Eyes On You Part 1

Eyes on You.

Kate White.

Dear Readers, Thank you for taking part in the Big Library Read by borrowing Eyes On You, my novel of suspense. Whether you've never read a mystery t.i.tle before or you've read so many that you've lost count, I hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Like many mystery authors, I fell in love with the genre after reading my first Nancy Drew novel and I still admire the cliffhanger endings that "Carolyn Keene" created for us. I think all mystery writers strive to leave the reader guessing until the final pages, and that was my goal with Eyes on You. I added plenty of plot twists!

Given my background in the magazine and media world (I was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan for 14 years), it felt right to work this into my storytelling. Eyes on You is about a successful TV host who begins receiving venomous notes and nasty surprises at work. Someone, she realizes, is out to get her, and it's most likely a person she knows. What can be more unnerving than discovering that someone is secretly watching your every move and wants nothing more than to sabotage your success?

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the story, so please share with me on Facebook and Twitter and join the group discussion at biglibraryread.com or #biglibraryread. Thank you again for reading and for being a part of this unique, global book club!

Truly, Kate White.

dedication.

To Jody Gaylin, Amy Archer, and Lori Stone.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

chapter 1.

The shoes had made a nasty dent in my paycheck, but I wasn't sorry I'd splurged. They were Chanel, black-textured with a peep toe and a gold zipper up the back, really more of a booty than a stiletto. And not what you'd ever call "f.u.c.k me" shoes-there was nothing about them that would make a guy want to bed you, unless he was the type who liked a razor-sharp heel at his throat. These were what you wore on your feet when you needed armor, when the night would include a few foes half-hidden among the friends and fans. They were the kind of footwear that said you could d.a.m.n well take care of yourself.

"f.u.c.k you" shoes, I thought. That's what they were. And I knew I might need them tonight. Because in TV there were always people who wished the worst for you.

As soon as I stepped off the elevator onto Bettina's floor, I could tell her apartment was packed. The din drove its way through the door, a babble of voices punctuated by ice clinking in gla.s.ses and bursts of laughter. Bettina had told me not to show until six-thirty ("The guest of honor must make an entrance"), and I was one minute ahead of that. I didn't want to seem all eager-beavery, but I also couldn't stand waiting any longer. I was about to be feted for the book I'd written, and I wanted to savor every second, especially because just two years ago, a night like tonight would have been preposterous to imagine.

The penthouse door swung open presto-like before I could even touch it. There was a guy right inside, wearing a collared black shirt, black pants, and gleaming, super-pointy black shoes. He smiled, beckoning me in. A twentysomething girl stood next to him, poured into a tight black dress and holding a clipboard. Big smile from her, too, as I stepped inside. The white walls of the entrance gallery popped with edgy modern art.

"Welcome, Ms. Trainer," the guy said, obviously recognizing me. "I'll let Ms. Lane know you're here."

"That's okay, I'll find her," I said. I wanted a few moments to take everything in and relish it all.

I moved down the hall, inching by a cl.u.s.ter of people I didn't recognize, and emerged into the enormous living room, nearly jammed with well-dressed guests. I'd been to Bettina's apartment a couple of times when I'd consulted for her, but always during daylight hours-for offsite breakfast meetings and once a luncheon we'd put together for a group of key celebrity publicists.

Though I knew the place was a jaw-dropper, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the lower Hudson, I wasn't prepared for the magical twilight tableau in front of me. Hundreds of lights sparkled from buildings on the New Jersey side of the river, and inside, where every possible surface of the columned loft-style room was dotted with white votive candles. The air smelled of vanilla and some exotic fruit-maybe mango. Manhattan meets Madagascar, I thought. Just the kind of magic touch Bettina would concoct.

Pretty quickly, I started to pick out familiar faces-the major players from my book publisher; staffers from Bettina's website; colleagues from the new cable show I was cohosting; my TV and book agents; and fortunately, a few gossip columnists, whom I was counting on to create hype for the book.

I recognized more than a few boldface names, people Bettina had obviously coaxed or strong-armed into coming out on a Sunday night in summer. As expected, there were a few foes also, including Mina Garvin, the TV critic who'd bludgeoned the show its first week on the air. But so what? I had the shoes for it.

