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Los Angeles, a few minutes later…

“ISN’T THAT ONE OF THE burner phones we bought last month?” Veris asked as Brody put the phone on the low table next to another smartphone.

“It is.”

“You got a text message on it? I thought everyone would use your normal phone number. Who was it from?” Alex asked.

Brody smiled. “Indirectly, a really smart girl called Carly. She was getting rid of a creep and gave him this number. I just put some polish on the matter. Which reminds me.” He pulled the phone out again, broke open the back cover and pulled out the SIM card and cracked it in two. “We’ll have to get another one.”

“Clearly,” Veris said, sounding puzzled.

The front door chimed, making everyone look up.

“Alex is already here,” Taylor pointed out, rubbing the side of her stomach.

Alex gave a small smile. “I am not your only friend.”

“The only one with open visiting privileges,” Veris said. “The gate guys would stop anyone else.”

Brody got to his feet. “It’s band business,” he said and hoisted his cellphone – the real one. “I’ll get the door.”

“A new album?” Alex asked politely as Brody headed for the door.

“Not that I know about,” Veris said. “Although they’re overdue on their contract.”

“Still think your money is safe?” Taylor asked.

“More than ever,” Veris said. He nodded toward her stomach. “Munchkin there will make him even less inclined to tour.”

“Money?” Alex repeated curiously. “You have a bet going on…what?”

“How long Brody will last with the band. Veris said he’d not last ten years. He’s on year eight now. But I don’t think even Veris anticipated the band breaking as big as they did.”

Veris shrugged. “I thought they’d tour Europe for a few years, then drift apart through lack of success. It doesn’t matter, my bet still stands. Brody has a short attention span.”

“I heard that,” Brody said from the doorway. He moved back into the library, a young man behind him. “Alex, I don’t think you’ve met Andy before.”

Alex got to his feet and held out his hand. “Andy.”

Andy leaned forward and shook his hand. “Nice to meetcha,” he said.

“You know everyone else,” Brody added.

Andy pushed his long hair aside and gave everyone a smile.

“It’s so good to see you, Andy,” Taylor said, her voice warm.

His smile for Taylor was much warmer and he seemed to relax as he nodded at her. “Life still grand?” he asked.

She placed her hand on her rotund belly. “More than ever.”

He grinned.

“Andy works for the band,” Brody explained to Alex. “He helped us out a few months ago.”

“And a few years ago, too,” Taylor added.

“All at the same time,” Brody finished.

“Is that so?” Alex said, looking at Andy more closely. “I sense a story.”