The Watcher (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 4)

by Linsey Lanier

  Instead he extended a hand.

  She put down her soda and plate to take it. “Thank you for your help on this case, Inspector.”

  He shook his head. “No, it is I who must thank you. I must say I have never met a private investigator that has impressed me so much as you, Senhortia Steele. You and your husband. What you did last night…you saved Tia’s life. You solved several cases at once.”

  Miranda didn’t know what to say.

  “If you ever need a reference, any help of any sort, do not hesitate to call.”

  That was a big surprise. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  He patted her hand with uncharacteristic tenderness. “Now, I must return to the station and finish my reports.” With a nod of good-bye, he turned and trotted down the steps to the walkway.

  Feeling lightheaded at the gruff inspector’s words, Miranda looked around at the guests.

  Pipia was chatting with Holloway and some of the people who had played in the orchestra. Wesson was flirting with one of the oboe players. And Didi, she noticed, was in a corner with Alex, her childhood schoolmate whom they’d met at Gretchen Schiffer’s pub.

  She spotted Tia sitting by herself in a corner and strolled over.

  “Miranda.” Tia took her hand and squeezed it. “How are you feeling today?”

  Miranda took a seat beside her and her fingers went to the bandage covering her new stitches. The medics had treated her last night while she gave her statement to the cops. It was only five but this new set made a nice accessory to the ones from Leon.

  “I’m all right,” she said. “How are you?”

  Tia’s dark eyes grew intense as she shook her head. “I think I am still in shock. I am not sure I will ever recover fully.”

  “You will. At least from the worst parts. It just takes time.” She knew.

  “Yes, you are right. And I am so very grateful. Grateful to be alive. Grateful to you for saving my life. Twice.”

  Miranda smiled. “Part of the job.”

  Tia’s gaze drifted across the veranda. “I am also grateful Didi seems to have found a new boyfriend who likes her.”

  “Yes, I saw that. What happened to Joca?”

  “She broke up with him while you were in Rio. She told me you were right about him.”

  Miranda suppressed the urge to stand up and cheer. “Good for her.”

  “I hope she will be happy with Alex.”

  She gave Tia a knowing smile. “I think she will be.”

  “Oh, and Pipia is getting her scholarship to Juilliard.”

  “She is? That’s wonderful. She really is talented.” If the girl could make Miranda respond to classical music, she deserved every honor the school offered.

  “I will be selling Rico’s modeling agency and donating part of the funds to Juli Torres’ family. The rest will go to the town to rebuild the opera house.”

  “Wow.”

  “It is only right.”

  “That’s a lovely gesture but it isn’t your fault the opera house burned down. That’s on Sebastian.”

  “I know. It is what I want to do.” Tia put a hand to her face, her eyes glowing with the memory of last night. “The police in Rio will be releasing Rico’s body soon. His brother Dani will arrange for Rico and Sebastian to be buried near the sugarcane plantation in Minas Gerais.”

  Laid to rest in the place he didn’t want to be next to the brother he hated. Miranda didn’t comment on the irony of it.

  Tia shook her head. “The sad thing is Sebastian was bright. He could have become a success on his own. He did not have to be his brother. I never knew he had such a crush on me.”

  Miranda thought back on the things Sebastian had said. He may have thought he loved Tia but he was too troubled to understand love. In her opinion, it was better Tia hadn’t known how he felt.

  Tia’s shoulders lifted in a deep sigh. “I only wish he had not taken Rico from my children.”

  Miranda looked across the floor and saw Valdinho at the memorial table. Dressed in a brown herringbone jacket, he had one arm around Didi, the other around Pipia as the three of them gazed at the pictures of Rico Dominguez.

  “I know it’s not the same, but I think your lawyer friend will do a good job in that area.”

  Tia smiled. “You are right. He is a fine man. We are getting married in the spring.”

  That news wiped away the sadness. “You are? Oh, Tia. I’m so happy for you.” She put her arms around her and gave her a hug.

