To Catch a Thief

by Nan Dixon

  “I will.” Her professional life was falling into place and would ease her money worries. “I’d better head to the bar.”

  “See you tonight.”

  She was going to have dinner with her sisters. She sure hoped it wasn’t a mistake.

  * * *

  “ARE YOU SURE you don’t want to just relax?” Carolina asked Sage. “You looked tired.”

  It was the second time she’d asked him this evening. “Don’t you want to go to dinner?”

  “I... I don’t want to impose on the Fitzgeralds.” Carolina ran her fingers on the hem of her yellow sundress. “Am I too dressy? Maybe I should change.”

  “You look great.” She’d been on edge all evening and he wanted her to relax. “What’s up? Do you want to cancel? Do you want me to leave?”

  Her head snapped up from studying the floor. “Please don’t go.”

  “Are you worried about eating with your boss?”

  Carolina’s shoulders were so high, they almost covered her ears. “No.”

  Was she lying? “Then let’s go.”

  “But you look tired.” She locked the door and they headed down the stairs.

  “I’m fine.” Sage took her hand as they crossed the courtyard. He’d run this morning, but didn’t want Carolina to overreact to his improvements. “Maybe a little tired.”

  “If you get tired or have a headache, let me know. Even if we haven’t eaten dinner, we can leave.”

  “Honey, I’m good.”

  “I know that,” she whispered.

  He loved the peach stain that spread across her face as she blushed. “What are you thinking about?”

  She elbowed him in the ribs, gently. “Stop.”

  He laughed. “Why, Miss Castillo, are you thinking dirty thoughts?”

  “Hush. This is my boss and all my—” She stopped and didn’t finish her sentence.

  “All your...?” he asked.

  “Behave.” She held open the kitchen door to Fitzgerald House, not answering his question.

  People filled the large kitchen. He and Carolina walked into a sitting area. A couple stood next to two children playing a board game. More people milled around the large commercial-looking kitchen, while others set the table tucked into an alcove.

  “Sage?” The man standing behind the young boy came and slapped Sage on the back. “Carolina, good to see you again.”

  “Hey, Kaden.” Sage smiled. “Courtney.”

  He would know someone other than just Carolina. Being a stranger never bothered him, but it was nice to see friendly faces.

  “I’m Courtney.” Kaden’s fiancée held out her hand to Carolina.

  Carolina shook it. “I know. Wouldn’t you think if we lived next door, we would see each other more?”

  “It’s funny. And you’d think that with these two—” Courtney waved her hand between Sage and Kaden “—we could meet each other officially before this. You’ve been here almost a month, right?”

  “Not quite three weeks,” Carolina said. “You run the day care?”

  “I do. Do you want something to drink?”

  Carolina nodded. The two women took orders from Sage and Kaden and left them alone.

  “I got cleared to start exercising,” Sage said, trying to keep from fidgeting.

  “I heard.”

  “Is my doctor reporting to you?”

  Kaden shrugged. “I keep tabs on my partner.”

  Sage was trying to stay current at the Bureau, but people weren’t sharing much on active cases. Luckily, the department assistant liked to gossip. “I heard you were assigned a new partner.”

  “It’s temporary.” Kaden tipped his head. “You’ll be back.”

  Kaden had voiced his worst fear—not returning to the Bureau—like he’d been bucked off a horse and all Sage had to do was climb back into the saddle. A chill raced over his skin. Nothing was that easy.

  Kaden nodded to Carolina as she poured a couple of glasses of wine. “So is this serious?”

  Glancing over at Carolina warmed the cold that had settled in his bones. “It’s heading that way.”

  “I always thought you were married to your work,” Kaden joked. “Let me introduce you around.”

  Sage met Gray, Abby’s husband. He looked between Gray and Courtney. “So Courtney’s your sister?”

  “The brat?” Gray grinned as he looked over at Kaden’s fiancée. “She’s my baby sister. If this guy screws up—” Gray pointed his wineglass at Kaden “—I’ll deal with him. I’m close friends with the Forester Construction family. They know where to bury bodies.”

