by Dana Mason
“You’re not being fair, Nicole, and you’re not seeing William for who he was.”
Nicole picked up a kitchen towel and dried her hands. “You’re wrong about that. I see everything perfectly clear.” She turned on her heels and was gone.
Bailey’s heart grew heavy. She stood perfectly still, not sure what to say. Linda closed her eyes on a heavy sigh. Then she opened them and smiled sadly at Bailey. “Bailey, Alex is very protective of his family. He doesn’t usually prejudge people, but he sincerely worries about his kids being taken advantage of. Especially since they have such large trust funds.”
“Ryan isn’t taking advantage of me. He’s been my best friend since kindergarten.” She snickered. “Besides, I don’t have a large trust fund.”
Linda’s smile was genuine this time. “I can see how much Ryan loves you. You’re a lucky girl. Please, don’t take what Nicole says to heart. She’s still having some trouble dealing with everything William did.”
“I can understand that. Nobody could recover from that so easily. But do you worry that Alex may be repeating the mistakes his parents made? Does he worry about driving his children away?”
“Alex and the kids go round and round, but he’d never let it come between them. If it was his choice, Nicole would’ve never married William. Unlike his parents, he gave in and let Nicole have her way.”
“It’s sad he didn’t try harder with his own parents when they were alive. Why didn’t he call them? They could’ve had all those years together.”
“I know, but Alex wouldn’t. He was too heartbroken over losing you. He couldn’t forgive them for not supporting his search for you. He could’ve forgiven them for not supporting his marriage, but not for what he felt were crimes against his child.”
Bailey leaned over the sink and started washing the pans Nicole had abandoned.
“Alex put everything he had into searching for you, and he cut anyone who didn’t support that search out of his life. But I think if his parents would’ve tried to contact him later, he would’ve forgiven them.”
Bailey laid the last pan on the stove and said, “It’s amazing I managed to cause so much drama and never even know it. And how terrible it must’ve been for him to wonder about his daughter all these years. I can’t think of a worse feeling.”
Linda’s eyes got teary, but she smiled through it. “It’s been very hard, Bailey.” She took Bailey’s hand. “It’s been hard for me, but I cannot express in words how hard it’s been for him.”
Bailey pushed back the lump in her throat. “Well, I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Her smile grew until her eyes twinkled brightly. “And we’re so happy to have you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Bailey felt butterflies as she stepped into El Lago. It’d been weeks since she’d spent a Friday night here. She missed it and the rowdy crowd. Since the kidnapping, she’d grown anxious in crowds and around strangers, which kept her home and indoors a little too often these days. Her friends and Ryan understood and didn’t pressure her to go out, but she wanted to get beyond her apprehensions and get on with her life. The truth was, every time she was in a crowd, she felt watched and talked about. She felt Rosa Sikes’ influence was strong, and she always wondered who believed what The Rosa Trials reported versus the truth of what had happened.
She hadn’t run away with Dex.
She hadn’t killed Dex or caused his death in any way.
She hadn’t caused her own injuries to hide the truth or create sympathy from the public.
Why anyone would believe such nonsense, she would never understand. Logic alone should have been enough for people to see that The Rosa Trials and what they reported was complete bull. The people who knew her knew it was all lies, but that didn’t keep her from worrying about the people who didn’t know her well, or at all.
Anyway, none of that mattered today. She was meeting her family here for dinner. They had agreed to come to South Lake Tahoe for the weekend, and Alex had booked a vacation rental near her house, so they would be close. Bailey was excited to show them her home and give her friends a chance to meet everyone. She had to admit, she was excited to show off her siblings.
Most of all, she couldn’t wait for her family to see Ryan on stage. She’d gotten the impression they didn’t think he was good enough for her. Especially after what Nicole had said about Alex prejudging Dex. Alex had been right about Dex, but right or not, Bailey wouldn’t let him judge Ryan. Ryan wasn’t just some guy Bailey had hooked up with. He was special. Once they saw him perform with their own eyes, once they heard him play, they’d see how great he was.
