CRUMBLED TO PIECES

by BRUNS, CATHERINE

  With the necklace in my purse, I hurried down the stairs, set the alarm, and locked the door behind me. As I sped off in my car, I realized this was only the beginning of an attempt to solve my problems. I still had to talk to my grandmother and needed to hug my sister and make things right between us. But for now, I only wanted my husband. When I thought back on the ten years we'd been apart because of one stupid mistake, I didn't know how I'd ever survived without him. Those days were long gone. We'd wasted enough time.

  Although I hadn't texted back, I sensed that Mike would be waiting for me. When I drove up to our house, I spotted the silhouette of his figure on the front porch, leaning against the building and outlined in darkness. It was as if he'd never moved from the spot two hours earlier. A lamp glowed from inside our front window, welcoming me home.

  I shut the car door and sprinted toward the porch as if my life depended on it. Neither of us said a word as we embraced. We held each other for a long time, my head against his chest as I listened to the steady rhythm of his heart. Finally, I lifted my face and stared up into his. "I'm so sorry. Forgive me?"

  He kissed me and tenderly brushed a strand of hair back from my face. "There's nothing to forgive, Sal." His voice was gruff. "I'm the one who's sorry. Sorry that I didn't understand your pain. But I promise you, we'll get through this together. All I want is to make you happy."

  Tears dripped down my cheeks, and he wiped them away with the pad of his thumb. "You do. Every day of my life."

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The next morning after Mike had left for work, I called Gianna's cell, but it went straight to her voice mail. I knew she was in court today and that Johnny had arrived home last night, so maybe she wasn't intentionally avoiding me. I decided not to leave a message since I preferred to speak with her directly.

  Business was slow in the shop, and I caught Josie glancing at me worriedly several times. I'd relayed the story of the locket but conveniently left out the part about the pregnancy test. Finally, she dared to broach the dreaded subject. "I'm guessing things didn't go as planned last night," she said.

  "That's an understatement." My voice was raw with emotion.

  "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked gently.

  I shook my head. "Thanks for the offer, but not right now."

  She came around to my side of the block table where I was scooping out cookie dough onto a tray and gave me a quick hug but said nothing further. For this, I was truly grateful. Josie knew I'd tell her everything in my own good time.

  The morning dragged on until Brian called at noon. "I've got the court order to open the safe deposit box," he said. "Are you free now?"

  I put my hand over the phone and went into the back room, where Josie was baking chocolate chip cookies. The warm air smelled of rich chocolate and sugar. "Do you mind if I take off for a little while and run to the bank with Brian?"

  Her slim mouth formed into a pout. "Bummer. I want to see what's in the box too!"

  "I promise to fill you in as soon as I get back."

  While waiting for Brian, I decided to call my grandmother. I held my breath when she answered.

  Grandma Rosa greeted me in her usual way. "Hello, cara mia."

  "I'm so sorry for the way I acted—it was wrong—please forgive me," I blurted out all in one breath.

  She sighed heavily into the phone. "You do not need to apologize to me. But please talk to your sister—she is the one who needs to hear those words."

  "I haven't been able to reach her. Is she okay?"

  "Johnny came home last night," Grandma Rosa said. "I have not spoken to her since. She said she had a long day ahead of her in court today."

  "Oh, right. I'll stop over and see her tonight." A lump lodged in my throat, making talking difficult. "Please don't be angry at me."

  "I am not angry with you, cara mia. You are in pain but need to look past your own hurt right now and help your sister. She is very confused about what to do."

  I blew out a deep breath. "Yes, I promise. I'll do anything I can to help. Does…does Mrs. Gavelli know yet?"

  "No. That would only make things worse. It is my opinion that Nicoletta would be thrilled to learn she has a great-grandchild on the way, but she would need some time to get used to the news. She is old-fashioned and would only cause more problems for them." Her voice sounded wistful. "I do hope Gianna decides to tell Johnny, but that is not for me to say."

