Texas and Tiaras (The Book Cellar Mysteries 2)

by Melissa Storm

  They collapsed into each other’s embrace and Vi’s heart swelled. For a moment they sat there—buttressing each other.

  “I missed you.” Vi gave Brooke a squeeze. It amazed her how much comfort she felt from just being close to Brooke again. It might not solve her immediate problems, but it helped.

  “I’ve missed you, too.” Brooke dabbed at her eyes with her tissue, which was kind of like dabbing at the corners of a toddler’s mouth after spaghetti night. “I can’t lose your friendship, Vi. You mean too much to me.”

  Her friend’s words soothed her. Vi pocketed the comment away to pull out when she felt under-appreciated and taken advantage of. Vi grabbed at the tissue box and pulled away. “You’re a mess.” She wiped away the tears and smeared mascara and eyeliner.

  Brooke let out a half-laugh, half-cry, and snatched the tissue away to finish wiping clean her face. “I am not. I’m sure I look devastatingly beautiful.” She rolled her eyes up and a small smile spread across her face.

  Vi smiled back. A lightness overcame her as the weight of their discord lifted. “You’re a strong woman, Brooke. Whatever might be going on, I have no doubt that you will overcome it and somehow manage to end up on top.”

  The smile on Brooke’s face crumpled. “Oh, Vi, I’m not strong. You’re the strong one. You always have been.”

  Vi couldn’t believe her ears. What nonsense. Brooke was the strongest, most competent woman that she knew. “Brooke—”

  Her friend held up her hand and met her gaze head on. “No.”

  Vi leaned away—putting some space between them. A wave of anxiety rolled over her, threatening to drown her. The compliments made her uncomfortable. And if she was so strong why had she not been able to get through the last few weeks without taking copious amounts of drugs? “I’m—”

  But Brook cut in. “I’ve always admired you. I should have told you that before, but now with you having been away for so long, it’s so incredibly obvious how much I need you and depend on you. I’m so sorry for shooting you, for everything.” Brooke fiddled with the used, balled-up tissues in her hand. “I’m sorry about a lot of things these days.”

  “That night—”

  Brooke looked up at her with wide eyes. “I can’t stop thinking about it. I wanted it to all stop. I thought I was doing the right thing. And then...I never meant for you to get hurt.”

  Vi nodded. “I know that, Brooke.”

  “I know I’m a crappy friend, and you have every right to never want to see me again, but I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”

  “I just needed to hear that you were sorry. Thank you for apologizing. It’s a good first step.”

  Brooke’s shoulders dropped and she opened her mouth to speak, but Vi cut her off.

  “It’s going to take time to get back to where we were and some things are going to have to change.”

  Brooke grew serious. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get back into your good graces.”

  Vi smiled a little at Brooke’s sincerity and enthusiasm. Her curiosity was starting to pull on her. “So…what’s going on with Heather? Why did she kick you out? And why did you leave Brian?”

  Brooke shot Vi a genuine smile. “Oh my gosh, my life is such a mess. Where do I even begin?”

  Brooke let out a sigh and began to tell her all about how her problems with Brian, the weird stuff going on around her, losing the baby, staying with Abrahamsons, and getting caught kissing Jesse, who she might, kind of, sort of love.

  The wave of news crashed into Vi, making her dizzy.

  Of all people, how had she not seen the signs of domestic abuse? What must Brooke have gone through, losing the baby? And in love with Jesse? Was she serious? Above all, did Jesse love her back? Being around Brooke was like living inside a Lifetime Movie.

  Vi laced her fingers in Brooke’s and tugged them both into a standing position. These weren’t problems that they could solve overnight. But they could be there for each other and offer the kind of support only a best friend could. “I think ice cream is in order here.”

  “I think I could be persuaded if you have some yummy Blue Bell.”

  Vi giggled. “Always…” She glanced at Brooke, who touched her abdomen and winced. “Are you all right?”

  Brooke waved her off. “Fine. The stitches...I’m fine. Let’s go inside. It’s hot as a donkey’s butt in a pepper patch tonight.”