Before she had time to look around, someone had her in a bear hug and off her feet, spinning her around in the air. “Bailey,” Wade said before placing her back on her feet. “It’s so good to see you here.”
She laughed and looked up at his smiling face. “Thanks. It’s good to be here. It’s been a while.”
She held on to him for a few seconds to get her bearings after spinning in circles. When she let go, Lucas greeted her with a big hug, but let her keep her feet on the ground.
He released her to stare into her eyes. “How are you?”
“I’m all right. Really.” She lowered her eyes and said, “Have you seen signs of any reporters? I’m not sure how they found out I reunited with my family, but it’s already been on the news and The Rosa Trials.”
“Nope, not tonight, but…” He turned toward the door. “Greg over there is keeping an eye out.”
Bailey turned to see Greg, an El Lago bouncer, collecting door fees. “He won’t let them in if they show up.”
She smiled at Lucas. “Thank you for always looking out for me.”
“My pleasure. If you get uncomfortable, let me know, and I’ll help you get away. You can always hide out in the office when you need a break from the crowd.” He turned to look at the corner of the room. “The family is here. I had them seated at the big table with a view of the lake.”
She looked over to find them all staring at her. “Gee…do you think they’re over there talking about me?”
“Oh, I’d bet the bank they are.” Lucas smiled and led her over, stopping at the hostess station to grab a handful of menus.
When they approached the table, he pulled out a chair for Bailey next to her father. “Welcome to El Lago, Mr. and Mrs. Spatz. It’s good to see you again,” he said, handing out the menus. “Everything is on the house tonight, so eat, drink, and be merry.”
“We don’t mind paying our own bill,” Alex said, taking the menu.
Lucas brushed him off. “Don’t worry about it, Mr. Spatz. Bailey’s due for a raise anyway.”
Bailey laughed and said, “No kidding.”
Lucas winked then held his hand out to introduce himself to Bailey’s siblings. “Hi, I’m Lucas, Ryan’s business partner, and the chef here at El Lago. It’s nice to meet you.”
Bailey jumped into action. “This is James Spatz, my brother. He’s the oldest, next to me.”
James stood and took Lucas’ hand. “Hello, Lucas. Stanley and I”—he pointed to his younger brother—“have been here several times before. It’s a great place.”
“Oh, wonderful,” Lucas said. “Well, I hope we see a lot more of you after tonight.” He reached over to shake Stanley’s hand. “Nice to meet you both.”
“Lucas,” Bailey said. “This is my little sister, Nicole.”
“Nicole,” he said, grabbing her hand excitedly. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” she asked. “From who?”
Lucas’ cheeks grew a little pink, and Bailey prayed he wouldn’t say from the press. Lucas had been the spokesperson for the search center when she was missing. He’d met and became acquainted with a lot of the local reporters. This exposure gave him a lot of inside information the public didn’t always get. It had also put him and El Lago in the national spotlight. Business at El Lago had gr
own a great deal over the last several months, and they usually turned more customers away than they let in. The place could only hold so many people. Bailey was glad business was going well, but she was afraid she’d become the local freak show everyone came to gawk at. Just another reason to stay home.
She looked up in time to see Nicole laugh. “It’s okay. I wasn’t trying to put you on the spot. I know, I know, I’ve been on TV much more than I’d like.”
Lucas braced a hand on Bailey’s shoulder. “Haven’t we all.”
“Amen,” Bailey said.
Lucas’ brows came together. “Have we met before? I feel like I know you from somewhere.”
Nicole pursed her lips. “No. I don’t think so, but isn’t that always the way? You see someone on TV and feel like you know them.”
His expression changed to recognition then quickly back to his usual reserved smile. “You’re so right.” He looked around the table. “I must return to the kitchen, but thank you for coming, and let me know if you need anything.”
