Harlequin Romantic Suspense March 2016 Box Set

by Carla Cassidy

  “It’s not like him. He’s very prompt and is always at your father’s side. And he’s your godfather—he has to be here.” Gloria’s voice was high-pitched and reflected worry as Kayla eased closer to the door without putting herself in their line of sight. They knew she’d be out here, but perhaps didn’t realize she could overhear them.

  “What’s got you so wound up, Gloria? Mickey isn’t in the wedding. Even if he doesn’t show up, Dad can survive without him today. My wedding has nothing to do with the mayor’s office.”

  “Don’t kid yourself.” Gloria’s stunning retort was as sharp as if she’d slapped Cynthia.

  “Let’s not get ugly on my wedding day, Gloria. It’s important to my father that it’s perfect for me, remember.” Was Cynthia warning Gloria?

  “Yes, yes, we’ll keep it perfect for you. But you need to learn some hard truths about adulthood, Cynthia. Charles wouldn’t be marrying you unless you fit his résumé, too.”

  “We’re in love, Gloria.”

  “Save it for the wedding guests. You don’t need to BS me.”

  “No, I suppose I don’t.” Dishes clattered as they served themselves food. Kayla didn’t think their voices would reach the microphones nestled between her breasts, but she’d make sure to memorize everything they said to pass to Rio and Claudia. The Charbonneaus, whether by marriage or blood, were a miserable, conniving lot. It was a matter of time before one of them slipped up and revealed the way to the murderer.

  “That’s enough, Cynthia.” Gloria’s censure was sharper.

  “Excuse me. You’re only six years older than me, Gloria. I don’t take orders or reprimands from you. Let’s keep this civil for as long as we can. And trust me, you’re in no place to tell anyone what to do.” Did Cynthia know about Gloria and Mickey’s affair?

  “I’d say that the line for civility was crossed long ago. Look over your shoulder—it’s way back there, about the time I married your father.”

  Meow, meow.

  “That’s enough, ladies.” Tony Charbonneau’s cajoling voice sliced through their bickering. “What on earth is upsetting you both on this great day? My baby girl is going to marry a wonderful man.” Silence, other than the sound of cutlery, fell inside the house. Kayla stood to stretch her quads as she’d been crouching next to the flower basket for several minutes. A soft footfall was her only warning before the back doors opened wider and Cynthia strode through. Kayla grabbed a handful of flowers and made as if to add more to the balcony.

  Cynthia’s stare would have made her blood run cold only a week ago. Now, with Trail Hikers training behind her and an automatic weapon hidden on a calf holster under her pant leg, Kayla stood and stared back at Cynthia.

  “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be getting the gazebo ready?” She looked at Kayla as though Kayla was a family servant rather than a professional working in the twenty-first century.

  “The gazebo’s ready. I’m finishing up with this railing. I’m here if you need anything before I give the flowers to your attendants.”

  “Why are you on the porch?” Cynthia looked back at the threshold she’d just passed, then again at Kayla. “What did you overhear?”

  “What’s to overhear? I’ve been on the phone with my assistant and placing the flowers. Did I miss something you need done, Cynthia?”

  Cynthia Charbonneau’s beauty, if you could call it that, was entirely due to her father’s bankroll. And that meant it was highly likely that the funds he’d been embezzling from Silver Valley had paid for top-of-the-line skin treatments, spa time and probably a collagen injection or two. But as the woman stared at Kayla, there was no attractiveness. Only an ugly energy reminiscent of feral cats when they were about to attack.

  “I don’t need anything else from you. Just stay out of the way.” Kayla knew Cynthia’s words reached Rio’s ears and wondered what he made of her tyrannical tone. Probably thought what Kayla did. That Cynthia had been spoiled her entire life.

  “When are the groom and his attendants expected? My assistant is bringing the boutonnieres separately.”

  Cynthia waved her hand as if her soon-to-be-husband was no more than an accessory. “Charles will show up an hour before, no sooner. There’s no reason for him to. They had a fun time after the party. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is hungover, along with the rest of the men.” Cynthia didn’t seem to care her husband might be hungover on their wedding day. She didn’t care about the wedding as long as she got a high-powered groom out of it.

