Darkwater Lies

by Robin Caroll

  She could kiss Tracey Glapion!

  15

  Dimitri

  “Good morning, Dimitri.”

  He smiled automatically at the sound of her voice. “Good morning, Adelaide. You look as fresh as these flowers this morning.” He handed her one of the daisies from the bouquet he’d brought in to the hotel on his way to work.

  Her returning smile tightened his chest. “Thank you. Vicky said you needed to see me?” She smelled the flower, closing her eyes as she did. Even her eyelashes were delicate and feminine against her smooth skin.

  Dimitri swallowed back his emotions, just as he had for many, many months. Many months. “Yes, on a couple of issues. First is my new breakfast plate for the menu. You haven’t eaten, have you?” Without waiting for an answer, he began laying out the plate. “It’s a twist on the usual pain perdu, also referred to as French toast. As some of the earliest Cajun recipes I’ve found dictated, I’ve added brandy and orange flower water to the egg and milk mixture.” He added a dollop of Creole cream cheese, then topped it off with berries and sprinkled it with sugar. “Tell me what you think.” He pushed the plate in front of her and handed her a spoon.

  She settled on one of the stools across the workstation from him and took a bite, closing her eyes as she chewed. “Oh, Dimitri, this is divine.”

  He chuckled, loving how she always appreciated good food. She was an honest critic, fair in her assessment, but when she liked it, she loved it. This was one of those times, apparently, as she took another big bite. “Yes, this goes on the menu immediately. Today. This morning.” She scooped up another bite.

  Dimitri poured her a glass of the satsuma juice he’d squeezed fresh just moments ago. Adelaide took a sip. “Oh, that’s really complimentary to the recipe.”

  He grinned and nodded. Not many people outside of the kitchen grasped the importance of the perfect blending of food and drink to be a pleasure to the palate. Adelaide understood it perfectly, naturally. She was a delight to cook for, always taking such pleasure in tasting new recipes, and he coveted her instinctive reactions.

  She finished the last bite, then swallowed the last of the juice. “That was excellent, Dimitri. Seriously, there’s nothing you should change on it.”

  “You don’t think it needs any syrup?” Her expression of horror said it all, and he laughed. “Okay, no syrup. Maybe serve with a side of bacon and grits?”

  She smiled. “That could be an option to consider, but truly, it’s perfection just the way you prepared it.”

  He gave a mock bow. “Thank you kindly, ma’am.”

  She stood, taking the daisy in her hand. “Was there some- thing else besides feeding me?” Her smile could warm the iciest of emotions.

  “Actually, there is.” He moved to take her elbow and gently led her into the private area behind the kitchen where they kept the paperwork for produce and food orders. “I wanted you to hear this from me.”

  “What?” Her eyes went wide.

  “I know what Claude’s doing.”

  “You do?”

  He nodded. “He’s biding his time until Lissette’s birthday.”

  “What?” Confusion settled over her expression.

  “She turns twenty-four this year. The forced-heirship laws only go through age twenty-three.” He ran a hand over his hair. “We’d thought once she proved herself, he’d accept her. That isn’t the case. He’s just waiting until her birthday, and then plans to oust her.”

  “Oh, Dimitri.” She laid a hand on his forearm. His skin tingled at her touch. “I’m so sorry. I know how much you wanted this to work out for her. What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know yet. I’ve got a call in to the lawyer and should hear something back next week. Until then, I’m just trying not to irritate Father too much.”

  She nodded. “Dimitri, I think he’s hiding something serious. I’m positive he had something in the safe that he’s denying. That alone should make us suspicious.”

  He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense for him not to own up to having something stolen, Adelaide.”

  “Unless he’s involved in some way.”

  “You think my father is responsible for the hack? For the murders? Why? To steal from his own safe?”

  She took a step closer to him. “Think about it, Dimitri. As you said, why on earth would he lie about having something stolen? The only thing I can think of that makes sense is that he wanted Katerina’s tiara. Maybe he believes the lore that it’s part of the Romanov family jewels.”