I swung my gaze around the room, searching for my cousin's daughter, Maddy, who'd been working as my intern the past few months. This party wasn't meant for friends or relatives, but I'd asked Maddy to come in case I needed a.s.sistance. There was no sign of her, but to the far right, near a bar twinkling with gla.s.ses, I picked out Carter Brooks, my coanchor on The Pulse, holding court with the president of the network and a couple of other honchos. At six-three, Carter towered over the other men.

Off to the left, I noticed Vicky Cruz, aka "Cruz Missile," on the move through the crowd, her short red bob punctuating the room like the head of a giant kitchen match. Within a few seconds, she'd maneuvered her way into the all-male circle. She was known as a ballbuster, and she practically ruled the network as the host of its highest-rated show, yet in social settings with powerful men, she preferred to play the p.u.s.s.ycat. I didn't like her show, and based on my limited contact so far, I didn't like her, but her success blew me away.

Simultaneously, several people spotted me and smiled, but before anyone had a chance to approach, Bettina zoomed over in my direction, parting the crowd like a speedboat through water. She was wearing a plum-colored dress with lips to match.

"h.e.l.lo, darling," Bettina said, scratching her lacquered hair against each of my cheeks as she air-kissed me. "You look fabulous."

I liked Bettina, and I admired her fiercely-she'd built a monster Web empire, made a b.l.o.o.d.y fortune, and paid me nicely for consulting on how to turbocharge her celebrity coverage-but I also knew to keep my guard up around her. She made me think of a stray husky a college friend had adopted. He'd adored that dog, spent endless hours running and hiking with her, but refused to let her sleep in the same room with him. "Not with those eyes and teeth," he'd said. "I'm sure she's part wolf."

"Everything is amazing, Bettina," I said. "I can't believe you lured all these people out tonight."

"The key is for you to totally enjoy yourself," she said. "Tonight is all about you."

I flashed a smile, knowing, not ungratefully, that Bettina's comment was part bulls.h.i.t. She had her sonar continually set for excuses to entertain, to bring together powerful and influential people in a mix that hummed, sizzled, throbbed, and sometimes burst into flames. But I was delighted to be her excuse tonight. "I intend to totally luxuriate in the evening," I said.

"Why don't you mingle for a little while, darling? Sign books. Share some of those secrets you wrote about. And then, around seven-fifteen, I'll make the toast."

"Perfect."

Bettina snapped her fingers at a pa.s.sing waiter, s.n.a.t.c.hed a gla.s.s of white wine from the tray for me, and then motored off, parting the crowd again.

I indulged in a sip of wine, set to mingle. Tom, the executive producer of my show, squeezed through the crowd to offer congratulations, as did my book editor. At one point, I felt like I was being watched, and I let my eyes wander. Mina Garvin was staring at me, but she quickly looked away. It probably galled her that after a rough start five months ago, our show was now killing it in the ratings. Though she'd been right about how lame we were in the early weeks, her review had been especially mean-and personal, as if I'd hooked up with her husband or kicked her puppy in the head. Some people might have wondered why she'd been invited. Bettina once told me that her secret sauce for a good party included a few haters in the mix.

Someone squeezed my arm. It was Ann Carny, the PR director for the network. We'd become friends about four or five years ago, while working at another network, and she'd been a rock for me when my life had gone to h.e.l.l. Now that we were ensconced once again at the same company, it had become easier for us to stay in touch.

"Hey there," I said, taking in her pale blue dress. "You look terrific."

Ann favored subdued styles, and the effect was always polished, elegant.

"Ditto," she said. "And what an amazing night. You must be so thrilled."

"I am. I can't believe the spread Bettina's put on."

"I don't mean just the party. You seem to own the world these days." Ann turned her head and pointed with her chin. At her direction, my eyes found their way to a huge shimmering canvas of irregular stripes in orange and black and red. Displayed on the rustic table beneath the painting were dozens of copies of my book, The 7 Secrets Women Keep. The front cover was bold and graphic; the back featured a huge photo of me in a tight red dress.

"Displaying them beneath that Sean Scully painting was a good idea," I said. "It will keep my ego in check."

"Oh, come on. Your book's great, and you should let your ego run wild tonight," Ann said. "You're even ent.i.tled to gloat."

"Mostly, I just feel relieved. To be back on track again. Thanks, of course, in no small part to you."

"Sorry I can't do a celebratory meal with you later. I've had this dinner on the books for ages, and I'll have to split in a sec."

"No worries. Maddy's going to grab a bite with me, if I can find her. I haven't had time to be much of a mentor, so maybe I can play catch-up tonight."

