9. Love’s The Trap
9
Love’s The Trap
“ W illiam?” Spencer asked as the man’s voice came through on the other line. He was in his office, an hour removed from his meeting with Nicole Taylor.
“Spencer, hi. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, no, everything’s fine. I figured you might want to hear how my first point of contact with Nicole went.”
“Of course. I would love to hear the details.”
“Well, I met with her at her office. She was as professional as they come. You would never know what a deceitful liar she is by looking at her.”
Spencer could practically hear the grin in William’s voice as he spoke. “Guess it’s good to hear I didn’t get scammed by a rookie.”
A rookie Nicole was certainly not. “She was strictly business. We talked about Nessa’s birthday. We discussed ideas for the party. The whole time, I couldn’t figure her out. She has an impressive poker face.”
Spencer went into the meeting with reservations, but it was clear by the end of it that Nicole was a skilled con artist. She could read people and adjust accordingly, a skill that was a necessary trait in her line of work. From the outside looking in, Nicole was a businesswoman looking to please clients and grow her brand. She was good enough to fool anyone. Anyone except him.
“So, what’s next for you?”
“She wants to meet Nessa. To plan her party better, she needs to get to know her. I’m taking Nessa to her office tomorrow.”
“Have you prepped her?” The concern in William’s voice was evident. He was investing a lot of money and time into this. The last thing he wanted was for his plan to die on the shoulders of a five-year-old.
“Nessa will be fine. There’s a minimal amount of lying on her part. She only needs to be her adorable self to sell the bit.”
“Alright, Spencer. I trust your judgment. Just be careful. Nicole may seem harmless, but she’s a master manipulator. Keep your guard up.”
William’s warning was considerate, but Spencer knew what he was getting into. Though this was his first undercover gig, he watched his father work enough of these cases to know the drill. The people he investigated didn’t care who they hurt to get their way. Nicole wasn’t any different from them.
The basic details of her con told Spencer everything he needed to know about her. Con artists operated by luring their victims in with charm and promises. Only to leave them broken and penniless once they were done sucking them dry. Nicole was no different. He had a sinking feeling in his gut as he thought about Nessa being around someone like that.
“I will, William. I’m immune to Nicole’s charms. Trust me. I don’t intend to let her beat us. We have a score to settle here, and I won’t rest until we’re even.”
“That’s what I like to hear, and I have something to tell you that you’ll like to hear too. Our newspaper ads went live this morning in the greater California, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, and Boston areas.”
“That was fast.”
“You can thank my resources for that. I put your office number on the ad. That pretty secretary of yours is going to have her hands full sorting through the junk to find the gems.”
That’s when Spencer noticed the post-it note on his lampshade. In Yara’s handwriting, it read, Went to lunch. Here are the ones you should follow up with. Expecting a pay raise if this keeps up.
“Yara left me some numbers she thinks have potential. I’ll follow up with them and see if we have anything here.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
As they hung up, Spencer turned his attention to the messages on his desk. There were four numbers listed. Two didn’t have any actual information, only claiming they did to obtain the reward William listed on the ad. The third one had the name, age, and a rough description of Nicole. He also stated the date and location where he last saw her, which was a year ago, in Seattle. The final one was the most interesting.
“Hi, I’m Lynn Martin. Nicole, the woman described in your Chicago newspaper ad, I think I catered her wedding two years ago.”
Two years ago would be one year before Eric Hayes, Spencer calculated. It fit the timeline, so it was the best lead he had thus far. “Hello, Ms. Martin. This is Spencer Shaw from the agency featured in the ad. Would you mind telling me more about the woman you met?”
“No problem. I’ve catered a lot of weddings, but I remembered hers well because her husband hit on me during the reception. He was super wasted and hit on every woman on the catering staff. I remember a co-worker saying something to the bride. Nicole’s reaction is what made me remember her. She laughed and said, ‘That’s him. Isn’t he a character?’.”
“Did she say anything else about him?”
“No, but she seemed annoyed and embarrassed by him, but not angry or upset by his actions. If what your ad is saying about her is true, then I understand why she acted like that.”
Spencer did too. The guy played right into Nicole’s hands. He set himself up to be the cheater Nicole portrayed him as when their marriage crashed and burned. “Do you remember his name?”
“I can’t remember his first name, but his last name was Mitchell. The wedding was in Chicago, had a lot of out of towners coming in for it. Maybe they lived there?”