  Tia kissed her on the cheek and since she was giving in to mushiness, Miranda let her. “You and Wade must come.”

  “In the spring? Uh, when is that here again?”

  Tia laughed. “In three months.”

  “Sure. I’m sure Parker would love to and so would I.”

  “What would I love?”

  Miranda looked up into Parker’s handsome face and her heart spilled over with love.

  “I was just telling Miranda about our wedding plans, Wade. She says you will come.”

  “We’ll be looking forward to it.” He reached for Miranda’s hand. “I hate to cut things short but we have a plane to catch.”

  “Of course.” Tia got to her feet and gave each of them a big hug and more kisses. “Thank you both again for all you have done for me.”

  “We’re glad to help,” Parker said and with a nostalgic parting smile for his long-time friend, he turned and escorted Miranda down the steps and across the walkway.

  The mini-van was already packed with their luggage. Wesson and Holloway were staying on a few days to finish up their interrupted vacation, so they were all alone.

  As Parker opened the door for her Miranda turned for one last look at the fairytale buildings with the delicate white trim and the endless green peaks beyond. Their magic was back now and once again it was a place of happiness and breathtaking beauty.

  With a grin, she gave Parker a tap on the chest. “Guess we’re even, as far as the saving-each-other’s-life contest goes.”

  He raised a dark brow. “I didn’t know you were keeping score, but I’m not entirely sure that’s an accurate statement.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “Close enough.”

  “Speaking of close.” He drew her to him put his face very near hers. “I don’t want to ever go through what I did last night again.”

  She ran a hand down his silk tie. “I’m sorry you had to, but—”

  “I can’t lose you, Miranda.” His face was dark and serious. “I thought I had.”

  She touched his cheek, tried to make her words come out gentle. “Parker, you can’t keep doing this. You’ll make yourself crazy.”

  “I’m not sure I have a choice.”

  She thought about crawling across that backstage floor, facing that madman, nearly falling to her death. She’d been fighting for her life, for Tia’s life. She’d been terrified. But the real fear, the one she never dared to admit even to herself was that she’d be the one to end up a widow.

  She put her forehead against his chin and wrestled with her emotions. This was her job, what she was born to do. It meant everything to do it with him. And yet…

  “Don’t you get it, Parker?” she said at last, tears stinging her eyes. “I worry just as much about losing you.”

  He was silent a long moment, taking that in.

  “I know it sounds silly. And maybe I’m a little crazy for thinking it. But this is my destiny. This job, this life with you. It’s what I’m meant to do. What I was born to do. I know that deep in my bones.”

  Parker gazed into the deep blue pools of Miranda’s eyes and saw the truth in them. This destiny or whatever it was, was what had drawn him to her in the first place. What made him know she was the perfect partner for him. What made them a team. What made them one.

  His hands slid to hers. He pressed them to his lips. “It doesn’t sound silly at all.”

  Smiling through her tears, Miranda gazed at the emotion she saw in his face. “Whatever we have to face, what
ever happens to us. I want to go through it with you.”

  “And if the worst happens?”

  She paused a long moment, breathing in and out, the familiar determination beginning to brew in her breast once more. “We’ll do our damndest to make sure it doesn’t. Can’t that be enough for you?”

  “For now,” he said. And he took her face in his hands and kissed her hard.

  Miranda’s heart overflowed with love for this man that had taught her so much. The man who had saved her life over and over. And who always would.

  “That’s all we can ask for.”

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  They got back to the Parker mansion after four in the morning the next day and fell into bed without even bothering to unpack.

  It was afternoon when Miranda opened one eye to see Parker dressed and tying on a silk tie. She scowled. “What are you doing?”

  He strolled over to her and gave her cheek a kiss. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “You’re evading my question,” she said sleepily.

  He smiled. “I thought I’d go into the office for an hour or two. I’ll be back soon.”

  “Okay.” She tried to pull off the cover and missed.

