Paradise Valley Mystery 02-The Heart of Lies

by Debra Burroughs

  “I’m sure you’re all wondering what’s going on,” Lucas began his announcement. “Most of you are probably familiar with Maggie Sullivan, the mayor’s sister, and the love of my life. As a newcomer to your charming community, you have welcomed me with open arms and I am very grateful,” he said, putting a hand over his heart. “That’s why I want you all to be a part of what I’m doing here.”

  Lucas got down on one knee in front of Maggie and took her left hand. A collective gasp rose from the crowd, then a hush fell over the room. Everyone seemed to lean forward on the edge of their seats, including Emily and her friends. He pulled a diamond ring from his coat pocket, it sparkled under the spotlights, refracting the colors of the rainbow across Maggie’s smiling face.

  “Maggie, I am totally and completely in love with you. Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”

  The whole room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her reply.

  “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you,” she exclaimed. She offered him her ring finger and he tenderly slipped the engagement ring on it.

  He shot to his feet and took her in his arms, planting a serious kiss on her lips. The crowd applauded enthusiastically.

  Emily clapped too, though she and Isabel applauded with less enthusiasm than the rest, while they observed the newly-engaged couple. Then Emily glanced over at Fiona, trying to read her reaction. Fiona was clapping along with the rest of the people, but Emily noted the unnatural smile plastered across her face and her unenthusiastic clap.

  Was there something more that Fiona felt for Lucas that an employer-employee relationship? They had seemed rather cozy at the hotel bar the night before, but it wasn’t like they had their hands on each other.

  “Look at Fiona,” Emily whispered to Isabel.

  She shot a glance Fiona’s way. “She doesn’t look pleased, does she?” Isabel asked. “I wonder what’s up.”

  Mayor Sullivan took the mic once more and asked everyone to be seated. He offered his congratulations to his sister and his future brother-in-law, wishing them every happiness, which elicited another round of applause.

  “I wish we could go and congratulate Maggie,” Camille leaned over and whispered to Emily, who nodded her agreement.

  “Now, for the presentation we’ve all been waiting for, to get the details of the spectacular new Whitetail Ski and Golf Resort, here is the newest member of our community, Lucas Wakefield.” The mayor led the crowd in another round of applause for Lucas and took a seat on the front row beside his sister.

  “Thank you, Mayor Sullivan—one of my new favorite people in town. Not only is he going to be my brother-in-law, he is the first person to invest in the Whitetail Resort.” Lucas looked over at Sully and gave him a few claps of his hands and pointed toward him. “You’re the man, Sully. Thank you for believing in me and in the project.”

  A level of chatter rose as people in the room seemed to be commenting to each other on their mayor’s investment in this new mountain resort. Emily and Isabel raised their eyebrows at each other.

  Alex leaned over to his wife and friends. “If Sully’s on board, maybe we should get in on it, too,” he suggested, his face lit up with excitement.

  “Whoa, slow down. We haven’t even heard the presentation yet,” Isabel reminded him. “We already talked about this, Alex. Take a deep breath and relax. You know I don’t trust this guy.”

  “I’ll try to just sit here and listen. But if the other partners in the office are buying into it, I don’t want to look like I can’t afford a condo too, you know?”

  “You’re going to give in to peer pressure?” Isabel raised her eyebrows and gave her head a shake.

  “I don’t exactly see it like that,” he grumbled.

  “I told you what I think, Alex. If you’re willing to put a hundred thousand dollars at risk, in spite of my misgivings, what else is there to say.” She crossed her arms and tightened her lips in opposition.

  “Oh, let the guy have his fun,” Camille reproved, leaning into her friends. “Besides, it might be nice for you two to have a getaway. We could all go up for a weekend sometime. Doesn’t that sound fabulous? Oh, thoughts of the food I’d make are already filling my head.”

  “That’s easy for you to say, Cam. It isn’t your hundred grand,” Isabel huffed.