  At least my grandmother had been smart enough not to judge Gianna, unlike myself. "Maybe she'll let me take her out to dinner. Where are you? At Nicoletta's? "

  "No, I am at home. Johnny is with Nicoletta at her house. I believe he plans to bring her back to his place tonight. It is not what Gianna needs, but again, this is not my business."

  "I can't imagine what she's going through." How could I? I'd never been pregnant and wanted children so badly that it was hard for me to look at the situation and be objective. Still, I loved my sister and vowed to support whatever decision she made.

  "I have made you a new tablecloth for the bakery," Grandma Rosa announced out of the blue. "Your other one is ripped at the corners. I will drop it off before my poker game at Lucia's house."

  "Oh, is she hosting this time?" My grandmother and a few of her friends, including Nicoletta, played cards once a week or whenever their schedules allowed. They also rotated locations.

  Grandma Rosa sniffed into the phone. "I do not like to play at her house. I think she hides cards under her table because she always wins. They would all like some of your fortune cookies, so I will pick them up when I drop off the tablecloth."

  "Of course." Relief flooded through me, and I was happy she didn't seem to be upset any longer. Two down, one to go. "I'll leave some on the table in the back room. We may close up a little early tonight—it's been dead anyway. Plus, I want to see Gianna. Do you still have the key to the bakery, and do you need the alarm code?"

  She sounded surprised. "Well, of course I still have it. I am old but not abstract minded, cara mia."

  I had to think about this one for a minute. "Do you mean absentminded?"

  "Yes, I like that too." She paused for a few seconds. "Have you found out anything else about Allegra's death?"

  "Not yet," I said. "I did find your locket hidden in the upstairs apartment last night. Guess what? There was a safe deposit key inside. Please don't say anything to Mrs. Gavelli about it for now."

  Grandma Rosa clucked her tongue. "That explains it, then. Allegra was leaving a clue for us to follow. Perhaps it will lead to her killer. Call me when you know more."

  "I will." The weight on my chest had started to dissipate. "I'm so glad you're not angry with me anymore."

  "I never said I was angry with you, my beauty, only disappointed. I know how much you long for a child, and it saddens me that you are going through this. You must have faith that it will happen eventually. Your sister needs our love and support right now. I adore both my granddaughters and only want their happiness. She is your flesh and blood. Be good to each other, and always support one another. Capisce?"

  "Yes, I promise." I sniffled into the phone as she clicked off.

  Josie came into the front room with a tray of butter cookies for the case. "Everything okay?"

  "It's all good." I couldn't get into further details with Josie about the conversation without divulging the news that Gianna was pregnant. Knowing my sister as I did, she wouldn't want me to say anything until she'd decided what she was going to do with the baby. My heart still hurt when I thought about it, but like Grandma had said, it wasn't my decision to make.

  Fortunately, I was spared from further conversation by Brian's cruiser pulling up to the curb. I tossed my apron and cap on the counter. "I won't be long."

  Josie crossed her fingers and held them above her head. "Good luck. Hope you find something that will help."

  "Me too."

  I got into the front seat with Brian, and we took off. Except for a brief nod to me, he stared straight ah
ead, and the ride was eerily quiet. When we stopped for a red light, I glanced sideways at him. "Something wrong?"

  The color rose in his neck. "No."

  "How's Ally doing?"

  The light turned green, and Brian's jaw tightened as the car moved forward. "Ally's fine. She…she's kind of been hinting around about an engagement ring."

  "Oh." That didn't seem unusual to me since they'd been dating for a year. "Need some help picking one out?"

  Brian pulled into Colwestern Bank's parking lot and then turned to look at me. There was something masked in those brilliant green eyes of his—a hint of sadness carefully hidden behind them. "I'm not quite sure I'm ready for marriage. I mean, I definitely want to have a family someday." He blew out a breath and looked away. "I love Ally, but I'm not sure that I'm in love with her. Does that make sense?"

  "Yes, totally." It was how I'd secretly felt about Colin when we'd married, although I didn't bother to explain that now.

