Flash

fans still identify her with the character she played on
Crystal Cove
. Sybil was a heroine, not a villainess."
    "Olivia, she was just a character in a soap opera."
    Olivia's delicate jaw went rigid. "I was afraid of this."
    "Of what?"
    "That you would not be the least bit sympathetic or understanding."
    "No offense," Jasper said, "but I would have thought that a retired soap star would kill for a little splash of gossip in the tabloids."
    "You don't know my aunt. Zara would be much more likely to kill to keep her character's reputation from being tarnished."
    Jasper shook his head, amazed. "She's actually willing to pay off a blackmailer to preserve the rep of a TV character?"
    "You have to understand, Zara is very upset. She's kept the secret of her X-rated film career a secret for years. She's afraid that all the rest of the Chantrys will be humiliated and embarrassed if the truth comes out."
    Jasper raised one brow. "Is that true?"
    Olivia hesitated. "I have to tell you that, speaking as her niece, it's a little mind-boggling to think of Aunt Zara as an X-rated actress. But I can't say I'm overcome with shock and horror."
    "I didn't think so."
    "Zara's worried about the others, though. My brother, for example, is involved not only professionally, but personally, with Eleanor Lancaster."
    "Are you serious? Your brother has fallen for a politician?"
    Olivia nodded unhappily. "Uh-huh. Aunt Zara's afraid that if the Lancaster campaign gets wind of Todd's connection to a former porn star, it could hurt his career as well as his relationship with Eleanor Lancaster."
    Jasper considered that angle for a few seconds and dismissed it, "It's an old story that might be worth a couple of inches of newsprint, but that's about it. Nothing that would endanger Lancaster's run for the governor's chair."
    "I tend to agree with you, but Zara is convinced that if she doesn't pay off the blackmailer, she might inadvertently ruin Todd's career and personal life. And then there are all of the relatives in Zara's generation. The Chantrys are a large family. There's no denying that some of them are on the prissy side."
    "So you tried to identify the blackmailer today."
    "Yes." She narrowed her eyes. "Unfortunately, you screwed things up at the last minute."
    He held up one hand, palm out "Don't blame me, lady. Whoever sent that message telling me that you wanted to see me ASAP is the one who screwed things up for you."
    She sighed. "You're right. I thought about it a lot after I left you this afternoon. The snafu at the market was my fault. The blackmailer spotted me and called your office. I guess it really wasn't a very good disguise."
    "No, it wasn't." He had recognized her instantly. The graceful curve of her spine, the tilt of her head, the shape of her hand as she gripped the coffee cup. Hell, he would have known her in a darkened room.
    "The bad news," Olivia continued in very distinct tones, "is that because I messed up today, you are now involved in this problem."
    He let a beat of silence go past before he said, very carefully, "I'm flattered as hell, of course, that you've seen fit to include me in your little adventure."
    "You won't be so thrilled once you open that envelope and find out what an active role you've got."
    Her entire mood had changed since he had seen her at the Market, he reflected.
    He picked up the envelope and slowly raised the flap. There was a single sheet of letter-sized paper inside. It was the kind of ubiquitous, anonymous paper that was used in laser printers in offices and homes everywhere.
    He withdrew the note and read the computer-generated message.

    I do not tolerate interference in my business affairs. Now you and Sloan must be taught a lesson.

9
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    "Y ou do realize," Jasper said quietly, "that it's time to go to the police."
    "
No
. At least not yet." Olivia uncurled herself very quickly and sat forward in her chair. She pressed her knees tensely together. "I know that there's an implied threat to you in that note. That's why I told you the whole story."
    "The threat is to both of us," he pointed out dryly.
    "Yes, but it's probably meaningless."
    "Meaningless?"
    "The blackmailer is lashing out in anger," she said. "He must know that you and I are not the kind who would ever pay blackmail. He's just trying to scare us off so that he can prey on Zara."
    Her airy dismissal of the threat to herself irritated Jasper. "I take it you've had a lot of experience with blackmailers?"
    "Don't be