Garrett narrowed his eyes. "Really? You just happened to be here and noticed Brynn? You weren't following her?"
"If I were following her, I would have called sooner and told you where she was. But then we wouldn't have the money. I hate to say it, but this was a complete fluke. I don't want to hear another thing about Anthony ever again."
"He always said you were a huge bitch," said Brynn.
"She's my sister!" said Garrett and Jord in unison.
Brynn looked closely at each of us in turn. "Seriously?"
I ignored her. She needed to learn the truth fast before she screwed her life up entirely by taking the blame for Anthony. "Brynn, the sooner you realize everything Anthony ever told you is a lie, the sooner you can ask your lawyer to make a deal to get you out of the mess Anthony got you into."
"What if I were the mastermind?" asked Brynn.
Garrett shook his head in disbelief. "Then you’d be incriminating yourself."
"I want a lawyer!"
"Smartest thing you ever said," I told her.
"I hope you get what's coming to you!" she sneered.
"Me too," I agreed, "because whatever it is, it’ll be wonderful and I won’t be wearing an orange boilersuit!"
"Take her away," Garrett instructed one of the detectives. "You okay?" he asked me.
"I'll be a lot happier when you catch Anthony."
"My hunch is she'll lead us right to him. I'll call you when he's in custody. See you at six for Serena's dinner." He glanced up at the darkening sky. "Hope it doesn't rain."
I waved goodbye to him and tried hard to feel sorry for Brynn. I suspected she was no more a mastermind than I was a bitch but perhaps she was just as bad as Anthony? She helped him commit fraud and she could have said no. I just hoped she kept quiet until her lawyer showed up and offered her good advice. I couldn’t see her spending years or even the rest of her life behind bars.
"Okay," I said, turning back to Diane and Jord. "What's the big secret?"
Diane grinned and held up the open folder, inviting me to flick through the pages. "This is what we've been planning."
"Is this...? It's the baby's nursery!" I exclaimed, looking at the moodboard and sketches. "Here's the crib and the changing table and... Oh! It's the planets and stars and is that the moon? A theme of the cosmos? It's beautiful."
"We tried to make it gender neutral," explained Jord. "The moment Lily goes into labor, Diane is racing into the house to decorate the nursery. By the time I take Lily and the baby home, it will be all fixed up and ready."
"This is amazing!"
"We couldn't tell Lily because I wanted it to be a surprise, so Diane and I have been meeting secretly to plan the design and look at samples before I finalize the details."
"I'm an interior designer and events planner," said Diane, offering me her card. "I make your dream home a reality, along with whatever your party needs might be. I'll plan the party of your dreams. It says so right here on my business card."
"We ran into each other a month ago when someone tried to break into her office and we started talking. I told Diane about the difficulties we had in agreeing on the nursery decor and Diane offered to help. Now, will you promise not to tell Lily?"
I nodded, still transfixed by the drawings and fabric samples. "I promise. Diane, this is amazing. I'm so impressed and I can't wait to see the final results. Don't worry about Lily. I'll make something up to stop her from worrying," I assured Jord, although I had no idea what to tell her. It had to be convincing, whatever it was.
"Please make it totally believable."
"I will. I'll see you both at six."
"Don't be late," added Jord just as I opened my mouth to the say the same thing. "I think we both deserve a relaxing party where the biggest danger we have to fear is Serena."
Chapter Eighteen
"Solomon, where are you? If I don't hear from you, meet me at Alessandro's. Call me back!" I hung up and tossed the phone on the bed. Now was not the time for Solomon to go off grid. Not when we were due at Alessandro's for my sister's engagement dinner in a couple of hours. Plus, I had to admit, I was a little worried about being in the house alone, despite triumphantly solving not one, but two mysteries. Somewhere out there was Anthony – now penniless and holding a substantial grudge — and a known mobster who wanted to kill him, an angry wife who wanted to put him in jail, and who knows how many other people who intended him harm? At least, one thing I could be thankful for was that Turner and Grant were finally off my back, thanks to Anthony's nasty, little call to the tipoff line.
