Rich Girl (Broken Wishes Series Book 1)

by Joanne Sexton

  “You like him.”

  “He’s nice.”

  “Is there something going on?” she asked, her voice laced with excitement.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean you don’t know?”

  “Exactly that, I don’t know. We had dinner last night, nothing serious.” She shrugged trying to appear nonchalant.

  “Chelsea’s got a boyfriend,” she teased.

  “No, I haven’t. How old are you anyway? Six?” she said a little too fiercely. “Now we have to get going and open Bloom, so I can make a living.”

  Chelsea promptly stormed out the door. Charlotte and Sarah exchanged looks and shared a secret grin before following Chelsea.

  There was much to do. Chelsea completed all the bouquets required for the next morning out the back and away from her sister’s questioning looks. Sarah manned the phones and took orders, while Charlotte served and flirted with her customers. By the time they’d helped the last of them and shut the door, they were exhausted.

  “How do you do this every day by yourself?” Charlotte asked throwing herself dramatically into a nearby chair.

  “I don’t do it by myself. On busy days, like today, I have Lauren to help me,” replied Chelsea, referring to the part-time student who worked for her.

  “Oops, did we steal her job today?”

  “No, she had exams today, which, by the way, shouldn’t you be doing?”

  “No, I only had two and they’re done.”

  “Good. I wouldn’t be happy if I took you away from your studies.”

  “Well you haven’t,” she stated standing up. “Can we go now? I have a craving for a glass of cold wine.”

  Once the day’s takings were counted and all the flowers put safely in the fridges, they headed home. As they walked in the front door, the phone rang again. Chelsea looked at Sarah and Charlotte.

  “Should I answer it?”

  “Yes, and then I think you should write down every phone call,” Sarah told her.

  “Yes,” she answered the phone.

  “Not long now.” The phone went dead.

  “What did he say?” Sarah asked.

  “Not long now.”

  “Write all the calls down now, so you don’t forget.”

  “Okay, I’m really worried now. The calls only happen when I’m home,” she said, frowning. “See there are no messages on my machine. It’s like he knows when I’m here.”

  “So, do you think you should call the police now?”

  “Yes, I do, but after dinner, okay?” Sarah nodded.

  Over dinner and a glass of wine, Charlotte began to grill Chelsea again.

  “Please, tell me, what is going on with Lucas. I’m dying of curiosity.”

  “I already told you, I don’t know.”

  “Have you kissed him?”

  “He kissed me, twice.”

  “I want details.”

  “Are you going to stop pestering me if I do?” she asked, rolling her eyes.

  “Maybe.”

  “The first time I met him, I thought he was rude... but cute.” Chelsea smiled. “I went to the station to report Elle missing and he acted like he couldn’t get me out the door fast enough. Then I saw him again the next day – yesterday – when they came to tell me about Elle.” She stopped as her voice broke a little. It was going to take a while to say her friend’s name without heartache.

  “What happened then?” Charlotte prompted.

  “He was rude to me again.”

  “Then how did you end up kissing him?”

  “How did he end up kissing me, you mean?”

  “Stop using nitpicking as a stalling tactic and spill.”

  “He came back later to ask me some more questions and to apologize. Then he kissed me, apologized again and ran away.”

  “Keep going.”

  “Then he came back last night to apologize again. He seems to do a lot of that, now that I think about it.” She paused. “Oh, and he wanted to show me some photos related to the investigation. He then stayed for dinner and we kissed goodnight, that’s it.”

  “You’re in love with him,” Charlotte declared.

  “What? No, I’m not. Besides I hardly know him. I only met him Wednesday.”

  Now that Charlotte had mentioned it, she wondered if perhaps she was at least falling in that direction. Was it possible to love someone on sight? She was definitely infatuated by his amber eyes and crooked grin.

  “Shouldn’t you be calling him about your calls?” Sarah said reminding her.

  “Okay, I’ll do it now” she said getting up to get his business card and the phone.

  Chapter 13

  Adrian Matthews

  Friday

  Lucas arrived at the station feeling groggy. First his nightmares plagued his already troubled sleep, now, it seemed, Chelsea was going to occupy his mind during slumber in their place. Instead of seeing his parent’s faces on the lifeless forms, he dreamt about her. He should protect her and do only his job, or, he could allow his attraction for her to win the war raging inside his mind. The fact she was part of an ongoing investigation added another complication.

  After pouring a cup of coffee, he found Maggie at her desk.

  “You look like shit,” she told him.

  “So would you, if you slept as little as I have,” he snapped.

  “Testy.” She stared at him for a moment before continuing. “Anyway, I went back to the café yesterday evening and Matthews wasn’t there. The two waitresses working there gave me very similar information to Laura. That he’s a player who tries to pick up all the lookers. One of the girls knew Lindsay. She’s been a regular for years. She also said she hadn’t seen her for a few days either.”

  “What are his movements like?”

  “Both girls very happily informed me that Matthews is in and out a lot all day. He comes in, bakes, maybe does some paperwork and serves a few female customers before leaving again. He does this several times over the day and evening.”

  “So, it’s quite possible that he could be going in and out to visit the victims.”

