****
A smell of rice and beans and roast pork met them as they entered Laney’s apartment. They had come early, and no one else was there.
A normal family evening except that everyone was still trying to make sense out of what had happened with the Huertoles.
“Dani’s letter told everything,” John said.
He had taken the Huertoles’ deaths hard. He’d been close to both Gus and Dani for years.
“She told about Gus’s connections to the cartel from South America, how he promised if they helped him get elected, he’d ease off enforcement so they could transport the drugs through Georgia, how long he’d been working with them. I can’t believe I never guessed where his money was coming from.”
“How could you?” Laney asked. “You were busy finding political agendas that would get him elected, making sure he kept appointments with the right people, keeping track of the paperwork. You had nothing to do with whatever deals he made with those people.”
“I hope the investigators see it like that,” he muttered.
“Of course they will. You had nothing to do with Gus Huertole’s bad decisions.” Autumn reinforced Laney’s reassurances. “But what about Sarita? How did Dani get involved with her?”
“The Huertoles met Sarita last spring, when they were at the Islands. Sarita had come down to be with Fran, but she and Dani struck it off right away. Evidently it was love at first sight.” John looked perplexed. “I would never have thought Dani Huertole was a lesbian.”
“Sarita swung both ways,” Rennie said tonelessly. “I learned that in California.”
“Dani must have been latent. All those years I saw her with Gus, I knew they weren’t overly affectionate, but they got along.” John was still bewildered. “They were so suited to each other. It’s just so hard to believe.”
“So Dani borrowed the jewelry for Sarita?” Autumn asked. “How could she get away with it?”
“She was in charge of security arrangements. She had her own keys. The pieces arrived in Atlanta ten days before the exhibit was to open, and she was the one to check them out, make sure they’d arrived unharmed, then put them in the safe. The security folks witnessed it. Nobody thought about her taking them out again. Since they weren’t going into their cases till the day before the exhibition, she figured Sarita would have them back.”
“So she loaned them to Sarita,” Rennie murmured.
“That’s what she said.”
“Because of the photo session,” Autumn said sadly. “Sarita was pleased with the jewelry, but I never guessed it was from the exhibition. I just took pictures of her in it.”
John nodded. “Then Sarita took them with her to LA. Dani had to tell Gus. He hit the roof. He knew if the story broke, he’d never get elected. I imagine he was running scared, because the cartel wouldn’t like investing all that money and time for nothing. So he used them to get the jewelry back.”
“Which they did, but they also killed Sarita,” Rennie said. “After Autumn had taken the photos with her wearing the jewelry.”
“It’s all so horrible.” Laney shuddered.
John took his wife’s hand. “They think Gus didn’t know about the pictures. When his backers found out, they were the ones who decided Autumn had to go, too.”
“So that guy with the gun I saw in Helen was real after all.” Laney smirked. “Even though my husband refused—”
“Laney, I’ve apologized and apologized for making fun of you. What do you want? Blood?”
“I have something much better in mind,” Laney said demurely.
“But it didn’t matter in the end,” Autumn interrupted the marital mending of fences. “When Dani heard about Sarita’s murder, she knew Gus and his friends were behind it.”
John sighed. “She called Gus, hysterical. Fran said she was upset, but he didn’t know what about. When she came into the office looking for him, she looked wild. Well, you saw her. But still, I would never have guessed she meant to kill him.”
Autumn shivered, remembering Gus Huertole’s terror-filled scream and the shots that followed. “No one ever knows what goes on in a marriage.”
“No one ever knows what goes on between two people,” Rennie said. “Except for the people involved.”
We’ll share that. Rennie and I will know and everyone else can guess but we’ll stand up and face the world side by side. And I won’t be shut out any more. I’ll have him.
It was a nice vision, her and Rennie making their way through life together.
The doorbell rang and Norma came in followed by a lively Reseda, an older version of Laney. “Autumn!” She hugged and kissing her on both cheeks. “Sweet, sweet Autumn, you don’ know how happy I am. I was so scared some insensitive arrogant person like that Victoria whatshername that Laney brought home would catch Rennie.”
Her daughters’ mouths dropped open. “Mom! Victoria is a perfectly nice person.”
Reseda ignored them and turned to Rennie. “And you. Mi nino retrasado.” She playfully patted his cheek. “It took you long enough to see what was right under your nose, didn’t it? I could have had grandchildren by now.” She glared at Laney and Norma. “Maybe the only ones I will ever have if I leave it to my daughters.”
Norma huffed. “I’m not even married.”
Laney opened her mouth and snapped it shut. If she were a teapot, steam would be pouring out of her ears.
Rennie distracted his mother from her daughters’ shortfalls. “So I’m slow, Mom.” He put one arm around her and the other around Autumn. “You’ll have to bear that in mind.”
“So long as you make up for it.” Reseda beamed. “You are not getting any younger.” She frowned at her daughters. “Any of you.”
Laney rolled her eyes.
Norma sighed.
Autumn looked at Rennie.
Rennie flicked his trademark glance toward her, and her heart swelled.
She’d love to photograph that slanting glance. Have him face his computer, but turn his eyes toward the camera. With that same laidback smile.
Had she ever been this happy? If she had, she couldn’t remember. Maybe she’d never be so happy again. This moment deserved to be packed away in silver wrapping along with that of their first night together.
Reseda plumped herself down and took Autumn’s hand in both hers. “So tell me, chica dulce,” she murmured, “do you think you and Rennie will be starting your family right away?”
“No,” Autumn said promptly. “We have to get married first. We’re thinking about five years or so for an engagement period. What do you think?”
After her shriek, Reseda told them what she thought.
At great length.
##
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Intimate Portraits Page 24
