“The woman we nearly put in jail and the woman who’s dating my ex-husband are sisters?” Megan asked. “That cannot be a coincidence.”
“If it is…” Nico shook his head. “No. Life is weird, but it’s not that weird. Call Detective Bisset, and let’s get these two to the hospital.”
Chapter 25
Drew Bisset sat across from Nico, Megan, and Katherine in the waiting room of the hospital, which was buzzing with dozens of Dusis from all over the Central Coast.
“Your instincts were right on,” Drew said. “Alicia Calvo changed her name legally to Alice Kraft when she entered her first graduate program. No one questioned it because the assumption was she didn’t want people to think she was trading on her family name while she was trying to distinguish herself in academia.”
“That’s very understandable,” Katherine said. “I know of a similar instance with one of my undergraduate students. Her father is a very prominent actor with an unusual name.”
“Who?” Megan asked.
Katherine frowned. “I can’t tell you; that’s why she changed her name.”
“Oh, I guess that makes sense.” Megan looked back at Drew. “I imagine this further reinforces your theory that Angela Calvo is out to get us.”
“You ruined her sister’s career and tried to put her in jail,” Drew said. “I have a feeling she took it personally.”
“What have you been able to find out?”
“I haven’t been able to get a court order for her phone records yet, but I’ve been asking around. She lives alone. Her neighbors can’t really say what her movements are, so none of them can confirm that she was home the night of the theft, but none of them could remember if she’d gone out either.”
“It was weeks ago,” Nico said. “We’ll probably never get those vines back.”
Drew raised a finger. “On that, I wouldn’t be too sure. I called around and found the number of one of the groundskeepers at the Dolphin Cove Resort. One of our sergeants has a sister who works in management. According to this groundskeeper, they were using the greenhouse on the property to grow all the seasonal bedding plants for the place up until a few weeks ago.”
Nico sat up straight. “A few weeks ago?”
“The groundskeeper couldn’t say for sure what day the manager came in and said they’d be ordering from an outside buyer for bedding plants, just that he and the other gardener had to turn in their keys because they were going to renovate the building or something.”
Nico’s face was nearly glowing. “She has my vines. They might still be alive.”
Drew shrugged. “I’m crossing my fingers, man. I’d love to barge in and look for you, but I have a feeling I’ll need a warrant for that, and I don’t know if a judge will grant one with the evidence we have.”
“Could someone at the resort maybe… help you along with that?” Megan asked.
“I doubt it. Calvo might not have a warm-and-fuzzy reputation among the growers around here, but they freaking love her at the resort. They thought they were going to get shut down, and she came in with a mountain of money and started upgrading everything. Kept all the staff on. Even gave them so-called ‘loyalty bonuses.’ She’s got a lot of fans over there.”
“Shit.” Megan slumped in her seat. “So what’s our next step?”
Drew said, “I’ve got a visit to your ex on the schedule. I’m going to press him on the truck theft. See if he might have been the driver that night or if he can give Miss Calvo an alibi of some kind. I’m avoiding her for right now. I already know she doesn’t like me; it might be good to make her wonder what I’m up to.”
“I have an idea about the vines.” Nico looked at Megan. “I’d say it’s a combination of Southern charm and brute force.”
Megan smiled. “Luckily, I am a professional at both those tactics. Give me details.”
Katherine blinked and sat up straight with the most brilliant smile on her face. “It’s going to be soon. It’s a girl.”
Toni was exhausted when Megan and Katherine finally got a turn to see her the next morning. They’d all seen the baby for a few minutes the night before, when Henry had carried Alida Rose Durant out to the waiting room to make her grand entrance. She’d been born just before midnight with a head of thick black curls and a voice worthy of the Dusi family name. She’d shown up for a few minutes only to settle back in with Mom and Dad, who were both pretty exhausted, according to Henry, but very happy.
“Alida is Henry’s grandmother’s name,” Toni said. “Rose for my mom.”
