Series

  Tate Valley Sexy Suspense Series

  The Seventh District

  Dead Weight

  You’re the One

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Baltimore homicide detectives Lisa Swanson and Dee Quarter parked on the street in front of Grayson Paul’s elaborate, two-story home. The attractive black women sauntered down the curved walkway toward Grayson’s front door.

  “Wow.” Dee savored the luxurious scenery of the immaculate yard. “I can’t believe this, Leece.”

  Lisa patted her smooth haircut then rang the doorbell.

  Dee almost yanked Lisa’s arm out of its socket. “I can’t believe we’re really going to meet the Grayson Paul!”

  “Would you cool it for the last time?” Lisa pried Dee’s fingers from her skin. “He’s just a man for god’s sake.”

  “Just a man?” Dee stroked her long, Brazilian weave. “Grayson Paul is a legend. He’s one of the most popular mystery writers today.” She got out her compact and checked her face in the mirror. “You can call him whatever you like but don’t call him just a man.”

  “What’s taking them so long to answer the door?” Lisa rang the bell again.

  Dee put her compact in her pocket. “Just a man,” she mocked.

  A middle-aged woman in crisp slacks and a button-down blouse opened the door. “Hello.” She stepped out. “You must be the detectives.”

  Lisa nodded. “I’m Detective Lisa Swanson and this is my partner Dee Quarter.”

  “Well, I’m Mr. Paul’s housekeeper, Sylvia.” She shook their hands. “Mr. Paul is expecting you. Please come in.”

  She led them down the entrance hall and into an enormous living room with wood panel walls and a ceiling-high bookshelf stuffed with books.

  Sylvia gestured for them to walk further inside. “Please wait here and Mr. Grayson will be right in.” She left.

  “Oooh wee!” Dee twirled around. “I can’t believe I’m standing in Grayson Paul’s living room.” She walked over to the bookshelf. “He has shelves of his own books.”

  Lisa turned up her nose. “Classy.”

  “Why don’t you try saying it with less sarcasm?” Dee grabbed a book off the shelf. “You are in the home of a literary mastermind, Leece.”

  “Sorry, but I’ve never even met the man and already he reeks of arrogance.”

  Dee ran her fingers across the spine of Grayson Paul’s books. “Grayson Paul is not arrogant. He adores his fans and is appreciative of all the success he’s received.”

  Lisa looked around. “Just because he signed a book at a signing for you two years ago doesn’t mean he isn’t arrogant.”

  Dee picked up one of Grayson’s books then set it back on the shelf. “How can you not be excited?”

  “Look, you’re the Grayson groupie, not me. He might be some big fancy author to everyone else...” Lisa picked up the candy dish shaped like a foot. “But he’s just a man to me.” She set the candy dish down. “Let’s not forget that he might’ve killed his ex-wife.”

  Dee swung around. “He did not.”

  Lisa bent down in front of the fish tank. “Well that’s what we’re here to find out, remember?” She laid her finger on the glass and a little black fish swam to it. “Promise me you don’t get any more Grayson-crazy than you already are.” Lisa stood straight. “Finding out who killed Edana Paul is all that should be on your mind.”

  “Hello.” Dee rolled her eyes. “Since when do you have to remind me to do my job?”

  “Well it’s not every day that you drool over a man who might be the prime suspect.”

  “That’s presumptuous don’t you think?” Dee picked up another novel. “This is Icepick.” She shook the book. “About three-hundred and fifty pages of the most terrifying suspense you’ve ever read. You know why it’s called Icepick?”

  Lisa crossed her arms. “I’m guessing because the killer used an icepick?”

  “Nope. Because the killer’s last name was Ice and he killed with a mortar pick.” She put the book back on the shelf. “He was a bipolar dentist with a fixation on his best friend’s wife. The wife rejected the dentist’s advances, he snapped, killed her with a mortar pick, and went on a bloodthirsty spree across Phoenix. He’d torture his victims with gardening tools then leave them to die with their bodies torn to shreds.”

  Lisa’s grimaced.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t read any of Grayson’s books.” Dee picked up another one. “The Ronnie Pine Mysteries is one of the most popular series out today.” She thumbed through the book. “If you haven’t read a Grayson Paul book then you’ve missed out on one of the biggest treasures in life.”

  “I sincerely hope you mean that.” An incredibly handsome white man in his late-forties with pale skin, jet-black hair, and a pristine goatee, stood on the stairs. His brown eyes flickered as his gaze focused on Dee. “So you two are the detectives, hmm? Is being beautiful now a requirement to join the Baltimore Police force?”

  Dee tugged on her hair.

  “I’m Detective Lisa Swanson.” Lisa showed her badge. “And the one with her mouth open is Detective Dee Quarter.”

  Grayson took Dee’s trembling hand. “Nice to meet you, Dee.” He kissed her hand. “Lovely perfume. I smelled it before I got into the room.”

  Dee batted with her mouth open.