  “Shhh!” A middle-aged woman in the row in front of them craned her neck around and shushed them. “I can’t hear the man.”

  The four of them acted like school children who had just been scolded, sitting back in their seats, listening in silence for the remainder of the presentation. Although, Emily noted that Alex’s eyes lit up on several occasions, while Isabel frowned.

  The price of the luxury condos ranged from two hundred to five hundred thousand dollars and a twenty-five percent deposit would be required to reserve them. The balance would be due, Lucas said, as soon as the unit was completed and ready for occupancy, giving them time to arrange their financing, if necessary. For those who did not want to own a condo but would like to have a membership in the resort, the price was five thousand dollars per year. He warned the crowd that only a certain number of memberships would be available to people who did not own a condo in the resort.

  The presentation came to a close and Lucas invited all who were interested to come up and get a closer look at the drawings of the amenities the resort had to offer. “Then when you’re ready, please make a line at the table over here.” He pointed to the one where Fiona was sitting, with stacks of colorful brochures artfully fanned out across it. “My assistant, Fiona, will be happy to sign you up for membership in the resort.”

  She smiled and waved at the crowd.

  “If you’d like to purchase one of the charming and luxurious condominiums, which includes a free membership, please step up to that table where the three sales associates are seated.” Lucas motioned to the other side of the front of the room. “Please have your twenty-five percent deposit ready so we can get you through the lines quickly. And if you have questions first, please feel free to come and talk to Maggie and me here at the center table.”

  A steady stream of people made their way to the front, some studying the renderings first, others going straight to the tables. Alex glanced at the crowd gathering, then he nudged Isabel and nodded his head, gesturing toward a group of attorneys he knew. He put an arm around her and flashed his puppy dog eyes with an exaggerated pout, as if he was asking for her permission.

  “Don’t look at me like that. You know how I feel about this. But, if you must—”

  He bolted from his seat before she could finish her sentence and sprinted down the aisle to join his colleagues in line.

  “Yay!” Camille’s deep blue eyes lit up, making her spiky red hair appear more vivid. She clapped her hands together exuberantly, obviously approving of their decision to purchase a condo. “We’re going to have so much fun, girls!”

  Emily folded her arms and gave Isabel as sideways look, which Isabel mirrored. “Why don’t you go and get a look at those renderings, Camille? You can start planning our first weekend trip.”

  “Oh, that’s a good idea, Emily.” Camille shot up out of her chair. “Maggie and Lucas will probably have one, too. Aren’t you girls coming?”

  “We’ll be there in a minute,” Emily said. “We have some business to discuss first.”

  “All right.” Camille climbed past her friends to get out to the aisle. “But don’t be too long.” She wagged her finger. “I’m just busting to congratulate Maggie.” Camille’s voice trailed off as she walked away.

  Once Camille was gone, Emily felt she and Isabel could speak more freely. She looked around to make sure she would not be overheard. “Did you dig anything up with the background check on you know who?”

  “Nothing yet. I’ve been buried, working on the Semanski case,” Isabel replied. “It’s going to trial soon.”

  “Better do it quick, looks like we’re running out of time.”

/>   “Looks like it.”

  “I have to say, I’m surprised you let Alex invest with Lucas before we fully vet him.”

  “I didn’t exactly let him. On the way over tonight, we had a doozie of an argument over this thing. I can’t remember the last time we argued like that. For Alex, it’s all about how he’ll look at the office if the other partners have a luxury condo up there and we don’t. You know how competitive those lawyers can be.”

  “Let’s hope we’re worrying about nothing.” Emily squeezed Isabel’s hand.

  “We’d better go congratulate the happy couple.”

  Emily uttered a chorus of, “Excuse me, pardon me, sorry,” as she and Isabel wormed their way through the crowd, pressing through to the front of the line.

  “Hey, no cuts,” a thirty-something, professional-looking man at the front of the line hollered. “Wait your turn.”

  “Sorry, mister, I’m not here to buy a condo,” Emily apologized, grabbing hold of Isabel’s arm and pulling her around the side of Maggie’s table.