I would have enjoyed Solomon's company while I was getting ready. Not only to help me choose between the sexy, pink dress with a broad waistband and the sleeveless black dress with a rise-and-fall hem, but just to know he was there. Not a single person could reach me while Solomon was watching my back. And believe me; plenty have tried!
When my phone rang, I sprang for it, almost losing my bath towel in the process. I grabbed it and answered.
"Why are you puffing?" asked my mother.
"I'm not," I puffed.
"Are you going to be late?"
I checked the small clock on the nightstand. "No."
"You can't be late. Serena will be so upset. She wants everything perfect tonight."
"Everything will be," I assured her. "We're going to have a fantastic dinner and Serena can crow about it for years to come."
"Is Solomon there? Is he ready?"
"Yes," I lied. "He's in the shower."
"Good. Serena wants us all to be there ahead of her so she and Antonio can make a grand entrance. Isn't that cute?"
"Oh, the cutest," I said, grimacing.
"I already called Lily and Jord, who plan to arrive fifteen minutes early. Can you get there fifteen minutes early too?"
"Maybe. I don't know."
"I'm so excited," Mom continued. "Your dad and I have spoken about nothing else all day."
"It's been riveting," came my dad's flat voice. "I'm so glad, I left golf early. I love fancy dinners where I’m required to wear a tie. What do you think Sam will say?"
I grinned, knowing my nephew would repeat something appalling that he either misheard or was desperate to know the details of. Sam was invariably either mortifying or hilarious, depending on which side you were on. Usually for me, he was mortifying.
"Sam intends to be a very good boy for the occasion," said Mom. "Lexi, dear, are you dressing appropriately for the weather?"
"What weather?"
"It might rain."
I wrapped the towel more tightly around me and moved toward the window, looking up. "I don't see any rain."
"It's not raining now. The weather report said later tonight. At least you can't arrive muddy."
"I never arrive anywhere muddy."
"Good. It won’t matter how you look when you get home, so long as no one sees you."
I pulled a face. "Thanks."
"And I'll remember to bring my enrollment forms."
"What now?"
"My new club. It's a murder mystery club. We're going to solve real life fake crimes. It's the next best course after Spy 101. Lily can't join because of the baby so I thought you would take her place!"
I squeaked out a noise that sounded somewhere between vaguely non-committal and outright fear. My mother probably assumed it was merely excitement.
"Must go now. Your father is wearing shorts with his shirt and tie. He thinks I haven't noticed. Don't be late!"
I glanced at the sky again and reconsidered my dress options. Neither dress was rain friendly and even if Mom didn't mind what I looked like once I left the venue and her watchful eye, I did. I had to have a little jacket somewhere, something to provide some rain protection without ruining the sophisticated party-look I was aiming for. Adjusting my head towel and my bath towel, I walked into the closet and rifled through the rack. A cute, boxy, satin jacket caught my eye. I pulled it out, and smiled. It was perfect!
Finding black h
igh heels to match, I returned to the bedroom. I placed them beside the dresses lying across the bed when a chime sounded through the house. I froze, glancing around, my clamoring heart only calming when I realized it was just the doorbell and not the signal of impending doom. Whoever it was could wait. There was no way I would answer the door wearing no more than a bath towel.
It rang a second time, then a third; and by the time I slipped on a plush robe and rushed down the stairs, it rang a fourth.
I peeped through the hole, feeling overly cautious, then opened the door with a sigh of relief when I saw who it was.
"There you are," said Olivia. "You didn't answer any of my phone calls."
"Why are you at my house?"
"Your agency was closed."
"And it couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
"No. I'm getting on a plane tonight."
"You're not waiting until Anthony is located?"
"No, I've had enough of this backwater town. I'm sure someone will tell me when he turns up. I came to thank you for finding my money. The detectives told me it was you who intercepted the Bryony woman."
