“I heard some of what they were saying,” he confided. “They’re not our sort of people. I think we can say that with absolute certainty.”
“Definitely,” she agreed. “It’s still frustrating. People make jokes about how the other half lives, but I don’t see how anyone can live like this. I mean ... look at those women. They’re all watching Ben, and I don’t think it’s because they’re trying to join in his grief. They want to catch his attention.”
Quinn followed her gaze, his eyes practically bugging out of his head when he recognized the women she was talking about. Two of them were wearing necklines so revealing they basically plunged to belly button level. “Wow.”
Rowan slid her eyes to him. “Wow what?”
“Just ... wow.”
She couldn’t tamp down her suspicion. “Look-at-those-boobs wow?”
He clamped his lips together as he turned to look at her, amusement running rampant over his features. “That’s not exactly what I was thinking,” he hedged. “Now that you brought it up, though, they’re kind of out there and it’s difficult to look away.”
Rowan made a growling sound in the back of her throat. “Perhaps you should try.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” His hand was warm when it landed on her back and he gave her a reassuring rub. “I would much rather look at you than them any day of the week.”
“It’s a little too late to try and save yourself.”
“It’s never too late.”
Rowan and Quinn remained where they were another twenty minutes. Once they realized Patrice and Ben were starting to herd people outside for the memorial, though, they switched tactics.
“Don’t get separated from me,” Quinn warned as he gripped her hand tightly. The crowd was beginning to thicken as people pressed toward the front door. “This is important. You stay close. In fact ... .” He wasn’t going to risk being separated from her for anything, which is why he shifted her in front of him and pressed his front to her back.
“What are you doing?” she asked, confused.
“I’m making sure we’re not separated.”
“It kind of looks like you’re molesting me.”
Quinn opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. She wasn’t wrong. Still, he had no intention of putting distance between them. “Suck it up,” he said after a beat. “It’s just until we get outside. Think of it as flirting.”
“At a memorial service?”
“I’m sure there are people who pick up women at memorial services; grief making strange bedfellows and all that. Don’t give me lip.”
Quinn didn’t allow himself to relax until they were both through the door. Then, because there seemed to be a stampede for good seats in the garden — where hundreds of wooden chairs had been erected in the middle of a sea of white flowers — Quinn pulled Rowan to the side so they could watch the show.
“This is ... horrible,” Rowan commented after a few minutes. “Those two women over there are arguing to see who gets the aisle seat.”
“Yeah, well ... .” Quinn trailed off when he caught a set of eyes watching him with unveiled interest. He forgot what he was going to say as he met Mitchum’s gaze head-on. The older man was making no attempt to hide the fact that he was watching them.
“We have a fan,” Quinn noted as he slipped his arm around Rowan’s waist.
She followed his gaze. “He doesn’t look happy, does he?”
“No.”
“Do you think we should talk to him?”
That was exactly what Quinn was wondering. Finally, he made up his mind and crossed to the other side of the driveway, Rowan pressed close to his side. “Mr. Sterling.” He bobbed his head in greeting. “It’s nice to see you again, although these aren’t the best of circumstances. Thank you for the invitation.”
Mitchum’s expression was grave. “I thought it only fitting that you be invited. You did save seventy-five percent of my family, after all.”
Quinn rubbed his forehead. “That’s an odd thing to keep track of, especially in that manner.”
“Yes, well, I’m an odd sort of guy. That’s what people tell me anyway.”
“Uh-huh.” Quinn was at a loss how he wanted to proceed. Rowan’s words were echoing in his head, about how this might be their only chance, and he happened to agree with her. He simply couldn’t let things slide. “Does Leona think you’re an odd man?”
Mitchum’s demeanor shifted quickly. “Excuse me?” His eyes were cold and seemed to bore into Quinn’s very soul.
“You heard me.” Quinn had no intention of backing down. All he had to think about was Rowan lying on the beach, her eyes glassy and glazed as blood seeped from her shoulder and his heart threatened to pound out of his chest. “I’m aware of your relationship with Leona.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“And I’m sure that these games benefit absolutely no one,” Quinn fired back. “I don’t appreciate being treated like an idiot. For the record, I know what’s going on here.”
“Oh, yeah? And what is that?”
“You’re sleeping with Leona. Patrice is sleeping with Byron. Ben is having an affair with Ariel. Oh, and Ariel is Byron’s daughter.”
With each dropped anvil, Quinn watched Mitchum’s face for signs that he was surprised. It wasn’t until the final revelation that the man finally responded.
“You didn’t realize that, did you?” Quinn made a tsking sound with his tongue as he shook his head. “I think some of your inner circle has been playing you.”
Mitchum recovered quickly. “And what makes you say that?”
“I’m a trained investigator,” Quinn replied simply. “And you’re in over your head.”
