C.J. left Elise and then ran into of all people, Courtney in the parking lot. The very last person she wanted to encounter right now. The conversation she'd had with her friend had left her raw after all. She'd wanted to get to Matt to explain it all to him before he found out from someone else. He needed to know the truth of what had happened on that island.
Between her and Marquis Sr. God knows how many people had already read about his version of events. If only she'd known he was going to put them to paper but she hadn't…after all it hadn't been a love affair between them. Surely even Courtney must know that.
"C.J. I thought I might find you…."
She tried to ignore the strident voice which belonged to the former mystery novelist turned biographer. But Courtney had always been persistent when it came to getting what she wanted. Still C.J. continued walking to her car. She had a mission to focus on for tonight. Matt and she would be facing off with Marquis' son if he showed up at a class A gala event. He'd have to be stopped before…he harmed anyone. They knew he'd been hired to take someone out by an unknown client but who and why, that still eluded them.
Matt's instinct of course had been to protect Clover from her own son so he didn't need to know about her own complicated history with the father. But…now that it was in print he'd find out soon enough and what would he think of it and her unless she told him first?
Sweat beaded her brow just at the thought as Courtney followed her to her car. She turned to face the writer.
"I don't want to talk about it. I've got things to do…just go away."
Courtney stood there, hands on hips.
"Too busy to talk about what happened to you and Marquis Sr….what was detailed extensively in one of his journals he left behind?"
C.J. shook her head.
"I don't care what he wrote. Like I said, I have places to go…"
Courtney smirked.
"I'm sure of that but what I wrote about the two of you…it was based on what he left behind about it. I'd like to get your side of it."
C.J. spun to face her.
"Oh really? I have a hard time believing that. If that were true, you'd have talked to me about it before publishing your expose."
Courtney shrugged.
"I had to get it out in print…surely you must understand…."
"I don't…and I don't care either way," C.J. said. "I'd never give you my side of what happened…but it wasn't as Marquis said. It wasn't an affair."
Courtney's mouth twitched.
"So you didn't have feelings for him that drew you towards him and into his bed while you stayed on his island?"
C.J. recoiled.
"Hardly. I didn't have any feelings about him. I did what I had to do to survive. But that's something you'd never understand."
"Try me…"
But C.J. didn't bite.
"No…you had your chance but it was more important for you to get your book published rather than posting the facts wasn't it?"
Courtney sighed.
"My publisher kept me on a strict deadline…"
C.J. waved her off.
"Yeah right. The truth never mattered to you much did it?"
Courtney smirked.
"Well you could sue me for libel if you chose…."
C.J. shook her head.
"The legal fees alone…I wouldn't bother even though I could prove my case," she said, "but unscrupulous writers like you always count on that…."
Courtney bristled.
"I'm not like that. I did the research. I…"
C.J. put up her hand.
"Spare me on the details," she said, "You wrote your book and got it published before you asked me for my take on what happened to me while I was on that island."
"But my publisher…"
"No Courtney that was a choice you made and you can't blame it on anyone else. You can't fix it either now that your book's on every best seller list."
Courtney pursed her lips.
"I wrote the truth…"
But C.J. just shook her head again.
"No you didn't…not by a longshot."
Matt looked across the room at his uncle and his cousin who looked back at him.
"What?"
Will answered first.
"You going to confront her on what you found out?"
Matt just looked at him.
"No…I wouldn't do that," he said, "I don't know the full story and I know that whatever Courtney wrote doesn't tell it either."
Roy sighed.
"Courtney seemed to think she knew the truth."
Matt sighed, before refreshing his scotch at the wet bar.
"I don't know it Uncle Roy and I wouldn't trust Marquis' version of it anyway. If C.J. wanted to talk about it…"
"Maybe she doesn't want to do that."
Matt paused looking at his glass.
"Maybe…"
Roy narrowed his eyes.
"No maybes Matlock. But who can blame her? Courtney had no right to do what she's done…not without knowing all the facts."
Matt tensed his jaw.
"I know but C.J. won't talk about it. In fact I don't know where she is right now…and we have an assignment tonight to try to find Marquis Jr…if he even shows up."
Roy poured another drink for himself.
"What if he does Matlock and what if he's after more than just fulfilling a professional obligation?"
Matt sipped his Scotch.
"You mean what if he's out for more than a hit at this party…."
"You don't even know who he's after do you," Roy countered, "and if that's his only objective."
Matt sighed.
"No I don't Uncle Roy. I don't know who hired him to take out which person on the A list. Politician, business icon, star athlete…actor…"
"No you don't do you? What if he doesn't stop there?"
Matt had considered that which is why he wanted to protect Clover. But even more than that he wanted to protect his best friend…but from what exactly? That's what he needed to know and so many gaps in information remained. C.J. hadn't exactly been forthcoming…
"Matlock, Marquis has something else up his sleeve," Roy continued, "and we don't know what that might be do we?"
Matt couldn't refute his uncle's words. Something about the mission didn't quite fit after all but he didn't know what.
"No we don't. But I think he's been hired to take someone out," Matt said, "and he's shown an interest in Clover. That we do know…ever since he found out the truth about her."
Roy shrugged.
"That's part of it I'm sure but there's more. I sense that. Marquis Jr. is a restless person and he'll make the most of his time in L.A."
Matt didn't doubt that but really so far it looked like a simple hit against some prominent person if that ever was the case…and maybe the terrorist might have some designs on his mother but they'd be ready for that.
He just knew that.
