“Listen up, ladies,” Toady barked. “No. One. Is. Coming. Back. I promise you. And I always keep my word.”
“I thought Help had Dilwen in his sights. You hear anything about a warrant?” Fab asked me.
“Once Creole hears about today, he’ll be in contact with Help and the chief, and you’ll be my first call,” I said.
“It can’t happen soon enough.” Fab shuddered.
I grabbed my water bottle and held it out to Xander. “You okay? Put this on your face.”
He rolled the bottle across his cheeks and took a long drink. “I thought I was going to puke. Then die.” He made a strangled noise. “That was intense.”
“I apologize.” I patted his arm. “I’ll understand if you want to quit, and I promise to help you get a tamer job.” I smiled weakly. “You’ve grown on me. The last thing I want is for anything to happen to you.”
“I’m staying.”
“Think about it. You change your mind, let me know,” I said.
“For now, everyone stays put,” Fab ordered. “We don’t know that Dilwen and his friends aren’t lying in wait. They had to have backup weapons inside the vehicle.” She pointed to Toady. “That includes you.” To Xander, she said, “You watch out the window, and if anyone shows up, yell.” She grabbed her phone and went into the bathroom, then came back out in jeans and tennis shoes and went out to the patio.
I grabbed my phone and sought out my desk, sitting back in the chair as I called Creole. “How far away from the office are you?” I asked when he answered.
“Didier and I are here at the Boardwalk.”
“We’re all right. But there was a problem.”
“We’re on our way.” I heard him yell, “Didier, we’ve got to go.”
“You need to be careful.” I told him what happened.
“I’ll call Help and find out what’s taking so long in arresting this bastard. Though it would be better all around if he ended up dead.”
Fab came back inside and went into drill sergeant mode. She contacted Billy to get the gate closed, passing off the damage as a hit and run. He knew it wasn’t the whole story but didn’t question her. He’d get the details from his roommate, since Xander was still living at Billy’s place.
Creole and Didier showed up right behind Billy.
I went downstairs with Xander, asking Billy to keep an eye on the young man. He nodded and enlisted his help, reassuring me that he’d see Xander got home.
“Talked to Help,” Creole announced. “His crew is waiting on a warrant for Dilwen. He’ll be in custody in a few hours.”
Toady pulled Fab aside and whispered something, and she nodded. He waved and left.
“Toady was pretty much a superhero today,” I told Didier, who’d come over and put his arm around me.
It wasn’t until a couple of hours later—when two armed guards arrived, courtesy of Caspian—that I realized how busy the guys had been on the phone.
“Caspian’s not happy that Dilwen’s still alive,” Creole said as we watched the men roll through the gate.
“Once he’s in jail, a whole lot of people will be a lot happier.”
Chapter Forty
The week leading up to the re-wedding of Jimmy and Madeline Spoon had been unnerving. Mother was hinting at a big announcement. I felt fairly certain she wasn’t pregnant, so it was anyone’s guess. The invitations had gone out, along with a threat from Mother that if anyone attempted a weasel trick to get out of showing, it would shorten their lifespan.
“If this is what my wife wants…” Spoon had said when I questioned him about them renewing their vows. I felt certain it wasn’t another date setup. Creole grumbled, hoping there wouldn’t be a ton of people we didn’t know. I reassured him that it was family only, and he snorted. “Sure.”
Mother went into her usual attention-to-detail, some would say bossy, mode and left nothing to chance, even choosing Fab’s and my dresses, which sent Fab into a hissy fit. She lightened up somewhat when the two put their heads together and Mother listened to her suggestions. I tuned the whole drama out. “Just let me know where to show up and sit.”
Mother snapped, “You’re not to suck one bit of romance out of the day.”
I mentally saluted and conveyed via a convincing smile that I’d behave.
* * *
Fab wanted the days after the meeting with Dilwen to be business as usual, but I didn’t want to leave the house while the man was on the loose. The home and business compounds each had round-the-clock guards and would stay that way until Caspian was satisfied his daughter was safe. Neither Didier nor Caspian relented on the issue.
