Murder by Design Trilogy

by Mary Jane Forbes

  “Let me check with Maribell. The spa only caters to the resort’s overnight guests but it sounds like a great marketing idea. Oh boy, here comes Francy with a bowl of goop. Stop and see me before you leave.”

  “Will do, and thanks again. I’ve never felt so pampered.”

  ───

  TWO HOURS LATER, GILLY twirled in front of Hawk at the spa check-in desk, Maria beaming from behind the counter.

  “If I thought you were beautiful before, I don’t know what to call you now. You have been transformed … I know, from a young beautiful girl to a very sophisticated woman ready to take on the world. What do you think, Maria?” Hawk asked, leaning against the counter, smiling at both women.

  “I couldn’t agree with you more. And, Gilly, my business friend, Maribell loved your idea of the gift card. She had a bunch stashed away. Here.” Maria handed a fist full of small cards, slightly scented, giving the holder a free one-ounce bottle of the spa’s exclusive line of massage oil. Available at the Tribal Smokehouse gift shop. “Maribell thinks it might entice some couples to register at the resort in the future.”

  “I think I’d better ask for a percentage of the spa’s business with you two running promotions.” Hawk reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket removing a folded piece of paper. “Gilly, here’s your copy of the letter I sent registered mail to Edward Churchill, AKA, Spiky. In the future, instead of typing a letterhead on a sheet of paper, I’ll use my new email account which I still have to set up. Looking for your help, Maria. After all, I should probably start with a domain name, which leads to a website, which leads to you. We’re still on for dinner Wednesday after you two finish your classes, right?” Hawk said, taking the top spa gift card from Gilly’s hand.

  “Sounds good,” Gilly said smiling at Hawk, but he wasn’t looking at her—his eyes were all over Maria.

  “Good. I have a final exam but should be able to meet you by four o’clock.”

  “I’d hardly say we’re running anything, Hawk,” Maria said bathing him in a glowing smile.

  “Well, this girl had better come back down to earth. I have some hours to make up after all this pampering.”

  Maria and Hawk said goodbye without looking up.

  Gilly picked up her tote, opened her mouth to reply but thought better of it. Walking to the employee locker room, a smile crossed her lips. “O’Malley, did you notice the way Hawk and Maria were looking at each other? I think I saw a spark between those two. I haven’t seen that particular look before, not like the devilish way he looked at me at times. It was … what? Like he felt something for her. He certainly is handsome, I’ll say that for him. That black suit and tie … and then there’s that white shirt against his bronze skin. He’s hard to resist. Of course, she’s gorgeous.”

  Reporting for her shift, Gilly picked up a tray, stuffed a few of the spa’s gift cards in her pocket, and headed to a group laughing as their slot played the music indicating a big win.

  Chapter 32

  ───

  THE STUDENTS SAT SILENT, breathing stopped, aghast as their instructor, standing at the table in front of Maria’s sketchbook, tore apart her design. Turning away from her red-faced student, Miss Blackstone marched back to her desk. Maria jammed her sketchbook into her case, zipped it shut, grabbed her purse, and fled the room, Gilly running after her.

  “Maria, Maria, wait. Hold on.”

  “Why? I hate her. I hate this school,” Maria yelled over her shoulder. Ignoring the elevator, she slammed through the door leading to the stairwell. Holding onto the railing, she stepped quickly down the stairs, her case bumping on each tread, tears streaming down her face. At the landing she stopped. Breathing hard, swiping at the tears with the back of her hand, she waited for Gilly.

  Catching up, Gilly wrapped her friend in her arms. Maria clung to her, sobbing. Gilly didn’t let go, pictures swirling in her mind with what she had witnessed. Did she really want to enter an industry that was so brutal? So uncaring?

  Maria slowly gained control and flopped down on the iron step in the cement stairwell. Gilly sat next to her, her arm remaining around Maria’s shoulders.

  “She had no right to talk to you the way she did. Everyone was horrified.”

  “I’m going to withdraw.”