Bailey turned to glance after Lucas when a pair of hands landed on her shoulders. She turned to see Ryan behind her.
His smile faded when their eyes met. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Perfectly fine. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
His grin spread. “Yep, you’re fine.”
“Ryan, why don’t you join us?” Linda said, waving her hand at the table. “Pull up a chair.”
“No, I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Bailey grabbed his hand. “Yes, sit with us before your set.”
“Okay, if you don’t mind another person.” He turned to grab a chair to place between her and Nicole. “So, how was the drive up?”
Nicole laughed. “Well, nobody died, but it was touch and go for a while.”
“Shut up,” Stanley said. “There’s nothing wrong with my driving.”
Everyone at the table laughed, and Bailey felt warm and fuzzy all of a sudden. Her family, her friends, and Ryan. That was all she needed in this life.
Linda took a sip of her water, then asked, “How long has this place been open?”
“This is our sixth year.”
“Congratulations, Ryan,” Alex said. “It’s obviously very successful.”
He grinned. “Thank you. We’re thrilled with the success we’ve had.”
“Wait until you see him play. Oh, and try the food.” She waved a hand toward the waiter as he approached the table. “Lucas is an amazing chef.”
“We’d like to try the guacamole,” Linda said, looking up at the waiter as he wrote down the order. “We’ll start with a salad then the family-style enchiladas.” She smiled over at Ryan. “Are those good choices?”
Ryan nodded. “You won’t be disappointed. Did someone take your drink orders?”
“Sure did,” Wade said, coming up behind Ryan’s chair with a tray of drinks. He set them down one at a time, with a margarita and a shot of tequila for Bailey.
Bailey introduced everyone to Wade, who oozed charm, especially when she came to Nicole. He flirted shamelessly, which forced Bailey to grimace and chase Wade away from the table. Being recently widowed, she was pretty sure Nicole didn’t want to hook up with the bartender.
After having a drink with the family, Ryan excused himself to get to work. He gave her a peck on the cheek before stepping away from the table. Butterflies attacked her stomach in a sudden rush. She hadn’t seen him on stage in a while, and damn, she’d missed her Friday and Saturday nights here watching him play.
He climbed the stage, and Bailey couldn’t take her eyes off him. He flowed so fluidly, so comfortable in front of a crowd. He held zero tension, though nobody knew that but her. She’d become so in tune with him, she knew every expression and every movement. His stance, his smile, and the way he walked as he approached the piano and set his drink down. He was happy to be on stage. He glanced over at her and gave her a lopsided grin. She couldn’t help but smile back. It spread across her face like a teenager after the cutest boy in school had just winked at her.
Nicole nudged her with her elbow. “I think he might love you,” she said.
Bailey glanced at her. “I think you might be right.”
“You’re a lucky girl, Bailey.”
Bailey was about to respond when she heard the slight crackle of the mic and Ryan’s amplified voice boom out over the crowd.
“How’s it going?” he said. “Welcome back to El Lago on this fine Friday night.”
The crowd didn’t disappoint. A roar came up, and Bailey almost wanted to plug her ears. Her eyes met Ryan’s, and he said, “This first song is for someone special. She knows who she is.” And as if she wasn’t giddy enough, he winked at her.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he sat on his stool, and the piano came to life with the intro to “More Than Anyone” by Gavin DeGraw. It was one of her favorite songs. It held a lot of meaning for the two of them, and Ryan poured his heart and soul into it. As he played, she glanced around the table to see the eyes of her family. They were all staring at Ryan, and Bailey felt a sense of pride come over her until she looked at Nicole, the only one who didn’t hold an expression of admiration. Bailey wasn’t totally sure, but Nicole looked angry. Her eyes were narrowed at the stage and at Ryan. When Bailey heard Ryan sing the last note, she looked back toward the stage, positive she was mistaken.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
On Saturday, Bailey walked over to the Spatz’s vacation rental. It was only a few blocks away, and the day was warmer than usual. When she arrived, her entire family was sitting around the TV, their eyes locked on the screen.