“It’s a gorgeous name.” Katherine seemed to have a permanent smile attached to her face. “Everything went well with the delivery?”
“Oh yeah, they said all this really motivational stuff like ‘you’re doing great’ and ‘it’s like you were born to push’ and I puked on two of them, which made me even better at pushing if you ask me.” Toni rolled her eyes. “Once. Once is good. Once is enough. I can already tell she’ll be a handful.”
Alida was swaddled in pastel hospital blankets, but her dark hair was covered with a small cap in bright orange with a tiny Dusi Brothers Auto Shop patch on it.
“Please, she’s an angel.” Megan held the little girl against her chest, Alida’s already fat cheek pressed against her skin. “There’s nothing like that feeling. I miss my babies.”
“I miss sleep.” Toni looked it. Her face was pale and her eyes were drooping. “She won’t sleep any longer than a couple of hours.”
“That’s pretty normal,” Megan said. “Just give it a few days and she’ll probably stretch that out to three or four.”
“I’m trying to nurse, but we’ll see how it goes. She’s a little bitty thing.” Toni shook her head. “I don’t know how she was taking up so much space in there.”
Katherine nodded. “Well, I’m very happy that your organs will all be able to return to their normal position now. It’s probably much easier to breathe.”
“It is, thanks. I’m pretty happy about that.” Her eyes started drooping. “So what did we find out about Alice Kraft?”
“Your instinct was completely correct,” Katherine said. “Alice Kraft was born Alicia Calvo and changed her name when she started her career in academia. She and Angela are sisters. Quite close, according to gossip sites online.”
“So we pissed off the two Calvo girls,” Toni said. “They have to be behind all this.”
“It’s starting to look like Angela initiated a relationship with Rodney in order to get close to us. Rodney probably told her about the vines after Adam told him. She saw an opportunity and jumped on it.”
“And jumped fast,” Toni said. “That seems poorly planned. Why rush into something like that?”
“Maybe they were worried that Nico and Henry were ready to plant the vines and they were running out of time. I think the man being killed in the truck tells us it was a rush job and things went very wrong.”
“They’re playing it cool though.” Katherine took a sip of coffee. “Alice Kraft hasn’t dropped her appeal with the university. Angela Calvo has stayed right in Moonstone Cove even though she has businesses up north.”
“They’re arrogant,” Megan said. “Think about it. Even after they shot that man, after they stole the vines, Angela still wanted to be friendly with me. She pushed to go to lunch and meet my children.” She shook her head. “What is wrong with her?”
“I told you,” Katherine said. “Sociopath.”
When Megan got home around lunch, it was to an unexpected and unpleasant scene. Trina was standing in the front yard, shoulders squared against her father, who stood glowering at his oldest daughter.
Even more alarming, Megan saw Angela Calvo sitting in the front seat of Rodney’s convertible.
She parked her car and went to intervene, keeping an eye on Angela, who appeared to be on her phone and ignoring the confrontation.
“What is going on here?” Megan nudged Rodney’s car, setting off the alarm.
“This
fucking thing!” He shut it off and pointed a finger at Megan. “It only does that around you! You’re doing it somehow.”
Megan spread her hands. “And how am I supposed to be doing that?” She looked at the keys in her right hand. “Do I have a remote for your car I don’t know about? Rodney, calm down.”
“No, you calm down! It’s Saturday and it’s my weekend with the kids. I can call the sheriff if you want me to.”
Trina said, “Adam and Cami said they don’t want to see him. And they don’t want to meet his girlfriend.”
“Well, Rodney, that’s unfortunate, but I hardly think this is something you want to call the sheriff for. Adam had a hard week. It would probably be better if you tried to call him instead of—”
“They’re under eighteen and they have to see me.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
Just for that, Megan set off his car alarm again.
“Fucking— Aaah!” Rodney punched the remote, his face turning an alarming shade of red. “I want my kids!”