Three days after our encounter with Dilwen, Help called with an update, and Creole invited him to dinner. Then Creole called Didier and extended the same invitation to him and Fab, reminding him the information would be better firsthand.
We gathered around the table on the patio after the dishes had been cleared away, the guys having consumed a large amount of food and beer. I’d pushed mine around on my plate, having nursed a queasiness since the run-in with Dilwen.
Creole had banned any talk of the news until after we ate. Fab sighed in frustration, wanting the update as soon as Help walked in the door, but didn’t say anything. Didier winked at her, which she responded to by snuggled into him.
“You’re up, buddy,” Creole said to Help.
“Got the warrant for Dilwen, went to arrest him, and he’s nowhere to be found,” Help said, his relaxed look gone, replaced with irritation. “We ran down every known address. We assume he got wind of his impending arrest and skipped town.”
“He can’t hide forever,” Creole said with conviction. “He’s too recognizable.”
In the meantime… I was afraid to ask.
“What about the bodyguards?” Fab asked.
“Skipped along with their boss,” Help said. “Whether they turn up alive or not depends on how much the men know. Dilwen wouldn’t want them questioned. It’s highly likely the District Attorney would offer them a deal.”
“Great…more looking over our shoulders,” Fab said.
“The beach house was a gold mine.” Help nodded to Fab and me. “If Dilwen had gotten there ahead of us, he’d’ve had the place torched. He wouldn’t have taken the chance that he didn’t find everything.”
“There was enough evidence to make your case?” Creole asked.
“Dilwen will be behind bars for a long time. There were lots of surprises, but the most surprising lead was the discovery of a boat that Dilwen owned in a dead man’s name and used to transport drugs. Since it was parked a few spaces down from Spoon’s, I used that connection.” He winked at me. “Spoon allowed an undercover cop to camp out on the back of his boat and track the comings and goings.”
“This is where you tell me that you did everything by the book, so every piece of evidence can be used against him,” Creole prompted.
Help snorted. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
I watched in fascination as the two faced off and conversed in silent code. After a moment, both appeared to relax.
Didier rose and asked for a show of hands for who wanted refills, then went inside and came back with more beer. Fab and I had declined.
“Do you happen to know how Dr. A hooked up with Nicolette?” Fab asked.
“They met at a party up in Miami right after she’d had a blow-up with Dilwen,” Help said. “I can see how the doc would be interested. Nicolette appeared to be the total package—brains, beauty. Except everything about her was fake, including her name, which was buried under several aliases. I bet not even Dilwen knew. It would’ve come as a shock for him to learn that his beautiful model girlfriend was a con artist.”
“Nicolette and Dilwen break up,” Didier mused, “and she stays in the drug business? Wouldn’t that encroach on his territory?”
“If Nicolette hadn’t overdosed, she was headed to a showdown with her ex. He had found out, and it wouldn’t have ended well
for her or the doctor.”
“Tell me you found something to get the charges against Dr. A dismissed,” I said.
“Nicolette documented every thought she ever had, which I wouldn’t recommend that anyone do, but it will end up helping your friend,” Help said. “By the time of the split with Dilwen, she’d developed a serious habit, which Dilwen, to his credit, objected to. That was the catalyst for the breakup. It’s my opinion that they would’ve gotten back together eventually, and that wouldn’t have ended well for your doctor friend either.”
“You can prove Nicolette was a dealer and using?” Creole asked.
“Yep,” Help said in a tone that left no doubt. “Like I said, she documented everything, including her drug transactions—customer names, quantities, even drop-off preferences.”
“There was no way this situation was going to end well,” I said. “If she was developing a habit, she was headed for a downhill slide. I’ve seen it happen, and it’s sad.”
“Now we wait to hear of an arrest?” Didier tapped his fingers on the table.
“And hope Dilwen doesn’t get bail,” Creole said.
