A Case of Defamation

SEVEN

Shay stretched and groaned herself awake. Transcribing the three interviews she'd conducted yesterday had taken almost five hours, but other than creating a typed copy, nothing had come of it. Nothing in the interviews contradicted or called into question anything anyone said. She was very interested in talking with the client who had fired Dan, but thus far, everyone seemed to think Dan was nothing but a great guy.

She ate a bowl of cold cereal, her standard breakfast. After rinsing her bowl and putting it into the dishwasher, she took her shower and dressed. Yesterday she'd worn dark blue, so today she selected a light gray suit with a black, scoop-neck blouse. Ninety minutes after her alarm went off, she was walking out her door.

-oOo-

Even though she arrived at her office ten minutes early, Dan's car was waiting. She pulled into her traditional parking space before walking up beside his car and softly rapping the window with her knuckle. He was engrossed in something on his phone, and she grinned when he started.

"You're early," she said when his window whirred down.

"Yeah. I have something I need to tell you."

"What?"

"Get in, I'll tell you on the way."

She hesitated but decided her laptop could ride around in his car as easily as it could sit in the office. She walked around the nose of the car as it growled to life, tucking the computer case behind her seat before dropping into the car.

"What've you got?" she asked as she closed her door.

"Remember when you asked me if someone might be nursing a grudge, and I said no?" She nodded but said nothing. "I've changed my mind. Maybe there is someone."

Her right eyebrow crept up. "Who?"

"An ex-client of mine, Gail Dunnally. I did some private lessons with her, like you saw me doing yesterday, but I quit about a year ago."

"Why?"

"It wasn't working out. She wanted more from me than I was willing to give."

"She wanted to sleep with you?"

"Yeah."

"But she was a client?"

"Yeah. Not only that, she's married. The more I told her I wasn't interested, the more it became a game for her. I finally decided I'd had enough."

"Why didn't you tell me this when you first came to see me?"

He shrugged. "I didn't think of it at the time. That happened well before the rumors started, and I hadn't heard from her in a while. She's called me a couple times, trying to rehire me, but I told her I was booked. She called me last night and said something that made me wonder."

"What?"

"She mentioned the rumors and how she knew I'd lost a client. She said she was willing to hire me, in spite of the rumors, and if the rumors continued, I might be glad to have her as a client." He glanced at her before his eyes returned to the road. "When she first said it, it flew all over me, but after thinking about it some more, she didn't really say anything, and what she said could be taken as an offer to help." He glanced at her again. "But still, there was something about the way she said it..."

"I'll look into it," she said with a quick bob of her head. "Who's Gail Dunnally? I assume since you were giving her private lessons, she's someone with money and influence."

"You might say that. Have you heard of the Natalie Nemain series of movies?"

She nodded. "Yeah. She's an ancient Greek goddess sent to modern-day Earth to right wrongs, or something, right? I've never seen them, but I understand the movies are hugely popular."

"Right, except Nemain was an Irish goddess of war, not Greek. Anyway, Gail's production company owns the rights and makes the movies, and she produces them. The movies always make a shit load of money, so to answer your question, yeah, she's got money and influence."

"Got it. How do I get in touch with her?"

He handed her his phone. "Call her. I almost guarantee she'll answer if you call her from my phone."

"Sneaky," she murmured. "I need to call Greer Schoenmaker, first."

"Use my phone. The number is in there."

"I'd rather conduct the interview alone."

"Don't worry about me. I won't say a word, and Greer will never know I'm here. I'm not afraid of anything she has to say." He took his phone from her, tapped on it a moment, then handed it back. "Now it's disconnected from the car so I can't hear what she says."

With his phone already unlocked, she quickly found the contact for Greer, but used her own phone so she could use the app that'd record the phone call. The phone purred in her ear a moment.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Schoenmaker? This is Shay Caddel. Daniel Beckette said you were expecting my call. Is now a good time?"

"I can give you five minutes."

"Thank you. I'll be brief. My understanding is you released Mr. Beckette because of the growing rumors of sexual harassment. Is that true?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"During your time working with him, did he ever act in a way that made you uncomfortable or was inappropriate?"

"No. He was very professional."

Shay frowned. "Then why did you terminate your contract?"