Mitchum averted his gaze. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No? Then let me explain it to you.” Quinn glanced around to make sure nobody was within hearing distance. Since all the guests had flocked to the chairs across the way, he relaxed his stance and focused solely on Mitchum. “Your brother wasn’t killed on that ship. I don’t know if he was ever on it. He was killed here, dragged out to sea, and dismembered.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“Do you think? The hand that was found belonged to him. There’s no way it washed up on the beach here after being lost at sea on the other side of the state.”
“That hand was planted.”
“Really?” Despite the serious nature of the situation, Quinn found himself amused. “How did someone manage to get your brother’s hand and plant it on the beach when he supposedly went down with the ship on the east coast?”
“I ... .” Mitchum trailed off.
“I don’t know if you’re involved in all of this,” Quinn said, opting for the truth. “Part of me wants to believe that you’re being snowed, that your sister-in-law is pulling the wool over your eyes. It’s hard for me to understand how you could turn on your brother that way ... and your niece. I don’t trust you, though, so I guess I need to accept the truth.”
“And what’s the truth?”
“You helped kill your brother. I don’t understand why.”
“I would never.” Mitchum viciously swore under his breath as he glanced around. “We can’t have this discussion here.”
“If you think I’m going somewhere with you, you’re crazy,” Quinn shot back. “After what your family pulled, shooting my girlfriend, I’ll kill you before I put her in danger again.”
This time the confusion that stretched across Mitchum’s features was obvious. “What are you even talking about?”
“Rowan.” Quinn jerked his thumb in her direction. “We were on the beach the other night when someone took a shot at us. She was hit.”
“She looks okay to me.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“Hey now.” Rowan lifted a finger to quiet the two men. “I look awesome. I mean ... check out my dress.”
Quinn couldn’t resist grinning at her. �
��You look beautiful, Ro. No one can say otherwise.”
“Who cares about her dress?” Mitchum’s temper was on full display. “I want to know what you’re talking about, and I want to know right now.”
Quinn drew his eyebrows together as he regarded the man for a long beat. Finally, he made up his mind. “Move over there,” he suggested, pointing toward a spot in the shade. They were still out in the open, still within hearing distance should someone try to attack, but they were also separated from the bulk of the crowd should they grow curious and focus on the argument rather than the memorial service.
“Fine.” Mitchum threw his hands up in the air and stomped in that direction, not stopping until he was out of the sun and nose-to-nose with Quinn. “Explain yourself.”
“I don’t have to explain myself.” Quinn was calm despite the heightened circumstances. “I’m not the one protecting killers.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“No? Your brother’s hand was found on this side of the state. That means he died on this side of the state. Your sister-in-law, nephew, and several other people were pulled out of the water on the other side of the state. They told a terrifying tale of survival that night ... and I completely believed them. Now, though, it’s become apparent that story was fabricated.”
“But ... no.” Mitchum shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense. People saw my brother get on the boat. There were witnesses.”
“Who?”
“I ... um ... .”
“There weren’t any witnesses,” Quinn stressed. “I checked. Everyone who was supposed to be getting on the boat said their goodbyes at the restaurant. Then they were escorted to the ship, which was miles away.”
“That doesn’t mean my brother didn’t get on the ship.”
“Then what happened?” Rowan broke in. “How did his hand end up in the water off the compound? He had to be killed here. The police say the hand was removed either before his death or directly after. That means he was alive over here.”
“They told you that?” Mitchum arched an eyebrow. “I called them after our previous conversation. They were agitated that I had inside information. They swore they didn’t tell the people who discovered the hand anything ... so how do you know that?”
“Because I’m a man who knows people who know people,” Quinn replied simply. “Gathering information like that isn’t difficult.”
“But ... nothing you’re telling me makes sense.” Mitchum was adamant. “My brother was a good man. He wasn’t perfect. I would never say otherwise. He was strong and decent, though. Why would anyone want to kill him?”
“Your brother was also in financial trouble,” Quinn argued. “He was bleeding money. You lost out on important defense contracts. The oil business has been floundering under new environmental rules. According to the financial statements I’ve been able to pull, he owed more on this compound than it’s worth.”
“It seems you’ve been busy.”
“I have been,” Quinn agreed, turning quickly when he heard footsteps on the packed earth. He wasn’t surprised to find Ben joining their small group. “Speaking of busy, there’s the man of the hour.” He forced a crooked grin. “How is Ariel? I have a few questions I want to ask her.”
“I ... what?” Unlike Mitchum, Ben was a bad liar. His cheeks immediately flooded with color and his discomfort was obvious as his gaze bounced between faces. “What did he say?”
“Stop fumbling with your words, Ben,” Mitchum growled. “You’re making yourself look like an idiot.”
“I don’t understand.” Ben wrung his hands. “What is going on?”
“Why did you agree to marry Vicky?” Rowan asked out of the blue, taking everyone by surprise. “You obviously don’t love her. Did you agree because it was expected?”
“I ... .”
“Don’t say a word, Ben,” Mitchum instructed. “They’re trying to trap you.”
“We’re honestly not,” Quinn countered. “We don’t need to trap you. We’ve figured most of it out ... except for how Barbara and Pat really died.”
“And who did it,” Rowan added.