  “Hey, y’all,” Maggie exclaimed, jumping up from her seat with open arms, hugging Emily first, then Isabel.

  “We just wanted to congratulate you,” Isabel said graciously.

  Maggie stuck her hand out, flashing a large single diamond in what looked like a platinum setting.

  “That’s gorgeous,” Emily said.

  “Yes, Maggie, stunning. You look so happy,” Isabel added.

  As Isabel was talking, Emily noticed Sully approach Lucas, who stood from the table and extended his hand. While Maggie and Isabel exchanged a few words, Emily diverted her attention to what Sully might be saying to Lucas. Straining to hear their conversation, she noticed Sully smile and grasp Lucas’s hand with both of his, leaning again in to say something in private.

  “This had better pan out or I’m going to be SOL.” She overheard Sully say the words in a low, serious voice, still grasping Lucas’s hand. That was all, no further conversation. Her observation undetected, she watched as the mayor walked away and Lucas plastered another charming smile on his face as he turned to help the next person in line.

  That exchange prickled her. Something was not right, and for Maggie’s sake, she was going to find out what.

  “We’d better let Maggie get back to work,” Emily said. “We’ll talk tomorrow.” She gave Maggie a quick hug good-bye right after Isabel hugged her, and they turned to leave.

  Emily noticed the prospective investor who had scolded them earlier giving her the stink eye. “We’re leaving—she’s all yours,” Emily quipped.

  CHAPTER 8

  The next morning, Emily woke with a splitting headache. She had endured another night of restless sleep, a jumble of thoughts about Evan, visions of Colin, and dreams about Maggie and Lucas that did not end well. Several times in the night she sat up, spooked and wide awake, checking the clock. Once she even checked for her gun in the nightstand.

  She hardly remembered the details of the dreams, just the ominous, unnerving mood they left behind, especially the unsettledness about Maggie and Lucas. She and Isabel had had a bad feeling about Lucas from the start, but what she overheard Maggie’s brother say, continued to prick her like a thorn in her side.

  Emily glanced at the clock. Six thirty. The sun was just starting to come up as she padded barefoot down the hallway. The dawning light cast uneven shadows which gave her a chill that slithered up her back as she remembered that someone had recently invaded her quiet domain. She glanced around, then stepped into the kitchen, and turned on the coffee maker. She moved to the breakfast bar and perched on a stool to wait.

  Tapping her nails on the counter while the coffee sputtered into the pot, she wondered what she could do to find out what Lucas was really up to. She’d make a point to talk to Isabel today.

  Soon, a fully caffeinated Emily slipped into her jeans and t-shirt and decided to hit the shooting range to get in some practice. She half-wished she had a self-defense class that morning or a kick-boxing session to work out some of her tension.

  ~*~

  As Emily left the shooting range, pleased with the close cropping of bullet holes on her paper targets, she received a call from Camille. Maggie had phoned Camille first thing in the morning, she said, and asked her to plan an engagement party for the coming weekend.

  “It’s going to be a casual affair, just close friends and family. Maggie wants a barbecue—chicken, ribs, the whole thing. I’m having the party at my house this Friday night at seven. You’ll be there, won’t you?”

  “I’d love to come. I know I’m not the best cook, but is there anything I can bring?” Emily asked, trying to sound pleased.

  “I think I have everything covered.”

  “Camille, can I ask you something?” Emily’s voice grew serious.

  “What is it, Em?”

  “Don’t you think this is kind of sudden?”

  “It is rather fast, I have to admit, but Maggie’s no spring chicken. She says she’s met the man of her dreams and she’s ready to take the plunge. Why do you ask?”

  “Just seems awfully soon to me. We don’t actually know Lucas very well. What if he’s not what he seems?” Emily asked, trying not to expose all of her concerns.

  “Do you think you might be feeling that way because you discovered your Evan was not who he said he was? Perhaps you’re projecting your suspicions about Evan onto Lucas?”

