Ratings Game (Talk Show Queen) (Tracy Gayle Mysteries Book 4)

By Trish Hubschman

The Danny Tide story continues.

Somebody’s trying to kill the rock star’s second wife, talk show hostess Blair Nelson. Danny and Tracy, now a couple expecting a baby, get pulled into it because Danny finally agrees to do an interview with his ex–wife. She’s been bugging him for a while.

That evening, after a draining day at Blair’s studio, when Danny and Tracy are home in bed, Danny’s phone goes off. It’s his and Blair’s daughter, Liz, announcing that she found her mother unconscious on her bathroom floor. Blair ingested a drug overdose.

Who would want to eliminate the talk show queen, and why? Could the perpetrator be Blair’s housekeeper? Her personal assistant? The owner of the television station? The show’s producer? Even Danny and Liz are on the suspect list.

Everyone had opportunity, but no one has a motive. They’re all devoted to Blair.

They need Blair to wake up and give them some answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trish Hubschman
• Release date: Jul 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463611494

Book preview

Dedication

To my husband, Kevin; my mom; our new German Shepherd mix dog, Henry; and our two very much loved and recently deceased furbabies, Hope and Charlie.

Prologue

Danny Tide

I finally agreed to do an interview with my second wife.

Blair’s been bugging me to be on her talk show since Laura’s psychiatrist ex–husband tried to shoot me down on stage in Boston a few years ago. She wanted to get the inside scoop on how that affected Danny Tide—not as her former husband, but as the famous rock musician. I scoffed and stalled on giving her an answer. To be honest, I had no desire to do it. Besides, I really didn’t have the time, anyway.

Sneaky Blair got our daughter, Liz, involved in this. Liz bugged me about it, too. This was getting ridiculous! I felt I was being backed in a corner, and Danny Tide doesn’t like that feeling, but what was I to do?

All right, all right, I give up! When I could find the time, I’d call Blair about it. I couldn’t say for sure when that would be, though.

Then Wells was killed. I figured that would be the end of my being nagged about doing the interview for Blair’s talk show. Blair would get off my back. She did for a while, but some things never last. She’s at it again and has gotten Trace into the picture.

Danny? Trace ventured. Umm, maybe this isn’t the time to bring this up, but Blair really wants you to do this interview with her. It might be an asset to you as well.

My eyes widened. I sucked in my breath. She was right.

That one I hadn’t expected, not here, not now. The two of us had just gotten back to my hotel room. The band was playing Niagara Falls, the Canadian side, and Trace had flown up to see us in concert and to spend time alone with me. It had been a few weeks since we’d been together, and we missed each other terribly. We needed to talk and laugh and catch up on things. Trace and I were perfect together in every way.

I had no desire to talk about Blair. I grumbled something to Trace that even I couldn’t discern. After being apart from my lady for a few weeks, I had other far more important things on my mind.

Not now! I commanded. No more talk about Blair. Growling, I tucked my nose into Trace’s neck.

She swatted me. Danny, you’re not listening to me, she said firmly.

No, I’m not. I’ve got other things on my mind. Lifting my head, I gazed down into her brown eyes and smiled.

She smiled back at me. Not easy to keep you on track right now, Tide, is it? This conversation isn’t over. We’ll resume it later.

That a threat, girl? I pulled her into my arms and started nibbling her lips.

Trace giggled.

That was only the beginning, of course. Much, much more was to follow.

Mm, you make me feel twenty years younger, Trace. I was lying on my back on the floor, staring at the ceiling, feeling very winded and very satisfied.

Trace lay beside me. We were both trying to catch our breath.

I had worn her down. Turning toward me, she gave me such a disgusted look, I nearly burst into laughter. If you keep doing that to me, Tide, I won’t live another twenty years, she teased. She sounded very happy and satisfied, too.

Soon after that, she drifted off to sleep. I watched her for a while, and eventually I fell asleep as well. Sometime during the night, I carried her into the bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She never stirred. I crawled under the covers beside her. I pulled her into my arms again, tucking her close to me.

We both slept till late the next morning.

I was gazing down at her when she opened her eyes. I gave her a huge smile.

Embarrassment crossed her eyes as she stared back into mine. What are you thinking, Tide?

I couldn’t help it. Call me a hopeless romantic or a cornball, if you will, but I had to say this. I love you, Trace.

Tears filled her eyes. Hey, wait a second here, I hadn’t wanted to make her cry. What is it, baby?

She sniffed, and then swallowed. I’m so happy, too, Danny, and scared. Is all this real, what we have here?

I smiled and relaxed somewhat. You’d better believe it is.

Before I pulled her head down to kiss her, I said one more thing I knew she wanted to hear. I’ll call Blair when the summer tour is over in a few weeks and see what she’s got everyone on my case about. I’ll do the interview with her.

Trace smiled broadly. Oh, Tide, you’re the best. You always know the right things to say.

That’s my girl, and that’s what I wanted to hear.

Well, that was the last we said for the next couple of hours, and then we had to get up and eat, and I had to get ready for that night’s show. The next day, Trace was flying home and the band was off to our next show stop. We were both sad about being torn apart again.

Hey, babe, take solace. It’s only three more weeks till we’ll be together again, and then it’ll be for practically two months, I assured her. I was saying it for myself, too. I couldn’t stand it when we had to say goodbye. I wanted her with me all the time. Heck, this might sound crazy, since I’m a three–time loser at marriage, but I wanted to marry her.

