Red Flags Read Free

the least I can do. Besides, this way, I won’t worry about you.”
    I gave in. “What do I wear tonight? I’ve never been to a party in Hollywood.”
    â€œAnything you want, Kate. You’ll see ripped jeans and sequins, sometimes on the same person.” She smiled. “I’ll see you later.”
    I followed her out of the trailer and watched her purposeful stride through the fenced area, her ever-present personal assistant, Penny, next to her. The fenced-off parking lot was rapidly draining of vehicles as the celebrity race staff took the Toyotas back to their staging area. My work was done. I collected my belongings from the lone IndyCar trailer, waving at one of the IndyCar Series executives as he passed. I also nodded at a member of the grand prix organization, then stopped when she spoke to me.
    â€œThanks again for giving the press a thrill, Kate.”
    â€œYou bet.” I shook her hand. “You’re Erica?”
    â€œErica Aarons. Your team media guy, Tom, said you’d let me set up some interviews while you’re in L.A. for the next week. If that’s all right, I’ll make a plan.”
    After swapping contact information, I continued on my way to the GPLB media center in the basement of the Performing Arts Center building, which—combined with the whale-muraled arena, a hotel, and the convention center—formed the heart of the Long Beach circuit. I ducked inside, downstairs, and into the women’s bathroom. One thing I loved about this race facility was the abundance of real bathrooms. I’d been in lots of porta-potties in my career, and I preferred running water.
    I swung the door open and came face-to-face with Elizabeth Rogers, part of the operations team for the SportsCar Championship, or SCC, the series I competed in.
    Elizabeth saw me and dissolved into tears. “Kate, did you hear what happened? Holden is devastated.”
    My spirits fell to the ground with a thump. Billy. Dead.

Chapter Three
    I blinked away the image of Billy on the ground, dented and bloody. “I heard, yes.” I used the excuse of going into a stall to assemble my thoughts.
    As I washed my hands a minute later, I studied Elizabeth. Aside from her red eyes and blotchy skin, her long, straight, blond hair—an Alice in Wonderland look—was her most distinguishing feature. Though we’d become acquainted through her role in operations for the SCC, I’d never gotten past the surface with her. Never seen emotion. Until now.
    I dried my hands and turned to her, leaning against the counter. “Were you close to Billy?”
    â€œSince I’ve been seeing Holden, Billy and I have gotten to be good friends. You know how close the two of them are. Were.” That set off another round of slow tears rolling down her cheeks. “I feel so badly for what Holden’s going through.”
    â€œYou spoke with him?”
    Another nod and a hiccupped sob. “Once I found out from the GPLB staff, I had to tell him. Holden deserved to know right away, from someone who cares.”
    Holden Sherain deserves a swift kick in the rear. No, be charitable. Even if you don’t like him, feel sorry for him. He must be devastated. I thought about Billy, beaten to death and abandoned in the parking structure. I came up with more sympathy for both cousins.
    I was fumbling for what to say to Elizabeth—I didn’t know how to console her and didn’t want to ask after Holden—when there was a commotion outside the door. It swung open to reveal a woman who looked like she’d taken a wrong turn somewhere on her way to a mall. I caught a flash of diamonds and a glimpse of a red-soled shoe. Forget a mall, she’s AWOL from Rodeo Drive.
    She pointed at someone outside. “Not this time. Stay there.” She closed the door and slumped against it, only then noticing us watching her, our mouths agape.
    I’d never seen her before, but