Spencer opened his laptop and typed in Mitchell Chicago. For good measure, he added Millionaires. Several pages came up, and a couple were for a Mark Mitchell, a local businessman.
A few articles popped up about his divorce and the details of it. No photos of Nicole, but there were mentions of her by the name of Nicole Hamilton. Also mention of a prenup and Nicole filing, citing reconcile differences. Same M.O. as her divorce from William.
“Lynn, you wouldn’t have a way for me to contact Mitchell, would you?”
“I can give you the number to the catering company that worked the event. They might get you the information.”
“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.” Spencer gave her William’s email to send her PayPal information to, then dialed the number she gave him. Obtaining a client’s number, especially one with money and power, was no straightforward task. But Spencer had enough practice to know how to handle these situations.
“Hello, my name is Spencer Shaw. I’m looking for contact information for a client who used your services two years ago. A wedding, to be precise. His name is Mark Mitchell.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t give out personal information. Unless you have a warrant, you’re going to have to contact him yourself. ”
“Listen, I’m not trying to stir up trouble, but Mark was a victim of a scam and I need to reach him to let him know.”
“If you have a warrant, then I’ll help you. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time.”
Before the operator could hang up, Spencer said, “Let’s try a different approach, shall we? Let’s talk hypotheticals. Say you were working a catering gig and the client, drunk, starts making an ass of himself. Worse, he hits on the female caterers. Maybe he gets handsy. Maybe one server says something to the company and they do nothing about it. Because at the end of the day, the client is the client. How his unacceptable behavior makes your caterers feel doesn’t matter. What do you think would happen if that story got out? If everyone knew what your company was allowing at your events?”
The operator was quiet for a moment before responding. “Give me a second. I’ll have the contact information sent to your email.”
“I’ll wait.”
It took no time for the information to pop up in Spencer’s email. The operator hung up once his inbox chimed. Spencer opened the email and saw the info, including a cell phone number and an address in Chicago. He dialed the number.
“Hello?”
“Is this Mark Mitchell?”
“Yes, this is he. Who am I speaking to?”
“I’m Spencer Shaw, a private investigator hired by a client, who claims to have been a victim of your wife’s.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nicole Hamilton. Or Nicole Mitchell before your divorce.”
“What do you mean your client claims he was a victim of hers?”
“I’ll tell you the details of their relationship and subsequent divorce and you can tell me what you make of it. They had a quick, hot, passionate affair resulting in a marriage. Nicole pulls away from him not long after. Her daughter begins showing interest in him. An interest that culminates in them landing in bed where Nicole finds them. Sound familiar?”
Spencer didn’t know how Mark would react, but he wouldn’t have predicted with a sigh of what sounded like annoyance. “Listen, Mr. Shaw. Nicole and I had a whirlwind romance. We both made mistakes that caused our marriage to end. I don’t want to dredge up ancient history.”
“Do you understand what I’m telling you, Mr. Mitchell? Your ex-wife ran a scam on you. You weren’t the only man she married and then allowed her daughter to seduce. My client had a similar experience with her. I have reason to believe there were others before him, and after you.”
“I understand what you’re telling me just fine. I’m not sure what you want me to do with it.”
“My client is building a case against her. We want your help.”
“Sorry, but no.”
“What do you mean no?”
“Look, what Nicole got from our divorce wasn’t enough to crumble me. I’ve stayed on course. My business is strong. I met and married my true love. We’re expecting our first child. If I were to take part in your case, I would be making a public spectacle of myself. Nicole may be a scammer, but she didn’t force me into bed with Maya. No matter what she did, that’s a terrible look for me. I don’t want my wife to know about it or for it to be out for my daughter to read one day. So no, Mr. Shaw, I won’t be a part of this.”
“But—”
“No buts. Don’t call me again.”
“Mark, wait. You can remain anonymous. Your name won’t have to come up.”
“I’m sorry, but my answer is still no. In some fucked up way, what Nicole did sent me on a better path. I’m not looking to stray from it. Good luck, Mr. Shaw.”
With that, the line went dead.
“Damn it,” Spencer muttered to himself, tossing his phone onto the desk.
“You’ll get him next time.”
Spencer’s eyes whipped up, finding his best friend Lawrence leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to hear you threaten to expose a guy’s dirty laundry. People sneaking up on you sounds like it would be a bad thing for your line of work. Maybe it’s time for a new prescription?”
