“She doesn’t? Girl, she’s going to find out now!”
“Maybe not. She and my father are living abroad. I was going to tell her after we were married so she wouldn’t try and talk me out of it. I just hope Jef—”
Daisy waited, her wide-eyed stare never wavering.
“I just hope Frederick doesn’t get upset that my name is in the paper. He shuns crowds and attention. When I’m with him out at his home, it’s just us and the rolling hills. I have to say I love it.”
“When are you going to quit your job?” Daisy asked.
“I’m not going to.”
“You’re not?” Daisy asked, astonished. “Why not?”
“I will eventually. But Frederick likes to be alone so he can paint. I like to be alone as well. For now I’ll go out and visit on my days off. It’s exactly what we both want.”
“How modern!” Daisy said excitedly. “It’ll probably work better. Less chance of getting on each other’s nerves.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Victoria said as a middle-aged man stepped off the elevator and approached the front desk, wheeling his black suitcase. Victoria turned to Daisy. “I’ll take this.” She smiled bewitchingly at the customer. “Leaving us so soon, Mr. Flach?”
Daisy watched as the customer’s face lit up.
“You have a good memory,” Flach said, clearly flattered.
“I never forget a handsome man,” Victoria cooed.
What a flirt she is, Daisy thought as she headed to the back office. And she’s always dressed so sexily in those expensive outfits. Frederick better watch out, she thought. Leaving Victoria alone for too long in the city could mean trouble. Daisy laughed. Biiiggg trouble.
I want to find a man, Daisy mused. I’m going to have to start taking lessons from Victoria. Maybe I’ll ask her about that visualization stuff she’s so big on. I’ve seen her reading those books. She said it helps you figure out what you really want. Then you have to go for it, no matter what it takes to get there.
Daisy shook her head and laughed. It sure looks like Victoria succeeded.
43
While Shauna and Tyler were hauled off in the back of a police car, Regan and Jack went up to Pamela and Arnold’s apartment for a quick chat.
“Thank you, thank you,” Pamela cried.
“I’m sorry if I was rude to you yesterday, Regan,” Arnold said contritely. “Turns out it’s a good thing Shauna got publicity. Otherwise those two miserable ingrates would be off with all of Pamela’s jewelry.” Arnold’s face turned beet red. “I just can’t believe we trusted those two in the first place.”
“Calm down, dear,” Pamela said. She turned to Regan and Jack. “This is embarrassing, but Tyler did save my life.”
“They took advantage of your gratitude,” Regan said.
“She even told us she was pregnant,” Pamela said. “They said they’d name the baby after one of us. I’m sure they were lying.”
“We’ll soon find out,” Jack replied with a raised eyebrow.
Regan looked thoughtful. “They’ve been here since January? They weren’t working that whole time?”
Pamela shrugged. “Tyler did odd jobs for us. We gave him cash but not that much. He chauffeured us in our car when we had to go out in the evening. Shauna did some cooking. They made themselves so helpful. Shauna kept saying she had to get busy and make more jewelry to sell after the wedding. But it never seemed to happen.”
Regan rolled her eyes.
“I know, Regan. It’s ridiculous.”
“Well, whatever,” Regan said. “The police will be going through their suitcases to see if there’s anything else that belongs to you. Be sure to check around to make sure there’s nothing else missing that they might have taken in these last three months and already sold.”
“We’ll go over this place with a fine-tooth comb,” Arnold declared.
“For all we know they could have been in on the robbery at the bridal salon,” Jack said. “Where were they on Friday night?”
“They went out to a concert. We watched a movie in bed, then went to sleep early. We never hear them when they come in. I have no idea what time they got home,” Pamela replied wearily.
“I’m sure you two could use a rest,” Regan said. “We’ll be in touch.”
By the time Regan and Jack got back downstairs, reporters were already camped outside the building. Regan had contacted the Tiger News Network. They had, after all, been the reason that Shauna and Tyler were thwarted.
“Regan Reilly,” one of the reporters began, “one of the April Brides turns out to be a jewel thief. What do you have to say about that?”
“I’m glad she’s been caught.”
“What about her stolen dress?”
“What about it? Alfred and Charisse have one less dress they have to worry about replacing.”
The reporters laughed.
“You were on the air with Brianne Barth this morning. Have you talked to Tracy Timber or Victoria Beardsley today?”
“I haven’t had any reason to.”
“Do you think you will?”
“I can’t say.”
When Regan and Jack got back in the car, her cell phone rang. It was Alfred. He was delighted with all the excitement about Shauna.
“What did you think of her?” Regan asked.
“She was a phony,” Alfred cried.
“We know that now, Alfred,” Regan said with a slight shake of her head.
Jack’s cell phone rang. He answered it, listened, and put his hand on Regan’s arm. “Joyce’s purse was found this morning downtown. Her cell phone and license were in it. No cash.”
Regan’s face looked grave. “Alfred, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
44
Cindy had spent a mostly sleepless night on the couch in Joyce’s apartment. She tried to watch television, but her mind couldn’t focus on anything but the fact that Joyce was missing. Where could she be? She tried Joyce’s cell phone a number of times, not expecting an answer, and not getting one.