"Crystal Resorts has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment. We---"

"Do think he's guilty?" she interrupted.

"I wouldn't know."

"But you never witnessed any questionable behavior?"

"No. As I said, he was very professional."

"I don't understand. If his conduct was---"

"Ms. Caddel," Greer said, cutting her off. "As I was going to say, we have a zero-tolerance policy. Crystal Resorts International will not tolerate questionable behavior from our employees or our contractors. If these allegations are proven false, I will consider employing Mr. Beckette again, but until that time, I will err on the side of caution. Our clients expect complete professionalism at all times, as do I. Until the matter is resolved, and Mr. Beckette is cleared of any wrongdoing, he will not be employed by me or anyone associated with Crystal Resorts."

"I understand," Shay said, though she didn't. Greer had decided he was guilty until proven innocent.

"Excellent. I wish you the best of luck in your investigation. Goodbye," Greer said and then was gone.

"That woman is a hard ass," Shay muttered after making sure the call was disconnected.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"She's already decided you're guilty without a shred of proof."

He shrugged. "You know Crystal Resorts' reputation. Can you blame her for being careful?"

"You're very forgiving."

He grinned. "It's bad for business to run down your clients. It also helps that my livelihood doesn't depend on these sessions."

Before she could respond, they turned into another Bel Air mansion. Like the other two homes she'd visited, this one was set well back from a gated wall. Daniel buzzed, and after a moment, the gates swung open. She guessed they, or Dan at least, was expected.

"Who's this?" Shay asked as they pulled through the gate.

"Meryl Sakowitz."

"Never heard of her."

He grinned at her. "Yes you have, except you know her as Mary Sachs."

"Oh," Shay grunted. "You're right... I have heard of her."

Another aging star, Mary Sachs had worked regularly in film for years. She'd been everything from a starship captain, to a World War I nurse, to an aging drug addict. She'd gotten her start as a Bond girl in the late-sixties, and Shay hoped she aged half as well.

Like yesterday, after introductions, Shay stood to the side and said nothing as Dan worked with Mary. Her workout appeared to be mostly stretching and cardio, but for a woman who had to be close to eighty, she was surprisingly spry. Toward the end of their workout, Shay passed the time watching Dan as he bounced on the floor mat, enjoying how his shirt was sticking to him as he sweated. He was bubbly, energetic, and full of encouragement, but he was also polite and all business.

After their workout, he stepped outside, and Shay ran through her now standard set of questions. Like Dan's other clients, Mary had nothing but positive things to say. Like Maranda, she hadn't heard the rumors dogging him, but she poopooed the idea that Dan was a sexual predator.

Learning nothing new, Shay thanked the woman for her time and hurried out to meet Dan. The person she wanted to interview most today was Gail.

"Do you still fit in your Boy Scout uniform?" she asked with a grin as she approached his car. He'd changed out of his sweaty shirt into a dry one. She'd never admit it to anyone, but she was disappointed with the change.

"What?" he replied with a snicker.

"I assumed you must have been a Boy Scout growing up. Everyone seems to have only positive things to say about you."

His grin spread a little wider. "Maybe it's because I'm a nice guy."

"Maybe," she allowed with a smile of her own. "Where now?"

"Malibu."

"You really get around."

He smiled. "At what I charge, I can afford to drive."

She was dying to ask, but it was none of her business, so she nodded. The drive was a solid hour from Bel Air to Malibu, which would give her plenty of time to make her phone call. While Dan drove, she had him unlock his phone so she could retrieve Gail's number, but then as before, placed the call using her own.

"Dunnally, go," a woman's voice ordered.

"Ms. Gail Dunnally?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Ms. Dunnally, this is Janet Ryder with the U.S. Olympic Committee. How are you this morning?" She grinned at Dan as he stared at her, clearly confused, before his attention returned to the road.

"How'd you get this number?" Gail demanded, clearly not pleased.

"Mr. Daniel Beckette listed you as a contact. If you have five minutes, I'd like to talk to you about Mr. Beckette."

There was a long pause. "What about him?"

"Mr. Beckette is being considered for a coaching position on the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team for the 2026 Summer Games in Los Angeles. As part of our consideration process, we're speaking with Mr. Beckette's past and current clients. I'm wondering if you have a few minutes to speak with me?"