Spencer took off his glasses and wiped them with his shirt before putting them back on. “My glasses are fine. I was distracted, is all.”
“Clearly. Oh, Nessa, your uncle is off the phone,” he called over his shoulder.
Nessa ran into the room. “Hey, Uncle Spence. Where did you go that you had to be dressed like that?”
“Like what?”
“So… formal.”
“Work.”
“But this is where you work,” she said, looking around their… cozy office.
“It’s a secret job.”
“Oh, cool. Like a spy.”
Spencer laughed and shook his head. “Enough about me. What did you guys get up to after Lawrence picked you up from school?”
“We went to the library for Drag Queen Story Time. It was fun, as always. Their readings are always more entertaining to listen to than my English teacher’s.”
“What about my readings? They’re better, right? ”
She paused to think, then replied, “What is it you’re always telling me? Never lie, Ness.”
“I’ll make an exception this once.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, yours are way better.”
Spencer smiled, making her smile too. “How would you like to skip school tomorrow and hang out with me? We’ll be going to meet with that party planner whose photos I showed you. She’s going to discuss some ideas for your birthday party.”
Her eyes widened. “I get to ditch school to plan my party? That’s so cool, Uncle Spence! I can’t wait!”
Spencer felt a warmth in his chest at seeing his niece this happy. It was such a good feeling he almost forgot to prepare Nessa for what was to come. “We’re going to play a little game with the party planner.”
“What kind of game?”
“Roleplaying. I’m going to pretend to be a tech millionaire, and you’re going to pretend to be a little girl who has the best uncle in the world.”
“Oh, is that all?” Nessa joked.
“Exactly, that’s all. And I have a feeling you’re going to be the best little girl in the world at playing that role.”
“I’ll do it as long as I get ice cream after.”
“Consider it already done.”
“Yay.” She turned to high-five Lawrence.
“Ness, want to take a spin in Yara’s chair?” he asked.
“Always.”
“Don’t go too fast and get dizzy,” Spencer warned as she skipped back into the lobby.
Lawrence shut the door behind her. “That’s a really nice thing you’re doing for her.”
“If it weren’t for the job, I would’ve done something just for the two of us. ”
“Still. She’s going to appreciate it even if it’s for a case. You saw how happy she was hearing about it. That means a lot to her, especially after today.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I picked her up, she was chatty, which I thought was a good sign. But when we were talking, she admitted something. This girl in her class has a birthday party coming up too. She handed out invitations to everyone but Nessa. She tried to put on a brave face, but I could tell she was upset about being left out.”
Nessa had been attending Spring Ridge Elementary School since Spencer got custody of her. It was closer to his apartment. It rated better among parents than her old school. And didn’t come with gossipy teachers and parents who knew about the situation with Melanie. Rayna, Spencer’s mom, warned him that plucking Nessa out of a school where she already made friends could backfire on him. Spencer didn’t listen, determined to give Nessa a fresh start.
He wanted the best for his niece and provided her with an excellent education in a place where no one knew about the drama in her home life. Adjusting to Spring Ridge proved more difficult for Nessa than he thought it would. The classes were further ahead than her old ones. She didn’t have the same rapport with her teachers, and making friends was hard when everyone already formed their cliques.
Nessa never complained. They both knew it would take time and effort to get used to the new environment. She had been patient and kept her head held high during the transition. Hearing a classmate intentionally left her out didn’t surprise Spencer, but it broke his heart.
“Thank you for telling me. I’ll talk to her and her teacher.” Spencer put his head in his hands, trying and failing not to get angry at himself. “Do you think I made a mistake pulling her from her old school? Putting what I wanted over what she wanted? ”
Lawrence walked around his desk and sat on the edge. “Hey, don’t do that. You didn’t put your wants over hers. You did what you thought was best. And it’s not a mistake, it just might take a little while longer for them to embrace her.”
“It’s been a year, Law. It feels like no progress has been made. I can’t even blame this on me being oblivious. My mom said this might happen. I’m starting to feel like the biggest failure.”
At his job and as a pseudo-father. He wouldn’t dare say it aloud, because it would feel too real if he did. If his case went sideways, he would have no way to keep The Shaw Agency running. No money to keep a roof over his and Nessa’s heads. He was one misstep away from dismantling the legacy his father left him and hurting a little girl who had already been hurt too many times in her short life.