What am I going to tell her mother? Cindy worried. She hasn’t been well. She went on the cruise for a little rest and relaxation. Sure she was laid-back, but she’d been having health problems and she always worried about Joyce. When Joyce had had the surgery on her foot last year and they’d given her too much medication, her mother had been frantic. Joyce was out of it for a couple of days. She couldn’t handle more than an aspirin. And last night Joyce probably had too much to drink. Who knows what could have happened to her?
At around eight thirty Cindy fell asleep. She awoke when Joyce’s phone rang. Racing into the kitchen, she grabbed the receiver. “Hello,” she said quickly.
“Who’s this?” a male voice asked.
“Who’s this?” Cindy answered tartly.
“This is Francis. I’m looking for Joyce.”
“Francis, this is Cindy.”
“Oh, hi, Cindy,” Francis answered, sounding guilty. “Is Joyce there?”
“No.”
“Where is she?”
Cindy clenched the phone. “I don’t know, Francis.” The call waiting beeped. “Hold on a second. Maybe this is Joyce.” Cindy pressed the flash button. “Hello.”
“Cindy, it’s Regan. You haven’t heard from Joyce have you?”
“No, I haven’t. Her boyfriend is on the other line.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. He just called.”
“Cindy, I’m sorry to tell you that Joyce’s purse was found downtown.”
“Oh, no!” Tears stung Cindy’s eyes. “What could have happened to her?”
“I don’t know. The police are looking for her. We want to post her picture all over downtown where she was last seen. Are there any good photos of her at the house we could use?”
“Yes. Lots,” Cindy sniffled. “I’ll get a couple of them out.”
“Jack and I are on our way right now.” Regan then told Cindy about the ad
venture with Shauna and Tyler.
“I missed the show this morning,” Cindy said. “I finally fell asleep for a little while.”
“Thanks to that show we thwarted two jewel thieves. I’m going to see if the producer would be willing to run Joyce’s picture. Now that her purse has been found.”
“I understand,” Cindy said quietly. “What should I tell her boyfriend?”
“Tell him the truth. I’d like to talk to him. Tell him that I’ll call him back when we get to Joyce’s.”
“Okay, Regan.” Cindy clicked back. “Francis?”
“Yes, Cindy. What’s going on?”
“I hate to tell you this, but Joyce is missing. She went to the bathroom last night at a club we were at and never came back.” Cindy’s voice broke. “They just found her purse downtown.”
“What? Oh, my God!” Francis wailed.
“That was a private investigator on the phone. Her name is Regan Reilly and she was here last night. She’s investigating the stolen wedding dresses that everyone is talking about. Now she’s involved in this. Her boyfriend is the head of the Major Case Squad. They’re coming here in a few minutes to get a picture of Joyce. Regan wants to talk to you.”
Francis whimpered.
“Where are you?” Cindy asked.
There was no answer.
The line went dead.
45
“What happened?” Marco asked after Francis closed the cell phone and flung it across the seat.
“Joyce is missing!” Francis said. He was practically hyperventilating.
“Missing?”
“Since last night. They found her purse on the street in Manhattan this morning. The cops have been at the house. They’re coming back. One of the investigators is that Regan Reilly we saw on NY1. She’s also looking for the wedding dresses!” he yelped, pointing with his thumb to the trunk. “And I just hung up on Cindy. I got so scared. I’d better call back.”
Marco grabbed the phone. “No! Are you crazy? Stay out of it for now.”
“But I just hung up on Joyce’s friend. It makes me look suspicious!”
“Of what? You were so upset you didn’t know what you were doing. It’s understandable.”
“But what about Joyce? She disappeared last night when she was out with her friends.”
“I’ve done that plenty of times. Nobody went looking for me!”
“I’ve got to go back.”
“You can’t! Going back would put us in the middle of an investigation. And we’re guilty! Listen, the cops are looking for Joyce. Let’s keep going to Vegas. That’s all we can do right now.”
“I should at least call.”
“No! Then you have to tell them where you are. Or go back. Neither of which is an option. You’re her bereft boyfriend and hung up because you’re going out of your mind.”
“That’s for sure,” Francis said miserably as he stared out at the road.
46
Shauna and Tyler were being questioned separately. They were both insistent they had nothing to do with the break-in at Alfred and Charisse’s salon.
“You had a lot of cash in your suitcase,” one of the detectives said to Tyler. “You want to tell me where you got it?”
“We don’t have a bank account here in New York. We’ve been traveling. That’s why we were carrying such a large amount of money.”
“Twelve thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a lot of cash to have sitting around. And three months is a long time to hang around the city without a job. What have you two been doing with yourselves?”
“We’ve done work for the Neys. We planned to leave after the wedding.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“So where did you get the cash?”
“We had it when we got here!” Tyler insisted.
“You’re sure you didn’t rob any banks to get it?”
“No more questions. I want to talk to a lawyer.”