  He shook his head. “Father is many horrible things, I’ll give you that, but this just isn’t logical, Adelaide.”

  “Isn’t it? He’s the one who arranged to have Katerina here. He ensured she would bring her crown by letting her be the queen and ride on his krewe’s float during a Mardi Gras parade.”

  “Okay, I’ll buy that, but what does any of this have to do with him having something stolen that he claims wasn’t?” She was adamant, he’d give her that, but it just didn’t make sense.

  “What if he arranged to have Katerina’s tiara stolen, and whatever he had in that black pouch was payment? Either to the person who actually went into the vault and safe and stole the tiara, or to the person who set up the hack, if it’s not the same person? Consider that the police’s cyber-crimes unit believes the hacker originated the infiltration physically with the server. Claude could have made that happen.”

  What? “Wait a minute. You’re saying you think my father hired a hacker and/or additionally a thief to hack the system and steal the princess’s crown?” He shook his head. “If that were the case, why wouldn’t he just make it easier and give the thief the codes to open the vault and safe?”

  “There are only a few people who have the codes. He’d be suspect. All of us with the codes would be. With the hack, anybody could be behind the robbery and subsequent murders.”

  In a very warped and roundabout way, her theory was plausible. But his father a murderer? Ruthless and determined, yes, but he’d never known Claude to be willing to kill someone.

  Except he had wanted Lissette’s mother to abort her. Wasn’t that the most ruthless act of all?

  “I don’t know any of this to be fact, of course. It’s just an idea. I do know that whatever Claude had in that black pouch in the drawer of the safe was taken when the crown and the cash was taken.”

  On that she was consistent.

  “I guess we’ll see once the police conclude their investigation.”

  The police. Beauregard. “I suppose so.” He hated the feelings of jealousy he had whenever he saw the other man who took up space in Adelaide’s life, but his attempts to ignore them went unheeded.

  “How is Lissette taking it all?”

  He shook his head. “Not very well. She’s upset, naturally. It’s like being rejected by her father all over again.”

  “I’m so sorry. Would you like me to try and talk with her?” Considering that his sister harbored her own jealousy againstAdelaide, that probably wasn’t the best idea, especially since she’d been acting more bitter since Adelaide had returned from Europe and settled back into her position of general manager. “I appreciate the offer, I do, but right now I think Lissette’s feelings are too raw.”

  “I understand.” Adelaide’s hand rested on his forearm again. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do. I just hate this for you.”

  “Me too.”

  He started to tell her about hiring Rodney, but something made him stop. What if she assumed he’d hired someone privately because he thought the police couldn’t do the job to his satisfaction? What if, heaven forbid, she felt the need to defend Beauregard? Or worse, thought he might be trying to cover anything his father might have done wrong?

  No, she wouldn’t think that. She knew him better. At least he hoped she did.

  “I need to tell you something, Dimitri.”

  Something about her tone . . . His heart plummeted to his toes. “What’s wrong?” />
  Addy

  “Nothing’s wrong. Well, not really. I mean, I don’t think so.” Mercy, was she always going to be so awkward in the dating scene? It was as if she couldn’t coherently string two words together anymore. Her cheeks burned.

  Maybe it was a sign that she shouldn’t be dating. Shouldn’t be putting herself out there to Dimitri and Beau, regardless of what Tracey said.

  “Adelaide, what is it?” Dimitri’s eyes were so filled with concern, it made her legs feel like they were jelly.

  “I . . . um.” Come on, Addy, get it together. “I like you, Dimitri.”

  His easy smile released the butterflies to swarm her stomach. “I like you, too, Adelaide.”

  The strong sense of déjà vu washed over her, but she shook it off. Tracey had been right: she owed it to herself, and to Dimitri and Beau, to figure out what she wanted romantically.

  “I mean, I really like you, Dimitri.”