“Are you trying to force our seventeen-year-old and fifteen-year-old to spend time with you when they do not want to?”
“This is parental alienation, Megan, and I’m not going to be a sucker anymore. If you don’t give me my visitation, then I’m taking you to court. I’m getting all my child support pulled!”
“I don’t think it works that way,” Megan glanced at Angela, who was watching the interchange with very keen eyes. “And I’m not really sure you want to go to court.” Megan stepped closer. “Do you, Rodney?” She looked at Trina. “You asked Cami and Adam?”
“Yeah. They said they don’t want to see him.” Trina shrugged. “It’s none of my business why, and it’s not my job to force them.”
Rodney’s car door opened and shut. Angela walked up the steps and put a hand on Rodney’s arm. “Rodney, I think we should go.”
He turned to her, his eyes wide. “But you’re the one—”
“I think this must be some misunderstanding between you and Adam,” she said. “You need to talk to him.” She looked at Megan and Trina from the corner of her eye. “I don’t think we should put Megan and Trina in the middle of this.”
Megan looked Angela in the eye. “Thank you. I’m sure you understand how important it is for older sisters to protect their younger siblings.”
Angela blinked, and Megan wondered if she’d just made a big mistake.
Shit.
“Agreed,” Angela said. “If Adam and Cami need space, we’ll give them space.”
Rodney looked gobsmacked. “But I was doing what—”
“I want to meet the kids so much.” Angela put on a simpering smile. “But I can wait for the right time, okay?”
Should she set off Rodney’s alarm again? Oh, why not?
“Oh, for the love of—”
“Give me the remote.” Angela reached for it, shooting a look at Megan, who only raised her eyebrows innocently. “Such a weird malfunction.”
“Isn’t it?” Megan said. “And so loud.”
“We’ll leave now,” Angela said. “We don’t want to be bad neighbors.”
“I’d hope not,” Megan said. “You just never know when neighbors might surprise you.”
Angela cocked her head, still smiling. “You’re right, Megan. You just never know.”
They backed away and got back in their car. Was Rodney favoring his right leg? That was odd. When he had jogging injuries, it was usually his left that bothered him.
Weird.
Wait.
Why did she notice the limp? There was something—
“Well, that was super weird,” Trina said. “And that woman gives me the creeps.”
Megan didn’t take her eyes off the convertible until it was around the block. Then she turned to her daughter. “You are absolutely not allowed to let the kids go with either of them, and if your father ever threatens to call the police or the sheriff on you, you tell them you’re calling Detective Drew Bisset, do you hear me? I’m programming his number into your phone.”
Trina’s eyes were wide. “What’s going on?”
Megan put an arm around her daughter and guided her back into the house. “I think your father may have finally gotten in way over his head.”
Chapter 26
Nico pulled one of the curls in the dark brown wig Beth had fastened to Megan’s head.
Megan batted his hand away. “Don’t mess it up.”
“Don’t worry,” Beth said. “It’s not going anywhere.”
“How did you learn how to do this?” Megan checked her face from all angles, but between the wig and the contouring makeup, she looked ten years younger and like a completely different person. “That is so weird.”
“You mean amazing?” Beth said.
Megan put a hand on the girl’s arm. “I really do mean amazing. I don’t look the same at all.”
“And you have a different ID and everything.” Nico handed her the Georgia driver’s license with the name Betty Lou Baker on it.
Megan looked at the ID. “Are you kidding me? Just how backward do y’all think we are? This license is so obviously a fake.”
“We don’t know what your strange Southern ways are,” Nico said. “It’s enough for the interview at least.”
“This is so cool.” Beth was nearly bouncing. “It’s like I’m working for the CIA or something.”
“Not the CIA,” Megan said. “And not cool. This is a necessity, and it’s dangerous. I would not be doing any of this if Detective Bisset had been able to get a legal warrant to search Dolphin Cove Resort.”
