Lori left his stateroom after several steamy kisses, and slipped into hers. After enjoying a hot shower, she met the girls on the dock.
“Good-bye Italy,” Shannon announced as if she were the tour director. “The country of high emotions, no toilet paper in the public restrooms, and more carbs than your personal trainer can ever melt off your ass, and welcome to France, home of coiffed poodles and croissants.”
Trina took a long, deep breath through her nose. “Ahhh, yes. It smells like sex.”
All three women stared directly at Lori.
She settled her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose and offered a smug smile.
“That would be Avery,” she diverted.
“Ha!” Trina exclaimed.
“She has a point,” Avery said.
“No, this is a new pheromone, laced with American male and sprinkled with a certain lawyer’s perfume.”
Shannon had a way with words.
Lori regarded them from over the rim of her sunglasses. “Well, he is very American . . . everywhere.”
Trina wrapped her arm over Lori’s shoulders. “Well, good! You needed it.”
Did she ever. Only a few hours’ sleep, and she still felt like she could run a marathon.
“So no male companions today?” Shannon asked.
“Not on my end,” Avery said. “Outside of the sheets, Rogelio and I have very little to say to each other.”
“It would help if you spoke Spanish,” Trina teased.
“Whatever. He and Miguel are off our radar today.”
“And Reed didn’t want to impose.”
“He isn’t—”
“I know,” Lori interrupted Shannon. “But this is our vacation. The chances of the four of us getting to France together again are slim.”
“She has a point.”
“Okay, then.” Trina twisted toward the city. “Let’s find those croissants!”
Reed perched himself off the ship and far enough away to avoid anyone from realizing he was stalking the passengers disembarking.
The unnamed woman watching Lori and Trina was on board. All he needed to do was stay in the obvious place she would show up and follow her.
Lori’s group was easy to spot. She wore a wide smile he hoped he was responsible for putting on her face, and the other three scampered along in search of a French adventure.
Or maybe just wine and mild entertainment.
A good thirty minutes later, Miguel and Rogelio stepped off the ship.
He was half tempted to follow the men but didn’t think he’d gain anything if he did.
She was there . . . long legs, brunette.
She wore a hat, one that stuck out and made those around her pay attention.
Her features were hidden by the massive sunglasses and wide brim.
Taking pace behind her, Reed felt the hair on the back of his neck start to prickle.
“Too easy,” he muttered to himself an hour later.
She meandered, he followed.
An outdoor café beckoned with the scent of pastries and rich coffee. She chose a table under the shade of an umbrella. Once seated, she lifted her head and focused her attention directly at him.
I’m being played.
Instead of playing more cat and mouse, he took the direct route to her table and sat without invitation.
“Mr. Barlow.” The thickness of her accent screamed Slavic. He didn’t pretend to know which part of the region she was from.
“You have me at a disadvantage.”
Olive skin, high cheekbones, her eyes still hidden by the sunglasses that couldn’t conceal her beauty.
“Will a name make you feel better?”
“Any chance you’ll give me a real one?”
Her bright red lips lifted. “As if Barlow is yours.”
The waiter approached, spoke in French.
Miss Slavic responded in kind.
When the waiter looked at him, Reed shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Unimpressed, the skinny man lifted his chin, turned on his polished heel, and walked away.
“Who do you work for?”
“I was about to ask the same question.”
He sat back, said nothing.
“Seems our conversation has already stalled.”
“I’m sure you anticipated that.”
She smiled.
“Why today?” he asked.
The waiter returned with coffee.
“Our travels are nearly over, are they not?”
What the hell is your deal? “And have you obtained the information you need?” he asked.
“I’m close.”
“And talking with me today is bringing you closer?”
She shook her head, brought the cup to her lips. “No. I wanted to know what you’re made of.”
“Know your enemies?”
She set her cup down after taking a sip. “Are we enemies, Reed?”
“You tell me.”
“I have no quarrel with you. I’m not entirely convinced we’re after the same thing.”
He kept his face blank. “Are you working with Miguel?”
She said something in a language he didn’t understand. “I’m insulted. I make it a policy to avoid amateur thieves.”
Which was half of Reed’s conclusion about the man as well. “You’re following him.”
“Know your enemies,” she quoted him.
“Who the hell are you?” The bite in his question made her grin.
“Call me Sasha.” She stood.
“Who are you working for?”
She smiled, didn’t answer. “Until we meet again.”
Sasha left him with a sway of her hips . . . and the bill.
Chapter Fourteen
It was formal night on the ship, and Lori and the others decided fancy dresses and high heels were in order to accompany their dinner reservations at one of the fancier restaurants on the ship. That was until Trina pounded on her door and pulled her into Avery’s room.
“Her jewelry is gone,” Trina exclaimed once they were both hovering over Avery, who knelt by the open safe.
“What do you mean, gone?”
Avery looked up at Lori as if she were the ripe old age of three. “Ripped off. Someone stole my shit.”