  His eyes widened, and she knew he understood. She needed to make sure he really understood. She wouldn’t be one to play games. “I really like you, but I really like Beau too.”

  He froze, his expression like stone. “I see.”

  She was going to make a mess of everything. “I don’t want to have secrets or play games. Right now, I’m just starting to let myself feel the emotions I’ve been trying to analyze for a year. I did a lot of soul searching in Europe and realized I want to have opportunities to let myself fall in love, if that’s what my heart wants. I want to explore all the emotions, and I’m just trying to be as upfront and honest as I can.” She bit her bottom lip and held her breath.

  His expression softened, as did his voice. “Adelaide, I want nothing more than for you to be happy. Really happy.”

  Her heart beat so hard, as if it were trying to escape her chest.

  “I truly believe I’m the man to make you as happy as you make me, and I’d like the chance to prove that.”

  She exhaled slowly, the blood rushing in her head.

  “I won’t push you or rush you, but you will know the depth of my emotions for you. I will not allow you to ever doubt how I feel.”

  Oh, swoon time!

  “Why don’t we start by going out tomorrow night? I’ll cook a special meal, just for us.”

  Tomorrow. Saturday. Date with Beau. “Um, I can’t tomorrow.

  Maybe Sunday?”

  His smile and nod put her at ease. “I return from church services at noon. Lunch about one, then?”

  She nodded. “That would be lovely.”

  He reached out and took her hand, then turned it over and kissed her palm. Little bolts of tingles shot up her arm and she felt . . . gooey.

  “I look forward to our date then.”

  Speak, Addy! “Me too.” Of course, she could’ve come up with something a little more intelligent, but she was grateful she’d gotten anything out. This was going to be complicated, she could feel it.

  He took a step toward her.

  “Am I interrupting?” Lissette’s harsh glare at Addy let her know immediately that Dimitri’s sister knew she was interrupting and was doing so on purpose.

  Dimitri released Addy’s hand, but he still stood close to her. “Of course not, Lissette. Who did you need, me or Adelaide?”

  “You, Dimitri. I wanted to go over this week’s produce budget.” She gave Addy a look that women used between themselves all the time. The one that said I know you two are into each other, and I don’t like it one little bit.

  Addy didn’t know what to make of that. She’d never done anything to Lissette to incite the animosity she felt from her right now. Sure, she was wary of Dimitri’s half sister, but only because of her voodoo background and how she’d tried to cast hexes and spells on Dimitri. That said, Lissette had always been more than a little standoffish toward her, but lately it’d been more like she didn’t want to heed Addy’s advice or instruction.

  “We’ll talk later, yes?” Dimitri asked her now.

  She nodded at him, unable to stay perplexed with him smiling at her like he did. “Of course.” She gave Lissette a curt nod, then headed out of the kitchen.

  It made no sense for Lissette to act as she did toward Addy. Unless she was just jealous that Dimitri’s attention was on a woman—not that it mattered which woman. Lissette might think if Dimitri and Addy began dating, his relationship with Lissette would take a back seat, and that would probably upset her. Addy could somewhat understand. Lissette had never experienced a loving family relation until she and Dimitri connected. That had only been a year ago, so she probably didn’t realize Dimitri was so incredibly, fiercely loyal. He was kind and gentle and sincere—all the things that Addy could ever ask for in a man. It was one of the many things that drew Addy to him.

  She strode into her office, happy but also conflicted. Her feelings for Dimitri were just as strong as her feelings for Beau. Addy had the surest sense that her love life was about to get as complicated as her work life. She didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified.

  Maybe she was a little of both.

  16

  Beau

  “Nothing really remarkable on Walt’s autopsy report of Larder except the man showed signs of steroid abuse.” Marcel tossed the folder on Beau’s desk, sat down at his own desk, and then took a sip of coffee.

  Beau opened the file and flipped through the notes. “Interesting. Time of death was between five and five thirty Thursday morning.”

  “The morning after he robbed the hotel.”

