Orange Blossom Brides

by Tara Randel

  She spent the next hour watching the door, praying that Max would come back with good news. The committee had finished now. Jewel placed odds and ends in her box, preparing to leave. Lilli still hadn’t heard from Max.

  Okay, don’t panic. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t crumble, although she’d lost any calm she possessed the minute Max had revealed the distressing news. Unless Max returned and told her the whole thing was a mistake, that the entire collection was together, safely locked away once again, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.

  A mistake. It had to be. Why else would Max be taking so long? When he finally returned, his brows angled over stormy eyes as he shook his head. Her stomach sank.

  She closed her eyes. Now what?

  She opened her eyes to find Max standing in front of her, his voice low. “We’ll figure this out together.”

  If it hadn’t been for this ridiculous situation, she’d have been thrilled to hear him say that they’d do something important together. Anything together. But not now. Part of the collection. Gone. Under her leadership and on Max’s watch.

  “I’ve put this place on lockdown. No one leaves until we find the jewelry.”

  Lilli placed a hand over her sick stomach. How on earth would she explain this to her mother? She’d trusted Lilli to run this event smoothly.

  Max clapped his hands. “Can I get everyone’s attention, please?”

  The noise in the room lowered as all eyes moved to Max.

  “I’m afraid we have a problem. Two pieces of the Wingate collection have gone missing and we’d like everyone to stay put until the police arrive. ”

  The startled reaction of the women began slowly and quickly picked up speed. Voices grew louder and heads turned toward her.

  “Is it true?” Mary Gibbons asked as she hurried to Lilli. “Is there a problem with the Wingate collection?”

  So much for holding off panic.

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Ladies.” Max held up his hands to calm the group down, but it was too late.

  “I told you this would happen. Didn’t I say if I wasn’t in charge something bad would happen?” Sissy Vandermere went into full agitator mode. “If I’d been coordinator, I never would have put Lilli in charge or hired Max. He was a delinquent in his youth, you know.”

  Rapid-fire questions zinged Lilli’s way. “I don’t have any answers, except to tell you that there is an ongoing search. Let’s hope this is all a misunderstanding.”

  Lilli tried to assure the ladies that things would be fine while Max answered questions. Some of the women brought their purses to Max to show that they didn’t have the jewelry. The noise level grew louder as the minutes went by, much like a thumping bass from a teenager’s car, giving Lilli a steady headache that grew worse each second.

  Trying to appease the women, Lilli and Mrs. R. made the rounds, assuring them that they weren’t suspects. Once the police arrived, the situation would be settled and they could all go home.

  The women rallied round, making the best of it, but still no sign of the jewelry. Klaus returned. He’d had his trusted employees search the club and still, nothing. Max ran his hand through his hair when the chief strode into the room.

  “Got a call about a robbery.”

  “Part of the Wingate collection.” Max explained what had transpired leading up to the current moment.

  “I’ll get my men on it.” He eyed Max. “You, too. Use all your resources.”

  As the men went to work, Jewel came up beside Lilli. “You and Max make a great team.”

  Lilli sighed. “Yeah, we managed to lose part of a priceless collection.”

  “The point is, you’re working together.”

  “I wish,” Lilli muttered. Why couldn’t she and Max have a normal relationship? From the way things had gone the night they first met and she ended up in a police car until tonight, she couldn’t say things between them had gotten much better. She headed for her belongings, knowing she wouldn’t get any sleep tonight. On the way, Marisa intercepted her with Chandler, in tow. “Here’s the silent auction list.”

  Lilli took the paper. “Thanks.”

  “Sorry. I know I should have gotten it to you sooner.”

  Marisa being nice only made the night even stranger.

  Frustrated, she grabbed her tote, stuffing the paper Marisa gave her inside when the canvas strap slipped from her trembling hand. The contents spilled onto the floor beside her. Marisa, still hovering, went down on her knees, along with Chandler, to gather the spilled belongings. When she did, Chandler bumped against Marisa and her purse slipped down her arm to fall beside Lilli’s, her belongings now mixed in with Lilli’s.