  “Sure looks that way. What did you turn up?”

  “I saw Mrs. Anderson last night and she told me the last time she saw Lindsay was when they had lunch together that day. Mrs. Anderson left to go back to work first and she assumed that Lindsay followed soon after. When she arrived home that evening, Lindsay wasn’t there. Mrs. Anderson rang her work and they told her Lindsay’s hadn’t returned after lunch. When she rang her phone and it rang in Lindsay’s bag, she grew concerned because she never left the house without it. It was all pretty much what she told the missing persons detectives.”

  “Any info on the mystery guy?”

  “No. I asked about Matthews and showed her a picture, but she didn’t recognize him.”

  “Looks almost certain now that Lindsay’s been abducted by the same man.”

  He nodded grimly. “I’ve organized some CSIs and uniforms to collect her things and fingerprint the place. We’ll probably end up with the same again - no match to the database. If we find any prints, we can see if they match the ones taken from the vics’ houses, then at least we will know for sure that she’s being taken by the same perp.”

  “Worth a shot. Hopefully they will find something new too.”

  “Chelsea recognized Matthews from the café.”

  “Please tell me we have good news.”

  “She remembered Elle seemed interested in Matthews when they were having lunch, but she didn’t know whether or not he was her mystery man.”

  “Perhaps we can bring him in for further questioning now.”

  “I was thinking the same thing. Let’s go and pick him up.”

  They arrived at the café to find it half full of mostly the same faces Lucas had seen previously, enjoying coffee or brunch.

  “Hope he’s here,” Maggie said as they walked up to the counter.

  “Good morning,” Lucas said, smiling at
the girl manning the counter. “Is Adrian Matthews in?’

  “Yes, I’ll get him for you.”

  She disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later Matthews strut out but halted when he saw the detectives.

  “What are you doing here, detectives?”

  “We have some questions we would like to ask you at the station. Could you come with us please?” Maggie asked him.

  “Actually, no, I can’t. I’m busy and have some cakes baking. You can ask me anything you need to right here,” he said without budging.

  “I really don’t think you want us to ask the questions we’re going to in front of your staff and customers,” Lucas said, giving Matthews a steely- eyed scowl.

  “Fine,” he conceded. “I’ll come then. I have nothing to hide.”

  He threw his apron at the girl behind the counter and asked her to watch his baking and then followed the detectives out to their car.

  Matthews initiated small talk on the drive to the precinct but neither detective was interested in chatting with their suspect. When they arrived, they showed him to an interrogation room and offered him a drink, which he refused.

  Maggie pointed to the chair across from where she sat at the table. “Have a seat, Mr. Matthews.”

  “Please, call me Adrian. We don’t need to be formal.”

  “Okay, Adrian,” Lucas said as came to stand behind his chair. “Where were you Wednesday afternoon?”

  “Probably at the markets getting produce like I am every Wednesday afternoon.”

  “And you were there last Wednesday?”

  “Yes, I was.”

  “Do you know Lindsay Anderson?” Lucas asked as Maggie put her photo on the table.

  “Yeah, I’m trying to bag that one.” He turned and looked at Lucas conspiringly. “Didn’t I tell you this already?”

  Maggie shot Lucas a look to calm him and took over the questioning.

  “Mr. Matthews, this is no joking matter. Lindsay is missing.”

  “Oh sorry, ma’am, meant no disrespect.” He flashed a charming smile.

  “What about Elle Sheridan?” she continued, putting down the next photo.

  “I already told you this. I went out with her for a while then moved on.”

  “Did she dump you? Did she piss you off somehow?” Lucas asked.

  “No, I dumped her and moved onto the next lucky lady. Laura, I think, from the café.”

  “What about Kate Miller and Libby Greene?” Maggie asked him.

  “What about them?”

  “Did you know them Mr. Matthews?” she asked again pointing at the photos on the table.

  “Yes, from the café. Why are we going over this again?”

  “Did you go out with them?’

  “No, but not for lack of trying.”

  His unoriginal lines were beginning to irk Lucas.

  “So, they rejected you and you didn’t like this much, did you?” Lucas said.

  He came around from behind the chair to stand over Matthews.

  “No, not really, but plenty where they came from.” He shrugged.

  “Mr. Matthews, do you know Chelsea Summerville?”

  Maggie placed the photo of Chelsea on the table. His face screwed up a little. Lucas wasn’t sure if it was because of the photo or the fact that Maggie refused to use his first name and it annoyed him. This was part of Maggie’s tactic, being formal even when asked not to do so. It seemed to bother people and when people are irritated, they make mistakes.

  “I’ve definitely seen her before. She’s hot.”

  Lucas took a step forward and before he could grab his shirt and heave him out of the chair, Maggie grabbed his arm.

  “Please, Mr. Matthews, just answer the questions. Where have you seen her before?” Maggie asked using her calming tone while Lucas paced around the room, attempting to cool off.

  “She came in the café and ate lunch with Elle a couple times.”

  “Have you been out with her?”

  “No, I was dating Elle at the time and I don’t like to have too many going at once. It’s too hard to keep up. I would love to have a go though.”