  “Are you excited about graduating from law school next week, too? You have a lot of milestones happening in such a short time.”

  Cynthia’s smirk made it clear that Kayla was the florist, damn it, not her therapist. “It’s not pressing on me. I’ll graduate, pass the bar and start my law career under Charles’s wing. No one can say anything since he’ll be my husband.” She laughed. “I know I’m not the usual blushing bride. Let’s just say I’m more practical. The people, people like you, in Silver Valley are ludicrous. You’ll be happy as a florist, probably get married and have babies. That’s not for me. I’ve known since I was a small girl that I’m headed for bigger things.”

  * * *

  Gloria stared at Tony. She knew her husband was capable of underhanded business. Sure, he broke the law here and there, but it was always for the good of the people he served. Mickey helped him with that.

  Mickey.

  He’d ignored her last night at the rehearsal dinner. Of course he did. He’d been there as Cynthia’s godfather, but it was obvious he was only there for Tony. To do whatever Tony needed him to do.

  “You’re awfully quiet, Gloria. Did you have your share of vodka last night, too?” Tony grinned at her, his forkful of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon halfway to his smug mouth. His lips were thin and tight, not generous and sweet like Mickey’s.

  “Where’s Mickey, Tony? I thought he was coming over to help you get ready and to keep everyone calm.”

  Tony shook his head. “I told him to sleep in, take it easy. He’s done enough for me these past weeks. Why are you so worried about him, Gloria?”

  Tony’s question was scary and too close to the truth, but as she looked at his open expression, his tired eyes, she realized it was just her guilt.

  “No, no. It’s wedding-day jitters, that’s all. Honey, you know I just want whatever’s best for Cynthia.”

  “I know, sweetheart.” He chewed. “Tell you what. After she’s married and on her way to her own life, I’ll take you on a nice trip, okay? You want Atlantic City or maybe even Vegas?”

  “Oh, Tony, that would be so fun!”

  He pointed his fork at her. “Okay. So, just stay calm and collected today and remember, it’s Cynthia’s day. Everything else can wait.”

  Gloria thought a trip was a good idea, but she’d rather go with Mickey.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Any questions?”

  Rio looked at the assembled group of SVPD and other local law-enforcement officers who were working the Charbonneau wedding with him. Half would be in uniform, providing legit security for the political figures. It wasn’t questioned by the mayor, who’d fallen for Rio’s explanation that because Meredith had been murdered, it was imperative that they keep Tony safe, as well as his family. That they were all potential targets. Tony had eaten it up.

  “No, sir.” A collective response, which Rio expected. They’d already gone over every possible aspect of the takedown ad infinitum for the past seventy-two hours.

  “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s do this.”

  Rio walked out of the briefing room before the crowd dispersed, wanting to speak to Colt Todd alone before he went to the unmarked van where he’d check with the comms team to make sure all was up and running with Kayla’s equipment. For all he knew she’d already cap
tured some pertinent evidence.

  “Head on in, Rio. I’m grabbing more coffee.” Colt was only a minute behind Rio. He took his spot behind the large desk and motioned for Rio to sit down. “Are we ready to do this, Rio? How’s Kayla holding up?”

  “Yes, sir, and she’s doing well. I’m confident she’ll get whatever she can from the Charbonneaus, but too much of this relies on luck for my liking.”

  “It’s not luck, it’s the result of hard work and timing. We have no other options at this point. You’ll bring in the mayor if he shows any hint of bolting, and definitely once the wedding is over if nothing happens before then. He’ll go to jail for embezzlement and fraud if nothing else.”

  “I want him for murder.”

  “I do, too, but all we have is circumstantial. Anything new on Mickey?”

  “No, no match on weapons, no prints. He says he was at home the night of the attempt on Kayla. We have Kayla’s testimony that it was him the night of Meredith’s murder, but even she can only identify his voice. She never saw his face in the dark that night and never saw the shooter when they aimed at her.”