  “Really, Chandler,” Marisa groused. “Be careful. You nearly knocked me over.”

  “Sorry, babe.” He leaned over the purse contents, taking up all the room as he began to scoop it all together.

  “It’s okay,” Lilli told him. “We can get this.”

  “Sure. Sorry.”

  Chandler rested back on his heels to let the ladies straighten out the mess. As Lilli gathered up her paperwork, a shiny object rolled toward her. Marisa gasped and Lilli just stared.

  “Oh, my gosh,” Marisa exclaimed. “That looks just like the picture of the ring from the Wingate collection.”

  Lilli stared at the ring. It looked exactly like the ring from the collection. How on earth had it gotten here? And why did it look as if it had fallen from her bag? As the realization hit her, she suddenly felt sucked into a time-warp vacuum worthy of the Twilight Zone. Everyone would think she took it. Numb and speechless, she looked up to find accusing eyes directed at her.

  As Marisa reached toward the ring, Max stopped her. “Don’t touch it.”

  Marisa backed away. Max kept his eyes focused on the ring. His shoulders grew rigid. She couldn’t tell what he might be thinking.

  “I have no idea where that came from,” Lilli told him, her stomach roiling. The truth, but even she knew it seemed lame in light of the evidence sitting there on the floor. Max still didn’t respond one way or the other. Did he believe she’d taken it? Just like that summer night, she was in a fix with one common denominator. Max. This was all a mix-up, but would anyone believe her? Except for that one night with Max, she’d never done anything remotely scandalous in her life.

  This couldn’t be happening, she assured herself. She hoped she was being held hostage in a horrible dream and in a few minutes she’d wake up, safe in her apartment, away from this drama, ready to face a new day without a priceless ring lying on the floor in front of her. With all the women circling her. This was worse than the night before her doomed wedding. Then, people gawked at her in pity. Now, suspicion loomed in everyone’s eyes.

  “Lilli, where did the ring come from?” Mrs. R. asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ll tell you where,” Marisa said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “It fell out of your bag.”

  A chorus of gasps sounded.

  “No, it didn’t,” Lilli said.

  Chandler helped Marisa up, patting her arm and soothing her. “Yes,” Marisa told the room. “You dropped your tote and it fell out.”

  Oh, Marisa would just love Lilli to get in trouble. “Your purse spilled, too. It could have been in your possession.”

  Marisa’s eyes went wide. “Why would I have it?”

  “Why would I?” Lilli grabbed the tote handle and stood. “There’s no reason either of us should.”

  “I don’t have access to the collection. You do.”

  “I haven’t seen it since Klaus put it in the safe. I don’t have any keys, or passwords or way to get the collection.”

  Max addressed Marisa. “Did you see the ring in Lilli’s bag?”

  “Well, no, not ex
actly.”

  Lilli lifted her chin and said, “I don’t know how it got here.”

  Max stood beside her, all business and intimidating. When he finally glanced her way, she saw a flash of uncertainty before he covered it.

  “Don’t worry,” he said, but Lilli had no choice but to worry. She looked guilty.

  * * ** * *

  LYING IN BED the next morning, her mind hashing out scenario after scenario, Lilli exhausted every possibility of the theft. She’d spent hours in the police station the night before. Obviously someone had framed her. She didn’t have to be a P.I.—oh, wait, security consultant—to figure out that someone had set her up. But why?

  Finally, the police had let her go since they couldn’t definitively say the ring had been in her bag. She wondered how anyone could think she’d had the time or opportunity to steal the ring, anyway, considering she’d been in plain view of the historical society ladies all evening.

  She wished Max would get in touch with her. As much as this all looked bad for her, the jewelry had gone missing on his watch. That had to be killing him. He took his responsibilities seriously. And now not only his business reputation, but his personal integrity, which he’d worked so hard to establish, would be called into question.

