by Daria White
“What? No. You were with her—”
“We were greeting guests, drinking, dancing, and talking with friends and family. Perhaps she slipped away and I didn’t notice.” He groaned. “I can’t remember, Bianca. I’ve been going back and forth in my head trying to remember, but I can’t.”
At least Bianca didn’t drop the phone, but she stood still. Chad’s frustration was evident in his voice.
He continued. “I’m following them now to the police station. She could use your support. I… can’t believe it.”
Bianca pressed a hand to her forehead. “Yes, of course. I’ll come.” She hung up. Her heartbeat raced as a sudden coldness hit her core.
“Bianca?” Melanie came and stood next to her.
“They arrested Nicole. They found her prints on the murder weapon.”
“What?” her mother asked. “That makes no sense at all. She didn’t leave the reception.”
“A witness said she did.” Bianca grabbed her purse. Then she faced her sister. “Can you take Casper home?”
Melanie bobbed her head.
Bianca hugged Alyssa. “Chloe’s meeting you here, right?”
Her daughter shook her head. “Maybe I should stay, Mom. You—”
“No. Go and have fun.” She assured her daughter.
“You sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Melanie asked.
“No, I’ll just meet you at the house.” She turned to her mother and hugged her too. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
Bianca headed out the door to her car. Nicole arrested for killing Martin? With one hand on the wheel, Bianca processed all that had happened, trying to connect all the dots.
Nicole had a motive. Blackmail. But why ruin her life? She and Chad had been starting a new one together. Why would she have thrown it all away?
Bianca groaned. This puzzle was too much, but she wouldn’t fail. Pulling into the parking lot of the police station, she parked close to the entrance. Cutting the engine, she spotted Chad talking to Detective Sims. Chad’s head hung low as he pressed a hand to his forehead.
Bianca exited her car and sprinted to join them. “Detective. Chad?”
Chad’s expression looked pained. “Thanks for coming.”
She nodded. “Of course. What’s the charge?”
“Murder in the first degree.” Chad rubbed his face.
“What?” Bianca’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding? This is Nicole we’re talking about.”
Detective Sims said, “We have the weapon, her prints, and a witness. She could have killed him and came back to the reception in no time at all.”
“It’s a mistake!” Chad barked. “My wife’s not a killer!”
Bianca touched his arm.
Detective Sims handed Chad a plastic bag. “These are the belongings she had when we arrested her. I am sorry, but I’m doing my job. We work with the facts and evidence.” Without another word, he stepped back inside the precinct.
Bianca walked alongside Chad. “Did you talk to her?”
“Not long enough. She’s so scared.”
“But I’m sure you post bail?”
He bobbed his head.
Bianca heaved a deep sigh. “I’m so sorry.” Turning away, a pain increased in the back of her throat. It was her father all over again. Someone she cared about was in jail for no reason. She’d failed her father, and she’d failed Nicole. Drawing her shoulders up, she tucked her elbows to her side. Not wanting to upset her stomach, she exhaled to calm herself.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“Find the best lawyer. My wife will not spend the rest of her life in prison.” As he opened the plastic bag, a tsk sound escaped his lips.
“What?” Bianca leaned in closer to see the contents inside.
He pulled out a manila folder. “Our wedding pictures. She wanted you to have a few copies.” He handed them to her.
Bianca took the folder. “Chad, I wish I—”
“I know, Bianca.” He blew out his cheeks. “I’m going to go home. There’s nothing I can do for her standing in the parking lot.”
She bobbed her head. Stepping back, she paced to her own car. Bianca clasped the folder to her chest.
Chapter 29
Bianca’s keys clicked when she threw them inside the bowl on her foyer table. The floorboards creaked underneath her feet, and she plopped on her sofa. How had she beat Melanie home? Her heart ached for her friend sitting in jail.
Murder. Nicole? How would she explain it? Removing her jacket and placing it over the arm of the couch, Bianca took the manila folder in her hand. Perhaps the wedding pictures would cheer her up.