  Colt frowned. “The bullets were the same, though. It’s the same weapon.”

  “Right. But Ippolito doesn’t have a license for the weapon that fired those bullets, and when we searched his place and auto there was nothing. Nada.”

  “We’ll force them out, Rio. If nothing else it’ll be a wedding of gangsters like no one’s seen since The Godfather.”

  “Judge Blackwell isn’t a gangster.”

  Colt shook his head. “No, he’s not. And he’s a good friend. I’ve tried to talk to him about Cynthia, but he won’t hear a word against her. But I guess sometimes we can’t help who we fall for, can we, Rio?” Colt looked at him and Rio felt a jolt of realization up his spine.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m not talking about you and Kayla, Rio. Although that would be appropriate, I’m sure. How’s it been with her at your house?”

  “We’ve managed.” This morning they’d done a whole lot of managing. He hid his grin.

  “I like the idea of you two. You’ve needed to settle down for a while now. Maybe after the case you two can make it official. Now get out of here and keep me in the loop. I’ll be checking in with comms regularly.”

  “Yes, sir.” Rio stood and left. His mind wasn’t on the comms team. It was on getting in touch with Kayla and making sure she was doing okay. He reached into his pocket for his phone and stopped. He couldn’t text her. Not now, as she was in the middle of the wedding prep. And the middle of an op. He trusted and admired Kayla, but at this moment he wished like hell that her talents weren’t placing her dangerously close to a killer.

  * * *

  Rio rapped quickly on the back door of the comms van, parked on the block behind the mayor’s house, hidden in between two large lilac bushes.

  The door opened slowly and Claudia smiled at him. “Come on in. I hope you brought doughnuts.”

  He saw she was joking as there was already a bag of pastries on the tiny counter in the vehicle, along with a carton of take-out coffee.

  “Nika.” Nika Pasczenko served as SVPD’s top comms officer.

  “Detective Ortega. Nothing yet, just wedding chatter. The mic’s good, though. Picking up just about everything that Kayla is hearing.”

  “Good.” He looked at Claudia. They were hunched on tiny stools in close confines. She looked more awake than any of them, of course. Claudia was always “on.”

  “Nika tells me you two worked the same beat before you were promoted to detective.”

  “Yeah, we had our times, didn’t we?” She’d been his partner and a damn good one. He’d been as surprised as anyone that he’d been promoted before her. Only seniority had made that happen, he was sure.

  “I was telling Claudia that you were the best partner. You never treated me any differently because I’m a woman. I was just an officer.”

  He squirmed at the compliment. “You are an officer, Nika. The best.”

  “Don’t look so uncomfortable. Take the praise.” Claudia patted his shoulder.

  They listened to Kayla as she spoke with Jenny, suggesting where fresh flowers needed to be placed, pointing out where some blooms had wilted in the rain.

  “Has she talked to the mayor or Gloria yet?”

  “No, but she’s talked to Cynthia. Nothing significant. Here.” Nika passed him her headset. His cell phone buzzed.

  “Ortega.”

  “Mickey’s dead.” Colt Todd’s voice was grim and the implication of the two words was like a sucker punch.

  “How? Where?”

  “A fisherman found his body on the bank of Conodoguinet Creek early this morning. Maybe drowned, but we need the tox report to know what got him there in the first place. The coroner suspects intoxication.”

  “Maybe he felt guilty over killing Meredith.” As he spoke he knew it wasn’t true. Mickey Ippolito was a thug from way back. He’d do Tony Charbonneau’s bidding without a twinge of guilt.

  “Doubt it. There were drag marks and the grass on either side of the dirt path was flattened, but no footprints. He was either dead or unconscious before he was put in the water.” Colt paused. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “We’ve narrowed down who killed Meredith.”

  “Right. It likely wasn’t Mickey.”

  Rio ended the call and swore.

  “I take it the mayor’s assistant is dead?” Claudia’s eyes pierced his mental noise.

  “Yes. They found his body on a creek bank this morning.”