  Glancing at her alarm clock, she jumped out of the temporary sanctuary of her bed. Max and Bart, along with Gabrielle, were bringing the gowns from the historical society office to the event room. Plus, the first run-through with the volunteer brides was scheduled for this morning and she had to be there. Grabbing a pair of black slacks from the closet, she added a white blouse and slipped into black pumps. After fixing her hair and makeup, she took the garment bag with her gown and shoes in it and left for the country club, trying to ignore the knots tying up her stomach as she made mental lists about what awaited her.

  She parked and headed inside, preoccupied with the state of things. She hurried into the event room, flipping on the lights and thinking she’d gotten there first until she noticed a figure standing in front of the empty display case.

  “Max?”

  He slowly turned, his face expressionless.

  She swallowed. “Any word on the bracelet?”

  He walked toward her, his fingers jammed into his front pants pockets. His eyes never left hers. “Nothing. Klaus is a wreck. His assistant is nowhere to be found. And the only piece of evidence came from your bag.”

  She kept her voice calm. “You can’t possibly think I took the jewelry.”

  “No, I don’t think you took it. But someone put it in your bag, and I want to know why.”

  “You and me both.”

  “Trust me, Lilli. We’ll figure this out.”

  “I hope so.” But she wasn’t counting on it. Max might offer her comfort now, but what about the fallout after the event? He’d be gone and she’d have to deal with the consequences alone.

  She turned on her heel, walking away from the man she’d made the mistake of falling in love with.

  * * ** * *

  ANYONE WHO KNEW Lilli knew she wasn’t a thief. His gut clenched when he saw the hurt in her eyes and it had taken all his strength not to grab her and wrap her in his arms. Assure her that things would be all right. Yes, he knew she hadn’t taken the ring, would never take a piece from the collection. But he had an investigation going on, with the outcome affecting both their reputations. The evidence against Lilli was circumstantial, but there just the same. In order to help, he had to find out the real culprit.

  The local police were searching for Tom, Klaus’s missing assistant—the only other person with access to the club safe. The emergency Klaus had been called to was an obvious ruse. Tom had been at the club last night, but after they’d learned about the theft he was nowhere to be found. Neither the police nor Max had been successful in locating him just yet, but at least they were doing something. Klaus had been devastated last night and not much help. Maybe in the light of day he’d remember something.

  Max glanced back at the display case. Of all things, to find the stolen ring in Lilli’s bag, in this room, in front of all those people, where her fiancé had humiliated her. She’d be humiliated again if they didn’t find the bracelet. The least he could do before leaving was prove her innocence and clear her name.

  * * ** * *

  LILLI SMOOTHED HER PANTS before entering the women’s dressing room, which had a sitting/changing area, large mirrors and lockers. Facing a firing squad would probably be less painful, but she had to follow this event through to the end. That meant dealing with Marisa and the other models, knowing they all thought her guilty. Holding her head high, she opened the door and stepped inside. As soon as the ladies saw her, a silence fell over the room.

  “We didn’t expect you here,” Marisa informed her as she sauntered toward Lilli, looking absolutely perfect in her designer wedding gown. “So I took the liberty of getting us ready for the rehearsal.”

  “I appreciate that.” Lilli eyed the women in the room, radiating as much confidence as she could muster. “However, I’m still coordinator of this event, so I’ll take over now.”

  Marisa shrugged and walked away.

  Her easy capitulation made Lilli wary. For the hundredth time, she wondered why the police hadn’t hauled Marisa to the department. The ring could have fallen from her bag just as easily as Lilli’s. But try as she might, Lilli couldn’t come up with one reason for Marisa to take the ring. She had money, the fiancé of her dreams and an upcoming wedding. As much as Lilli would have loved Marisa to be the guilty party, it didn’t add up.