  “I said I would go. You’re assignment is to stay here and rest. You have stitches to heal.”

  She curled a lip at him. “Anyone ever tell you how bossy you are?”

  He just chuckled and kissed her again. “I won’t be long. Get some rest.” Then he turned and went down the hall.

  She heard the door close downstairs and snuggled under the covers, secretly glad he was letting her sleep. She’d never tell him that, though.

  Her phone buzzed and she reached for it on the nightstand, opened one eye again to see what it was. A text from Fanuzzi about the anniversary party. She and Becker were leaving for Paris soon and she wanted everything in place first.

  “Deal with that later,” Miranda murmured, and rolled over.

  ###

  Parker headed down the hall outside his office feeling lighter than he had in a long time. They had closed a difficult case and Tia and her family were safe. Most important of all, his precious wife was safe and sleeping soundly at home. He would give her a week off, probably take some of the time with her. She needed to heal and rest, and they both needed to recover emotionally from the ordeal they had just been through.

  He stopped at the door to the Parker Agency lab. He would drop in and give the technicians a word of praise for their work on the case. Without them, they would not have made the strides they had. He was especially proud of Dave Becker.

  He knocked on the door and when no one answered, stepped inside.

  The outer cubes were empty. Everyone must be in the lab in the back. He was about to head there when he saw something he recognized lying on one of the desks.

  Miranda’s old phone. What was Becker doing with it?

  He picked it up and scrolled through the messages. When he got to the last page, his heart nearly stopped.

  I know what you are.

  He scrolled back and saw two undeleted messages.

  I know who you are.

  I know where you are.

  They were all anonymous. No email addresses at all.

  Rage pummeled his temples. Rage and hurt. He recalled the cryptic message Miranda had received from Becker about “that other thing.” She’d acted as if she were planning an anniversary surprise for him. He knew she’d lied.

  His chest pounding all he could think about was that promise they’d made in London not to keep things from each other.

  “Sir.”

  He looked up and saw Becker standing in the lab doorway. In his jeans and casual shirt he should have been relaxed but he’d always had a nervous way about him and just now he was more jittery than usual.

  He swiped a finger under his large nose. “I, uh, didn’t know you were here, sir.”

  Obviously. Parker held up the phone. “What are you doing with this?”

  “With that phone? Oh, I…uh…”

  “Out with it, Becker.”

  The small man jumped. “Steele asked me to look at it for her.”

  “To track these anonymous messages?”

  His shoulders slumped. “Yes, sir. She asked me not to tell you.”

  The words were like a fist to the stomach. If this wasn’t a breach of the promise she’d made to him, he didn’t know what was.

  He waited for his temper to quell before he spoke again. “Have you made any progress?”

  “No, sir. Can’t do a reverse IP lookup. I’ve tried some of the remailer sites but I can’t find anything that clicks.”

  Nodding, he studied the messages again. It would take some time and finessing but he could find out where they came from.

  “I’m so very sorry, sir. Am I…in trouble?”

  “Not yet,” Parker said without looking up.

  He heard Becker let out a long breath. “Thank you, sir.”

  Promise not to keep things from him and then hide threatening messages from him? Act as if nothing were wrong? Was she planning on handling this by herself? Well, Miranda Steele, if that’s the way you want it to go, you have met your match.

  Two can play that game.

  He slipped the phone into his pocket and turned to the door. He’d talk to the team later. After he’d calmed down.

  “Sir?”

  He turned back. “Yes, Becker?”

  “What do you want me to tell Steele?”

  “Tell her?”

  His shoulder bobbed up and down. “When she asks how it’s coming along?” Becker gestured at phone in his pocket.

  Parker’s lips turned up in a determined grin. “Tell her you’re still working on it.”