I hate goodbyes, I said into her hair as I hugged her one more time.

I had to let her go. Her taxi was waiting.

Keep in touch, I said.

She got into the cab, and I turned and climbed onto the tour bus. I sank into my seat beside my daughter.

You okay, Dad? Liz asked, patting my forearm.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I grumbled in response, but I’m sure I wasn’t okay at all.

I looked up suddenly, remembering something. Next time you speak to your mother, tell her it’s a go. If she wants Danny Tide on her show, she’s got him. I scowled.

Liz let out a whoop.

Now I really felt like everyone was ganging up on me.

Chapter 1

Tracy Gayle

You’re pregnant, aren’t you? Lois squealed.

She sat at the second desk in my inner office. We were sharing space now, so to speak. I had given her an unofficial promotion and raise, since she was doing much more for me and Gayle Investigations than her duties as a receptionist. She still had to take her private investigator’s licensing test before I could make her my full partner in the agency. At present, she was classified as a trainee.

Lois’s younger sister, Olivia, was our temporary, fill–in receptionist. She sat in the outer office. The eighteen–year–old girl I’d hired a few months before for that job had finished high school and run off with her boyfriend.

Boss, Lois probed, interrupting my thoughts. Are you going to answer me?

I’d have preferred not to. I had my head down on my desk, on top of my hands. Lifting it, I peered out of one eye at her. I don’t know if I am, Lois. I haven’t seen Danny in three weeks.

And what a weekend that had been. There was a chance, of course, that I’d gotten pregnant that weekend.

Another wave of nausea hit me. I laid my head back down on my folded arms. This attack was caused by terror, I thought, not morning sickness. When my head and stomach cleared, I sat up straighter. I think there were tears in my eyes. I repeated what I’d just said. I haven’t seen Danny in three weeks. It was meant as a protest.

Lois was beaming. The timing’s perfect, Tracy. When I was pregnant, the morning sickness hit me when I was about three weeks along, too. You have to find out for sure. You have to tell Danny. The last part came out in a rush. I’ve got to tell Ricky.

That was the last thing I wanted her to do. My head shot up and spun in her direction. It felt like a brick wall hit me when I did that. I had to steel myself against the dizziness that overwhelmed me.

I gritted my teeth and sat quietly. One. Two. Three. Finally it eased enough for me to be able to breathe.

No, don’t tell anyone, not even Ricky.

A couple of years earlier, Lois had been involved with Danny’s bass player, Ricky Trapp, and she got pregnant by him. Ricky wanted to marry her and have their baby together. Lois said she loved him, but was very iffy about marrying him. She lost the baby and dumped Ricky. In that order. Last September, when Danny and I got together, Lois and Ricky became friends again. The bass player couldn’t wait to tell his old flame about her boss and his becoming a couple, meaning me and Danny.

I’m not telling Danny until I know for sure, I said. That made sense to me. The tour’s over in two weeks, anyway, so it can wait until then if I have any big news to tell him.

I hoped there wouldn’t be any big news to share with Danny.

Lois’s face glowed. She slapped her hands down on her desk with finality. Well, then, you have to find out for sure if you are, Tracy, she prodded. Stop at the drugstore on your way home and get a home pregnancy test. They’re accurate and easy to do.

What else could I do but nod in agreement? Lois was not going to get off my back until I found out for sure, and that was the only way to do it.

Do you promise not to say anything to anyone? I asked. If I am pregnant, I’ll tell Danny when I meet up with him for the last show in Jersey.

That sounded fair to me. I didn’t feel this was something to share with the potential father on the phone.

She hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. Okay, agreed. Suddenly, she brightened. But I want to know tomorrow what the verdict from the pregnancy test is, or else the deal is off.

Fine. I felt a need to change the subject. We need a bigger office. This one’s too small for you, me, the desks, and everything else.

That’s something else you have to discuss with Danny, isn’t it?

Yep, that was another thing I had to talk over with him. I was seriously considering letting Danny buy and then back the agency, as he had offered to do for investment purposes.

Do you think we should change the name to Tide Investigations? I joked.

It does have a nice ring to it, she said. But maybe we should wait till you become Tracy Tide before doing that. She chuckled.

I scowled and rolled my eyes. Slow down there, Lois. Let’s take it one step at a time, please. I’m overwhelmed as it is.

We both laughed. It did feel good.

* * * * *

The pharmacist helped me. I must have looked like a fool standing in front of the display of home pregnancy tests, just staring blankly at them.

Is this your first time? a warm female voice asked me.

Startled, I looked up. The druggist was a cheery–faced woman in her fifties. Sighing, I nodded. I wasn’t sure what the question meant, though. First time what? First time having a baby, or first time doing a home pregnancy test?

This is all new to me, yeah, I said, waving at the display. Jeez, I was nearly forty years old! My admission must have sounded pretty stupid. I’m scared to death, too. It came out in a rush. I don’t know why I added that or why I was talking to the woman at all.

She smiled. Most women are terrified when expecting their first child, she said easily.

It was supposed to make me feel better. I’m not sure if it did. I cringed. I didn’t know yet if I was expecting a child or not. Maybe I just had the flu. Oh, how I wished that would turn out to be the case! Right then, I felt totally alone.

Yes, I said. Terrified. It wasn’t easy to speak. My jaw seemed to have grown tighter.

Her smile didn’t waver. "Have you told your boyfriend about this yet? I’m not trying to pry, but I know from experience that it’s better to share big moments like this with