  “You just threatened an FBI agent.” Kaden slapped a hand on his chest. “I don’t plan on hurting your sister. Remember, I asked her to marry me.”

  He met Dolley’s fiancé, Liam. Not hard to remember him with his Irish accent.

  Carolina brought him a glass of wine, but then rejoined the women. He also met Nathan Forester, the father of the two kids playing in the sitting area. “Is your wife here?”

  “She’s at the restaurant.” Pride filled his voice. “This is her first night running the kitchen on her own.”

  “You know Abby will stop over just to check,” Gray said.

  “That’s fine. I’m just so happy for Cheryl.” Nathan nodded as another man walked into the room behind a beautiful redhead. She had to be a Fitzgerald.

  Sage turned. “Wait, you’re a twin?”

  “All my life,” Nathan joked. “Daniel and Bess, come meet Sage Cornell.”

  The couple came over. If the men weren’t wearing different shirts and shorts, Sage would have difficulty telling the twins apart.

  Somehow the men ended up in one corner and the women in another.

  Dolley, the sister with fiery red curls, turned and frowned. “Why are the guys all there and the women gathered here?”

  Carolina and the three Fitzgerald sisters turned and stared at the men.

  Sage blinked. When they’d all turned there was something about their facial structure that had him staring. Did Carolina have the same mouth and eyes as the Fitzgeralds?

  Couldn’t be. Carolina was obviously of Spanish descent while the Fitzgeralds were as Irish as an American could be.

  “Do you see it?” he asked Kaden.

  “What?” his friend asked.

  The women came over and he didn’t stop staring.

  “What’s wrong?” Carolina stepped to his side. “Are you getting another headache?”

  “No.” Not like she was talking about. He always had a headache brewing, but this wasn’t the debilitating pain she’d seen him experience.

  “Something’s wrong,” she whispered. “If you want to go, we can.”

  Everyone stared. He had to say more.

  “When the four of you turned...” Sage rubbed his head. “This is going to sound crazy, but...there’s something in your facial structure that looks alike.”

  The Fitzgerald sisters laughed, but Carolina’s face lost all its color. Then it went beet red.

  “My mother’s first-generation Spanish,” she mumbled.

  Sage wrapped an arm around her, needing to protect her. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded.

  He didn’t believe her.

  Kaden nodded. “You’re right. There’s something about the shape of their eyes.”

  “I think she looks like our cousin Dana.” Dolley moved next to Liam. “We’ve explored the Fitzgerald genealogy, maybe we could see if there’s Spanish blood in the Oliver family.”

  “We might be related.” Bess grinned.

  Everyone laughed, but Carolina’s body stiffened. Sage rubbed her rigid arm. What was going on?

  Liam agreed. “We could take pictures and make comparisons.”

  “Please don’t.” Car
olina waved a hand in front of her face. “I hate having my picture taken.”

  “Abby wants publicity pictures,” Dolley said.

  “I want everyone to know that we’ll have live music.” Abby frowned at Carolina.

  “I have my portfolio.” Carolina twisted her hands together. “I can send them to you. I don’t have much free time. My mother...”

  Everyone nodded.

  “Don’t worry.” Abby touched Carolina’s arm. “Dolley, take a look at her pictures. If you think we need more, set it up.”

  “Sure.” Dolley pulled a business card from a kitchen drawer. “Here’s my email. Send me the pictures. If I need to shoot, I promise I won’t torture you. And I can be quick.”

  “Let’s get the food out.” Abby changed the subject.

  Carolina’s shoulders were rock-hard under Sage’s arm. How could he help her when she wouldn’t tell him what was wrong?

  * * *

  CAROLINA COULD BARELY get the fork to her mouth without spilling the delicious food Abby had made. Her hand kept shaking.

  Other than Dolley, no one in the restaurant had ever commented on the similarities in their features.