  “You’re a real charmer aren’t you, mate,” shouted Lucas. He grabbed Matthews by the collar and heaved him from the chair, shoving him up against the wall, hard.

  “Detective Hudson,” Maggie said. “A word outside please.” He put Adrian down and stormed out of the room. “Please sit down, Mr. Matthews. I’ll be back in a moment,” Maggie said as she shut the door.

  She grabbed Lucas’ arm and dragged him down the hall.

  “What are you doing?” she hissed.

  “That prick had it coming.”

  “Yeah, maybe he did, but you can’t man-handle the suspects. We won’t get anything out of him now.”

  “We aren’t going to get anything out of him anyway. He’s either not our guy, arrogant or stupid. I’m not sure which yet.”

  “Look, I think you have too much personal interest in this investigation. You need to chill out for a bit. Go walk it off and I’ll finish up.”

  “Fine.”

  He strode past her and slammed out the front doors. Maggie went back into the interrogation room.

  “I’m sorry about that, Mr. Matthews.”

  “What’s his problem?” he said nonchalantly. “I haven’t done anything. I don’t really know why I’m here.”

  “You’re here because you knew three women that ended up dead and one that is missing. It’s a bit more than a coincidence.”

  “Well it has to be because I did not kidnap or kill anyone!” He stood up.

  “Please sit down, Mr. Matthews.” After he did, she continued. “So, you don’t know where Lindsay Anderson is?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Where were you Wednesday night?”

  “Out on a date”

  “You seem pretty sure about that. You don’t need to think about it for a minute?”

  “No, I don’t. I was out with this chick called Marissa. I know it was Wednesday because we met at the market and went straight out afterward.”

  “What time did your date finish?”

  “The next morning.” He grinned.

  “I’ll need to check your alibi. What is Marissa’s surname?”

  “Don’t know. I won’t be seeing her again.”

  “That’s very convenient, Mr. Matthews.”

  “Is for me.” Again, the grin.

  “Do you resent people with money?’

  “Um, no, I have plenty of my own.”

  “You’ve been in trouble with the police before, haven’t you?”

  “It was a misunderstanding,” he said between gritted teeth.

  “Violating a restraining order is a misunderstanding?”

  “It was my ex-girlfriend. She thought I was stalking her. I was just trying to win her back.” He gave Maggie a look that made her uneasy. “She dropped the order.”

  “Very convenient again wouldn’t you say?” He didn’t answer, so she went on. “Would you be willing to have a DNA test?’

  “No.”

  “If you have nothing to hide, Mr. Matthews, it would clear you of any suspicion.”

  “I know I didn’t do anything, and I don’t have to prove it to you. You have nothing tying me to these murders. I want a lawyer.”

  “You don’t need one. You’re not under arrest, yet.”

  “Then I don’t have to stay?’

  “No, you’re free to go.”

  “Then I’m outta here. Let’s hope my day’s baking isn’t ruined. Good day, detective,” he said with a wink as he walked out the door.

  Lucas was sitting at his desk, brooding, when she returned.

  “Have you cooled off yet?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’m sorry, Mags. I lost it.”

  “She’s more than a distraction, isn’t she?’ He shrugged. “I hope so. I’d like to see you happy.”

  His lips lifted into a crooked smile. Maggie was about to update Lucas on what
he missed when Captain Shaw strode up.

  “I hear we have a suspect in custody.”

  “No, Boss, we had to let him go. We didn’t have enough to hold him, and he refused a DNA test. When he wanted to lawyer up, I said he didn’t need one, so he left.”

  “Keep on him but find other links too, in case he’s not our guy.”

  “I don’t think he is,” Lucas piped up.

  “Why not?” Shaw and Maggie asked simultaneously.

  “He’s a player and I don’t think he holds a grudge. He just moves on. I think he’s the dumper and not the dumpee. I really don’t think rejection bothers him all that much. I wouldn’t write him off completely, but he just doesn’t seem right to me.”

  “But the one time he was rejected by a girlfriend he stalked her. Maybe he’s escalated.”

  “I still don’t think it’s him. He doesn’t really come off as the shy type.”

  “Maybe he just said that to them, so he didn’t have to meet anyone, to draw suspicion away from him. He’s very arrogant and could be someone who’d take the vics’ IDs and leave them with the bodies for us to find, to taunt us. The perp would be pretty sure of himself,” replied Maggie.

  “Whoever it is, he’s making it easy for us to ID them, which would suggest he thinks he’s smarter than us. He also somehow manages to get his hands on the IDs undetected unless he makes them bring it when he takes them. We found no fingerprints except those of the vics on both IDs and belongings. Anyway, I still think Matthews is too loud and stands out too much. Everybody knows he’s a player, so it would be difficult for him to hide. I just think our man would be inconspicuous.”

  “You could be onto something there,” Shaw said. “You two keep at it but not this weekend. You’re both supposed to be off and I don’t want to hear that either of you have been here or are doing anything on this investigation. I want you to do whatever it is you do on your time off and come back Monday revitalized. Peterson and Stewart are on, so they can continue with interviews and canvassing. I have also set up a hotline for calls and tips and all the major news channels are running a story tonight. We are working on this around the clock.”