"Brynn," I corrected.
"Yes, Brine. One of Anthony's many girlfriends. It's hard to remember their names. Anyway, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I know you don't work for me officially but since you did most of what I asked, I wanted to give you this." Olivia reached into her bag and pulled something out. I stepped back, putting the door between us. When she extracted an envelope and held it out to me, I felt both relieved and curious.
"What's this?" I asked.
"Your reward. If it weren't for you, Anthony and Br... Bree..."
"Brynn."
Olivia shrugged. "Her name is inconsequential. But Anthony is not riding off into the proverbial sunset with his mistress and my money and that’s all thanks to your efforts."
"I doubt very much that he planned to take Brynn with him."
"I think that's her problem."
I agreed but didn't add that Brynn had a lot more problems to deal with right now. The important thing was neither of them got away with the theft and Olivia had her two million back. "I'm glad I could help you get your money back," I told her.
"The police are holding it hostage for now but plan to return it to me soon. Take it." Olivia pressed the envelope into my hand. "It's a shame you couldn't find Anthony." She looked up as a crack of thunder sounded in the sky, which quickly darkened, throwing shadows across the street. "It's time for me to leave." Taking a step down, she turned back to me again. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this. Anthony is not a nice man. You were lucky to leave him when you did."
"I wish I never met him."
"I wish I could say the same, but I'm bizarrely grateful to him now. I got what I wanted and now I can move on."
"He might come after you, you know. He'll blame you," I warned her. After all, hadn't he blamed me?
"Let him try," said Olivia, smiling as she slipped on her sunglasses and looked toward the blackening sky. "I hope there isn't a storm. Goodbye, Lexi!"
"’Bye, Olivia."
She climbed into her waiting car, gave me a little wave, and rolled the window up, locking her out of sight. I watched the car travel the length of the street before it turned and pulled out of view. When I shut the door, I remembered the envelope she gave me. I unsealed it, blinking in surprise. It was stuffed with cash, several thousand at least. Part of me wanted to run after her and return it, since she wasn't my client and I had no right to it, but another part of me was more reasonable. She was on her way to the airport and it was a gift. I didn't ask for it, but she got what she wanted anyway. Almost.
Returning upstairs, I tucked the cash into a drawer in the closet, opting to think about what to do with it another day. I had more pressing concerns for the evening, principally, the pink dress or the black?
From the bedroom, I tried Solomon's cell phone again. It rang several times before it went to voicemail. I grabbed the blow dryer and my comb, sitting in front of the dressing table as I styled my hair from wet straggles to a sleek brunette. I briefly wondered if I would ever return to my blonde days, but decided not. No matter how much fun I had as a blonde, those days were long behind me. I was happy now, surrounded by people who sincerely wished the best for me, and had an easy hairstyle that didn't need constant touch-ups.
I shut off the blow dryer and opened my makeup bag, stopping only when another crack of thunder preceded the thick patter of rain against the windows.
So much for hoping it wouldn't rain until later! I crossed over to the window quickly, looking out at the sudden downpour. It hadn't rained in days and now it seemed likely we'd all be drenched before we even got to the restaurant. All I could be grateful for was the absence of mud on the path between the house and the car, as well as the car and the restaurant.
"It hasn't rained," I murmured. The item that kept niggling at me all day popped into my head again. "It hasn't rained in... oh, shit! I know where Anthony is!"
I grabbed my phone and dialed Solomon again. "Pick up, pick up," I urged as the line went to voicemail again. The phone screen indicated I had a little over an hour but who could help me? I couldn't call Garrett. He was, no doubt, getting ready for the dinner and so were Daniel and Jord. I thought about calling Turner and Grant but worried if I happened to be wrong. We were currently okay with each other and I was still riding high after Brynn's arrest.