  Lisa bumped her with her elbow and Dee jerked out of her trance. “T-thanks, Mr. Paul. It’s an honor to meet you.”

  “Call me Grayson.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “And you never answered my question. Is beauty now a requirement on the Baltimore Police force?”

  “Oh.” Dee twirled her hair. “You’re very...uh...kind.”

  He caressed her hand. “And you’re very attractive.”

  Lisa cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”

  He let go of Dee’s hand.

  “I don’t mean to be rude but we have something important to discuss with you.” Lisa took out her notepad. “The murder of your ex-wife Edana Paul, who was just shot in the head, remember?”

  Grayson snapped out of his gaze. “Oh yes.” He smiled at Lisa. “I’m sorry.”

  “You mind giving us a little rundown on your past with Edana?” she asked.

  “First, would you ladies like something to eat or drink?”

  “No thank you,” Lisa said. “We really would like to get on with the investigation. The sooner we can get to business then the better our chances of finding who did this.”

  Dee stared at Grayson as he made his way to the chair beside the couch.

  “Okay.” He sat on the chair. “Please sit down,�
�� he said gesturing to the couch.

  They sat.

  “Long story short...” Grayson propped his arm on the armrest. “Edana and I met when I vacationed in Brazil seven years ago. We got married only eight months after we met. I guess you can say it was love at first sight.”

  “So you believe in love at first sight?” Dee propped her elbow on her knee and rested her hand under her chin.

  Lisa watched Dee out of the corner of her eye.

  “Yes, I do believe in love at first sight,” Grayson said. “Some think it’s only lust, but I believe you can fall in love the moment you meet someone.”

  “Sorry but that’s something I just can’t buy into.” Lisa shrugged. “To me falling in love means knowing someone and you can’t love someone if you don’t know them.”

  “Well there are different kinds of love, Detective Swanson. After all, Edana and I managed to stay married for five years.”

  “Are you rich?” Lisa set the notepad on her lap.

  “I’m comfortable.” Grayson smiled. “But I’m not rich.”

  “But some of your books have been on the New York Times Bestseller list.” Dee pointed to the shelves.

  “And do you know how many authors get on that list and work a nine-to-five job? Unless you have a huge success like Twilight or Da Vinci Code, it takes more than being on the bestseller list to become rich.”

  “But you’re famous,” Dee said. “Everyone reads your books.”

  He chuckled. “And maybe if they continue to, I’ll be rich one day.”

  “Well judging by the amount of antiques in this room...” Lisa pointed her pencil around. “I’d say you’re more than just comfortable. How was the divorce? Was it a rough one?”

  “All divorces are rough I’d imagine,” Grayson said.

  “What about the settlement?” Lisa wobbled her head. “Did Edana get a good chunk of money? For example, were you a little more comfortable before the divorce?”

  He tapped his foot. “If you’re asking how much money she got in the divorce it was three-hundred thousand dollars.”

  Lisa whistled while jotting. “Well that certainly seems more than comfortable to me, Grayson. Maybe we have different definitions of rich.”

  “Well to me being rich is when your money works for you and not when you work for your money.” He winked. “I work for my money. If I don’t write and sell books then I don’t eat. I don’t have tons of money sitting in a bank account.”

  “But you have a lot more than we do.” Lisa chuckled. “Ain’t that right, Dee?”

  Dee rolled her eyes.

  “All this around the world stuff, and you go on about not being rich...” Lisa glared at him. “I get the sense you’re trying to play us.”

  “Play you?” His eyebrow rose. “I didn’t kill my ex-wife if that’s what you think.”

  “You mind telling us where you were yesterday afternoon between three and seven p.m.?” Lisa asked.

  “Well, from three to five I was with Veronica Wood.”

  Dee frowned. “Is that your girlfriend?”

  “No.” He smiled. “She’s a longtime friend. More like a sister.”

  Dee smiled.

  “We’ll need to confirm this with Ms. Wood,” Lisa said. “Can you give us her info?”

  Grayson gave her address and phone number. “She’s a writer as well.”

  Lisa jotted everything down. “Can you tell us where you were between five and seven?”

  “I was here.” He pointed toward the hall. “You can verify that with Sylvia.”

  Lisa tapped her notepad. “Have any idea who would want to hurt Edana?”

  “Has the name Owen Calloway been brought up yet?” he asked.

  Dee sat up straight. “Who is Owen Calloway?”

  “He was Edana’s boy toy. In fact, he was the reason we got a divorce. Edana was cheating on me with him. He’s young enough to be her son.”

  “Whoa.” Dee flicked her hair away from her face. “I can’t believe someone would cheat on you.”

  “Well she did. Edana seemed to treat men like most women treat shoes. She’d get bored easily and no matter what you’d do to try to keep her interested...it didn’t work.”

  “And did that get on your nerves?” Lisa asked. “Having a wife that was so hard to please?”

