He gave me a look and I shook my head. “What wasn’t, Marla?” I asked her.
“The pictures.”
Cole looked smug, and I felt my heart skip a beat. “You took them?” he asked.
“Of you two kissing, yeah,” she said. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“It is,” Cole said, “but we weren’t sure you actually did it.”
“Shit,” she said.
“Where are they, Marla?” I asked her.
“I don’t know.”
“You know this shit can ruin my whole family’s life, right?” Cole growled at her. “I don’t like when people fuck with my family.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know who they were when I took the job.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked her. “Who hired you?”
She held up her hands. “Look, she said it was just a normal job. I take a few pictures of the rich San Fran elite, I get paid like normal.”
“So why are you afraid, then?” Cole asked. “You seem to know about the blackmail.”
Marla nodded. “I overheard her on the phone after I made the drop. I didn’t mean to. I went into the bathroom and she just made the call. I guess she forgot I was listening?”
“What did she say?
“Just that they were going to send the letter soon and now that they had pictures, they could finally destroy your family, or whatever. I put two and two together.”
“Who is she, Marla?” Cole cut in.
Marla cocked her head. “You really don’t know?”
“Tell us,” he growled.
“I don’t know her name,” Marla said quickly, “and I don’t know who she’s working with, but I’ve seen her hovering around Mrs. Redson. A little shrill, blond, stuck up.”
My heart nearly stopped. I looked at Cole. “Madison.”
He looked like he had come to the same conclusion.
“Yeah. Her assistant, I think,” Marla said.
“Are you sure about that?” Cole asked.
“Man, it’s my job to know these people. That’s why I get paid so much.” She looked afraid, and she went on quickly. “But I don’t do blackmail. You have to believe me! I’ve been hiding out ever since I found out what they were doing.”
Cole stared at her seriously for a second, and I put my hand on his arm.
“Cole,” I said softly, “I think she’s telling the truth.”
He nodded slowly. “She better be,” he growled. “Or else I’ll be back.”
Marla squeaked. “I’m not lying!”
Cole stepped away, moving back toward the sidewalk. Marla relaxed visibly, clearly scared shitless of Cole. I didn’t blame her; Cole could be terrifying, all muscle and intensity. I was even a little frightened of him at the moment even though I knew he would never hurt me.
“Listen, Marla,” I said softly, “do you know anything else that can help us?”
“No. I’m sorry. I don’t even know who she works with.”
“Okay.” I sighed. “We’re sorry about the doors, and about chasing you.”
“So, uh, you’re not going to call the cops on me?”
I choked back the desire to laugh as I realized that Marla thought we were going to have her arrested. She was probably terrified that she was going to get caught up in a blackmail case, and she probably thought she was going to go to jail for it.
“No,” I said. “You’re fine. Just lie low for a little while, okay?”
“Sure, yeah. I can do that.”
“Thanks, Marla.”
She nodded like a frightened squirrel. I smiled at her gently and then turned and walked away.
My mind was buzzing with all of this. I found Cole standing against the car, shaking his head and grinning at me.
“I can’t believe that worked,” he said.
I gaped at him. That arrogant bastard! “You mean you weren’t sure,” I said, incredulously.
“Hell no,” he replied. “We broke into that girl’s apartment. That shit’s insane.”
“Isn’t that what you did to the paparazzi guy?”
“He’s different. He’s a professional. Probably gets that all the time. This is some normal-ass girl we’re talking about.”
“Fortunately for us, she thinks she’s in trouble for the blackmail stuff. So I think we’re calling it even.”
Cole grunted and nodded. I leaned up against the car next to him.
“Your mom’s assistant,” I said softly.
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
“She’s Cindy Redson. She hires the most intense and ruthless people she can find.” He looked at me and grinned. “You know, people just like her.”