  THE END

  More Books by Linsey Lanier

  THE MIRANDA’S RIGHTS MYSTERY SERIES

  Someone Else’s Daughter – Book I

  Delicious Torment – Book II

  Forever Mine – Book III

  Fire Dancer – Book IV

  Thin Ice – Book V

  THE MIRANDA AND PARKER MYSTERY SERIES

  All Eyes on Me

  Heart Wounds

  Clowns and Cowboys

  The Watcher

  Look for the next mystery later in 2015

  OTHER BOOKS BY LINSEY LANIER:

  Chicago Cop (A cop family thriller) – Don’t let them take what you love, baby girl. A police thriller featuring GUTS team lead Lieutenant Maggie Delaney, a tough multi-generational cop hunting down a crazed mafia hit man bent on revenge.

  Steal My Heart (A Romantic Suspense) – Get me what I want or you’ll never see your daughter again. New York newspaper columnist, Paige Dunbar, can hardly breathe when she learns her precious three-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. She’ll do anything to get her back, including steal the famous Fantasia necklace the kidnapper wants. No one can stop her. Not even her sexy ex-jewel-thief-ex-husband.

  HUMOROUS BOOKS BY LINSEY LANIER

  You Want Me to Kill Who? (A Dandy Frost—Ninja Assassin Story)

  A New Adult, futuristic romantic fantasy.

  A lowly, powerless factory worker is sent half-way around the world by her boss to fight an evil spy organization, but she really just wants to be a fashion designer.

  Look for more Dandy Frost stories in 2014!

  The Clever Detective Boxed Set 2 (A Fairy Tale Romance): Stories 1-5

  From the Hollow Tree to Stacey’s home town to the mountains of Sweden to the high seas, follow PI Stacey Alexander and Prince Chad’s adventures and romance.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Writing fiction for over fifteen years, Linsey Lanier authored more than a dozen novels and short stories, including the popular Miranda’s Rights Mystery series. She writes romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers with a dash of sass.

  She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Kiss of Death chapter, Private Eye Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Her books have been nomin
ated in several RWA-sponsored contests.

  Living outside a major city with her husband of over two decades, Linsey enjoys watching crime shows with him and trying to figure out “who-dun-it.”

  She’s always working on a new book, currently books in the new Miranda and Parker Mystery series (a continuation of the Miranda’s Rights Mystery series). For alerts on her latest releases join Linsey’s mailing list at linseylanier.com.

  Excerpts

  If you missed the Miranda’s Rights Mystery series, below is an excerpt from Book I, Someone Else’s Daughter where Miranda first goes to work for the Parker Agency—and gets into all sorts of trouble.

  Someone Else’s Daughter: Book I (A Miranda’s Rights Mystery) — Excerpt

  She could make it to the trees. She was too far away for him to catch up now. It started to rain. A soft rain. The kind, somebody had told her, that often came up in Georgia without warning. Beneath her, the ground sloped steeply as the grass grew wet. She slipped, tried to stifle a yelp, but it escaped her lips.

  The cop heard her. His light found her. “Stop,” he yelled.

  Man, she was having a bad night.

  But the rain slowed him down, too. She could hear him grunting and cussing behind her as he struggled down the slippery incline. She reached the bottom and the land became flat again. Almost there. She sprinted across a patch of grass to the first clump of trees. Hesitating, she stopped to catch her breath.

  The bright moon cast an eerie glow on the rocks and wild growth. She’d never liked wooded areas. She thought about murders in the forest preserves where she’d grown up. She thought of stories she’d heard about snakes in the Georgia woods. She glanced behind her.

  The cop’s light bobbed about halfway down the hill.

  No choice. Gritting her teeth, she braced herself and stepped into the tall grass. Her foot went down on a squishy surface of pine straw and matted grass, a twig snapped, but it held. She took another step, reached out and felt tree bark in front of her. She sidestepped and moved around it. The ground was uneven and muddy. The drizzling rain fell against the leaves with a sound like soft cymbals. The air smelled cool and freshly washed. Brush tangled around her shins. Her hair and clothes were wet, but she couldn’t think about that now.