Lori knelt down in the slim-fitting formal dress and looked at the empty boxes inside Avery’s in-suite safe. “For crying out loud.” She stood. “Don’t touch anything.”
Minutes later, Lori stood outside of Avery’s stateroom while security and some of the Italian brass on board asked Avery questions.
They were drawing a crowd.
Datu stood to the side, his face sheen white, his hands visibly shaking as his boss questioned him.
“Does she know how much the jewelry was worth?” Shannon asked.
“Somewhere around fifty.”
Lori knew her share of rich women, and tossing fifty thousand dollars worth of jewelry into their bag while vacationing wasn’t unheard of. Most wore that alone on their ring fingers.
Two plainclothes security guards brushed past the three of them and down the stairs.
“Hey?”
Lori heard Reed’s voice from behind her and turned to see his questioning eyes.
“What’s going on?” He peeked around the door, then back toward her.
“Someone stole Avery’s jewelry.”
His mouth opened. “You’re kidding.”
“We were getting ready for dinner, she went to find a pair of earrings, and hello . . . nothing left in her safe,” Trina explained.
Reed looked over the banister separating the decks, then back. “Did someone break into the room?”
“The door wasn’t broken down,” Shannon said.
“You said she found the safe empty. Did she notice the safe was broken open?”
Lori stared at Reed, waiting for Trina’s answer.
“No. In fact, we didn’t notice anything at all. If she hadn’t looked for the earrings, we mig
ht not have known they were missing.”
“Ms. Cumberland?” One of the brass in the room called her.
“Yes?”
“Would you mind?” He stood to the side of the door, inviting her into the room.
Reed kept looking over the banister.
“Of course.” Lori walked away from the others, past the living room of the suite, and into the bedroom, where she found Avery sitting on the edge of her bed while three other people searched the room and one sat in a chair, asking questions.
Lori took a seat beside her friend.
“I told them you’re my lawyer.”
“And why would you need your lawyer when you’re the one victimized?” Lori asked. She turned her attention to the man asking questions.
“Ms. Cumberland, please accept my apologies. These are standard questions, I assure you.”
“Who are you?”
“Joseph Bianchi, I advise the ship’s staff.”
“You’re not the police?”
“The ship doesn’t have police, Ms. Cumberland. We’re a luxury liner subject to maritime law.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
“That’s what I asked,” Avery said.
“Ms. Grant said she left with you and your companions today at nine in the morning.”
“That’s correct.”
“My jewelry was in the safe when I left.”
“You looked in your safe before you went ashore?” The uniformed man didn’t sound convinced.
“Well, no. But it was the night before when I went to bed.”
“With your companion?”
Avery glared. “I’ve told you this already. Rogelio left after midnight.”
“Do you think Rogelio stole your stuff?” Lori asked her.
“He’s never been alone in my room.”
The officer said something to the remaining men in the room, and they quickly left.
Lori glanced around. “Aren’t they going to look for fingerprints?”
“I assure you, we will investigate every lead.”
“Your butler, Mr. Datu, says he has seen your companion in your stateroom many times.”
Avery shrugged. “That’s not a secret.”
“You trust this man?”
“Well . . .” Doubt waved over her face as she looked at Lori. “Yeah. I mean . . .”
“Mr. Bianchi, if there is a question about Avery’s friend, ask him a few questions, search his room.”
“We plan on doing that. We just want to make sure Ms. Grant would like to stick with her statement.”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
His smile was meant to pacify. But only managed to tick her off. “Cruise ships are often the target of false claims.”
“You think she’s faking this?” Lori found her lawyer hat and pulled it down hard.
“I didn’t say that. Perhaps Ms. Grant misplaced her belongings.”
“Misplaced?” Avery stood.
“It has happened in the past. We hate to upset other passengers with false accusations—”
“I haven’t accused anyone of anything. I’m telling you someone stole my shit.”
Mr. Bianchi stood, placed his notebook in his pocket. “We will look into it.”
“Do you have security cameras?” Lori asked.
“Some.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”
“I want to see them,” Lori told the man.
“We will see what we can find. I suggest you enjoy your evening, ladies. I’m sorry for this unfortunate occurrence; however, there isn’t much to do now but stand back and let us do our jobs.”
“Unbelievable.” Avery paced the room after the man left.
“Where is he going?” Shannon asked.
“Dinner, probably,” Avery yelled.
“What?”
“I don’t think they’re taking this seriously.”
“Why not?” Trina asked.
“Because they don’t have to. They’re not subject to American laws, and international waters have their own idea of what a crime is.”
“Stealing someone else’s stuff sounds criminal to me,” Lori said.
“Yes, but you’ll be leaving this ship in a couple of days, and the investigation will be left up to that guy.” The Italian that wasn’t a cop and wanted to rule out foul play by suggesting Avery lost her stuff.
Lori looked up when she heard a knock on the door. Reed stood listening. “I saw a few men from the ship hovering by Miguel and Rogelio’s room.”