  Brian stared at me so intently that my skin started to heat from his gaze. It was almost as if I had a premonition of what he was going to say and desperately prayed that I was wrong.

  "There's still someone else I can't completely get out of my head."

  Oh, God. My heart sank at Brian's words. I'd thought for sure that his feelings for me had died long ago. My cheeks burned with discomfort, but I forced myself to look straight into his forlorn face while struggling to keep my composure. "Well, perhaps you should try a little harder, then."

  Brian nodded without speaking, and we both got out of his vehicle. My level of discomfort soared like the blazing sun above us. I loved Brian as a friend, but nothing more. He had always been good to me, and there were undoubtedly many times he could have slapped handcuffs on my wrists for obstructing justice. There was only one man I had ever truly loved, and that would not change. Brian was aware of this, but I also knew from my previous marriage that feelings didn't always obey the law. Sadly enough, it was Ally, not Brian, whom I felt more compassion for right now.

  Brian asked for the bank manager, a Mr. Wallace, and then showed him the search warrant he'd obtained. He explained that the contents might divulge suspects of a recent homicide. Since Brian was the law, his sworn statement was all that was needed. We were shown into a small room at the rear of the building that held a round, wooden conference table and plush, red velvet chairs. We sat down next to each other and waited for Mr. Wallace to return. He reappeared a couple of minutes later carrying a long, narrow box between his hands. He placed it on the table in front of Brian.

  Mr. Wallace raised his eyebrows at me in somewhat of a curious manner then returned his attention to Brian. "Please let me know if I can assist you in any other way, Officer."

  "Thanks for your help," Brian said.

  After Mr. Wallace had left the room, I placed the key in Brian's outstretched hand. "I thought he'd have to stay while you opened it."

  He shook his head and grinned. "Nope. There could be evidence in there that I don't want him to see."

  "Well, he didn't like it that I was here with you."

  His eyes rested on my face for a moment. He was careful to look away as he fumbled with the lock. "It doesn't matter what he likes. I'm allowed to have anyone I want in here with me. It's one of the perks of my job."

  Brian lifted the lid as I leaned over his arm. My heart started to pound in excitement and then stopped when I noticed a lone manila envelope inside. I wasn't sure what I'd expected to find. Jewelry? Money? A stash of fortune cookies?

  Brian opened the envelope and took out a handful of pictures. His jaw immediately dropped. "Holy blackmail, Batman."

  The photo he handed me was of a man and woman in bed together. I couldn't see the woman's face from the particular angle, but the man's was in full view. He was good-looking, late forties or so, his dark hair peppered with gray, and a scruff of a beard surrounded his mouth. It was apparent from the shot that his body was well toned and muscular. I stared at the man's face critically. "He looks familiar."

  Brian raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You don't know who it is?"

  I shook my head.

  "It's Senator Ambrose."

  Holy crap. I put a hand to my mouth in horror as Brian showed me the next photo. I couldn't see the woman's face in this shot either, but it was definitely not Lena. This woman's hair was longer, darker, and she had one of those perfect bodies that I would have killed for. Bad choice of words.

  "Oh, my God. Why would Allegra have these photos? Did she know about Martin's affair and was blackmailing him?" Poor Lena. "Was she going to tell her niece?"

  "It looks that way." He turned the photo over and glanced at the stamp on the back. "This picture is only four months old." Brian stared grimly at the next photo, and then his face reddened with discomfort. Hastily, he passed it to me, and my cheeks flamed as well. Both lovers were clearly naked in this photo, displaying more than I was interested in seeing. God, this was embarrassing. "Can he be arrested?"

  Brian gave me a strange look. "On what grounds?"

  "He must be the one who killed Allegra."

  "This isn't any proof," Brian said. "Maybe Allegra was blackmailing him, but we don't know that for certain. All it proves is that the guy—this so-called high-power political figure—is a sleaze and was cheating on his wife. Personally, I always wondered about him. He seemed too good to be true—I figured there had to be a dark side to him."

  I racked my brain, trying to decide what to do next. "If Martin knows someone else has the pictures, maybe he'll come clean."