  “Oh, wait—

  “No. Listen.” Maria spoke softly, wiping away a lingering tear. “I’ve checked out the other students’ designs. You are the best … no, wait. Listen. You are the best, but they are very good too … better than mine. Much much better than mine. I dread coming to class. But you know what, I love going to work at the spa. I’m good with the guests, many are seeking me out. Instead of designing to make women look good on the outside, I enjoy helping them feel beautiful on the inside.”

  Gilly knelt on the cement landing in front of Maria, taking hold of her hands. “Maria, I’ve seen you at the spa. You’re happy. You engage positively with the women. Maybe you’re right, not because of your designs, which, by the way, are unique, but because you have more passion for the people who wear the designs.”

  “You think?”

  The girls looked at each other as a smile slowly crossed Maria’s face, Gilly nodding in agreement.

  Maria stood, blew her nose, tucked in her blouse and adjusted her jeans. “Thanks, Gilly,” she said smiling tentatively. “Hey, you have to get to The Working Girl shop—the fashion show—and then dinner with Hawk. I’m going home tonight. Drive over tomorrow.” Maria started down the stairs.

  “Wait, are you alright?”

  Maria stopped, looked up at Gilly. “Maybe Miss Blackstone did me a favor.” She took a deep breath. “I’m beginning to feel a huge weight sliding off my shoulders. The best part of this school is that I met you. And, because of you I have this opportunity at the spa.”

  Gilly, tears in her eyes, stepped down and pulled her friend to her. The girls clung to each other, then giggled, both swiping at their eyes.

  “What a pair we are,” Gilly said. “If you change your mind and decide to drive over to Hansville tonight instead of tomorrow, give me a call. Okay?”

  “Okay. Now get going or you’ll be late for the show.” Maria smiled, nudging Gilly up the stairs.

  “You’re right,” Gilly said looking down over the railing. “Class is over by now, so I’ll get my stuff and be on my way. Tell Hawk I’ll take a rain check on dinner with you two. By the time I’m finished with the show I’m just going to Gramps. By the way, if you do withdraw, that doesn’t change our arrangement. You can still bunk with me.”

  Chapter 33

  ───

  GILLY PEEKED THROUGH THE curtains at the crowd mingling around the racks and shelves in the Working Girl shop. The owner, Stacy Sinclair, had set up a makeshift entrance for the models from the back of the store. The models stepped through the draping onto a red-carpet runner, walked a circuitous route through the center of the store, turning at the front entrance, retracing their steps to exit back through the draping.

  Gilly felt confident as she dressed. She had received positive feedback from her classmates on her new hairdo and Stacy had raved. She donned a pair of black, horn-rimmed glasses along with a wine jacket over a white blouse—cuffs showing at the neck and peeking out of the jacket’s sleeves. A filmy multi-color scarf wrapped cowl-like under the collar. The pearl-gray silk skirt fell to a slight flirty-flare at the knee.

  It was suddenly her turn.

  Taking a deep breath, lips drawn into a slight smile, Gilly stepped through the curtain and began the model strut down the center of the shop. As runway models are prone to do, Gilly began to reveal the ensemble’s layers. First, she tossed the jacket on a rack as she passed, strutted a few feet and then unbuttoned the blouse pretending to be discreet. Removing the blouse, she revealed a wine, sequined tank top for evening party time. Rolling up the white blouse, she stuffed it into a black tote, and at the same time removed a small, clutch purse fashioned of eye-popping pink and wine sequins.

>   Smiling, she strutted in black strappy heels to the back draping, turned just before exiting and waved a kiss to the ladies. They laughed, waved back, and called for more. Stacy was ecstatic over their response. Gilly was the shopper-stopper leaving them hungry for more.

  ───

  RIDING THE FERRY TO BAINBRIDGE, Gilly sat out on the stern in a cool breeze, rain clouds swooping overhead. What a day. The dreadful episode with Maria and Miss. Blackstone, and then the incredible rush from the fashion show. Maybe Maria was right. She had sent Gilly a text that she stopped at the administration office and had withdrawn from school. The fashion industry wasn’t for her.

  Gilly looked at the Seattle skyline disappearing as the clouds let loose. “O’Malley, it’s been quite a day. But one thing I know for sure, I’m on the right path. Designing is for me!”