  The rehearsal went off without any problems. Despite her perceived guilt, the ladies took instruction, but she noticed a few women whispering behind raised hands. Flashbacks to her wedding rehearsal pinched her heart, but Lilli ignored them. For the most part the women were more subdued than usual, but worked together despite the circumstances. She rolled her shoulders in relief when rehearsal ended.

  Back in the dressing room, Lilli joined the women for final instructions. Then they changed and headed off in different directions before having to return later for the fashion show. Only a few more hours, then Lilli never had to see this place again. All she had to do was stay out of jail until then.

  A knock sounded on the door, followed by, “Miss Barclay?”

  Lilli opened the door to find a delivery man holding a large garment bag. “May I help you?”

  “This is from your mother.” He handed her the bag and an envelope. She held it before her, a sneaking suspicion as to the content of the bag. Sighing, she found an empty wall hook, hung the bag and slowly unzipped it. Sure enough, inside she found her mother’s wedding gown. “Oh, Mom.”

  Opening the envelope, she slipped out a note.

  Lillian, it would do my heart good to see you wear my wedding dress. You may not be a model tonight, but you are my daughter, and I love you.

  And Lilli loved her mom.

  She zipped the bag closed as Marisa came breezing into the room, her cell phone pressed to her ear. Once she glimpsed Lilli, her smile faded and she ended the call. “I thought you’d left.”

  “Just going over some last-minute details.”

  “Oh, well, I’ll just be a moment. I need something from my locker.”

  Her cell rang again. Marisa answered, her tone terse.

  Not wanting to eavesdrop, Lilli crossed the room to leave. As she reached the door, she heard Marisa’s high-pitched voice. “Chandler, wait. I told you we’d discuss this later.”

  Lilli looked over her shoulder to see Marisa staring at the phone in her hand. “He hung up.”

  Debating on what to do, Lilli decided to see if she could help. She walked back into the room and stopped before Marisa.

  “What do you want?” Marisa snapped, her eyes glimmering with tears. Hmm. Trouble in paradise?
/>   Lilli shrugged. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

  “Don’t I look okay?” She slammed her locker closed. “Please excuse me. I’m joining Chandler for lunch. We have wedding details to finalize.”

  Lilli moved back as Marisa passed, noticing how shaky the normally put-together Marisa seemed. She must be having as bad a day as Lilli.

  * * ** * *

  MAX INTERVIEWED KLAUS again, this time making progress.

  “You’re sure you saw Chandler Hayes in the hallway when you left your office?”

  “Yes. At the time I didn’t think anything of it because Chandler is a member here. But last night, as I tried to remember anything useful, I recall running into Chandler and Tom many times in the past few weeks. Always in deep conversation. Normally the two wouldn’t have anything to talk about, but now I have to wonder, especially with Tom missing.”

  Max pulled out his cell to call Bart.

  “Get to the office. Pull up anything you can on Chandler Hayes.”

  “Got it, boss.”

  Max turned his attention back to Klaus. “Any place you can think of that Tom might hide out?”

  Klaus paced his office. “I know his mother lives down by the water and he has a sister out in the Cypress Cove subdivision.”

  “I already checked both places, as well as his condo.”

  “I didn’t spend much time talking with him about personal matters, I’m afraid to say. He didn’t open up about his life.”

  Max tamped down his disappointment. His gut screamed at him now, but if he couldn’t find Tom, he couldn’t prove anything.

  “Is he athletic? Does he fish? Have a girlfriend?”

  Klaus’s forehead wrinkled. “He did mention a young lady once when he left work early for a date. What was her name?” The older man closed his eyes. “I remember. Jenny. He mentioned she works at the Pointe Café.”

  Max thumped Klaus on the back before heading to the door.

  With this fresh lead, he ran out to the truck and headed to Main Street. Pulling into a parking lot, he jumped out and headed into the café, his mind clear even as adrenaline pumped through his veins. He asked for the manager, who pointed Jenny out to him. Then he had the manger call her out back so Max could speak to her.