“I don’t think it’s as easy as you make it sound,” Mitchum countered. “You’re asking for the impossible.”
“I don’t think we are. We simply want the truth.”
“And what will you give us in return?” Ben asked, finding his bravado. “Will you leave us alone? Do you expect us to pay you so you’ll go on your merry way?”
“We don’t want money.” Quinn was matter-of-fact. “We only want the truth. Money is inconsequential to us.”
“Money is inconsequential to no one,” Mitchum shot back.
“That’s probably true, in your narrow view. That’s not true from where we’re coming from, though.” Quinn rolled his neck. “It doesn’t matter, though. You’re not going to get away with it. You already know that, Mitchum. I can see the panic on your face. There’s no way to explain Pat’s hand being found on the beach here.”
“What?” Ben was incredulous, his mouth agape. “What is he talking about?”
“It’s nothing,” Mitchum said hurriedly.
“It’s something,” Ben countered. “How could Dad’s hand be found on the beach? You were supposed to take care of things and make sure nothing like this happened. You promised.”
And just like that, the mask of civility fell from Mitchum’s face. “Are you stupid?” He cuffed Ben so hard it echoed throughout the small area. “Do you think before you speak?”
Ben reared back and glared at his uncle. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
“Oh, you never mean to say things.” Mitchum rolled his eyes to the sky. “This is a nightmare. I told them from the start that this would blow up in their faces. They were determined to see it through, though. There was no talking them out of it.”
“So, you were involved in your brother’s death,” Quinn surmised, his stomach rolling.
“We had no choice.” Mitchum rubbed his cheeks with both hands. “We’re in a pickle. The family money is all but gone. We need the infusion of the insurance funds on Pat and Barbara to save everything we’ve worked so hard for.”
“You killed Barbara for the money, too?” Rowan was horrified. “I thought maybe she caught you in the act and you had no choice but to kill her. This is so much worse.”
“Oh, don’t get all high and mighty,” Ben snapped. “My sister was a drain on this family. She was a lesbian, for crying out loud. She wasn’t even going to carry on the family name ... and she kept spending money left and right on her bohemian charities. I mean ... charity begins at home, right? She never believed that, though.”
“Did you kill Carly to keep her quiet?”
“Carly never would’ve gone along with the plan and since she was supposed to be on the boat with all of us, we had to take her out, too.”
“Just go ahead and tell them everything, Ben,” Mitchum drawled. “Way to be smart, son. Geez. You’re such a moron.”
Ben turned sheepish. “They already know.”
“We don’t know all of it,” Quinn countered. “We don’t know exactly what happened on that ship.”
“Why does that even matter?” Mitchum challenged. “We’re going to pay you off. We don’t have a choice. The hows and whys mean nothing.”
“They mean something to us ... and we don’t want your money.” Quinn was firm. “Besides, you don’t have the money to pay us off.”
“Not now,” Ben agreed. “As soon as the life insurance policies pay out, though, we’re swimming in it again. That’s good ... because I need a boat now that the old one is gone.”
Quinn’s distaste for the man grew in leaps and bounds. “Well ... how nice for you.” He rolled his eyes until they landed on Rowan. “Do you want to be the one to explain it, or should I?”
“I want to.”
“Knock yourself out.”
Rowan grinned broadly at the two men. “You guys aren’t getting a
n insurance payout. Do you want to know why? Because you said Pat died in a freak boating accident in the Atlantic Ocean and his hand was found on the beach in the Gulf. There’s no way those stories reconcile ... so the insurance company won’t pay out.”
“But they have to pay out,” Ben protested. “If they don’t, we’re still in the same predicament as before ... and no one wants that.”
“I don’t know what to tell you.”
Ben blinked several times in rapid succession and then turned his eyes to Mitchum. “They’re wrong, right?”
Mitchum was resigned as he shook his head. “No. They’re not wrong.”
“You weren’t on the ship,” Quinn noted. “You were back here the entire time. Did you arrange for your brother and niece to be removed from the Serendipity?”
He nodded stiffly. “You catch on quickly. That was the general plan. They were supposed to set sail. We knew the route and met them a mile off shore. We collected Barbara, Carly, and Pat and transported them to waiting vehicles on the beach.”
“Did your brother know you were involved?”
He swallowed hard and bobbed his head. “I figured I owed him that. Oddly enough, he understood why I was doing what I was doing.”
“I doubt that.”
“What about Barbara and Carly?” Rowan challenged. “Did they understand?”
“No. They begged for their lives.”
“Did you take their lives personally?” Quinn queried.
“I did not. I might be a monster, but I don’t have that in me. We hired professionals. They were supposed to take them deep out to sea, so far there was no chance they would ever be found. While that was going on, Patrice and the others were supposed to be sailing south so they could scuttle the boat. We got private cottages on a beach where we could pay with cash. No electricity. No running water. Rustic living with no televisions. They were supposed to wait it out for a week and a half, wait until everyone was in a frenzy that I created, and then be discovered.”
Farewell Seas Page 38
