“Ok! I deserve that! I’m sorry! Would you let me explain?”
“I know you don’t want to be here so you might as well leave!” she shouted through the door, tone strained and quavering as though she’d been fighting back tears all night.
“Of course I want to be here!”
“I had to sit at that table alone all night! This wasn’t just any rehearsal dinner, Sterling! This time it was important!”
“How many times can I say I’m sorry?! Time got away from me, that’s all! Don’t take it personally!”
He could hear her huff in astonishment behind the door then it popped open. At least she was consistent. Nothing flushed Kitty out like some good, old fashioned insults. He was glad he hadn’t needed to go so far as to tell her to calm down, though the offensive instruction was still locked and loaded on the tip of his tongue.
She stared up at him, big hazel eyes furiously dark.
“I was questioning Patrick,” he explained.
“Was it worth it?” she challenged, her lower lip trembling in such a way he wished he could kiss it.
He sighed. “No.”
“So you missed the entire dinner for nothing?” She snorted in disgust then shook her head. “Get off my porch.”
He slammed his palm against the door as she tried to shut it, which caused Kitty to widen her eyes, appalled.
“You don’t really want me to go away. Come on, I know you.”
“But do I know you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Of course you know me!”
She was looking at him as though he were a stranger. It didn’t feel good, not one bit.
“I recovered the tinctures from Sadie and linked the source of poison,” she stated, holding her index finger up.
Good, she’s going to count through all the ways in which she’d meddled.
“I exposed Sadie’s dealings with Jimmy Kimball,” she went on, holding her middle finger then graduated to her ring finger. “I uncovered Trudy’s affair with Kimball, not that that helps directly, but it’s more than you came up with.”
“True,” he offered without identifying which aspect he agreed with.
“I even found out Sadie and Patrick were involved romantically.” She lingered on her pinky finger then moved to her other hand. “And most importantly, I saw a curious exchange! I’d tell you about it, but you don’t deserve to know!”
“What do you want, Kitty? A medal? I already gave you a gun!”
“I don’t want your gun!”
“Good! Because I need it back!”
“Oh, is that why you’re here?” She snorted. “It all makes sense now!”
Kitty stomped through the living room to retrieve his derringer, he assumed, so he took the opportunity to follow her inside and stake his claim and where he most wanted to be tonight—in her bed.
“Here,” she said, thrusting the gun at him.
“Whoa! Careful with that thing. It’s loaded.”
“Is it? Ha! I’m shocked you trusted me that much!”
Sterling slid the derringer down the back of his jeans then shook his coat off and tossed it to a nearby chair.
“What’s gotten into you, seriously?”
Kitty fell silent. Whatever was eating her, she couldn’t go there, at least not now.
“The wedding’s tomorrow,” she stated in an affirming tone devoid of the strong emotions she surely felt. “I expect you to be there.”
“I will.”
“I expect to have a pleasant time for Trudy’s sake,” she added.
“Agreed.”
She held her head high, but didn’t meet his gaze. “Then after I think we need to talk.”
“Talk?”
“Don’t act like you didn’t see this coming,” she warned. “At the reception. We’ll talk.”
Sterling absorbed the demand and subtly nodded. He wanted to insist he spend the night, but he knew she wouldn’t let him.
He drank in the sight of her one last time then turned for the door.
When he reached it, he said, “You’re important to me.”
But Kitty didn’t waver.
He left with a hole in his heart.
Chapter Twelve
Trudy was a vision.
Kitty glanced up at her best friend, as she kneeled at the lacy hem of her gown, fluffing and straightening the white satin ruffles that cascaded down Trudy’s slim figure. Trudy scrutinized her appearance in the full-length mirrors angled around her.
“Gorgeous,” said Kitty on a breath.
And it was true. Even Trudy’s twelve-inch beehive was meticulously adorned with white lilies, sparkling gems, and a dove. That’s right, a real live dove. It was the only thing that made Kitty nervous. Would the songbird fly off? Would it poo in Trudy’s hair? There was just no telling.
Trudy wasn’t at all concerned. If anything was amiss that day it was the fact that her ring finger was bare.
Kitty had made every effort with Sterling, Greer, and the entire homicide department to recover Trudy’s engagement ring, but it was locked away deep in the evidence chamber, stowed for the day Margie’s killer would be brought to justice.
If ever that day were to come.
Kitty rose to her feet and worked her way around to the back of Trudy’s gown. The train was quite long, layers of lace secured with white thread that wove pearls and rhinestones in swirling patterns.
The bridal room was cozy. Plush, pink lounge chairs and loveseats spanned its walls in appealing contrast to the dark, mahogany furniture.
When Kitty glanced out the window she realized snow was fluttering down in big fluffy flakes. A winter wonderland wedding, indeed.
“Champagne?” Kitty asked, offering Trudy a flute on the silver tray she now lifted.
“Why not?” said Trudy, plucking a glass. “I’m zipped up. I doubt I’ll rip a seam.”
