The Marked Bride (Shadow Watchers Book 1)

by Vicki Hinze

  The law firm was staffed even on weekends. “I need to speak to Mr. Travest, please.”

  “May I tell him who is calling?”

  His daughter. “Mandy Dixon.”

  “And may I ask what this is in reference to?”

  “No, you may not.”

  A slight static crackled through the phone, but the woman didn’t miss a beat. “One moment, please. I’ll see if he’s in.”

  Tim shot her a thumb’s up.

  She shoved his arm down. “I was rude,” she whispered. “But if I’d told her the truth . . .”

  “I’m sure she gets that a lot,” he said. “People want to keep private matters private. Attorney/client privilege and all that.”

  “Ridiculous notion.” Mandy grunted. “Secretaries and assistants know everything.”

  “She’s right,” Joe said. “They’re great sources.”

  Tim rolled his eyes back in his head. “Joe charms them.”

  “He likes them, and they know it,” Mandy said.

  “True.”

  A little click sounded, and then she heard his voice. “This is Charles Travest.” His tone was brisk, all business.

  “This is Mandy.”

  “My assistant shared that information with me. What can I do for you, Miss Dixon?”

  Someone was with him, in his office. “I’m getting married in Seagrove Village tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock. Seaside Church on Highway 98. I realize it isn’t Tuesday so you probably can’t come, but if you could manage, you are invited.” She tried not to choke on the words. He might have killed her mother. But if he was Jackal, she needed to get him here, if possible. To entice him, she added, “It would mean a lot to me for you to walk me down the aisle.”

  He hesitated a long second. “I understand, Miss Dixon.”

  That was more than she expected. “I’m marrying Tim.”

  “Of course, you are.”

  How did he know about Tim? “I’m assuming my mother told you about him and our engagement and breakup.”

  “Yes.” He paused, longer this time. “Anything else?”

  “No. Nothing else.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  She opened her mouth to say thank you and heard the disconnect. He’d ended the call. Slowly, giving herself a second to stop shaking inside, she moved the phone from her ear and powered off the phone then passed it to Tim.

  “Well? Is he coming?”

  “I have no idea.” Admitting that bit her hard. “He said he’d see what he could do.”

  Lisa lifted a hand. “Well, he didn’t say no.”

  He hadn’t. “We’ll see. If he didn’t show up for my mother’s funeral, I doubt he’ll show up for my wedding.”

  “If he isn’t Jackal, how does he know about me?” Tim frowned. “I heard you ask, which means you didn’t mention me to him. What did he say?”

  “Yes,” she told Tim. “That’s it, just yes.”

  “So do you believe him?”

  “I have no idea what to believe, and that’s the truth, Tim.”

  “I’m sorry.” The look in his eyes proved he meant it.

  “If he shows up, fine,” Joe said. “If not, I’ll stand in for him.”

  Mandy looked at Joe.

  He gave her a lazy smile. “Least I can do, being your big bro.”

  Touched at his thoughtfulness, Mandy smiled back. Had he known she’d dreaded walking down the aisle alone? “Thank you, Joe.”

  “My privilege and pleasure.”

  “I was going to do that, Joe. I should do it. I’m older.” Nick shot Joe a dark frown.

  “What about me? I can walk down a dan—dangerously long aisle as good as either of you, and I’m better looking.” Sam challenged them, pleased with himself for recovering from another near-slip.

  Mark hiked his chin. “We could all walk her down the aisle.”

  “No, we can’t. It’s too narrow.” Joe lifted his hands. “Sam, you’d have to wear a tux. You look miserable in a tux because you can’t stand ties, remember? And Nick, you won’t smile. You guys want lousy pictures of the wedding? Mandy and Tim looking like a million bucks, and you looking strangled and gloomy. No. It’s not happening. I called it first, and I get to walk the walk—if his majesty deigns not to show up.” Joe looked at Mandy. “You good with that?”

  She nodded, dazzled by them.

  “That’s it, then.” Joe slapped his hands down on the table. “It’s settled.”

  Dazed, Mandy glanced over at Tim.

  He smiled. “You’ll get used to it,” he promised her. “They grow on you.”

  “Yes, they do,” she said, glancing man to man around the table, feeling amazingly blessed.