Undoing the clasp, Bianca reclined in her seat and held up the photos to look at them one by one. Nicole and Chad looked so happy during their first dance. She felt a twinge in her chest. She couldn’t imagine what Chad was going through.
Making a quick trip to her home office, Bianca retrieved her own laptop. Since she’d downloaded the photos she’d taken from the rehearsal and reception, perhaps they could shed some light. How? If only she knew. When did Nicole go missing?
“We’re home,” Melanie said.
“In the living room.” Bianca crossed her legs at the ankles on her coffee table.
Casper trotted inside with Melanie, but when she unclasped his leash, he made himself comfortable in his dog bed. Bianca couldn’t help but smile.
“What’s that?” Melanie sat next to her.
“Nicole and Chad’s wedding pictures.” Bianca paused. Then she repeated what Detective Sims told Chad. “The police found the murder weapon… with her fingerprints.”
“I don’t get it,” Melanie said.
“I know.” Bianca thumbed through more pictures. Smiles were everywhere. How had a beautiful day turned into a nightmare for the bride and groom? “I wish there were something I could do.”
“Bianca?”
“I should stay out of it, but… I can’t.”
Melanie pointed out. “Maybe you don’t know her the way you think you do, sis. People change. Nicole is not the same person you met in college. She even kept some secrets from you.”
Bianca faced her sister. “I know, but that doesn’t make her a murderer. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know something’s wrong.” Picking up another picture, she caught Richard in one of them. With his arms crossed, he appeared to be looking at the crowd. “I still don’t know about him.”
“Richard?” Melanie leaned in closer to study the photo.
“He had a lot to lose.”
Melanie then focused on Bianca’s laptop screen. “Aw, this is cute with Nicole and Chad.”
Bianca smiled and admired the happy couple embracing. Hands were in the surrounding air, so the guests must have been applauding. As Bianca focused her eyes, she saw someone in the background, closer to the back of the ballroom, whose hands weren’t in the air.
“Is that Priscilla?” Bianca pointed to the person in the picture. The she zoomed in further.
Melanie looked to where she was pointing. “I think so. I recognize her haircut. Looks like a champagne glass in her hand too.”
Bianca’s eyebrows rose. Champagne? “She’s drinking?”
“Yeah, didn’t you have a glass? It’s a wedding.”
Bianca shook her head. “She shouldn’t have been drinking with her condition, Mel. Priscilla is on heart medication. I don’t think it mixes well with alcohol. She’s had enough of her spells to know that. She even refused at the rehearsal so why at the reception?” She gasped.
“What?” Her sister asked.
“What if she didn’t take it? What if she faked her spell? Mom said she took Priscilla to the ladies room. She said she had her pills with her. Mom didn’t say she took them.” Bianca snapped her fingers before opening a new browser and typing on her laptop.
Melanie shrugged. “Maybe she didn’t have that much to drink.”
The wheels in Bianca’s mind turned further. Priscilla’s
expression looked… questionable, especially toward Nicole. Her eyes bored into the woman. Though she appeared pleasant in a few photos, her tight expression said one thing—hate.
Typing Digoxin into Google, Bianca read the recommendations. DO NOT MIX WITH ALCOHOL. Bianca pointed to her screen and read aloud. “See? ‘Taking alcohol with digoxin will decrease the amount of the drug in your bloodstream, which may cause abnormalities.’ Priscilla called the pills her lifesaver. I don’t think she took them that day.”
“What are you thinking?” Melanie asked.
Bianca wrung her hands together. “I don’t know.”
“You’ve got that look. What is it?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to figure it out. I have a hunch, but it’s a long shot.”
Melanie shot to her feet. “No chance. No way. You know Mom’s already worried.”
“Mel, this is about helping Nicole. You and I both know she’s not a killer.
Her sister folded her arms. She sat back down. “I don’t know, sis.”
Bianca moved closer and placed her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Remember when Mom was working with lawyers to prove Dad’s innocence? We all knew he didn’t do the crime they accused him of. I hate that he died in prison before he had time to prove his story.”