"Speaking of egos running wild, here comes your coanchor."

I smiled in greeting as Carter approached me, conscious that there might be a few people checking us out right then. One of the factors that had made the show successful so far was the on-air rapport between the two of us. With Carter, that didn't involve much heavy lifting. At forty-one, he was still the quintessential bad boy-charming, at ease in his skin, and great-looking, with deep blue eyes, slicked-back brown hair, and the kind of full, sensuous mouth that bad boys seemed to have an unfair market on. And off-set he looked even better: no make-up or product gleam to the hair.

Because of our rapport, there'd already been a few unfounded rumors in the press linking us romantically, and Ann, in her work role, advised us to discourage them. It was okay for people to wonder if we were getting horizontal, but G.o.d forbid we were actually doing so.

"Congratulations, Robin," he said. "Do I get an autographed copy of the book tonight?"

"Of course," I said. "Though should I just sign my name? If I make it out to you, you won't be able to regift it."

Carter smiled. "Okay, so I accidentally gave someone a watch that said Lionsgate Pictures on the face. You ever gonna let me forget it?"

"I guess I'll have to wait until Christmas and see what you give me."

"Switches for being such a wisea.s.s. Ann, however, is a different story." He glanced toward her and grinned. "I know it's only August, but I've already been perusing the Tiffany website with her in mind."

"Carter, I do spin all day long," Ann said dryly. "I don't need any from you. So tell me, have you read Robin's book yet?"

"Actually, I have," he said. "Robin gave me an advance-reader copy."

"Oh, come on, Carter," I said. He'd been hyping the book during the past few shows, but I doubted he'd done anything more than skim it. "Don't tease."

"I'm being serious. I finished it last night, and I thought it was terrific. Very smart." As he spoke, his eyes seemed to hold mine an extra beat.

"Thanks," I said. His comment had pleased me more than it should have. "I appreciate that."

"Of course, what I should have done is employ some of the wisdom from it."

"How so?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I got the boot the other night," he said. "From that woman Jamie I was seeing."

Carter sometimes shared a few details about his personal life, but it was always just surface stuff, chatter meant to charm you into thinking you knew him when that wasn't the case at all.

"Oh please, Carter," Ann said. "You've never been dumped in your life. I'm sure Jamie simply saw the handwriting on the wall." She glanced at her watch. "Oops, I have to fly. Good luck, Robin."

As soon as she edged away through the crowd, reporters and columnists began to push toward me, asking for comments. And then came people with copies of my book for me to sign. The guy in black from the door materialized with a holder stuffed with black Sharpies. I set down my evening bag and went to work. A couple of times, I scanned the crowd for Maddy-this was one of those moments when I could have used her help-but again, no sign of her.

As the last of the autograph seekers moved away, I was suddenly alone. I could tell my face was a little flushed, and my f.u.c.k-you shoes had started to pinch. It would be smart, I realized, to freshen up before the toast. I grabbed my purse from the table I'd set it on and made my way down a long back hallway to where I knew a second powder room was located. It turned out to be empty. I slipped inside and closed the door. The party was instantly m.u.f.fled, like the sounds from a ship that had just sunk beneath the sea.

The room was dim, lit only by pin lights in the ceiling and a row of votive candles on a long gla.s.s shelf. I exhaled slowly and took another breath. There was something about the mango scent from the candles that instantly relaxed me.

The party had gone brilliantly so far. At least a dozen bloggers and columnists had asked me for brief quotes about my book. They'd come tonight mainly for a chance to check out Bettina's legendary apartment, but as long as they plugged the book, I couldn't care less why they'd showed.

I turned toward the mirror and stared for a moment at my reflection. Though I'd be thirty-eight in early October, I knew I'd probably never looked better. Some of that was due to the haircut. For the launch of the show, the hairstylist I'd hired had suggested what she called a "choppy s.h.a.g" that came to my chin and flattered my face in a way long hair never had. And though I'd had it styled tonight for the party-and my makeup done-it was easy enough to pull off myself.

At the moment, though, my hair was the only thing getting s.h.a.gged. To some degree, that was my choice. I'd had one brief romance this past winter, when I no longer felt so bruised from my divorce, but once I'd been hired for the show, I'd put every ounce of energy there. And that was the way it had to be. This was my chance to retrieve what I'd lost.

Except my marriage, of course. I might have felt gutted when everything unraveled, but there was no way I would ever want it back.