  They walked hand in hand into the house. Brooke touched the bouquet of roses and breathed in their fragrant scent. “From Ricky?”

  Vi’s cheeks got hot and she was sure she’d turned red as a tomato. “No...”

  Brooke’s perfectly arched brow lifted in curiosity. “Oh Violeta, do tell!”

  “It’s nothing...I just, well, I met a guy. Anyway, it sounds like you have more important things to talk about.”

  Brooke put a hand on each of Vi’s shoulders and leaned in close. “Avoiding the question? Now you have to tell me everything. What does he look like? Do you have a picture? Oooh, is he someone I know?”

  Vi noted the quick change of subject. If Brooke needed a distraction from her life, then she could give her that small courtesy. A creeping warmness blossomed from her chest and up her neck, all the way to her cheeks.

  Vi laughed. “Slow down. But, yeah, I actually do have a picture.” She took out her phone and showed the picture to Brooke.

  “Wow, what a hottie.”

  Vi snatched back her phone and glanced for a moment at the picture. He really was gorgeous. What in the world did he see in her?

  “So what happened to Ricky?”

  Vi’s smile evaporated and she dropped her phone onto the table beside the flowers. “We broke up.”

  “For good this time?” Her friend dropped down into one of the chairs and held her belly with her hands.

  The baby…

  Vi shook the thoughts of the baby they would never know. Maybe they would end up two single, childless old ladies.

  “What happened?” Brooke frowned.

  “He wanted to get married, and I didn’t.”

  For a moment she thought Brooke would argue with her over her decision, but the moment passed. “Didn’t you say something about ice cream?”

  Vi opened the freezer and took out a tub of BlueBell vanilla ice cream.

  “So what’s the deal with Jesse and that kiss you mentioned. Tell me everything.” Vi grabbed two spoons and took a seat beside her friend, just like old times. “And then maybe later I’ll let you help me pick out something for my date. Ligia wanted me to put on this dress that looked more like underwear than something I would wear out in public.”

  Brooke smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Okay, that sounds like a plan.”

  Vi got the feeling that she had only managed to delay this particular discussion…

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Brooke

  Brooke bent down to snatch a stray streamer from the floor. Her stitches only stung a little from the jerky movement, but she was still definitely not at her best. If it hadn’t been for Vi, Ligia, and even Annabeth, taking the reins, their Cougars versus Cubs pageant would have been dead in the water. Part of her was pleased that the others had handled the challenge so well, but part of her felt disappointed, too—unneeded.

  Honestly, this night couldn’t end soon enough. For one, she hadn’t seen or heard from Jesse since their kiss, and though she was happy to be back in Vi’s good graces, she missed her other BFF terribly. Add to that the fact her soon-to-be-ex-husband had frozen all her credit cards and locked access to their bank account. Things were not coming up roses for Brooke.

  Speaking of roses… She continued to find them everywhere. Yes, the eerie white blooms had followed her to Vi’s house and even turned up tucked into odd corners around the Book Cellar. The strange emails kept coming too.

  Stupid Brian. Was he the one behind all this nonsense?

  Why couldn’t he let enough be enough? Ugh. She hoped he wouldn’t turn up
at tonight’s charity pageant and stir up a very public display of trouble.

  She took a deep breath and turned her attention to the catwalk where a crew of volunteers being guided by Annabeth were hoisting up a giant disco ball.

  Umm, tacky!

  “What’s going on here?” Brooke demanded.

  “I thought it would be fun to add a little pizzazz,” Anna said, her eyes widening as she did jazz hands for no explicable reason.

  Brooke rubbed her temples and tried not to give in to her rage. Polite yet firm tended do the trick when it came to dealing with Annabeth, but with a low grade fever and zero time to spare, she was all out of polite. “No, I don’t think so. The theme is great women in history, not stripper women in history. Take it down.”