“You’re quiet,” I said, staring at Fab with a certain amount of suspicion.
“I’m in charge of planning the Spoon wedding reception, which keeps me out of trouble.” Fab grinned at Didier.
Creole told Help about the re-wedding.
“My invite must’ve gotten lost.” Help mock-frowned.
“Hmm…” I checked out Help. “Cute. Single. You’re invited. We’ll make sure you meet Mother. She’s a one-woman dating service.”
The guys laughed as Didier told Help about Mother’s past fix-up schemes.
Chapter Forty-One
“Hurry up!” Fab nudged my arm. “We don’t have all day.”
Mother had chosen to have her nuptials at the same beachfront resort as before. She’d reserved rooms, splitting up the sexes—men in one suite and women in the other. Fab and I had wanted to stay at our own houses, but Mother had a hissy fit. As our wedding gift to her, she’d asked that we go along with her plans, extracting the same promise from the guys.
The clock was ticking, and soon, the three of us needed to be downstairs and on the beach for the late-morning wedding. Mother had assured us that it wouldn’t be mind-numbingly hot because even the weather didn’t cross her.
“Honey, what’s going on?” Mother asked as she walked into the bedroom. “You’re still getting dressed, dear?”
Mother had chosen all above-the-ankle dresses. Mine was white lace, with cap sleeves and a fitted bodice. The silk skirt had a slit that came up to mid-thigh, and the bodice was partially backless. As for Fab, her dress also white, a sexy twist on a silhouette and one-shouldered with a cut-out back. Mother wore her original wedding dress, an elegant, ankle-length, rose-colored A-line dress, low-cut with lace straps.
“We’re almost ready,” Fab said to Mother, a huge smile on her face, and kissed her cheek. “I’m very happy for you and Spoon.”
“Me too.” I blew her a kiss. “Where are the shoes?” I looked around for the boxes.
There was a knock at the door. Mother opened it and received a bag with a flower shop logo on the side. “The answer to your question just arrived.” Reaching inside, she handed Fab and me each a small white box.
I opened the lid, and inside lay two fresh flower anklets made with plumeria wrapped around white satin ribbon. “These are beautiful,” I said, hooking one on the end of my finger, holding it up, and inhaling the tropical scent.
“Since we’re going to be out on the sand, I thought barefoot would be better and these would be perfect.”
I sat on the couch next to Fab and slid the flowers over my toes and onto my ankle. Beside me, Fab did the same, and we both held our legs out.
“Come on, ladies, it’s not good to be late for a wedding.” Mother motioned for us to hustle out the door and into the waiting elevator.
Downstairs, we entered a private room with a triple set of doors that opened onto the sand. The guests, all recognizable faces, appeared mildly bored and were three-deep at the open bar, drinks in their hands.
Mother’s assurance that it would be only family was inaccurate by at least fifty people. Everyone we’d met since moving to the Cove was in attendance, and that included the poker group she’d established at Jake’s. Apparently, either today wasn’t a workday or everyone had called in sick, including my employees.
Kevin had also garnered an invitation, which surprised me but shouldn’t have, as he was Liam’s uncle. I hadn’t seen the deputy since that day in his cottage. I’d heard via Mac that Kevin had confessed all to his superior, not relishing the idea that Rain might come back and blackmail him. He’d been on desk duty for a short time and was now back on the active roster.
The Cottages tenants were noticeably absent—maybe they’d been drunk when Mother went to deliver the invitations and she thought better of the idea. Whatever the reason, I was happy because their presence would have been a wild card.
All the guys, the groom included, were outfitted in white suit pants and dress shirts and standing outside at the head of a flower-bedecked aisle that ran down to the water. Spoon pointed out our arrival, and they came back inside. Creole tugged me to his side, brushing my cheek with his lips.
A waiter handed out glasses of champagne.
Caspian called for everyone’s attention. “I’d like to offer the first toast to the beautiful bride.” He tipped his glass at Mother, who smiled but appeared uncomfortable at suddenly being the center of attention.