  But Sage had noticed. Was he the only one to ever really look at her or was this his FBI training? No wonder she was falling in love with him, but did he have to be so astute?

  Sage talked with Kaden. His attention may be on his conversation with his partner, but his foot brushed hers under the table and stayed there. He whispered, “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  She forced a smile on her face. “Yes.”

  She rearranged her potato salad and turned to Dolley. “I thought you were the computer sister? When did you take up photography?”

  “I guess I’m both.” Dolley’s eyebrow arched. “Most people don’t know what I do. I’m that—” she used her fingers to make air quotes “—other Fitzgerald sister. How did you know?”

  The salad formed a solid block in Carolina’s throat. “I think someone mentioned something in the restaurant.”

  “Probably Cheryl.” Dolley shrugged, making her curls bounce. “I always wanted to do something with photography. I take the website pictures. When Liam came and stayed—” her eyes lit up as she gazed at her fiancé “—he agreed to mentor me.”

  “So he’s a photographer?” Could Dolley and Liam tell she was related to the Fitzgeralds?

  If they realized they had the same father, the Fitzgeralds might push her away. She could lose everything.

  The familiar ache from her childhood swelled in her chest. Mamá had made her swear not to tell anyone who her father was. It was obvious her name didn’t mean anything to them. She didn’t mean anything to them.

  Dolley touched her arm, like Abby always did. “What’s wrong?”

  “I was thinking about my mother,” Carolina lied.

  “Is she getting any better?” Dolley asked.

  “The radiation burns her skin. She’s not eating.”

  “If there’s anything you need, just ask.” Dolley waved her hand around the table. “Rides, food, a shoulder to cry on. We’re here for you.”

  The warmth and intensity brought tears to her eyes.

  “Dolley, don’t make her cry,” Bess chided from across the table. “Is she hounding you to pose for her? She’s obsessed with taking pictures. Dolley, behave.”

  Carolina choked out a watery laugh. Now Bess was protecting her. And Abby was so flexible about her work schedule.

  She’d always longed for siblings. The Fitzgeralds had each other’s backs. What would growing up with that kind of love have been like?

  Sage’s hand settled on her shoulder. Had she ever had this kind of comfort and concern from anyone but her grandparents?

  “Let’s bring our dessert to the music room.” Abby gathered dishes and everyone followed suit. “I’m hoping Carolina will test out the baby grand and tell me if it’s worth moving to the restaurant.”

  “I’ll tell you what I can.” Carolina removed her dishes and followed everyone else’s actions. She’d expected a flock of servants to be handling cleanup. But the family, including the two kids, pitched in.

  “What’s wrong?” Sage asked as they headed down the hall.

  She lied again. “Dolley asked about Mamá. And I... I guess I’m tired. Sometimes it’s hard to talk about her cancer.”

  Sage tightened his arm around her shoulder. “Try not to borrow trouble.”

  Hadn’t Ella always said that to her? “Did I tell you my friend is coming from Nashville?”

  “No.” His arm stiffened on her shoulder.

  “Ella. My accompanist. An old roommate,” she blurted out. “She’s heading to Hilton Head, but will stay for a few weeks.”

  “Oh.” He brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “I was worried it was an old boyfriend.”

  “I don’t have any of those.” She snuggled into his warmth.

  The second-floor parlor was a music room. A baby grand anchored a corner of the room, but old instruments filled glass cases along one wall. Carolina spun, trying to take in everything. “It’s wonderful.”

  Abby smiled. “We almost pulled everything out and turned it into another bedroom. None of us played an instrument. But I thought guests might like to play sometime.”

  Carolina left Sage’s side and headed to the piano, flipping open the keyboard. She searched through the music in the bench. “What a shame no one played.”

  “Well, Papa did,” Bess said. “I remember him playing piano.”

  “And guitar, too,” Carolina murmured. He would play while Mamá sang. Carolina would sit on the stairs and listen when she was supposed to be asleep.