  “But—”

  She wagged her finger at Annabeth, then narrowed her focus on the volunteers standing atop twin ladders as they tried to hook the tacky silver ball to the ceiling. “Take it down…”

  Then, turning back toward her current primary source of irritation, “Annabeth, come with me.”

  Anna smiled as if she hadn’t meant to ruin everything at the last minute. “C’mon, Brooke, it’s really not a big deal.”

  “I’m already running late, so listen up.” She marched toward the door with Princess Tiara at her heels. “I really appreciate all the help, but please promise me you won’t try to make any more creative calls while I’m out. I need someone to hold down the fort, and since Vi is out on some random date with a hottie patottie Fernando guy—talk about terrible timing—and Jesse is avoiding me, and I have a few quick errands to run, that someone is going to have to be you.”

  Anna sped up her pace, then took a giant step in front of Brooke. “Wait. What?”

  She doesn’t realize how trying she is, Brooke reminded herself. And she did just recently save your life. She put on a practiced smile and explained, “I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor. Well, not my doctor. Brian already took me off the insurance, so I have to slum it at the free clinic. Ick.”

  “That’s not what I meant. What—?”

  Brooke took one giant step around Annabeth and continued toward the exit. Maybe that would give Anna the hint that she was kind of in a hurry here. “And then I have to go to the rental place to pick up my Queen Victoria costume for tonight. Did you know that Queen Victoria originally bred Pomeranians down to their current size, and is the one who popularized them as the best pet dog in the world? Anyway, I—”

  “Okay, that’s great, but could you tell me—”

  “Well, if you must know, Jesse and I aren’t talking, because we kind of kissed and Heather walked in on us, and—”

  Anna’s eyes grew wide at the news, but she shook her head and continued to argue. “More on that later, definitely. But I wanted to ask you about—”

  “Yes, unfortunately, the free clinic was very firm about not allowing animals in the office. So you’ll have to take care of Ti while I’m out, but I promise I won’t be long. She has fresh water in—”

  “Brooke! Shut up!”

  “Well, that was incredibly rude. Look, just because you and I had a little cat fight the last time we did one of these charity events doesn’t mean I’m looking for a repeat. I thought we were starting to become friends, after all. And that’s not how you talk to friends now, is it?”

  Anna rolled her eyes. “Yes, Brooke. Sorry, Brooke.”

  “I don’t like your tone, but your apology is accepted. Now I really must be off. Please take good care of Ti, and remember you’re a private eye, not an artist. Got it?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Anna said with a ridiculously fake syrupy voice. “Now can I just ask my question already?”

  Brooke sighed and twisted her face into a frown, but finally conceded. “Go ahead.”

  Anna rushed into her question so fast, it took Brooke a moment to decipher the words that had just spilled from her mouth. “Who did you say she was with?”

  Brooke studied her manicure. Ugh, a chip and with no time to fix it. Perhaps she could pick up a nice pair of dress gloves to cover the mishap.

  “Earth to Brooke!” Anna fumed.

  “What?”

  “Who did you say she was with?”

  “Who?”

  “Vi.”

  “Oh, she’s on a date. Are we done here? I just remembered another errand I have to squeeze in before the event starts.” How did Annabeth always manage to bring out the worst in her? Brooke just wished she would stop talking and let her go tend to the zillions of things she needed to finish in order to make tonight’s event a success. It was hard enough keeping things together with the pain in her abdomen and the hurt in her heart. She just needed to focus on doing a good job. Nothing else mattered. Especially not whatever Annabeth was on about now.

  “No, don’t go yet! I got the part about Vi being on a date, but what’s the guy’s name again?”

  “Fernando. I think I have a picture of him. Let me just pull up Vi’s texts. Oh, look, at this picture of Tiara in her costume for tonight. Isn’t she the cutest?”

  Anna tapped her foot. “Totally cute, but this is important, Brooke. Can you please focus?”

  “Now you’re telling me what to do? Oh, great. What’s got your panties in a wad?”

  “Show me the picture, then we’ll talk.”

  “Jeez, you’re cranky today. Fine, take a look.”