  "No." Brian's tone was firm. "It's dangerous. Besides, I have to confiscate these pictures, so don't even think about it."

  Of all the rotten luck. What good would the pictures do me if the police had them?

  Brian's cell buzzed. He glanced down at the screen and frowned. "It's my boss. Hang on. I've got to take this."

  "Sure, no problem." I watched as he walked to the other side of the room, his back to me. I reached into my jeans pocket and then realized I'd left my phone on the bakery counter. Head thunk. Some detective I was. How could I get copies of the photos now?

  I thumbed through the rest of the photos. There were eight of them total, and I wondered who had taken them. Allegra? No, unless she had a powerful camera and was a Peeping Tom. That was too creepy to imagine. Maybe she had paid a photographer to shoot them. Out of all the photos, there was only one that gave a clear shot of the woman's face, and I stared at it intently.

  She was lovely, an exquisite beauty. Her dark curly hair was past her shoulders and framed her perfect, heart-shaped face. The woman's eyes were huge and exotic looking, almond-shaped with long lashes, and her dark red lips were full and pouty. My entire body went rigid as recognition set in.

  The woman was Violet.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Brian was still talking to his boss, so I didn't think he'd seen the photo in my hand. I wasn't even sure he knew what Violet looked like.

  One little photograph… It wouldn't be missed, right? Plus, it might help me get some answers. What was Brian going to do with them anyway? He'd only keep the photos for evidence. Martin was a sleaze, but this wasn't anything he could be arrested for…yet. There was no actual proof that he'd been the one to mow Allegra down. Lena said he'd been in New York City that day, but what if he'd managed to get back into Colwestern unnoticed?

  Brian nodded and wrote something on a small pad of paper. I scooped the photo up and slipped it into my purse before he said good-bye and turned around. Our eyes met, and for a moment, I thought I was busted. He reattached the phone to his belt and came over to the table, then picked up the photographs.

  "Sorry, Sally," he said. "I'm sure you'd like to be able to take a few of these, but I have to give the judge a return."

  "What's a return?"

  "A document that states what was removed from the safe deposit box." He placed the pictures back into the envelope and shut the lid on the box.

  "Are you going
to talk to the senator?" I asked.

  Brian cocked a well-defined eyebrow at me. "I can have a chat with him, but don't expect too much. He'll most likely claim that he has no idea how Allegra got the photos. We don't know for certain that she was blackmailing him, either."

  My grandmother wanted me to help find out who did this to Allegra. She hated seeing Nicoletta so distraught over her death. Perhaps this was affecting Nicoletta's remission as well. I loved my grandmother and would do anything she asked of me. It still hurt to think how I'd disappointed her. Maybe I felt I had to redeem myself in her eyes. What harm would it do if I asked the senator a few questions?

  Brian must have guessed what direction my mind was running in as we left the bank. "Don't even think about it, Sally. If you go see Martin Ambrose, I will not be happy."

  I flashed him a sly smile. "So what else is new?"

  His mouth twitched at the corners. "Please let us handle it, okay? We'll talk to him, and I promise to let you know everything we find out."

  He pulled his car over to the curb in front of the bakery.

  "Want to come in for coffee and one of your favorite chocolate chip cookies? Josie made a fresh batch this morning." I'd never known him to refuse one before.

  His bright green gaze observed me thoughtfully for a moment. "I would, but my boss needs me back at the station. Raincheck?"

  "Sure. Thanks for letting me tag along."

  Brian gave me one last long look, and the cruiser sped away.

  The bells on the front door of my shop jingled away merrily as they announced my entrance. Josie was chatting with a woman at one of the tables. There was a large photo album spread open between them that held pictures of cakes and cookies Josie had designed for special occasions. She'd even made my wedding cake, a one-of-a-kind cookies and cream sensation. As far as I was concerned, she could bake anything she wanted to, and it didn't have to profit the bakery. The cakes helped Josie and her family out financially, and without her, I wouldn't even have a business.