Twice Kissed - Lisa Jackson [106]
“Why are you two”—Pomeranian motioned vaguely toward the cooking island where Thane stood, leaning against the attached eating bar—“y’know, like together?”
“We knew each other a long time ago.” Maggie was more interested in asking the questions than answering them. “Look, please, tell me about Mary Theresa. The police seem to think that she was suicidal—” One of his dark eyebrows arched a little as he sank in the chair, settling low on his back, long legs stretched out, hands folded together, but visible through the glass. His nails were manicured, his hair shiny, his skin swarthy and dark, but flawless. Compared to Thane he was reedy, but he probably photographed well.
“I don’t think Marquise offed herself if that’s what you’re asking.”
“What do you think happened to her?” Thane asked.
“Shit, man, I don’t know. Don’t you think I want to find her?”
“Do you?”
“Yes!” Wade’s smooth face twisted into a mask of frustration. “I love her.”
“Is that what it is?” Thane obviously wasn’t convinced.
Maggie shot him a look to shut him up. “When was the last time you saw her?”
“The Wednesday night before she left.” He sighed and glanced out the windows. “We had a fight. Something stupid. I wanted to be interviewed on her show, always had, and she put me off again.” His lips tightened around the corners. “I got pissed, really pissed, and told her we were through.” He snorted, and though his fingers remained laced, his thumbs moved nervously. “So…anyway, she kinda threw me out, and I left. It was about ten, I guess. I went back to my apartment, felt like shit, couldn’t sleep, and called in the morning about six-thirty, but she didn’t pick up, so I figured, ‘fuck it, she knows my number,’ and didn’t even try to reach her for a couple of days. I had a photo shoot in Salt Lake that day, and I looked like shit, because I hadn’t slept a wink, but I got through it and stayed in Utah until Sunday.”
“You didn’t hear from her?”
“No.”
“Didn’t try to call again?”
“The ball was in her court. I figured I’d give her some time to cool down and figure out what she wanted.”
“But you love her,” Thane remarked, his voice bland.
He nodded, his curls bouncing. “I do.”
“I’ll handle this.” Maggie sent Thane a glare guaranteed to make lesser men tremble, and the irreverent son of a gun had the gall to smile at her, turn his palm toward Wade Pomeranian, and lift his eyebrows as if to say, “Your witness, counselor.”
Wade checked his watch. “I’m running a little late.”
“Okay, okay, just bring me up to speed,” Maggie said, irritated and rapidly coming to the conclusion that Thane was correct in his opinion of Mary Theresa’s lover. The guy seemed like a flake. “What do you think happened to Marquise?”
“Shit, I don’t know.”
“As I said, the police seem to think that she might have had some kind of suicide wish.”
He barked out a laugh. “Right, and I told you what I thought. Marquise? No fuckin’ way. She loved life. Always wanted a little more from it, always hatchin’ some scheme to make more money or promote herself, but she wasn’t about to end it. Not her.”
“Then do you think she might’ve been kidnapped?”
“Hell, I don’t know.” He shrugged his slim shoulders. “Don’t know why anyone would do it.”
“Money,” Thane said.
“Or attention,” Maggie added.
“Or maybe some psycho. There are always nutcases runnin’ around. Beats me.” He looked sincere. Well, as sincere as he could in the black getup and professionally coiffed hair.
“Look, I’m outta here. I’m already late.” He flashed a killer smile, one that made him his money modeling. Scooting his chair back, he dropped his feet to the floor, slapped his thighs, and without another word strode out of the room at a sharp clip. His coat billowed behind him, and Maggie was reminded of Batman