Spoon gave her a crushing hug.
Mac approached Mother’s side and waved frantically to me, a big grin on her face. Mother had asked her to be the wedding coordinator, seeing to all the last-minute details, and she’d been ecstatic. Leaving nothing to chance, Mother had also chosen her dress, and she looked as elegant as I’d ever seen her in a pearl pink A-line dress with fitted bodice.
Mac whispered in Mother’s ear before producing a microphone. “Attention, everyone.”
Everyone went silent, and all eyes turned to her.
“There are boats waiting onshore to take you out to a platform in the Gulf, where the ceremony will be held.” Mac waved her hand in the direction of the beach. “Follow the flower-lined path. Shoes are optional.”
Everyone laughed and headed out the door.
Hopefully, this platform wasn’t too far out in the water, in case we needed to swim back for whatever reason. I kept the thought to myself. At a Spoon-Westin event, one had to plan for contingencies.
When I reached the shore, I spotted an extraordinarily large white platform rocking gently on the water. It had been built with wraparound bench seating and held enough chairs to accommodate all the guests. At the far end, a flower gazebo had been constructed for the bride and groom to stand under. The entire area was covered in white umbrellas, and each corner contained a planter filled with tropical flowers. Hibiscuses, a family favorite.
“It’s so beautiful,” I whispered to Mother. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
“I knew you’d love it.” She held my cheeks and kissed me.
“You did an amazing job.” Fab smiled at Mother. “Isn’t it time for a fight to break out?” she whispered to me.
I flashed her the “shush” face. Mother also heard and gave her a “behave” stare.
An older gentleman appeared at Mother’s side. “It’s a pleasure.” He shook her hand. It took me a minute to recognize him as the preacher who performed Mother’s first ceremony. “Are we ready?” He winked at me.
I nudged Mother, who hooked her arm through his and led him away. After a few words, he headed down the beach. She called Liam over, and they had a short conversation. Then Liam took charge, corralling the stragglers and herding them onto the boats.
It didn’t take long to motor all the guests out to the platform, leaving just the immediate family on the shore.
“Before we get the ceremony started, I
have something to confess.” Mother fidgeted and twisted her fingers, in direct contradiction to the sneaky smile on her face.
Bridal jitters?
“You’re pregnant,” joked Brad, who held Mila, wearing a pink ballerina dress, in his arms.
“You’ve decided not to get married…again,” Fab said.
Didier was standing by her side, his arm slung over her shoulders. He smirked.
“That’s not it,” I said. “She wouldn’t have sent the guests motoring across the water then.”
“Don’t be mad,” Mother started again.
Brad groaned. “Do I want my daughter to hear this?”
Mila beamed at her dad, patting his cheeks. He smiled back at her laughing face.
Spoon stepped up next to his wife, putting his arm around her.
What already?
“Surprise.” Mother threw her arms wide. “There’s going to be a wedding all right, but it’s Madison and Creole’s.”
You could hear a pin drop—it didn’t matter that we were standing on the beach. I shook my head slightly, certain I hadn’t heard right. Then Fab’s look of shock registered.
Creole croaked, “What?”
“You can’t blame me, really,” Mother said. “The two of you forced me into doing something drastic. I couldn’t bear the thought of the two of you sneaking off and eloping. I was beginning to have nightmares—was this the day I’d get the call?”
The Westins weren’t easily stunned into silence. This was a first.
“I planned the perfect wedding for the two of you. Everything that I knew you’d love.”
“Breathe,” Fab whispered and shoved her hand into the middle of my back, rubbing gently.
“Mother, you didn’t.”
Was that me? No… Brad’s shocked voice drifted through my haze.
“I got the idea from Madison,” Mother said defensively. “She’s always making things happen, and I thought I’d take a lesson from her.” She paused and continued. “You’re going to love it,” she insisted again. “It’s white. Beachy. Barefoot, even. Seashells. Everything that you would choose for yourself.”
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