  “Well why wouldn’t it bother any husband?” Grayson’s gaze shifted to Dee again. “Edana’s appetite for men was insatiable. She had lovers the entire time we were married. And the more she had, the younger the guys got.” He sighed. “I tried to make things work because I loved her but Owen was the last straw. Not only was she sleeping with him, but she was also giving him money. I filed for divorce without even talking to Edana.”

  “So...” Lisa tapped the pencil against her lips. “Why would Owen want Edana dead?”

  “Hell, she treated him like her puppy.”

  “What do you mean?” Dee asked.

  “She babied him. That’s why she gave him money all the time. I guess because he was young enough to be her son she couldn’t help treating him like he was.”

  Dee and Lisa looked at each other.

  “I knew he was using her from the beginning. See, Owen wanted his own tanning salon. That’s all he talked about and Edana gave him money so he could open one.” He gripped the armrest. “But Owen didn’t know jack about running anything but his mouth so the damn thing never got off the ground.”

  Lisa jotted. “And this was after you two got divorced?”

  “Yeah, this was about a year ago.”

  “So Edana and Owen became a full-fledged couple, huh?” Dee twirled her hair.

  “They weren’t a couple.” Grayson rolled his eyes. “She was a woman using him to stay young and he was using her to get anything he needed. I heard from a mutual friend of Edana’s and mine that money kept coming up between her and Owen.”

  “Really?” Dee clasped her hands.

  He nodded. “I guess she got sick of him mooching and the next thing I heard she’d dumped him.” He grinned. “Owen was devastated and it’s what he deserved...the home wrecker.”

  “So you think Owen might’ve killed Edana because they broke up?” Lisa chewed on the pencil.

  “It’s possible. Owen is an opportunist. He’d been living off Edana all that time.” He leaned to the side. “Once she dumped him he had nothing. Now if that’s not a motive for murder I don’t know what is.”

  “Sounds just like one of your novels,” Dee said. “My favorite one is Circumstance by the way. Well, I love all of them but I love that one a tiny bit more than the others.”

  “Why?” Grayson smiled.

  “Because it was the first book in the Ronnie Pine Series and it got me hooked immediately. I’ve read all fifteen books in the series.” She put her hands together.

  He titled his head. “I know I’ve been staring but I feel like we’ve met before.”

  She grinned. “I went to your release party for The Player’s Village two years ago. You signed a copy for me.”

  “I knew I’ve met you before.” He snapped his fingers. “I never forget a face.” He leaned toward her. “I definitely couldn’t forget one that looks like yours.”

  Lisa cleared her throat.

  “You’ll never know how much it meant to me that you came out that day,” Grayson said. “I appreciate my fans so much.”

  “Well we appreciate your wonderful work. I love your books.”

  He stared at her as if she were on a plate. “Do you have an autographed copy of Circumstance?”

  Dee straightened up. “No.”

  He walked to the bookshelf and got the book. “Well you do now.” He got the pen off the table and scribbled inside the book. “Here you go.” He handed it to her.

  “What?” She nearly hyperventilated. “I...I can’t.”

  He took her hand. “I want you to have it. It would mean as much to me as it would to you.”

  “I can’t believe this.” She stared at the hard
cover. “Oh thank you so much. I’m going to read it again tonight. You’ll never know how much this means to me.”

  “Why don’t you show me how much it means to you?” He stood close to her.

  “Excuse me?” Dee murmured.

  “How about you come back later and we have dinner tonight?”

  “What?” Lisa grimaced.

  He took Dee’s hand. “I’d love for you to pick my brain or whatever else you’d like to do.”

  “Oh.” Dee giggled.

  Lisa glared at her.

  “I don’t think I can.” Dee slipped her hand from his. “It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

  “Well the offer doesn’t expire.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be here if you change your mind.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Man, he is something else.” Lisa held Grayson’s front door open as Dee followed her outside. “He’s a cross between charming and full of shit. I just can’t figure out which one yet.”

  Dee stared at the hardcopy in her hand with a goofy smile.

  They made it to Lisa’s car.

  “And would you come back to earth?” Lisa unlocked the car with the remote. “I’m glad at least you had some sense and refused his offer for dinner. I can’t believe he even asked you.”

  “Wow.” Dee pressed the book against her breasts. “Did Grayson Paul just ask me to dinner?” She leaned against the car. “Did this really just happen?”

  Lisa scoffed and opened the driver’s door. “You have to be professional, Dee,” she said as she got in the car.

  “I was professional.” Dee got in. “How was I not professional?”

  “Oh I don’t know.” Lisa pointed to her face. “Maybe it’s the drool on your chin and you acting like a ten-year-old with her first crush.”

  Dee looked at her face in the mirror. “So I was a little star struck.” She put on her seatbelt. “But he seemed just as much into me as I was into him.”

  “No.” Lisa raised her finger. “Promise me now you won’t go there, Dee.”

  “Go where?”

  “Go there.” Lisa pointed to the house. “As in don’t go back there tonight without me.”

  Dee chuckled. “And why not take up his offer to dinner? I might be able to find out something that will help the investigation. He obviously seems more comfortable with me than with you.”