Melanie’s features softened. She hugged her sister. “Me too.”
“If only we had more time.” Pulling back from their embrace, Bianca gave a faint smile.
Melanie asked. “Are you sure about this?”
Bianca wrung her fingers together. “We just have to prove it. If only I knew how.”
“Where would we even start?” Melanie asked.
Ding Dong.
Both ladies shrieked.
Melanie pressed her hand to her chest as Casper barked. “Who is that?”
Bianca grabbed her phone again. She had a text from Priscilla.
On my way to pick up the video
That was almost twenty minutes ago. Bianca didn’t hear her phone buzz. She blew out her cheeks and faced her sister. “Take Casper with you to my office. It’s Priscilla outside.” She would wait to call Detective Sims about her theory since he seemed so open-and-shut about the case.
***
Bianca’s own palms sweated. Her scalp prickled. She opened her front door to find Priscilla standing in her finest pant suit. White gloves included. Did the woman ever dress casual? The night breeze chilled Bianca’s skin as she inhaled her flowering plants. Priscilla’s eyes gleamed and Bianca invited her inside.
“Did you get my text? I didn’t get your response,” she said.
“I did. I just didn’t see it until I heard the doorbell.” Bianca ushered her into her living room.
Priscilla shook her head. “Is this a bad time?” She eyed her computer. “It looks like you’re working.”
“No, please sit. Take your jacket off.” Bianca kept her breathing steady as best she could.
“Thank you.” She slid her black jacket off her shoulders. “I won’t stay long,” Priscilla said, taking off her gloves one finger at a time. “Thank you so much, dear for the surprise. I insist on paying for it. A bonus.” She laid her jacket and gloves along the shoulder of Bianca’s couch. She took a seat in a nearby chair.
Bianca held up her hand in objection. “I wouldn’t dream of it. It was a surprise so no extra charge.”
“You’re too kind.” Priscilla’s lips turned up into a smile, but then she rubbed at her arms. “I guess I caught a chill.”
“Want some tea? I can put a kettle on to boil while I get the video,” Bianca said.
“Perfect.” Priscilla replied.
Bianca walked over to her kitchen. She wouldn’t ask Priscilla about the man who was caressing her at the gift shop. “How are you really doing?”
Priscilla followed. “It’s been… tough, but I’m taking it one day at a time. Chad told me about Nicole.”
Bianca lit her stove. “I was there. He’s so distraught.”
Priscilla bobbed her head.
Bianca cleared her throat. “Give me a minute and I’ll get the CD for you.”
“Take your time,” Priscilla said. She reached inside her purse and busied herself on her phone.
Bianca gave a faint smile as she turned to walk, but she paused at her couch. Eyeing Priscilla’s gloves, there was a small stain on the edge of the thumb area. Was that glove for her right hand? Had it been there all this time?
Reaching into her back pocket, Bianca grabbed her phone and took a quick picture. Looking behind her, Priscilla’s head was still down. Bianca quickly stuffed her phone back into her pocket.
“Everything okay?” Priscilla asked.
Bianca’s chest heaved. “Yes.” She grabbed the wedding pictures off her coffee table along with her laptop. “Just taking these back to my office. I’ll be back.”
Proceeding down the hallway, Bianca exhaled. Her stomach quivered. Her office door was closed, and when she opened it, Melanie shot to her feet. Casper sat in the corner.
“Well?” her sister asked.
Bianca hurried to her desk and placed her laptop and pictures down. After grabbing the disk sitting on the corner, she faced her sister. “You have your phone?”
Melanie reached in her back pocket for it. “Yes.”
Bianca took hers out and sent the picture of Priscilla’s glove. Melanie opened her phone and zoomed in.
She gasped. “Bianca?”
“I think that’s dried blood.”
“What are we going to do?” Melanie asked.
“Send this picture to Detective Sims. Keep an ear close to the door. I didn’t tell Priscilla anyone was here with me, so thank goodness your car is in the garage. If anything goes wrong, call him.”
“Bianca?”