"I really don't have---"

"It will only take a moment," Shay interrupted. "It's very important that I speak with you."

Gail sighed. "Make it quick."

"Yes, ma'am. Something that has come to our attention during our selection process are some disturbing rumors regarding Mr. Beckette's personal life. Are you aware of the rumors of sexual misconduct?" Shay waited but Gail didn't give her any response, so she gave Gail another nudge. "As you can imagine, the U.S. Olympic Committee is very concerned over these allegations. Mr. Beckette will be interacting with young women, and there can't be even a suggestion of impropriety. Are you aware of these allegations?"

"I've heard something about them, yes."

"Any comment?"

"No. I find it difficult to believe he would be guilty of any type of sexual indecency, though."

"My notes indicate you terminated your contract with Mr. Beckette."

"Other way around. Daniel, Mr. Beckette, became overbooked. We agreed to stop our sessions for the time being."

"So you'd hire him again?"

"Yes."

Shay cleared her throat for effect. "There is no delicate way for me to ask this, so I will come right out with it. Did you ever observe any unwanted behavior from Mr. Beckette?"

"No. He was always very professional."

"So, you and he parted on good terms?"

"Very good terms, I think. As I said, he became overbooked, and I agreed to a break, but I still hope to resume working with Daniel. I can really tell I'm not getting the exercise I was before."

"So, to your knowledge, the rumors are false?"

"To my knowledge, yes."

"Any thoughts on who might be spreading the rumors."

"No, no idea. Daniel seems like a decent guy to me. Did you ask him who he thought it was?"

"Yes, of course. He claims to have no idea why someone would be spreading false rumors. That's why we're following up. It seems a little odd, don't you think, for there to be so many rumors, yet he claims to have no understanding of who would be spreading them, or why?"

"Welcome to Hollywood, where stabbing each other in the back and spreading gossip is considered a sport."

"Thank you, Ms. Dunnally, for your time," Shay said before hanging up.

"Well?" he asked as he looked at her.

"I don't know," she admitted. "She'd have to be crazy to admit to doing anything, but I gave her plenty of opportunity to sow doubt. Not only did she not try to stab you in the back, she defended you. She said you were a decent guy." She grinned at him. "She wants to start working out with you again." He snorted but said nothing. "Anyone else I should know about? Anyone at all?"

He shook his head. "Nobody I can think of, no."

"No lover's quarrels? No upset business associates? Nothing?"

"No, not really." He paused but then looked at her. "Before Brooke left, we fought some. I've had a few women get a little pissy when I didn't want to see them again, but nothing out of the ordinary, I don't think." He looked at her again. "And I own 100% of Beckette Investments, the shell company that holds Daniel Beckette Fitness Centers and DanielBecketteFitness.com, along with all the other domain names I own to protect my brand."

She scratched furiously at her head. Someone wanted to take a swipe at Dan for some reason, but who? She was starting to see the pattern. His clients loved him, and even Greer Schoenmaker admitted she was only pushing him away for appearance's sake, not because she thought he was guilty.

People were quick to believe any rumor that came along, even if there was no proof of any wrongdoing, and that was what was wrong with the world. She knew it was her own cynicism that caused her to believe people were often guilty of what they were being accused of, but despite her pessimism, Dan appeared to be the exception that proved the rule.

She was going to dig deeper into Gail Dunnally because she was the only suspect she had. She'd only interviewed half his clients so far, and there was a chance something would develop, but at the moment, her initial prediction that she wouldn't be able to help him appeared to be more and more likely.

"This Gail chick... she the type to want to get even?"

He shrugged. "How would I know?"

He had a point. She had no idea if the guy that serviced her car would want some payback if she were to suddenly drop him for another shop. Why would she? It hadn't come up, and if she left, she wouldn't see him again to know if he was upset or not.

She was still turning ideas over in her head when they pulled into the drive of a house on the beach, the vast Pacific Ocean glimmering in the bright, late morning sun. He buzzed and they waited at the gate until it opened. The house, and those surrounding it, weren't as huge as the others she'd visited, but they weren't small either, and sitting on the beach, she could only guess the price was in the twelve to fifteen-million-dollar range.