  The chilly air forced her inside. Sliding into a booth she leaned back, relaxed to the hum of the ferry’s engines, and closed her eyes.

  Her cell interrupted her thoughts. “Hi, Skip. You caught me on the ferry, my eyes closed in a reverie.”

  “You’re a star. Did you know we had a reporter at the show today?” Skip asked.

  “Really?”

  “I was going over the first run of the paper for tomorrow—The Working Girl Fashion show is front and center on the woman’s page, and you, young lady are throwing a foxy kiss to our reporter. What’s with the hair?”

  “What? You don’t like it?” Gilly leaned forward, her eyes wide holding the phone to her ear.

  “Like it. It’s terrific! I emailed the reporter and asked her to send me a copy—in color. Wow!”

  Gilly laughed. “Thanks. It’s been quite a day. I wish you were sitting here with me.” Why did I say that?

  “How about I come over tomorrow, take you to an early lunch at a fantastic, I’ve been told by your mother, Tea Room. I know you have to work tomorrow night and probably have a ton of homework, you fashionista, so I won’t keep you long.”

  “It sounds wonderful. Agatha’s been pining for you. See you tomorrow.”

  Gilly closed her phone, leaned back, and let out a contented sigh.

  “O’Malley, wasn’t that nice of Skip to call?”

  “Aye, it certainly was, Lass.”

  “And he’s coming over tomorrow. Do you think I was being too forward … saying I wished he was here with me?”

  “Not if you meant it.”

  Gilly leaned back and closed her eyes. “Oh, I meant it alright.” Her eyes opened. “Maybe he just misses Agatha.”

  “You and Agatha, Lass.”

  Chapter 34

  ───

  THE RAIN PICKED UP intensity, Seattleites popping into cafés and shops. A few opened umbrellas but most ducked for cover. Rain didn’t bother the natives unless it came down in buckets.

  Hawk darted into Ivar’s, his favorite seafood restaurant next to the ferry terminal. He didn’t see Maria and Gilly, so he asked the hostess for a table overlooking the sound and that he was expecting two women for dinner. Leaning back in his chair he tried reading his professor’s new case assignment, but he couldn’t concentrate. He kept looking up for the girls.

  The restaurant filled with chattering diners and the clinking of dishes, glasses, and silverware. The wait staff scurried around lighting candles on the tables as the clouds deepened to dark gray.

  Hawk caught sight of Maria before she saw him. He knew instantly something was wrong. Her usual engaging smile was absent, and, unless he was mistaken, her beautiful, dark brown eyes appeared red around the edges. Gilly was not with her. He wondered if they had had a spat but immediately dismissed the notion. The friends were dedicated to each other.

  He stood as Maria approached, touched her sleeve, and as she leaned into his touch he circled her in his arms.

  “Hey, what’s the matter?” He held her, stroking her silky black hair.

  “Bad day.” She leaned away from him, searching his face, her eyes seeking his understanding.

  “Here, sit down.” Hawk eased her into a chair, signaled the waitress, and mumbled a drink order.

  “Where’s Gilly? Did something happen to her?”

  “Oh, she’s fine. No, she’s more than fine. She’s a wonderful friend, Hawk. The fashion show was this afternoon. She modeled her designs.”

  “Ah, the new hairdo.”

  “She asked for a rain check on dinner.” Maria looked out at the rain. “Not exactly sure what she meant.” She nodded at the weather outside and tried to smile, but failed.

  The waitress returned with two glasses of white wine and Hawk asked for some time before ordering dinner. He reached across the table, lifting Maria’s hand. “Tell me what happened today.”

  “I withdrew from school,” she whispered looking down into the golden liquid.

  Her eyes were so sad, it was all Hawk could do to keep from jumping up and again holding her in his arms. His heart beating wildly, he asked himself how he could relieve her distress. Later, thinking about his reaction to help Maria, he would say that was the moment he knew he wanted to always be there for her, to be with her forever. He thought he was attracted to Gilly, but obviously that had been an infatuation. This was different. Scary different. Wanting one woman … only one woman … this woman … this dark Spanish beauty. He didn’t give a damn if his father objected. If he had to practice law somewhere else, then so be it.