“And?” Trina asked.
“I’m not sure. They were speaking in Italian.”
“Was Rogelio there?” Avery asked.
“No. Neither of them.”
“It’s not like they went far,” Shannon pointed out.
Avery sighed. “I can’t imagine he’d do this.”
Lori caught Reed’s stare.
A stare that she was sure matched hers.
Their idea of a night of fancy food and entertainment squashed, they all returned to their rooms to dress down and look over the ship themselves to find Miguel and Rogelio to ask their own questions. Agreeing to meet back on the pool deck in an hour, they separated.
Reed took up space beside Lori.
“You think he did this,” Lori said once they were alone.
He scanned the deck as they walked through. “I wasn’t happy with Miguel’s answers when it came to Trina.”
“But this is Rogelio.”
“Right. Miguel’s friend from school. Isn’t that what he told us?”
She didn’t remember.
“It could be random,” she said.
Reed stopped her, touched her arm. “Really, Counselor? Most crimes are committed by someone you know.”
“You sound like a cop.”
“I watch a lot of CSI.” He pulled her along his side as they searched the deck.
Poolside, an hour later, none of them reported seeing the Spanish duo.
“I haven’t gotten rid of Rogelio since we met, now he is nowhere to be seen,” Avery complained.
“It’s a big ship,” Trina said with a hopeful smile.
“We should probably get something to eat, let the ship’s authorities do their job,” Lori said.
“I have a sick feeling about this.” Avery slumped down in a poolside chair.
“Someone just jacked fifty thousand dollars worth of jewelry, of course you have a sick feeling,” Lori said.
Avery waved both hands in the air. “No, it’s not that. I don’t care about the stuff, I have insurance . . . but if it was Rogelio . . . damn it. Am I that naive?”
Shannon took a seat beside her. “Hon, we all met the guy. He seems normal to me.”
“Me too.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed. And I’m the cynic in the group.”
Avery dropped her head in both her hands. “I knew it was too good to be true. A hot cruise fling, no strings. Just fun. After my year and a half of purgatory, I deserve some fun, right?”
“Think that was the point behind this trip,” Trina said. “Have fun, slip out of purgatory.”
Avery pinned Reed with a glare. “You’re a dude, what do you think?”
“I think you’re being too hard on yourself. If he is behind this, chances are he’s done it before. That doesn’t suggest you have an inability to judge character. It means he’s a professional at manipulating. He had all of us fooled.”
Avery’s chest deflated. “Yeah, but I slept with the man.”
“I bet he shows up by morning,” Shannon offered.
Lori would bet her next paycheck he wouldn’t.
Miguel and Rogelio never reboarded the ship after the stop in France.
Reed wasn’t surprised.
Sasha, for lack of a real name, had labeled Miguel as an amateur thief. Thief, yes . . . amateur? Well, that was left to interpretation. And if Reed had been anywhere other than on an assignment, he would have picked up on their game and
called them out on it. But to do so would have brought attention to his own game.
The last stop of the cruise was on the island of Majorca, in the city of Palma.
Instead of any activity, the women decided to sit on the beach and drink rum by the buckets.
Reed made it a point to hand them water to keep them from getting sick from too much liquor. Keeping an eye on them had become his mission. Well, one of his missions, in any event.
They were being reckless in their scorn, and as much as he wanted them drunk enough to start talking about their connections, and possibly clue him in to something to bring back to the person paying him, he didn’t want to see them hurt.
“Make sure we’re back on that ship before it takes off,” Avery charged him with the task.
“I have my watch set.”
“You’re not wearing a watch.”
He smiled at Trina. “My phone. My phone is set to alarm us when we need to leave.”
“I can’t believe I fell for that asshole.” Avery’s statement was burned into Reed’s mind. She’d been repeating it every fifteen minutes or so since they arrived on the beach. No, make that since they met before leaving the ship.
“All men are assholes,” Shannon told her, and Trina agreed.
He looked at Lori, who was slightly less inebriated. “Should I be here?”
“You’re fine.” She offered a drunk smile.
“You know, things might not have ended that great, but I sure am glad we all came to Lori’s little get-together.”
“I’m glad you can find the bright side, Avery.”
“I’m not looking forward to going home,” Trina said.
Reed kept an ear on the conversation, his eyes in a spy thriller book he’d brought with him.
“We have some things to figure out, but you’re going to be fine,” Lori said.
“I don’t even want to think about it.”
“We have a long flight home to think,” Shannon told her.
“Is Sam sending her jet?” Avery asked.
Reed followed the conversation, had to think about the name Sam for a moment.
“I spoke with Sam last night. The jet will be waiting when we arrive in Barcelona.”
“Good, cuz I have a feeling I might not be up to playing nice on a commercial airline.”
“That’s because you’re going to be hungover at this rate,” Trina told Avery.
Fool Me Once (First Wives Series Book 1) Page 14