  “If he was, in fact, the thief.” Beau nodded as he closed the file, his mind recalling what they knew.

  “Which I know you think he is, and I do too.” Marcel stayed silent for a minute, studying him from across their desks. “Okay, what’re you thinking?”

  They were missing something. Something big. “Going on the supposition that Larder is our hacker and thief, let’s consider him as a person. Larder wasn’t a street thug. He’s ex-military. Think about it. He was smart enough to orchestrate the hack at a time he wasn’t at work so he could get into the vault unseen. He knew to have Leon open the vault and safe doors so his prints wouldn’t be on the doors, even though he messed up and touched the drawer. But he probably thought he hadn’t left any there.”

  Marcel nodded and took a sip from his mug. “It took some serious planning to make sure his timing was perfect.”

  “By all accounts, according to the report of Zach’s audit of the Darkwater Inn’s system, there wasn’t a test to see if he’d coded everything correctly. That means he had to be sure he knew what he was doing.” Beau stared at his partner. “One mistake and his plan would have failed.”

  “So, what’re you saying?”

  “It bugs me to think that someone who planned this so carefully, who was so meticulous in the details, whose house was clearly in order, would just take the tiara to a fence or a pawnshop. And breaking it apart to sell the individual jewels? It’s worth much more money intact.” Beau shook his head, remembering what Vincent had told him. “And waiting until the hype dies down to sell it doesn’t fit with his characterization.”

  Marcel wrinkled his forehead. “I get your point, and I agree, but then what do you think he did with it?”

  Beau ran his thumb and forefinger along his jaw, on either side of his chin, his mind settling on what had been bugging him. “He’s already got fifty big ones in cash, free and clear. Fencing such a specific item would raise quite a few eyebrows if he tried to go through regular channels. So what’s the quickest and easiest way to move it for a big enough profit?”

  “Private collector?” Marcel chewed the end of his pencil. “Maybe, but then he’d have to go through having someone look it over and attest to its value. That would have too many people knowing he had it in his possession.”

  Marcel nodded. “His smartest bet would be to sell it back to the owner.”

  Beau grinned and nodded. “The princess hasn’t reported that anyone’s contacted her with the offer. Of course,
it’d be hard to gain easy access to a visiting royal.”

  “One would have to figure out a way to get a message to her in order to let her know she could buy back her crown.”

  Beau’s grin spread. “Since Larder knew who all was in her entourage, and who was closest to her, it’d be easy for him to realize the easiest person to give him the access he needed would be Edmond Jansen.”

  “Why aren’t we talking to Jansen right now?” Marcel set down his coffee mug.

  Beau held up a finger. “Oh, we’ll talk with him, but hang tight for a second.”

  Marcel tilted his head. “Where’re you going now, man?”

  “If Larder did go to the princess via Edmond to sell the tiara back to her, where is he keeping it? It wasn’t located at his house where CSU inventoried the crime scene. It hasn’t popped up on any of the street reps’ radar.” Beau tapped his notebook. “We know Larder was methodical. A planner. He would have a place ready for holding the crown before he ever took it. Someplace safe. Secure. That only he had access to.”

  Marcel snapped his fingers and pointed at Beau. “A safety deposit box.”

  Beau shook his head. “Not enough time to get it there. It was stolen Wednesday evening after the banks had closed, and he was killed before the banks opened on Thursday.”

  “So where else?”

  “That’s my question.” Beau opened the file on Larder’s autopsy and stared at the lifeless man’s face. “I think maybe we should go back and visit his house again, this time looking for the crown. There has to be some place he felt he could put it that would be safe until he could sell it.”

  “Let’s do it.” Marcel shuffled to his feet, grabbing a cutter to get through the police tape sealing Jackson Larder’s door.

  Beau stared at the photo once again. He’d bet his bottom dollar that the crown was someplace safe, all in one piece, at Larder’s.

  And he intended to find it.

  He followed his partner out of the precinct and to their cruiser.