47
For the rest of the morning, Victoria fielded comments from co-workers who expressed surprise and happiness at her impending nuptials. Victoria was polite and thanked them for their good wishes. But she was starting to feel the pressure build. If anyone found out about her and Jeffrey…
I’m going to have to call Alfred and ask how my name got out, she thought. I told Regan Reilly that I didn’t want publicity. When it was almost time for her to go home, a young, earnest reporter with a microphone in his hand approached the front desk. He looked about twelve.
“Victoria Beardsley?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Evan Charlton with The Big Apple Sunday Morning radio program. I understand you are one of the April Brides. Could I have a few words with you?”
Victoria stiffened. “I really can’t talk now. I have work to do.”
“I understand. But our listeners would just love to hear your reaction to the stolen dresses.”
“I’m sorry it happened,” Victoria said, “but I won’t let it ruin this happy time in my life.”
“Have you heard the news about what happened in Central Park?”
“What?” Victoria asked quickly.
“One of your fellow April Brides is a thief!” He told the story succinctly but with great excitement. “What do you think about that, Victoria?”
“It’s a shame,” Victoria answered. “I’m just glad they didn’t get away with it.”
“Not as glad as that Fifth Avenue couple! For a quiet Sunday morning, this really gives us something to talk about. We want to know what’s going on with all the other April Brides!” With a twinkle in his eye, the zealous young reporter asked, “Victoria Beardsley, do you have any secrets you want to share with me?”
Victoria tried to laugh. “None. Now, if you don’t mind…”
“Would you be willing to come to the studio when you get off work and sit down for a chat with us?”
Victoria shook her head, but tried to remain charming. “My fiancé and I are private people. I didn’t do anything to deserve this attention. All I did was order a wedding dress from two very talented designers. That’s it. I want to stay out of the limelight.” She turned and disappeared into the back office.
Evan spoke into his mike. “There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Another of the April Brides. We’ll do our best to get statements from them all. Back to you in the studio.”
In the office Daisy looked up when Victoria walked in. She could see that Victoria was upset. “Are you all right?”
“I think that this wedding dress business is finally getting to me,” Victoria said. “Do you think you can handle the front desk alone until Kelly gets here? I want to go home.”
“Of course!” Daisy walked over to her co-worker and grabbed Victoria’s hand. “It will be okay.”
“I don’t want Frederick to get angry with me. There was just a reporter at the front desk asking me questions. He’s trying to dig up dirt on people.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know.”
Daisy smiled. “Maybe the publicity will get people interested in Frederick’s paintings! Your mom would be happy about that!”
Victoria waved her hand. “One of the April Brides was just arrested in Central Park for stealing jewelry,” she said, her voice a little shaky.
Daisy’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding! Whew! Did you ever meet her?”
“No,” Victoria answered honestly. “I didn’t.”
“Well you go home, honey, and get yourself some rest. You have the next couple of days off, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Are you going to go see Frederick?”
Victoria nodded. “I suppose it will be good to get away.”
“Get going!” Daisy said. “And I don’t care what you say, I’m planning you a party!”
When Victoria was out on the street, she picked up her cell phone and called Jeffrey. “Darling,” she said. “What a fiasco!”
&nbs
p; “I know. I was dying to call you but I knew you couldn’t talk at work. I’ve been watching the news and I have the New York Post in my hands.”
“A reporter just stuck a microphone in my face at the front desk and started asking obnoxious questions.”
Jeffrey inhaled nervously. “My phone has been ringing off the hook. People I barely know, who saw that Tracy is one of the brides whose dress was stolen. I have to tell them I’m not getting married. They’re asking a million questions.”
“Jeffrey, I think we should get away for a couple of days. We should leave town.”
“Call me when you get home. We’ll figure it out.”
“Okay. But I want to get away. In case Frederick decides to pay an unexpected visit.”
“I thought you said he wouldn’t bother us.”
“I don’t think he will. But all this publicity might stir him up.”
“Call me when you get home, darling. Be careful. I’ll get you out of there today. I don’t want Frederick to come near you.”
Victoria smiled. “I’ll go home and pack my bags.”
48
Up in Connecticut, Ellen and Montgomery Timber were relieved that Tracy was not awake for the Patrick and Jeannie show. And they’d hidden their copy of the New York Post under the kitchen sink.
Tracy and her friends had been out until four in the morning, playing darts until Jeffrey’s face was full of holes. Then they’d all come back to the house and crashed. The four of them had pulled the mattress from the guest room and dragged it down the hall and onto the floor at the foot of Tracy’s double bed. Tracy and Catherine slept in Tracy’s bed, Claire and Linda slumbered on the mattress. They all wanted to sleep in the same room, like the nights in college when they had stayed up late discussing their lives and attempting to solve each others’ problems. Most of the chatfests involved their love lives.
Not much had changed in twelve years.
When they awoke, Catherine volunteered to rustle up a pot of coffee. She knew that it was going to be a tough day for Tracy no matter how many holes they’d pierced in Jeffrey’s face.
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