Star Struck(73)

Caroline said, “And that’s another thing. How are you going to go from one friend to the other? That’s low down.”

“Since we’re being honest and I probably only have a few minutes of my life left anyway. Let’s get something straight,” Hailey said. “Who I’m with was never any of your concern. Maybe if you had gotten the psychological help that you obviously need then Trevon may have taken you seriously and you and him could have written off into the sunset.”

Hailey wished now that she hadn’t run Trevon off. Caroline paced the floor swinging the gun back and forth as if she was trying to think of what to do next. “I suggest you get to writing,” Caroline said. She threw the notebook at Hailey. It fell right in front of Hailey on the floor.

Hailey kicked the notebook away. “You might as well kill me because I’m not writing a suicide letter. If I write anything it would be to let them know how crazy you are,” Hailey snapped.

Caroline aimed her gun directly at Hailey. Hailey closed her eyes as she prepared to die. Her entire life passed before her eyes. She recalled her childhood. How fun it was growing up with her parents. The trips she took to her grandparents in Grand Cane, Louisiana. The fun of modeling and travelling all over the world and lastly she thought about the love she had for Garrett that she now regrettably never told him about.

“Good riddance,” Caroline said.

Hailey’s eyes remained closed. She prayed to God as she heard the clicking sound of the gun. Her eyes jerked open when she heard the shot that changed her life forever.

Caroline fell forward. The trigger on the gun was released and the bullet barely missed hitting Hailey as she ducked to the side. Trevon rushed over and got the gun. “Are you okay?”

Hailey dazed responded, “No. I mean Yes.” The realization of her being alive hit her. “I’m alive. I’m alive,” she kept repeating over and over.

The police entered the front door. “Drop your weapon now or we’ll shoot.”

Trevon placed the gun down on the floor and turned around with his arms up.

“Officers he’s okay. It’s her. She’s the one who tried to kill me,” Hailey explained, as she pointed where Caroline’s body laid.



~ 42 ~



“She’s still alive,” one of the officers said. “Someone dispatch an ambulance.”

Those were the first words Garrett heard when he made his way through the commotion outside. His heart didn’t beat until he saw Hailey. She was sitting on the couch next to Trevon with a blanket wrapped around her. They must have been talking about Shareeka.

Hailey’s body trembled. Her eyes lit up when she saw Garrett walking towards her. Garrett said, as Hailey wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here,” he said, as tears filled his eyes. He was relieved that she was safe.

“Sir, we need to ask Ms. Barnes some questions,” one of the uniformed officers said.

Trevon stepped in and said, “Give them a minute will you.”

Garrett appreciated Trevon stepping in for him. Hailey filled him on what had transpired. He was just as shocked as she was. All of this time, his secretary, the one he trusted, was behind everything. “If Trevon hadn’t showed up when he did, that would be me on that stretcher,” Hailey said.

Garrett said, “Trevon, I owe you.”

“No you don’t,” Trevon said, “I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching lately. It’s time that I made a change.”

The officer said, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but we really need your statement now Ms. Barnes.”

Hailey relayed the information as best as she could remember. “I’ll never forget coming so close to losing my life,” she said, as she told her story.

Garrett said, “There are reporters out there. Do you want me to handle them?”

Hailey took a few deep breaths. “No. I have to face them sometime so it might as well be now. Just let me go get myself together.”

Garrett said, “Tre, let them know Hailey will be out to talk with them shortly. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but you know Hailey always get her way.”

Trevon left to do as he was instructed. Garrett surveyed the room where the tragedy happened while he waited on Hailey to return downstairs. “I’m ready,” Hailey said. She still wore the same casual outfit she had on before but her hair was now pulled back into a ponytail.

“You sure you want to do this?” Garrett asked.

“Let’s do it,” she said, as she took his hand and they walked outside.

Cameras flashed and question after question were asked. Garrett said, “Please. Ms. Barnes won’t be answering any questions. If you don’t hold it down, she’ll just go back inside.”