Smash Cut by Sandra Brown

question, then said, “For involvement, you mean? Like an accomplice?”
Derek shrugged.
Wheeler shook his head. “If they are, they’re wrong. Paul adored Julie, and vice versa.”
Derek kept his opinion of reciprocated adoration to himself. When a fortune like the Wheelers’ was at stake, adoration often took a backseat.
    CHAPTER 5

    SHARON WHEELER WAS ADDRESSING THE LAST SEVERAL DOZEN acknowledgment cards being sent to people in thanks for flowers and other kindnesses extended to the family following her brother-in-law’s death. It had been a time-consuming chore. Having been working on it for several days, she was glad to see the end of it.
When Creighton barged into the bedroom suite without even knocking, she actually welcomed the interruption. Until she saw that he was in a huff.
“Mother!”
“Here, darling.”
Seeing her at the desk, he glared. He was holding something in his hand, which he waggled as he came toward her.
“What is that, sweetheart? A DVD?”
“Yes, Mother,” he repeated, enunciating the words. “A DVD. A DVD that belongs to me.”
“You’d left it here. I watched it last night. I didn’t think—”
“No, you didn’t think . You just used it without asking me first.”
“Creighton, for heaven’s sake, calm down. I didn’t damage it, did I?”
“You left it out of the box. It was in the kitchen, just lying there on the counter. I happened to spot it as I passed through.”
“Ruby probably—”
“If you’re going to be careless, be careless with your own DVDs, or better still watch pay-per-view so you’re not responsible for touching anything.”
If he hadn’t wanted anyone else touching his DVD, it had been careless of him to leave it behind. But she didn’t point that out. Why vex him more than he already was? When he was in a temper, it was better just to let him vent it.
“I should have called and asked you before I watched it,” she said. “I apologize.”
He sailed the DVD onto her desk. “It’s ruined now, and I really don’t give a fuck for your apology.”
“Don’t use that kind of language with your mother.”
They turned to see Doug standing in the open doorway. He walked in and tossed his suit jacket onto the bed. “Apologize to her.”
“Like hell. She shouldn’t have used—”
“Enough!” Doug barked.
Creighton lapsed into a sulky silence. Doug looked ready to strike him. Sharon felt miserable for having caused the row, because Creighton had reason to be upset. Being careless with one of his precious DVDs was an unforgivable offense.
“I’ll buy you another DVD to replace this one,” she offered quietly. Then she laughed lightly. “All this brouhaha, and the movie isn’t even that good.”
“That’s not the point, Mother.” Creighton sighed, probably over her stupidity for not seeing the point. “I’m outta here. ‘Hasta la vista, baby.’ Arnold Schwarzenegger. Terminator 2: Judgment Day. ” He turned to go.
“Stay where you are,” Doug said. “I need to talk to you.”
“What about?”
“Apologize to your mother first.”
“Jesus, what am I, eight?”
Sharon hated conflict because she’d grown up in a continual state of contention. Her parents’ marriage had been loveless and turbulent, the mansion in which they lived a war zone. Too much money was involved for divorce to be a workable solution, so they’d committed themselves to making each other miserable, with Sharon acting as the hapless arbitrator.
Consequently she avoided strife whenever possible, and the role of mediator came naturally to her. “It’s all right, Doug. He didn’t mean anything, did you, darling? He—”
“Don’t excuse him, Sharon. I could hear him all the way downstairs. He owes you an apology. I insist.”
She watched the two men in her life try to stare each other down, and for once it was Creighton who relented. He turned to her, bent at the waist, took her hand, and kissed it. “Please forgive me, Mother. I apologize for saying ‘fuck.’”
Then he straightened and addressed Doug. “Which, by the way, was repeated sixty-seven times in