I popped open the latch on my evening bag, reached inside for my lipstick, and reapplied the deep red color. As I dropped the tube back in the bag, I made sure the folded notecard was tucked inside. It had the list of people I intended to thank during my remarks.

As soon as I re-entered the living room, the guy in black from the front door was back by my side, his expression expectant. "Ms. Lane is ready to give the toast now," he said.

"Great," I said. I snaked behind him toward the far end of the room, where Bettina was standing with her back to the view. She nodded to me as I reached the fringe of the crowd. Before stepping forward to join her, I pulled the notecard from my purse and set my bag down on a table. Bettina tapped her winegla.s.s several times with her thick gold bracelet. The room went nearly silent, and people turned all their attention toward us.

Her toast was pure Bettina, all gushy and dramatic. She ran through my bio, how I'd segued from being a print journalist and frequent TV guest to a job as a celebrity reporter on the top morning show and eventually to host of my own cable show. Then, she exclaimed, she'd been lucky enough to nab me as a blogger and consultant before I was lured back to TV. She said she was thrilled for my success on cable's hottest program, and declared that my book blew the lid off what women really feel.

I tried not to cringe at the hyperbole and instead did what Ann had advised: I briefly let my ego run wild and lapped it up.

Then it was my turn. I didn't feel nervous, exactly-it had been years since speaking publicly had scared my pants off-but I felt a quick rush of adrenaline. I was in front of tons of heavy hitters, people who could slice and dice a person behind her back, and I couldn't help but feel exposed up there. Yet as I glanced around, I saw a sea of receptive faces.

I grinned and thanked everyone for coming. I quickly described the genesis of the book, how there are some parts of themselves that women felt too uncomfortable to share, even to their partners and closest friends. While I spoke, I unfolded the notecard in my hands. "I don't want to take you away for long from either the incredible view or that fabulous tuna tartare, but there are a few people I must thank individually."

I glanced down at the notecard and almost jerked back in surprise. It wasn't the right card. Or rather, it was-I could see the names I'd jotted down-but someone had scrawled words over them in thick, black Sharpie strokes: "You evil little b.i.t.c.h. You'll get yours."

chapter 2.

My heart lurched, and for a moment I felt suspended in time. I needed to read the names-I needed to read them right then-but I couldn't make them out beneath the menacing script.

I slowly folded the card, raised my head, and forced a big smile. I would have to wing it, partly from memory, partly from picking out faces in the room. I started by thanking the publishing team and worked my way from there. I faltered once, fl.u.s.tered, and pushed through. As my gaze swept across the room, I realized that the person who'd snuck into my handbag and left the message was standing somewhere in front of me.

When I was done, people applauded exuberantly, but it was hard to enjoy it.

"That was a wonderful toast, " I said to Bettina as the clapping died down and the crowd began breaking up into groups again. She squeezed my arm appreciatively and then was hijacked by a guest. Instinctively, I searched for Ann, then remembered she'd left forty-five minutes ago. I stepped closer to the window, turned my back to the room, and reopened the notecard.

Seeing the message again made me catch my breath. The heavy, ragged strokes nearly pulsed with rage. I tore the card into pieces and stuffed them into an empty c.o.c.ktail gla.s.s on a table nearby.

Who could have done such a loathsome thing? In my job, I expected occasional barbs and left-hand compliments, but not this. Did someone have a grudge against me? Whoever it was must have acted when I'd been signing books. My purse had sat on the table unattended for at least twenty minutes. The person clearly had used one of the Sharpie pens from the holder.

I closed my eyes and tried to picture who'd been hovering around me at that point. It was all a bit of a blur. There was one person, though, whom I couldn't forget, someone who'd been in the immediate vicinity: the TV critic Mina Garvin. Was she p.i.s.sed because the show's success had made her eat crow?

I needed to rejoin the mix before people began to wonder why I had my face glued to the window. I took a breath and spun around. And then there was Maddy, right in front of me, dressed in a low-cut black c.o.c.ktail dress.

"Where have you been?" I snapped. I was totally rattled, I realized.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Robin," Maddy said. She tossed her thick b.u.t.tery-blond hair out of her eyes. "I was feeling kind of queasy, and I almost didn't make it. I got here when you were signing books, and I didn't want to interrupt."

"Are you okay now?" I asked, sorry for my tone a moment ago.

"Yes, better. I think it's just my period coming on."