After introducing Shay, Dan went through the routines with a bored housewife, Shay's attention alternating between watching the ocean beyond the floor to ceiling window, and the woman straining at the machine. The woman was lovely, well rounded and trim, with her blonde hair piled up on her head. Each of Daniel's routines appeared to be customized for the client, not only in the exercises he had them perform, but in how he treated them. The woman, wife to the quarterback for the LA Rams football team, was handled much like he'd handled Rob, but without the insults. She did all the work, with Dan performing spots and helping her with her technique.

"Come on, Pylana! One more! Push it!" he cheered as he stood with his hands just below, but not touching the bar.

Pylana cried out in effort as she strained at the machine, but she finally got the bar up.

"Great job! That's two more than last week. Your strength is really improving."

She lay puffing on the bench. "I'm starting to see it in my clothes. Phil has even noticed."

He handed her the workout towel. "Good for him. I told you the weight would come off if you followed my eating suggestions and kept hitting the machines."

"You're right. My girlfriends are starting to get jealous and are asking me what I'm doing."

He winked at her with a big smile. "They should be. You look great and you're really toning up. You've earned their envy."

"I couldn't have done it without you."

"Of course you could. You're the one doing all the work. I'm just giving you some guidance." He paused as he grinned at her evilly and adjusted the machine for a different exercise, adding weight at the same time. "You're going to hate me, but I want reps until exhaustion."

She groaned but turned and put her feet in the stirrups and set to work.

"Don't forget to breathe!" he reminded her as she strained, her face twisting in effort while turning red.

She could only do four reps, but he cheered her anyway. "That's it for today. Keep working those legs like I showed you. They will really firm up your glutes and give Phil something else to pant over." He paused for a moment. "Pylana, can you do me a favor and talk to Shay?"

"About what?"

"Some people have been spreading false rumors about me and I'm---"

"I've heard. A friend pointed them out to me. She was worried about me." Pylana shook her head. "She needs to worry more about her own business and less about mine." She glanced at Shay. "Sure, I'll be happy to talk to you. What are you, a private investigator or something?"

Shay nodded. "That's exactly what I am."

"No kidding?" Pylana cried, clearly surprised.

Shay felt like sighing. It was always the same reaction. "No kidding."

After Daniel excused himself, Shay spent about ten minutes talking to Pylana. Pylana was just like all his other clients, confirming he was always professional, always courteous, and that he kept his hands to himself except to adjust her form in some way. She'd never felt threatened or pressured, and like Maranda had said she would, Pylana had told her friend to shove the rumors because she didn't believe a word of them. Pylana was Daniel's newest client. She and he had only been working together for about twelve weeks, but she was looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with him.

They made one more stop in Hollywood, working with a man that appeared to be in his mid-fifties. The man was grossly overweight, but Dan was patient with him as the man sweated and strained while breathing like a bellows. She didn't bother interviewing him.

"What's that guy's story?" she asked as they returned to his car. He wasn't like the other beautiful people she'd seen Dan working with.

"Big real estate developer. His wife left him and he's working on himself."

"Good for him, but he has a ways to go."

"Actually, he's doing great! He's dropped over fifty pounds since I've been working with him." He grinned at her. "The first fifty or so is easy. After that, it starts getting hard, but I think he's really motivated to drop the weight."

She couldn't stop her smile. He had something positive to say about everyone, and she liked that about him. It was a refreshing change from most of her clients, those who were often suspicious and looking for something on someone.

"That it for the day?" she asked.

She was uncomfortable spending his money when she was making so little progress while at the same time sitting around doing almost nothing, but she did enjoy his company. He was funny, personable, and his outlook on life was so damn positive, it made her life seem a little brighter just from the reflected glow.

"That's it. I need to go see my accountant, but other than that, I'm done for the day."

He drove her back to her office. "Same time tomorrow?" she asked as she exited his car.

"If you want to go with me to see Bill, I'll pick you up at ten. He's not an early riser."

Seeing the man was probably a waste of time since every client so far had only positive things to say, and she couldn't see Dan getting touchy feely with a guy. "No. I think that's okay. I think my time would be better spent checking out Gail Dunnally."