Party Crashers

After the first couple of days of marathon lovemaking and nonstop talking, she had prepared herself for Beck to take an emotional step back, but instead, to her heart's joy, had discovered that Beck reveled in sharing details of his thoughts and experiences now that he had found someone like-minded. They were two people who had held themselves in check emotionally until each found the person who had the same bone-lonely look in their eyes. Jolie felt herself unfolding more every day, like a party dress that had been left in a drawer, waiting for the special occasion that had finally arrived.
    With a smile on her face, she sorted through her underwear drawer, and, remembering the gleam in Beck's eyes, threw out the sensible in favor of the sensual. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of their physical chemistry, how Beck was able to stir her senses with a look or a murmured word. At first she had to keep reminding herself that she deserved this chance at happiness, but the affirmation seemed to be working, because she had relaxed into the idea of accepting Beck's love.
    Having exhausted the drawers in her bureau, Jolie turned to the bookshelf that made up the headboard of her bed. She pulled out The Magic of Thinking Big and a rueful smile played over her face at the book that Gary had insisted would change her life. In hindsight, it had: The book had given her confidence to quit the Sanders agency and try her hand at something new, and she wouldn't have met Carlotta or Beck otherwise. On her nightstand lay a padded envelope containing a new pink leather-bound journal she was going to mail to Carlotta—perhaps she would send her Gary's favorite book as well to encourage her to pursue her idea for a product placement business.
    Jolie thumbed through the book, and halfway through the pages stopped to reveal a white envelope simply marked "Jolie." Frowning, she removed the fat envelope and slid her finger beneath the flap. She gasped at the stack of cash inside—all large bills. Folded sheets of notebook paper cradled the money. Jolie withdrew the sheets, hands trembling. It was a handwritten letter from Gary.

    Dear Jolie,
    I'm leaving this letter in case something terrible happens to me. I'm sorry I got you involved in the mess of my personal life and the mess of my business dealings. Since you didn't get the envelope I sent earlier, these notes explain the crimes that were planned. I'm innocent of murder, but I'm not an innocent man—I figure if I die young, it's payment for other things I've gotten away with in my lifetime.
    You see, Jolie, I really loved you...or maybe it was the thought of you. You reminded me that there are people in the world who are truly good, and I wanted to feed on your goodness. Unfortunately, I'm in too much trouble to extricate myself. I should have told you that your friend Leann Renaldi is a former girlfriend of mine with obsessive tendencies, although I don't think she'd ever hurt anyone, except maybe me. And if she does, I probably deserve it for the way I dumped her. I can be a real jerk, even though I tried hard not to let you see that part of my personality. You made me want to be a better person, Jolie.
    Enclosed is repayment for your car I took the night Janet LeMon was killed, and a little extra for all the trouble I caused you. I hope you can put it to good use. I wish I had met you sooner, Jolie. I hope your life is long and full of happiness.
    Gary

    Jolie wiped at her eyes, grateful to have some explanation of why Gary had become involved with her in the first place, and what motivated him to keep secrets from her. He must have entered her apartment and planted the envelope some time after he had talked to her from the backseat of her rental car...which explained the finger marks in the dust that she'd found, and the indications that someone had climbed through her bedroom window. She scanned the notes he'd left and decided they would go to Detective Salyers immediately to help fill any holes in the case against Roger LeMon. Then she counted the cash with growing wonder—fifteen thousand dollars. Since her car had been returned to her, the cash Gary had left seemed extraneous.
    Then an idea occurred to her. Jolie picked up the padded envelope containing the leather journal she was sending to Carlotta, and tucked two thousand dollars inside—enough to get the threatening collector off her friend's back. The rest she bundled into another envelope and addressed it to Rebecca