Page 1 of He Had It Coming

Jerek Hayes

Chapter One

Two Days Ago

The Truth About Jerek Hayes

Jerek Hayes was twenty-one when he killed her.

He’s hoping we’ve moved on and forgotten. But the truth isn’t buried under a complex set of facts or difficult to decipher. It’s obvious to anyone who has ever read an article about a murder, watched a true crime documentary, or stumbled onto an online forum where armchair Sherlocks debate cold case theories.

Jerek lied. About everything. He moved to San Diego, into your neighborhood, and reestablished a life without an ounce of guilt. Without paying a price.

He could end this by admitting to his crime but he won’t. He thinks he’s gotten away with it.

So, we’ll do this the hard way.

—Anonymous

Chapter Two

Present Day

The message amounted to a rehash of false statements and twisted facts. Posted on a pathetic little site called The Truth About Jerek Hayes and shared on every social media platform imaginable, including the forum used by my overly invested, nosy neighbors to report lost dogs and complain about trash collection.

The whole thing was nothing more than a tirade meant to shame me. Slander or libel or whatever the right term was. Figuring out the technicalities was someone else’s job.

The company’s attorneys, led by Dad’s best friend, insisted they were working on getting the lies taken down. They could shortcut this by going right to the source. To the bitch behind Anonymous. She might be hiding her identity now, but she’d been spewing this crap for years. I should have known when she got quiet for almost a year that a bigger punch was coming.

“Jerek?”

A welcome voice attached to a smoking body. Willa Garrett. The perfect assistant. Technically not my assistant but hot and young with this long blond hair I couldn’t wait to slip my fingers through once I finally got her on her knees.

We’d had a near miss in the kitchen a few weeks ago. I ran my hand down her back nice and slow, after almost a month of her prancing in and out of my office. Wearing short skirts that showed off her long legs. Smiling in a way that issued an invitation.

Our back and forth had shifted to an interesting place, then the Anonymous site launched. Her mood took a sharp right turn against me. Her welcoming smiles dimmed. Her voice sounded tight and careful now. All business.

Score one for Anonymous and her newest round of bullshit.

“What do you need?” I leaned back in my chair. Gave Willa’s impressive body a quick check face to legs then up again. Not creepy. Appreciative.

A woman didn’t work out and look like that if she wanted to slide under the radar. The extra minutes in front of the mirror, getting every detail just right, worked. I approved of her effort.

“I was able to reach the boat owner. You can check it out before your scheduled walk-through of the Coronado property tomorrow with your sister,” Willa said. “And, as you requested, I kept all the information about the boat private and off your work calendar. Ms. Hayes is not aware of your potential purchase.”

Maeve Hayes. My half sister. Different mothers. Same father. The Hayes offspring Dad and his team put in charge of the lucrative aspects of the company during his “temporary” leave of absence.

She was seven years older than me, too clenched, bossy for the sake of being bossy, and constantly judging. But I played her petty game because the whole office setup, making me want it and fight for it, amounted to a fatherly test of my commitment. One I intended to pass.

“Ms. Hayes wants to see you now, actually.”

Willa’s deference to the company hierarchy made me smile. She actually worked for Maeve, but Willa was happy to do things, run errands, handle small personal requests for me because she recognized and appreciated power. Even with the recent change in attitude, she buzzed with excitement about her position and its proximity to the executive suite.

Her always-follow-directions attitude would be fun outside of the office. We’d get back there. Once I neutralized my Anonymous problem once and for all.

“She’s in her office.” Willa rushed to fill in a blank that didn’t exist. “Ms. Hayes, I mean.”

That corner office overlooked San Diego Harbor with windows that framed the water and Coronado’s coastline in one shot. Once I landed a few big deals, and I would, Dad and his group of advisers would notice. Out with Maeve. In with me.