  “But you love designing. You and Gilly were having such a good time together. Why did you withdraw? Why today?”

  “Miss Blackstone—

  “Baby, you didn’t withdraw because of old Miss Crotchety I hope.”

  “Not really. I should thank her I suppose. She showed me that I didn’t have the passion, like Gilly has, to take the abuse the fashion industry throws at you. Yes, we had a run-in today, and she was brutal in criticizing my design. Gilly said she was out of line.”

  Hawk didn’t realize he was gripping Maria’s delicate hand with both of his, willing his strength into her. He raised her smooth knuckles to his lips. Closed his eyes and then looked into hers. “Maria, there’s more to this than Miss Crotchet. Tell me.”

  Maria lifted his hand to her lips in return and then gently laid it back on the table. “I think I realized … once I saw how passionate Gilly is about designing … that I didn’t feel the same.” She dabbed her eyes with her napkin. “Then doubts crept in as we worked on our assignments. She spent so much time helping me. Her ideas made my sketches come to life … her ideas, not my ideas.”

  “Maybe she overpowered you … didn’t let you create your way … stifling your ideas.”

  “Oh, no, Hawk. That’s not what I’m saying. Watching her in action helped me to realize I was on the wrong path. You’ll never guess when I really became aware I had to make a change.”

  “When?” Hawk saw a spark return to her eyes. It wasn’t a big spark but she was gaining control over what had happened today, learning from it, beginning to pick up the pieces.

  “The spa … working with the guests. I love the transformation that takes place from the time they walk in to the way they float out … relaxed, soft inside, beautiful outside. Hawk, I help them, guide them, show them the way in a few short hours. I make a difference … and, Counselor, I sell product for the spa at the same time.”

  There, there it was. The smile, the eager look, talking about something that made her feel passionate to the tip of her toes, made her want to enthusiastically dive into helping the guests. God, what a beautiful woman. He hadn’t been able to concentrate because his thoughts were filled with her. He only hoped she cared about him the same way. She doesn’t know it, but she’s going to be mine, dad or no dad.

  The rain pelted the window next to their table. Hawk and Maria looked out at the stormy evening then slowly turned back, their eyes locking, filled with tenderness in the soft candle light, hands folded together across the table. Passion rising with the storm. The troubles of the day melting away.

  Relaxing o
ver a second glass of wine and their dinner, Maria asked him about his day. They laughed at some of the situations his professor told the class he had had to deal with in court—persnickety clients, as well as judges. She countered with a few outrageous statements a couple of guests had made about their gambling husbands. How they deserved to be pampered, oiled, and powdered for the evening they had planned for their men—not in the casino but in the bedroom.

  The incoming ferry’s horn sounded and Hawk settled up with the waitress.

  “Hawk, I need my car. It’s not fair to Gilly to be carting me around. I’m imposing and the situation is different now. I’ll still bunk with her.” Maria laughed thinking of the bunk beds. “I’ll see you tomorrow…….Thanks—

  “Hold on. I’ll take you home, you can get your car, and we’ll rendezvous on the next ferry.”

  “Well, I told Gilly I’d stay home tonight, but …” she hesitated. He was holding her hand. “Okay, I’ll call. Let her know that I’m coming over after all.”

  Hawk smiled, planted a quick kiss on her cheek. “Stay here. I’ll pick you up out front. No point in both of us getting soaked.

  ───

  DRIVING THEIR CARS ONTO the nine o’clock ferry, they parked and walked hand-in-hand up the stairs to the passenger deck. Hawk bought two cups of coffee, both black, and joined her outside.

  The rain had passed.

  He set the coffees down, pulled her up into his arms lifting a long, silky black strand of hair behind her ear. Gently tilting her chin he bent his lips to hers. Slowly releasing the embrace, breathing easy, they picked up the coffee cups and sat down watching Seattle recede in the distance. Their actions were natural, as if they had been together for years.

  “Hawk?”

  “Umm?”