  “You’re right.” Abby stared at her. “How did you know that?”

  Oh, God. Her heart pounded. She’d screwed up. But on top of the pile of sheet music was a score for guitar. “There’s guitar music here. I guess I meant it as a question.”

  “He didn’t play much.” Abby frowned. “I wonder what happened to his guitar.”

  It was at her mother’s house. The dinner she’d managed to swallow threatened to come up.

  Abby set out a plate of bars. Bess put down a silver tray with a coffee carafe and a cream and sugar set that matched the cups and saucers.

  Thanks goodness her mother didn’t want her to take things like that.

  “What do you think?” Abby asked. “I know that you don’t do piano bar, but can you play something?”

  “I’m not a virtuoso.” Carolina sorted through the sheet music and found a song she knew. She played the opening, wincing a little. “When did you last have this tuned?”

  Abby looked at her sisters. “Never.”

  “Yikes.” Carolina winced again.

  “Will you still sing for us?” Liam asked.

  Sage sat at the bench with her. “I’d like a preview.”

  “Sure.” She couldn’t stop her blush at the attention focused on her.

  She played the opening again. She’d been practicing on Mamá’s keyboard, but the action on this keyboard was so much harder. “This is a classic.”

  She took a deep breath. Keeping her voice low, she sang.

  “‘Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling,

  From glen to glen and down the mountain side,

  The summer’s gone and all the roses falling,

  It’s you, it’s you, must go and I must bide.’”

  The room grew quiet. Too quiet. She kept singing, blocking out her uncertainty on what they thought. Was tonight another audition?

  Tossing back her hair, she drew out the last note, not holding back. She wouldn’t let doubt in. She was good enough to sing in Abby’s restaurant.

  Sage moved first. Kissing her cheek, he clapped. “Incredible.”

  Everyone else clapped; too much n
oise for the people who’d been at dinner. She spun and her eyes widened. Guests stood in the hallway. Applauding.

  “You’re going to bring so many people into the restaurant!” Abby ran over and hugged her.

  “Thank you?” Carolina didn’t react fast enough to hug Abby back.

  “Now I want to have entertainment in the B and B.” Abby paced to the bookshelves. “What do you think about the piano?”

  “It needs to be tuned.” Carolina looked at the door and thought about the stairs. “Do you really want to take it apart and move it down a flight of stairs? I know there are specialized movers, but it’s...traumatic on a piano. And the piano would have to acclimate at the restaurant before you could tune it.”

  Abby looked at Gray and the Forester brothers. “What do you think?”

  “I think she’s right.” Gray nodded. “Maybe buy a piano for the restaurant.”

  “And it can be an upright.” Carolina moved to the coffee, just to have something to wrap her hands around. “You don’t need a baby grand.”

  “Will you come piano shopping with me tomorrow?” Abby asked.

  “If you wait one more day, Ella, my accompanist, will be here. She’ll know what will work.”

  “Perfect.” Abby did a happy dance. “This is going to be great.”

  “You have an amazing voice,” Bess said, giving her a hug. “I can’t wait to hear you with a tuned piano.”

  “And I’ll be taking pictures of your debut. No complaining.” Dolley grinned. “Liam, love of my life, will you take video to put up on the website?”

  Liam set his hands on Dolley’s shoulders. “What are you offering in exchange for my services?”

  Carolina didn’t hear what Dolley whispered in his ear, but Liam’s grin lit the room.

  “Can we get an encore?” Gray asked Carolina.

  Everyone smiled. At her.

  All her life she’d wanted this sense of...family. Of community. And she’d found it. In Fitzgerald House.

  In the enemy’s territory. The reality dampened her joy.

  “Sure.” She headed back to the piano and sorted through the music. “What about Gershwin?”

  “We’d better buy some Johnny Mercer or we’ll be drummed out of Savannah,” Dolley murmured.

  Carolina played the opening, one she knew and had practiced. This time she didn’t try to be the center of attention. She sang quietly, loving the way the family talked in the background.