“Spence, you’re the furthest thing from a failure. You didn’t ask to take over your dad’s job or step in and raise your sister’s kid. But you did them when you didn’t have to. You could’ve walked away and passed the responsibilities onto someone else. You had every excuse and right to. But you didn’t. You’re here doing everything you can to keep the lights on. You’re raising a wonderful, smart, compassionate young woman who is going to change the world one day. If you’re a failure, what does that make the rest of us?”
Spencer leaned back in his chair and let Lawrence’s words sink in without trying to fight them. “Thanks, man. I needed to hear that.”
“You know what you really need?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“You need a drink. Not one by yourself like a depressed person, but one with me. Come on, you know it’s been a minute since we’ve hung out.”
“You mean since we last had a drink?”
“Come on, Spence. I miss you.”
“And I miss not having to work. ”
Lawrence laughed and patted Spencer’s knee. “I’m sure you do. The last time you did anything for fun was for your birthday. That was four months ago.”
“Meanwhile, that hasn’t stopped you from having the time of your life without me.”
“You got that right.”
Since his breakup with his boyfriend, Lawrence had become more adventurous. While Spencer’s life remained stagnant, Lawrence’s life seemed to have blossomed. It was a different story when the two met in college. A meeting at a mixer led to casual sex that led to a lifelong friendship. A wild thing considering they were complete opposites.
Spencer was the party animal who prioritized having a good time over studying. While Lawrence was the studious bookworm who would only leave his dorm by his friends’ shear force. Yet their differences didn’t stop them from forming a bond destined to tether them to each other forever.
“We can do drinks soon. After I close this case. It’ll be the perfect opportunity.”
“That could be months from now. I need a wingman now. You know how it is when you’re single.”
“Actually, I don’t,” Spencer reminded him. Even before he gained custody of Nessa and got stuck with a job he didn’t want, Spencer wasn’t interested in dating. Casual hookups were about as much responsibility as he could handle.
“That’s right. You still aren’t interested in that. Just sex.”
“Keep your voice down,” Spencer scolded. He checked to make sure Nessa didn’t have her ear pressed to the door.
“Oh, relax. Nessa isn’t paying attention no way.”
“She has ears, doesn’t she?”
“Aww. You don’t want her to know you’re a manwhore.”
“Was. If all I wanted was still sex, I would’ve hooked up with you again after things ended between you and Scott. From my memory, you were a pretty good lay.”
“Just pretty good?”
“Okay, great then. And easy too.”
“Some things never change.” Lawrence grinned.
“Some things do. I’m not interested in casual sex or flings anymore. I don’t have the energy for it.”
“So if you’re not interested in hook-ups or dating, does that mean you’re going to be celibate the rest of your life?”
“If it means I can focus on taking care of my business and my family, yes.”
“Wow,” Lawrence replied like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Spencer couldn’t blame him. He almost couldn’t believe it himself. The old Spencer would have never imagined uttering those words. Or that he would be responsible for caring for a five-year-old. The old him wrapped it up.
Life certainly handed him a curveball. Spencer accepted his priorities were different now, and he had to adapt. His focus was on ensuring Nessa’s well-being and building a stable future for them. If giving up meaningless hookups helped in achieving that, then so be it.
“What if someone comes along who’s worth breaking that rule for?” Lawrence asked, arching an eyebrow while he waited for his answer.
Spencer wasn’t interested in entertaining the question. His best friend always had a penchant for romanticizing things. Spencer had no intention of playing his game.
When he didn’t respond, Lawrence continued. “I’m not saying you need to go to a bar and pick up the first guy or girl you see. I get you’re not that guy anymore. But if you met someone who made an impression on you, would you give dating a shot?”
“The answer is no, Law. Dating is a distraction I don’t need. I have enough going on right now.”
“Spence, I don’t say this to be mean. But what you have is an agency that, despite your best efforts, may or may not go out of business. And a kid that may or may not have a mom who wants her back.”
Spencer confided in Lawrence about Melanie’s phone calls. He hoped not answering them would deter her from continuing to contact him, but she hadn’t stopped. Messages where she apologized for leaving and expressing her desire to see Nessa. She wanted a chance to be a mom, and it wasn’t something Spencer was ready to give her.
“I get why you’re against Melanie being involved in your or Nessa’s lives. You’re being protective, but don’t let that keep you from letting other people in.”
“There’s only one person I need in my life.” Spencer looked at the photo frame of her sitting on his desk before looking up at Lawrence again. “And she’s not going anywhere.”