Page 35

“Who is Caleb Jackson?”

“Harlow’s ex,” David said.

“Childhood sweetheart, who is no longer someone I care to associate with,” Harlow replied in her best “I’m-not-interested,” voice.

“Ah, so you dig this guy,” Vic teased.

“I do not.” Harlow rolled her eyes. “Please, do not encourage my father. Anyway, I plan to make myself scarce.”

Ring.Harlow’s cell phone rang.

Thinking it was Robert, she started to dismiss the call when she realized it wasn’t her husband, but Nigel Beckworth’s office. “It’s Attorney Beckworth’s office.”

She promptly answered. “Harlow Wynn speaking.”

“Hello, Ms. Wynn.” A loud, booming voice echoed. “My name is Nigel Beckworth. You left a message for me this weekend.”

“I did. My father, David Wynn, has used your firm in the past and suggested I call you. I’m hoping you can help.”

“I will certainly try. Before we get started, your name sounds familiar.”

Harlow told him who she was.

“My assistant will be absolutely ecstatic to discover she was right, and it was you who called,” he joked. “What sort of help do you need?”

Harlow explained her situation. She didn’t hold back, filling the man in on what she’d discovered. About her canceled credit cards and the empty main bank accounts. She even told him the home security cameras had been disabled. “To sum it up, it appears my husband, who is also my manager, is doing some shady stuff.”

“I see. The fact he’s your manager is cause for concern.”

“You’re telling me. Based on what I’ve learned from very reliable sources, he’s telling people I’m mentally unstable and hinting at the fact he thinks I caused my car accident.”

“To petition for guardianship,” Nigel said.

“That’s what we’re thinking.”

“Where are you now, Ms. Wynn?”

“At Wynn Harbor Inn, my father’s home on Mackinac Island. I need a topnotch attorney to help me sort through this, and I’m hoping to hire you.”

“I’ll need to do some preliminary work on my end,” Nigel said. “To get a grasp on what we’re up against. I’m assuming this means you’ll want to file for divorce.”

Divorce.The word made Harlow’s stomach churn. She had never married Robert, thinking someday they would part ways, but here they were. Not by choice, at least not on her end. However, her gut told her he already had one foot out the door and was gearing up for the next phase of his life—without her.

She could be proactive or hang back and let him make the next move, although Robert had already made several moves, all without Harlow’s knowledge. “It’s looking that way. Our primary address is in California.”

“I have a colleague who practices in California.” Nigel gave her the name. Harlow wrote it down, making a mental note to check him out. “I can have him draw up the paperwork.”

“Yes. Please.”

“I’m sure you’re aware that because of your high-profile career, it’s possible you’ll get dragged through the mud,” Nigel warned.

“I wouldn’t doubt it. On the plus side, I have a very lucrative movie project starting in a few weeks. Robert will want to keep the messy part on the down-low, at least for the time being.”

“Which could work to our advantage.”

Harlow could hear tapping on the other end of the line. “So, will you help me? I need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

“It won’t be cheap. Multiple issues need to be addressed.”