  Camille’s question stung, but Emily had to consider that she might have a point. “You could be right. Maybe they’ll have a long engagement.”

  “Oh, Em, hasn’t Maggie told you?”

  “Told me what?” Emily asked nervously.

  “They’re getting married two weeks from this Saturday.”

  “Oh, Camille, that’s too fast. What’s the rush? She’s not pregnant, is she?” Emily asked, praying the answer was no.

  “No, she’s not pregnant,” Camille chuckled.

  “Whew! That’s a relief,” Emily sighed.

  “It’s funny you should say that, though. I asked her the same thing. She told me they haven’t even slept together yet.”

  “Really?” Emily was glad for that bit of news.

  “She said Lucas told her he was old fashioned and wanted to wait for the wedding night.”

  “Old fashioned?”

  Camille ignored Emily’s query, not offering further comment on it. “Oh, and the best part, I almost forgot to tell you—Maggie said she called Josh last night and told him about the engagement. He told her he’d already planned to be here in the next day or two, and he’ll be able to stay for a couple of weeks or so. That might be why Maggie wants the wedding so soon, so her son can be there.”

  “Could be. It’ll be great to see that kid again. I’m sure Maggie is thrilled.”

  “Over the moon is how she put it,” Camille replied.

  “What about Lucas’s friends and family? Can they get here that quickly?”

  “Don’t know, Maggie didn’t say. I guess we’ll see.”

  ~*~

  As soon as she finished her conversation with Camille, Emily phoned Maggie.

  “Hey, Em, I was just fixin’ to call ya,” Maggie said. “I wanted to invite y’all to my engagement party Friday night.”

  “I just got off the phone with Camille and she filled me in.”

  “Then y’all already heard that the weddin’ is goin’ to be two weeks from Saturday?”

  “Yeah, Cam told me. Where are you holding it?” Emily asked.

  “Well, that’s another reason for my call. I was wonderin’ if we could have it in y’all’s backyard. You have such a beautiful garden, all the flowers and rose bushes, and that lovely white gazebo that Evan built would be perfect. It’s goin’ to be a small, intimate weddin’ and I just thought…”

  “Absolutely, Maggie, anything for my friends.” Although Emily was happy to offer the garden, the truth was she hadn’t been back there to enjoy the beauty of it for quite some time. She’d paid a local lands
caper to keep it mowed and trimmed because it had been too painful to be out there after Evan’s death. Together they had planned it out and planted all the flowers and trees, and he had built her the most beautiful white gazebo for their third anniversary.

  In the spring months, when she dated Colin, before he left for San Francisco, she never once took him out to the garden. She had physically and emotionally shut the door to that place, and now she wondered how painful it might be to watch her friend get married in Evan’s gazebo.

  “Looked like Lucas was selling a lot of those resort condos last night after the presentation.” Emily changed the subject.

  “Yes, they were sellin’ like hotcakes. Quite a few people put deposits down on their units. I’m so proud of my Lucas. Oh, and we have a special event set up next week where Lucas has chartered two luxury buses to take prospective Whitetail Resort members up to the mountain. He’s gonna show them around so they can see the lake and where the golf course is gonna be and all that. I think the foundation may even be poured for the first set of condos.”

  “Wow, Maggie, that sounds exciting.”

  “Lucas did take a lot of deposits last night, about thirty I think, but there were some people who said they just couldn’t visualize the resort from a drawin’. I think he’ll sell more of the condos if people can actually see the gorgeous scenery and the project underway.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “Would y’all like to go?” Maggie asked.

  “I might,” Emily answered, thinking it may give her an opportunity to see what he’s really selling. She wanted to believe he was a great guy, honest and sweet, but something wouldn’t let her jump onboard. Maybe it was Isabel’s suspicions—maybe it was her own.

  “He’s goin’ to be very successful with this resort, Em, and I’ll have the life I’ve always wanted.”

  “Sounds like it,” Emily agreed. “Will all that money make you happy, Maggs?”