It would take me thirty minutes to drive out to the house, and a few more minutes to confirm whether or not Anthony was there; when I did, I would call the cops. I wouldn't even have to approach him. If I were wrong, I wouldn't humiliate myself by sending the cops to the wrong location. I could just turn around and drive to Serena's dinner without anyone even suspecting my excursion.
My makeup was finished. In a fit of joy, I grabbed the pink dress and slipped it on, adjusting it and proudly admiring my reflection. Sometimes, catching criminals meant dressing for the occasion. What better way to catch an ex than by looking fabulous? Grabbing my purse, I loaded it with all the essentials: cash, lip gloss, and, (after a quick visit to the safe embedded in the closet wall) my loaded gun. Who knew what or whom, I could run into? In the bedroom, I slipped on my heels, pulled on the adorable little jacket and went downstairs. Grabbing my keys and an umbrella, I stepped outside into the rain.
The post commuter traffic was light, with few people taking my route to the outskirts of Montgomery. I drove carefully, leaning forward to see when the rain poured down heavily. Just as I hit Bedford Hills, the rain stopped, and streaks of sunshine shone through the gray skies.
I dialed Solomon again, my frustration increasing when the phone didn't even ring this time. I didn't leave a message. Instead, I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and continued driving, my heart pounding as I turned onto the road where Hillside stood empty.
A loud pop made my car skid. I fought to control it, but the car aquaplaned across the street before skidding to a stop. The wheels were half on the grass, half on the road.
"Damn it!" I popped open the car door and put one foot on the ground. My shoulders slumped with despair when I saw the flat tire. My car wasn't going anywhere. Collapsing into the driver's seat, I reached for my phone. Why didn't I check to see how much battery was left? With very little charge, I now I needed a ride. If I waited any longer, I could end up stuck out there for the night and no one would know where I was.
With Solomon not answering, there was only one person I could call who wouldn't laugh his head off if my hunch were wrong.
"Lexi, this is nice," said Maddox. "Did you hear that thunder?"
"I did. I need to ask a favor. Are you busy?"
"No. Shoot."
"I think I know where Anthony Steadman is. I came to check it out..."
"Alone?"
"Yes, but only because no one else is available and I might be wrong."
"So, alone?"
"Yes, but I'm not there yet. I'm o
n the right road but I got a flat tire. I hate to ask but..."
"Yes, I'll come and get you. I promised I would."
"Thank you."
"What's the address?" I reeled it off and Maddox asked, "What the hell would he be doing out there?"
"Hillside is one of the properties he hit before. I searched the place with the realtor but failed to search the entire location. Just now, when the rain started, I remembered seeing a tire track into the garage; that could have only happened in soft ground. Anthony must have driven in right after it rained, you know, when we thought he was dead at Meadow View. Solomon and I saw a black car racing away from there and it could have been headed here," I explained, rushing the news in my excitement. "According to Taylor, no one went to Hillside since it was broken into; so it couldn't have been someone else. I think he hid his car in the garage there and went back after Olivia and I saw him at his apartment."
"Your hunch is based on a tire track? Along with the statement of his inside woman?"
"And the weather and... and... my gut feelings," I finished lamely.
"Works for me. I'm on my way, but just so you know, we got tipped off that Steadman is boarding a private plane in two hours."
"Which airport?"
"A private airstrip about forty minutes west of here."
"So if he's making a run for it, he may have already left?" I looked back at the road and managed to barely identify the stone entrance pillars. I could walk there easily and return by the time Maddox arrived. If it were all clear, I could tell him and we could get inside his car and go to the restaurant.
"That's my guess. He won't risk missing this flight. It's his only ticket out of town. I’ll bet he knows he's short two million and just wants to get out of there with whatever money he can. He probably suspects MPD have Brynn's cell phone and are trying to trace his number. He must realize it won’t be long before they narrow down the search area. My colleagues are already on their way to the airport to intercept him."
"That's great."
"I'll be there in thirty minutes, max," Maddox said. "Sit tight."
A Few Good Women (Lexi Graves Mysteries, 9) Page 20