“That’s the spirit!”
Kitty helped herself as well, while Trudy turned this way and that, taking one long last look at her gown. Then she stepped off the low stool she’d been standing on and joined Kitty at the window.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married,” she mused, sipping her champagne.
I can’t believe there’s a killer out there, thought Kitty, who said no such thing, but smiled at her friend.
“Ronald’s a good man.”
Trudy raised her brows at that. “I always thought you hated him.”
“Ronald? Who could hate Ronald?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I think it’s healthy to be annoyed by the man who’s stealing your best friend.”
“He hasn’t stolen me, Kitty.”
“No, I know. I will miss our alone time, though.”
“We’ll still have time alone.”
“I hope so.”
Trudy held her gaze until Kitty glanced out the window. It certainly was beautiful out. She loved watching men and women in fancy attire walking swiftly through the falling snow.
Sterling had yet to arrive. She knew he would. She was planning on ending it to salvage her dignity. The last thing she wanted was to be with a man who didn’t love her and was using the relationship as a guise to watch her every move, as if she could’ve possibly had anything to do with the murders. She snorted then forced a cough so Trudy wouldn’t ask her what she was thinking.
Yes, Sterling would be here. Whenever Kitty faced a potentially painful conversation the universe rarely stood in her way.
There came a tap at the door. Trudy was quick to open it revealing the makeup artist on the other side. The young woman smiled, lifted her carrier, and asked, “How about a little touch up?”
Kitty returned her gaze to the window. It was so lovely out there. She could stare at the landscape for hours.
As she watched the snow fall, she thought about the irony of the M0N-Y-KNG. The man boasting he was the king of money according to his license plate had handed Sadie a brown paper bag. It had looked like a bri
ck, no doubt cash inside. How brazen, she thought.
“Nice of Margie’s husband to come, don’t you think?” asked Trudy from her chair, as the makeup artist fought her moving lips to blot gloss across her mouth.
“Huh?”
“Her husband,” she repeated. “He drove up for the funeral. And he’s here. Or he will be.”
“I didn’t know Margie was married,” said Kitty. “She didn’t have a ring on her finger. That’s why she put on yours.”
“Right, right—ex-husband,” she said, correcting herself. “But they never did extricate themselves fully from that tumultuous relationship.”
From the corner of her eye, Kitty spotted the blue Toyota Yaris sedan creep into the parking lot and her heart skipped a beat. He's here!
“Oh!” Trudy exclaimed. “Oh! Dear God! Why?”
Kitty, hesitant to tear herself away from the window, desperate to see the man's identity, had no choice but to rush to Trudy’s side where she discovered Trudy had spilled her champagne down the front of her gown.
“It’ll come out!” she assured her.
“Will it?!”
“Yes! Don’t panic!”
“But the ceremony is supposed to start in ten minutes! How will it dry?!”
“You have a hair dryer?” Kitty asked the makeup girl, who glared at her.
“The hair girl has a hair dryer,” she said in a flat tone.
“I’m the hair girl!” Exclaimed Trudy. “Oh for the love of God!”
“Would you calm down! You'll startle the dove on your head!”
"Oh my!" Trudy shrieked, holding very still.
Kitty rushed to the door. “I’ll be back with a towel and some seltzer,” she explained. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Where would I go?” Trudy sunk her head in her hands then the makeup girl snapped at her about smudging her blush. “Bring the sage!”
But Kitty missed the request. She was already halfway out the door, scanning the guests as she went, trying to identify anyone who looked like he might be a money king.
When she spilled onto the wintery steps and spotted the blue sedan the driver had long since emerged.
He was somewhere in the church. And Kitty was hell bent on finding him before Trudy and Ronald walked down the aisle.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
Kitty padded back into the church and tried to stay calm as she tore up the aisle, purple patent leather heels tapping over red carpet, until she reached the pulpit where the podium sat, microphone propped proudly upright atop.
She tapped the mic a few times and said, “Excuse me.” Then cleared her throat as the crowd hushed in the pews.
“This is a courtesy announcement to inform the driver of a blue Toyota Yaris sedan that your lights are on.”
Kitty stared at the crowd, breath held, heart racing, searching, hoping, and praying that the killer would rush out of the church to save his car battery from draining.
Sure enough, at the very back of the church, a man worked his way between guests and disappeared into the foyer.
And Kitty flew from the pulpit in hot pursuit.
She had him!
And she’d let nothing stand in her way.
Chapter Thirteen
When she reached the wintry steps, Sterling was standing in her way. He’d come in swift and without warning. She squealed when he grabbed her.
“Get off of me!” She thwacked at his arm then realized he looked sharp in a black suit and purple tie and kerchief in his breast pocket. In fact, he’d matched her dress perfectly. How’d he do that? “Oh! He’s getting away!”
Sterling leveled his gaze on her intensely, forcing her to look at him. “We’re not breaking up, Kitty.” He shook her when she didn’t respond. “I’m not letting you get away.”