  “Time’s up, boys.” Nora walked into the conference room with Annie trailing in her wake. “We got a wedding tomorrow and we’ve still got a few details to iron out.”

  The Shadow Watchers all stood up. “We were just leaving.”

  Nora brushed past Sam. “Get on with the going then. Tim and Mandy ain’t gonna have no half-baked wedding. I won’t have everyone in the village saying I didn’t do right by one of my boys.”

  Tim brushed a kiss to Nora’s cheek. “Thank you, Nora.”

  “Be gone, I said.”

  He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.” With a wink at Mandy, he and the other guys filed out of the room.

  Sam stuck his head back in the door. “Nora, one thing.”

  “What?”

  “Are you making some of those crab cakes like you did when Ben and Kelly got married?”

  “Wasn’t planning on it. It’s October. They ain’t in season.”

  His face fell. “Oh. Okay, then.”

  As soon as he cleared the doorway, Nora turned to Annie and wagged her finger. “Get your book and put crab cakes on your list.”

  “But you just said crabs aren’t in season.”

  “One of my boys wants crab cakes, he’s getting crab cakes, Annie Harper. Now are you gonna write it down in your little book, or do I have to do it myself?”

  “I’m writing. I’m writing.” Annie cracked open her book and scribbled it down, right beneath the Double Dutch chocolate groom’s cake.

  “Make this quick, okay?” Lisa said. “I have plans.”

  “Oh?” Annie’s interest perked.

  “So do you. We all do, and Kelly and Roxy—that’s Dr. Harvey Talbot’s wife. Ex-FBI—“ Lisa reminded Mandy.

  “We all have plans?”

  Mandy looked from Nora and Annie to Peggy and then to Lisa. The guys might have taken her into the fold but not yet so with the women . . .

  “We do,” Lisa said. “We’re having a bridal shower for Mandy.”

  A bridal shower? For her? “Oh, you don’t have to do that, Lisa. It’s too much. The wedding and a reception and now this? There’s no time for all this.”

  “There most definitely is time. Kelly and Roxy are handling it. That’s why they’re not here.”

  Nora tapped Mandy’s hand. “Let them do it, dearie. They want to be part of this, too. Tim’s been so sad without you, and now you two are back together and everyone wants to celebrate.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Mandy truly didn’t. “I’m . . . overwhelmed.”

  “Marrying into this bunch,” Peggy warned, “you’d better get used to it. You’ll stay overwhelmed most of the time, and we’re a package deal.”

  They wanted her in their fold, too. A solid knot parked dead center in Mandy’s chest. “I’m not seeing that as an issue, Peg.” Mandy readily confessed. “This group is great. All my life, Mom aside, I’ve been alone with no one. Well, until Tim.”

  “Hold that ‘great’ thought, hon.” She patted Mandy’s hand. “You’re going to need it now and then.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Lisa giggled.

  Mandy couldn’t help herself. She smiled. “Oh, wait. What about Tim? I doubt with everything going on the guys . . .”

  “Ben Brandt is taking care of Tim and t
he guys. The bachelor’s party is the reason he hasn’t been here today, though Mark’s kept him posted on developments by phone.”

  Ben and his wife Kelly owned Crossroads. “Well, thank you. All this . . . It’s lovely and generous of you.”

  Lisa softened her tone. “We’ve been where you are, and we understand how you’re feeling. We’re with you, Mandy. We always will be.”

  Tears again welled in her eyes. “Sorry. My emotions are all over the place.”

  “You’re getting married tomorrow, you darling girl.” Annie put down her pen. “Of course, your emotions are all over the place. You know, being happy can be just as stressful as being unhappy.”

  “Maybe, but I’m beside myself. Losing Mom . . . I’ll never forget standing at her funeral all by myself. I felt so lost and empty. Then Tim came and now all of you . . .” Tim and this amazing group of people in her life—she could scarcely believe it.

  Reaching down, she pinched herself on the thigh. It stung. Bad.

  “Hurts, huh?” Lisa whispered.

  “Yeah, but only in the best possible way.”

  “I know just what you mean.”