“Call him, Mel.” She pleaded with her sister.
“Be careful,” Melanie said.
Bianca left her sister along with Casper in her office, closing the door behind her.
***
Bianca forced a smile as she found Priscilla in her kitchen with her phone still in hand. Did she take a phone call? Bianca’s heart pounded, but she wouldn’t give herself away. If her suspicions proved true, there could be no slip-ups. “Everything okay?”
Priscilla nodded. Though her eyebrows squished together, she grinned. “I believe so. I was checking on Chad again.” She placed her phone on Bianca’s bar countertop, with her purse lying next to it.
Bianca tilted her head. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through with Nicole in jail.”
Priscilla shrugged. “I guess he’s chosen to make the best of it.”
“Oh? He was pretty upset when I was with him.” Bianca played her part, hoping it would work.
Priscilla raised her hand as if taking an oath. “I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t care for Nicole, but Chad loved her. Who was I to tell my son not to marry her?”
“He loves her. I can tell.” Bianca stood in front of her bar.
Priscilla nodded. “I know, but I think even he’s realized that she’s… not the right fit for him. He may want an annulment. The scandal of all of this is too much for our family.” She released a deep breath. “I think it may be for the best too.”
Bianca raised an eyebrow. “Chad? Him leave Nicole? Now?”
Priscilla brushed it off with a wave of her hand. “I’m not surprised.” She spotted the disk in Bianca’s hand. “Is that it?”
She handed it to her. “Yes. I hope you enjoy.”
Priscilla’s eyes glowed. “Thank you.” She stuffed it inside her purse. “Anyway, I could tell it was coming with Chad and Nicole. A mother knows these things.” The teakettle whistled and Bianca walked past her to turn off the burner. Retrieving a cup form her cabinet, she poured the hot water inside it.
Bianca cleared her throat. “Do you think he’ll go through with it? What if he changes his mind?”
“He won’t.” Priscilla snapped.
Bianca didn’t flinch. She
placed the kettle back on her stovetop.
Priscilla’s eyes widened as if she’d caught her outburst. She touched a hand to her chest. “I mean, after everything she’s put this family through, Chad deserves better than her.” Her face tightened but she forced a smile. Walking back over to the couch, she grabbed her jacket and gloves.
“One sip for the road?” Bianca handed her the cup after adding a tea bag with some honey. “Wouldn’t want you to catch cold.”
Priscilla finished putting on her gloves. “You’re a gem Bianca.” She cupped her drink and took a sip. “Chamomile. I love it. Thank you.”
Bianca nodded in response. With her hands so close to her face, Bianca’s eyes zeroed in on Priscilla’s white gloves again. The stain was on her right thumb. Did Priscilla not know?
“Can I ask you something?” Bianca focused back on her face.
“Sure.”
“Do you really think that… Chad deserves better than Nicole?”
Priscilla snickered. “A mother knows what’s best for her child. I won’t let her ruin him the way she ruined…” She stopped.
Bianca’s lips parted. “Martin?”
Priscilla didn’t reply. Her eyes bored into Bianca’s.
Bianca’s mouth went dry. “You hate her that much, don’t you?”
Priscilla pulled out a small handgun from her purse. Her stare was cold as winter as she pointed it. Bianca gasped and raised her hands in the air in a surrendering gesture. She gulped down a breath.
“You just couldn’t leave things alone, huh, Bianca?” She gestured with the gun. “Living room. NOW.”
Bianca moved quickly, taking care to look back periodically to avoid bumping into her furniture. Hopefully Melanie heard Priscilla raise her voice from in the office. She prayed Casper would keep quiet.
“You had to keep digging, Bianca,” Priscilla said, still pointing the gun at her.
“You brought this on yourself.”
“What was I supposed to do?” Her eyes pooled with unshed tears. “Martin told me he was still in love with Nicole. Can you believe that? I gave up my Broadway career for that man! He took care of me and Chad. Then… she comes along.” Priscilla gave a mirthless laugh. “Martin always had a thing for blondes.”