  “Foul play?”

  “From the looks of it.”

  “Mayor Charbonneau would have every reason to take Mickey out if he thought Mickey posed a risk.” Claudia was thinking aloud, a common way they brainstormed cases.

  “Or if he thought Mickey was going to take off with the funds, but Mickey didn’t strike me as an accounting mastermind.”

  Claudia gave one short shake of her head. “Tony would never trust the security passwords for his money to anyone else.”

  “Except Gloria.” He didn’t believe that, either, though. “No, he wouldn’t trust Gloria. She’s his trophy wife, period. He puts his grown daughter’s needs over hers from all we’ve seen. That speaks volumes.”

  “What about—”

  “Cynthia.” They said her name in unison.

  As if on cue, Cynthia’s voice came over the audio feed, which Nika had turned up.

  “Really, Gloria, you amuse me. It’s my day today and you’re still trying to get all of the attention for yourself.”

  “Don’t you need to go get ready? Your makeup will take a while.”

  Cynthia laughed. “Oh, Gloria, you have no idea how happy I am that you’re here with me today. No matter our differences. Family is family, after all.”

  * * *

  An hour before the ceremony, the flowers were as close to perfect as Kayla and Jenny were going to get them. The rain had stopped and a lingering mist gave the backyard and gazebo area a fairy-tale feeling.

  “It’s perfect if you look at it with an artist’s eye.” Jenny had a wistful expression. “Although Gloria and Cynthia Charbonneau aren’t really the artistic type, are they?”

  “No, they’re not. Let’s get these extra stems and supplies out of here, and we’ll bring in the boutonnieres. The bouquets will wait until the last minute.”

  “Kayla!” Gloria’s sharp voice carried across the sloping lawn and Kayla turned.

  “Jeez, does she think you’re a dog?” Jenny’s disgust twisted her mouth into a sneer that rivaled a comic villain’s. Kayla suppressed the urge to laugh—she didn’t want to start trouble with Gloria.

  “What do you need?” On the porch Gloria’s fully dressed a
nd made-up state, complete with makeup, made her look like a C-list Hollywood actress. “Are you taking the photos now?”

  “Yes, and the photographer needs Cynthia’s bouquet. Now.”

  Kayla ignored the last word and went straight for the van, where she’d parked it alongside the house on a small driveway. Jenny was ahead of her and handed her Cynthia’s bouquet from the back refrigeration section.

  “Thanks, Jenny.”

  Kayla accepted the flowers and looked into the middle of the pure white blossoms—Cynthia hadn’t wanted any color but white. That was what she was getting, along with a tiny microphone similar to the one that was taped to Kayla. Rio and Claudia would be able to pick up what Kayla couldn’t.

  She rounded the back again and went into the house. Remains of a beautiful breakfast were on the sideboard and an empty champagne bottle was in a silver bucket, the ice melting around it. From the sounds of laughter as she neared the stairs, the bridal party had enjoyed the bubbly.

  “Up here.” Sylvia hurried down the stairs and took the bouquet from Kayla. “She’s pitching a fit but her friends are keeping her happy enough.”

  “Anything I can do?”

  Sylvia started to shake her head, then paused. “Yes. Come upstairs if you don’t mind, and make sure that these are exactly how Cynthia wants them.”

  Kayla got it. Sylvia didn’t want to be on the receiving end of any displeasure from Cynthia. Because that would mean dealing with an annoyed Gloria. No matter how strained the ties between Gloria and her stepdaughter, Gloria seemed to bend over backward to keep her happy.

  To keep the husband she was cheating on happy.

  The bridal party surrounded Cynthia and at first all Kayla saw were the pale lavender bridesmaids dresses. The group of five parted to allow her through, revealing Cynthia in a froth of white taffeta and silk.

  “Oh.” Kayla caught her breath. “You look beautiful.” As her bridal party murmured their agreement, Kayla kept her impression to herself. Her surprise hadn’t been at Cynthia’s beautiful image, not that she wasn’t a beautiful bride.