  “Oh no!” Anna startled Brooke by grabbing hold of both her shoulders and pulling her in close.

  “What the—?”

  “Where are they? Do you know where Vi went for her date?”

  “Jalisco’s. Why?”

  “Thank you!”

  “Hey, stop! Where are you going? Who’s going to watch after Ti? Who’s going to be in charge here? This is very irresponsible of you, Anna!”

  She watched Anna dodge and dart through the crowd of volunteers, making her way toward the front exit. She was just about to resume her own departure through the back door when a familiar smile caught her eye.

  Jesse.

  Before she could stop herself, she called to him and reached her hand up in a wave.

  But as he raised his hand to wave back, Anna blocked him from her view, gesticulating wildly. That’s what she got for blabbing her secret to Annabeth. But what was she saying to Jesse?

  She began to walk toward the two, but she’d only made it a few steps by the time the two took off through the door at a jog. Well, fine!

  She had enough to do already anyway.

  “Liggy!” she shouted as she tromped back toward the rear exit. “You’re in charge. Please watch after Tiara. Be back in a little more than an hour.”

  “You’ve got it, Auntie B!” Ligia called from somewhere near the catwalk as Brooke pushed through the back door and out into the blinding sunlight.

  After a quick trip to the costume shop, she attempted to text Jesse. What is going on with you and Anna? I miss you :(

  Her heart lightened as the Read notification popped up almost instantly, then plummeted readapt his reply, Not now, Brooke.

  “Thinks he can act like nothing ever happened between us,” she muttered as she swung her car door open and sank back into the driver’s seat of her car, ready to head to the free clinic for her next appointment. “Well, two can play at that game.”

  “What game are we playing?” a deep voice asked from behind her.

  Brooke attempted to whirl around and face the unexpected passenger, but his words were immediately followed by thick, gloved hands, which reached forward to grasp her neck. One of them held a knife that was so taut against her throat that she could feel the sting of blood.

  “Who are you?” She forced herself to remain calm. Hysteria is what these guys wanted, and she’d had enough of doing what other people wanted lately. “What do you want?”

  “I want you to shut up and drive.”

  “Let go of me, and get out of the car now.”

  He laughed—a soft, evil laugh—and pushed the
knife tighter against her throat, opening a small, painful wound. “He who holds the knife makes the rules. Now drive.”

  Brooke turned the key in the ignition, careful not to move more than she had to for fear of the knife tearing deeper into her skin.

  “Now that’s more like it,” her attacker said, loosening his grip enough to give her some mobility—but not enough to enable her to attempt a getaway.

  “W-who are y-you?” she asked again, hating that her voice betrayed the fear that was rushing through her.

  “Didn’t you get my calling card, Mrs. Fischer?” he asked in an exaggerated accent, using the knife to point to the dashboard. A single white rose lay wilting in the sun.

  “Emilio?” She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the coal black eyes of her gardener staring back at her. “But why?”

  “You killed my brother. So now my brother and I will kill you and your friend.”

  “What? That doesn’t make any sense,” Brooke cried as she eased out of the Book Cellar parking lot and headed into town. Why was nobody seeing this? What was nobody saving her from this psycho who had attacked her in broad daylight?

  “I want you to keep driving until you hit Crichton Aeryn Lane, then turn left and park in the alley. Understand?”

  “Look... If you want the car, you can take it. Just let me get out.”

  “Do as I say, or it will be the last thing you do. Now do you understand how to get there?”

  “Yes, yes. Whatever you say. Please don’t hurt me.”

  “I’m not going to be the one to hurt you. I’ve already promised that particular honor to Fernando.”

  “What? Fernando, but he…? No!”

  “You and that friend of yours killed Carlos. What are Fernando and I supposed to do? Just let our brother’s death go unavenged?” He laughed again, and Brooke cried so hard she could barely see the road ahead.

  So this is how the almighty Brooke Fischer was going to go?

  At least it would be glamorous.

  And she’d be able to see her baby again.

  Chapter Thirty-Two