  Mandy looked at her and realized Lisa did know. Exactly. That had her torn. Wishing Lisa had been spared and bonding with her because she hadn’t. “Thank you, Lisa.”

  “Thank you. If I had to see Tim heartbroken one more time, I think I’d be sick inside forever.”

  “I’m so sorry about that.”

  Nora guffawed. “Get over it, dearie. You did what you had to do to protect the man you love and the rest of my boys. We’ve all had our share of hard choices in tough times. Shameful ones, too, like Annie and Lisa with that awful Dutch Hauk, may his black soul rest in peace.” She crossed herself.

  Mandy cocked her head. “Are you Catholic, Nora?”

  “No, why?”

  “You crossed yourself. I’ve only seen Catholics do that.”

  “I went to Catholic schools most of my life.”

  “So true about hard choices.” Annie moaned. “Me with Dutch and Lisa, and you with your sister.”

  “Ain’t that the truth?” Nora laced her hands atop the table. “A body can’t get worse than my fickle sister. Humiliated me to no end, but she did worse to herself. I was sure the entire village would shun me. But it didn’t.”

  “Shun you? Don’t be absurd, Nora. You are this village.” Annie assured her. “You’ve loved us all through everything.”

  Curiosity got the better of Mandy and she asked. “Who’s your sister?”

  “Raven.” From Nora’s expression, just saying the name put a bad taste in her mouth. “She was a honcho for NINA—likely still is. Those people have a way of doing bad things, even when they’re locked up in prison. That’s where Raven is now. In Leavenworth, which is right where she belongs for the duration.” Nora sniffed, clearly taking strong exception. “She’s mean as a snake, that one.”

  “It’s over, Nora, and there’s no need for you to be touchy about it. She committed the crimes. You didn’t.”

  “She tried to kill me and my boys, Annie Harper. I ain’t touchy, I’m miffed.”

  Mandy looked at Lisa. “Her boys?”

  The Shadow Watcher team you’re marrying into—and Jeff Meyer.” Lisa shrugged. “Don’t worry. We all know about the Shadow Watchers, we just don’t talk about it with anyone from the outside.”

  Mandy wasn’t touching that statement with a twenty-foot pole. “I really don’t have any more secrets. You guys have heard them all.”

  Annie gave Mandy a frank look. “Nora was ashamed. Lisa was terrified. I was—so many things—all bad. And you . . . Your mother and father deceiving you like that had to hurt badly.”

  “It did. It still does.” No sense in denying the obvious. “But we endure what we must, and we survive.”

  “Amen, sister.” That, from Lisa.

  “Dang right.” Nora realized what she said and clapped a hand over her mouth, stunned. Annie, Peggy, and Lisa stared at her gape-jawed. “First one mentions that little slip outside of this room will regret it the rest of their days—especially if Sam gets wind of it.”

  Smiling, Lisa zippered her mouth with her fingers.

  Peggy did, too, though her frown remained evident. “See why we have to stay on him? I can’t believe it’s rubbing off on you, Nora.”

  Annie exaggerated a sigh. “Peggy, I do believe you’ve slipped a time or two—we all have. So let’s just not mention it again, mmm?”

  “Thank you, Annie.” Nora looked to Mandy. “Do you even know your half-brother or sister?”

  “We’ve never met. I know of them, though.”

  “She did background on them after finding out they existed,” Lisa said, filling in the blanks.

  “I did.” Her face burned at being outted. “I was curious.”

  “And shocked, I’d guess.” Peggy took a sip from her teacup.

  “That, too.” Mandy leaned forward. “They seem like good people. Bright and active in all kinds of things. They have no idea I exist, of course.”

  “Your dad never told them.”

  “He never told anyone. I think if he could forget himself, he would have.”

  “I’m sorry.” Lisa let out a longing sigh. “I adored my father. He was a doctor, too. I loved going to the office with him and pretending I was the doctor.”

  “You wore out a couple stethoscopes before you turned ten.” Annie smiled indulgently.

  Lisa propped an arm on the table. “Sometimes when he’d look at me, he’d seem so amused. Like I was the heartbeat of his universe, and I hung every star all by myself. He made me feel as if I could do anything.”

  “You were, and you did, in your father’s eyes,” Annie said. “He adored you.”