“You mean La Delphine?” Beth put on a French accent and batted her eyelashes. “Ze most elegant and sophisticated resort in ze—how do you say?—backwater of Moonstone Cove?”
Megan looked at Nico. “The sarcasm is strong in this one. You must be proud.”
Nico patted Beth’s head. “Exceedingly.” He looked Megan up and down. “You ready for your interview, Betty Lou?”
“I am getting you back for that.”
“Are you telling me there isn’t a single Betty Lou in your family?”
“Not born in the past seventy years!” Megan stood and lifted her chin. “We may have our Sarah Janes, our Ella Laurences, our Ginny Roses. We have James Faulkners, Reese Faulkners, and James Reeses. But we do not have Betty Lous.”
“I feel like there’s probably a reason and I’ve broken some social norm, but I don’t really want to know why.” Nico took her hand and started walking toward the front door. “Come on, Atlanta. You can yell at me in the car.”
It was Monday, and while the previous two days had passed quietly, it was only because Drew had been stymied at every turn investigating Angela Calvo. The judge turned down his request for phone records. He also failed to get a warrant to search the grounds of the hotel.
In addition to all that, the State Bureau of Investigation had given Drew’s captain a call and asked what his interest was in the daughter of a sitting state representative and the niece of the governor.
“So the powers that be want to protect Angela Calvo.” Nico opened Beth’s car door for Megan. “I don’t suppose they want much about Alice Kraft getting out either.”
“Seeing state law enforcement rally around Angela makes me wonder if it was useless to even try to convict Alice Kraft of anything in the criminal courts.” Megan watched him walk around to the driver’s side of the old Honda. She continued when he opened the door. “The university ethics committee is probably the only body in authority who’s ever held either of those women accountable.”
“It makes me wonder just how much Whit Fairfield told Calvo about his plan to steal my caves too.” Nico glanced across the car at her as he drove down the hill. “We only have her word for it that she wasn’t in on everything. By the time the truth came out, Fairfield was dead and there was no one to contradict her.”
“She doesn’t mind using people,” Megan said. “She could have easily manipulated Ruben Montenegr
o like she’s manipulating Rodney right now.” Ruben was the foreman who’d ended up killing Whit Fairfield, though he claimed the bullet was in self-defense after Fairfield threatened him.
“The only way to find out is to color outside the lines a little,” Nico said. “And I think you, Toni, and Katherine are pretty good at that.”
Except it was just Megan coloring outside the lines. Toni was heading home from the hospital, and Katherine felt like something was stifling her visions. She’d been trying to meditate for days and nothing was happening.
So Southern manners and brute force it was.
“Your résumé is impressive.” The housekeeping manager, Mrs. Courtney Vink, smiled at her. “And your experience with historic homes is extremely important at La Delphine. Much of the hotel is a historic landmark.”
“I read that in the brochure!” Megan folded her hands in her lap and poured on the charm. “You know, when you work at a place like that—like when I worked at the Biltmore Estate—it almost feels like a privilege to care for that space. Not like a job at all. Like a mission.”
Mrs. Vink’s eyes were nearly teary. “I feel exactly the same way.”
I knew you would. Megan kept her smile cheery and her expression guileless.
Mrs. Vink continued, “And I love that you speak French. Though obviously in this area, Spanish is much more widely spoken—”
“I’m working on that.” Megan laid the accent on thick. “I pick up languages very easily, so I am definitely working on Spanish.”
“Your accent is so charming. We don’t get many people from the South here.” Her smile froze a little. “Not everyone has as keen an ear as I do, so you may have to repeat yourself every now and then.”
“Oh, that’s just fine,” Megan said. “I don’t mind at all.” She looked around the windowless office. “I don’t suppose I could get a tour of the place, could I? I’d love to take some pictures for my mama and get a better idea of what kind of establishment it is.” Megan squinted her eyes and said, “S’il vous plaît, Madame Vink?”
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