“Hello,” she said. “What’s going on?”
Linda looked up at her, her mouth hanging open. “Could this be true?” she asked.
Bailey stepped closer and looked at the TV. There was a photo of her parents being shown. Her parents—Helen and Ernie Morton. “What the hell are they—” When she recognized The Rosa Trials set, her heart sank.
“Could it be possible that Marianne Spatz was actually kidnapped by her adoptive parents?” Rosa said. “Let’s look at the evidence.” She offered her winning smile with her overly white teeth. “Exhibit A. They flew to Los Angeles the week Theresa Spatz was murdered and baby Marianne was taken, but they didn’t fly home. Exhibit B,” she said, but Bailey looked away from the TV when her phone rang.
“Hey, Vince,” she said after glancing at the caller ID.
“Bailey, hi. Um, are you nearby?”
“Yeah, I’m down the street at the rental. Why?”
“I think you should come home. The FBI is here with a search warrant.”
“Oh, wow.” She looked down at the TV again, and a photo of one of her Uncle Pat’s letters was being shown as part of Rosa’s Exhibit B. “I’ll be right there.”
Her family was still focused on the TV, and only Linda had even acknowledged that she’d entered the house. She shrugged and said, “I’ve got to go.” Then she left.
Bailey stormed out of the house and rushed home. When she arrived, Ryan had already parked his car. He met Bailey on the path. “What the hell is this about?”
“I don’t know,” she said, glancing up at Vince as he approached. The look on his face was slightly panicked.
Ryan put his hands up in the air. “I haven’t done anything, Dad. I swear.”
“Ryan, it’s Sharpe.” He glanced at Bailey then back at Ryan. “I think this has something to do with Helen.”
“What?” Ryan said. “Why would they want to search a dead woman’s belongings?”
Bailey’s insides shriveled up and twisted. The FBI couldn’t possibly believe her mother was a criminal. “I just got a glimpse of Rosa Sikes’ show over at the rental. She had one of my Uncle Pat’s letters and has accused my parents of kidnapping me as an infant.”
“What the fuck?” Ryan said. “How the hell…”
“Bailey, I thought those letters were stolen during the last break-in,” Vince said.
“They were.” She turned and stormed into the house.
The screen door slammed behind her, and the crack of the wood frame smacking shut had heads rising. Two men were searching the living room, one at her mother’s desk, his gloved hands touching things they shouldn’t. A pair of shiny handcuffs were clamped on his belt, the letters FBI in yellow stamped across his chest.
“Stop!” She gripped his wrist. “You have no right to touch these things. You have”—her breath caught in her throat—“no right to be in this house!”
Someone braced her shoulders from behind. She twisted to get out of his grip but settled when she met Ryan’s eyes. “Careful, Bailey. Don’t do anything stupid, or you’ll get yourself into trouble.”
“I’ve done nothing wrong.” She turned to face the other agent in the room. “And neither has my mother. Get out!”
“Ma’am.” Another man with FBI on his chest came down the steps and approached her. “We have a warrant to search the premises.”
Bailey reached for the paper he handed her.
“Where’s Agent Sharpe?” Ryan asked, his hand now wrapped around Bailey’s upper arm.
Bailey started reading.
United States District Court
In the Matter of the Search of:
743 Lakeview Dr.
It was a full page of small print. By the time she finished reading, they’d be done with their search. “Oh hell…what does this mean? Just tell me what you’re doing.” When she looked up, Agent Sharpe was descending the stairs. “Agent Sharpe, what the hell is going on here? Why are these men—”
“Ms. Morton, let’s step outside and talk.” He waved a hand at the door.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Stop searching first.”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t do that.”
The screen door slammed behind her, and she felt another set of hands on her shoulders. “What’s going on here?” Alex said.