  Lisa nodded. “He adored you, too, Mom.”

  “He did.”

  “I always wanted a dad like that, but I never got one.” Mandy confessed.

  “I’m sure he loved you.”

  “He loved his other two kids. I saw it in his face when he looked at them. And I thought he loved my mother. Now, I don’t know. But me?” She shook her head. “When I’m not furious with him, which isn’t often, I think he was too afraid of getting caught and ruining his picture-book life to risk caring about me. When I’m not feeling that generous, which is most of the time, I accept that I was never anything more than an inconvenience to him.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Annie said and meant it; it showed in every line in her face.

  “Sorry?” Nora grumped. “I’d say it’s more for the best. Look what it’s gotten you.”

  “What do you mean?” Mandy looked at the list of tasks done—flowers, food, drinks, booked the church, the reception ballroom, the minister. These two were marvels! “He took care of us.”

  Nora pursed her lips. “Ain’t you figured this out yet, dearie?” When Mandy remained quiet, Nora went on. “If you ain’t NINA, and your mom wasn’t NINA, then Charles Travest has gotta be NINA. It’s only common sense.”

  Mandy rubbed at her temple. “He could be, which is what has my stomach in knots about this wedding. He could be, and he could come here.” Her stomach twisted tighter. “He probably won’t, but he could. Oh, man. With everything going on, I’m so scattered. I’ve wondered if he was one of them, but I’m not sure I mentioned it. If he is one of them, there could be trouble. I—I have to warn Tim.” She started to rise.

  “Keep your seat, dearie.” Nora looked down the bridge of her nose at her. “He knows it.”

  “You told him,” Lisa assured her. “You told all of them.”

  “I don’t remember doing it.”

  “I heard it,” Lisa said. “You’ve been under a lot of stress. It’s normal to get things jumbled up then. Nothing to worry about.”

  Whenever someone said don’t worry, Mandy worried. She started shaking. “What if Charles Travest is Jackal? Surely he won’t do anything here. Surely he wouldn’t dare.”

  “He might,” Lisa said. “Sorry,
Mom. Frown if you must, but we can’t let Mandy be blindsided.”

  “You’re right, of course,” Annie agreed. “I just want her to have a happy wedding.”

  “She will,” Nora said. “Either he won’t show up, or he will. If he doesn’t, fine. Joe will walk Mandy down the aisle—I heard he won the honor. If the man does show up, he’ll either pull some stunt, or he won’t.” Nora stilled. “Either way, my boys will be ready for him.”

  They would be ready. “Oh, no.” Mandy grabbed her stomach. “Murder on my wedding day? Blood shed at our wedding?” She pushed her chair back. “What was I thinking? I—I can’t do this. I can’t.” She rose and ran for the restroom down the hall, hoping she made it before losing her lunch.

  “Nora!” Annie admonished her. “Look what you’ve done.”

  “Don’t you start with me, Annie Harper. It was necessary.”

  “Necessary?” Annie grumbled. “It was not necessary.”

  “It was, I’m saying.” Nora sighed. “Mandy can face facts now and be sick in private, or face ‘em tomorrow and ruin her wedding. I figure, she’d rather do it now. Either way, she’s got to face facts, Annie. If Charles Travest is NINA, blood’s likely to be shed. If he’s not, it’s likely Jackal will show up and blood will still be shed. Either way, she’s likely to see blood. Best she’s prepared for it.”

  “No. No blood on her wedding day. I will not tolerate it. She deserves better, and for once, she’s going to get it.” Annie stood up. “Lisa, you go see about Mandy.”

  “Where are you going?” Nora called out.

  “To warn Peggy.” Annie looked back at her. “Your boys will be ready for a fight. The rest of us need to do all we can to make sure there isn’t one, and be ready to keep the peace.”

  Mandy splashed her face with cold water. As stark and blunt as Nora had delivered the truth, Mandy couldn’t disagree with a word of it. Where had her mother gotten all that money? She hoped Sam would find some explanation besides NINA, but what if there wasn’t one? What if her mother or her father was Jackal? Was up to their necks in NINA and its criminal activities? Mandy heaved again. Tim was already bitter. How in the world would he take that kind of news? How would he feel about marrying her then?