Her eyes popped wide and she gasped, Sterling's declaration sparking the killer's dark motive in her mind.
“What?”
“He’s not the money king,” she explained as the revelation washed over her. “He’s the alimony king!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Him!”
Kitty pointed to a tall, dark and handsome man, who was now rounding the front of the blue sedan, playing with his keys and eyeing his headlights curiously. They were most certainly off.
“It’s Margie’s ex-husband!”
Sterling loosened his grip and gave her his full attention.
“I saw that blue sedan meet with Sadie’s black mustang earlier today way out in the woods, practically in upstate New York we were that far west. He handed her a brown, paper bag and I knew it had money in it! Sterling! This was a huge conspiracy!”
“Get back inside,” he ordered, shoving her toward the church doors.
“You get back inside! I cracked this thing!”
“Get back inside, Kitty!” Sterling drew his weapon. “He’s a dangerous man!”
“Why didn’t he just kill her himself? Why did he employ Sadie and Patrick to do his dirty work?”
“If he wanted to get out of alimony then he had to be careful about it,” Sterling guessed. “I’ll not have you out here when bullets start to fly, Kitty!”
“Why would bullets start to fly?”
PING!
Sterling dove at Kitty and they careened into the snow, dodging the bullet in the nick of time.
“Call for backup,” he ordered, cradling Kitty against him as he rushed her to the church doors.
Once inside she kicked the heavy doors closed then peered through the sliver of glass at its center.
Margie’s ex-husband was tucked behind the far side of his sedan, his weapon pointing toward the heavens.
Good Lord!
Kitty sprinted for the bridal chamber and sang, “Everything’s fine! The wedding will start shortly!” in a panicked cry when a guest stared at her in shock.
She burst into the bridal chamber and shuffled desperately about the room in search of her purse.
“Where’s the towel?” Trudy demanded. “Where’s the seltzer?! This stain is going to set!”
“Not now, Trudy!” Quickly, fingers fumbling, and breath hitching in her throat, Kitty dialed the police and shouted the church address. “Sterling Slaughter is in the midst of a shootout with Margie McAlister’s killer!”
“What?!” shrieked Trudy.
“It’s true!” Kitty tossed her cell to the couch and took Trudy’s hands. “But I’m convinced the matter will be resolved in time for I do.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“We have to trust Sterling. We have no choice.”
Trudy looked utterly bewildered.
“It’s Margie’s ex-husband!”
“Carl?”
“If that’s his name!” Kitty inched toward the window and dared a peek. Sterling was still in the thick of it, shooting and rolling and leaping for the sturdy cover of her red, Fiat.
“Oh, hell no!”
“Kitty!” Trudy snapped. “Carl killed Margie?!”
“With a lot of help,” she said, eyes glued to Carl who was sweating behind his bullet torn Yaris. “Sadie was in on it for sure. I saw him pay her off. I don’t know how involved Patrick was, but he certainly loves Sadie.”
Kitty realized she’d lost sight of Sterling. “Oh, no!” she uttered in complete terror.
If anything were to happen to him...she’d...she’d....
She’d be devastated.
And she thought she could break up with him?
Just as Trudy slunk to her side and peered out the window, a train of police cruisers, sirens blaring, tore through the parking lot, coming to Sterling’s aid.
“See? Just in time!”
Trudy blinked and mostly looked like she might scream or puke.
Kitty gave her a friendly pat on the arm and said, “Let’s get you married!”
As Kitty walked Trudy to the back of the church, heels clicking over the stone foyer, Sterling burst through the doors, out of breath, but immensely
relieved. He’d taken down the bad guy and there was no better sight than to see Kitty, relieved and smiling, in his path.
“Tell me one thing,” said Trudy, preparing to step down the aisle after the long line of bridesmaids and groomsmen. She took Sterling by the arm and gazed deeply into his green eyes. “Was Jimmy Kimball in on it?”
Sterling offered her a confident grin and said, “No. He tried to stop them then Carl threatened his life. Under duress, Jimmy won’t be held accountable for withholding information.”
Trudy breathed a heavy sigh of relief then told Kitty, “When you love, you love forever. It never really goes away.”
Kitty locked eyes with Sterling.
Wasn’t that the truth?
Kitty watched the last pair of bridesmaids and groomsmen pace down the aisle to a classic waltz coming from the jaunty string quartet near the pulpit. She counted to ten then prodded Trudy to go ahead.
Trudy smiled back at her.
“Go,” Kitty whispered. “This is the most important day of your life.”
The dove on Trudy’s head squawked. Trudy giggled and Kitty hoped the squirrelly little thing would hold still. And soon Trudy was walking along the red-carpeted aisle as the entire procession ooh-ed and aww-ed.
Sterling drew in a breath as if to speak, but Kitty pressed her finger against his lips.
“I just need to know one thing,” she whispered, scared to ask or scared to know, she couldn’t decide. “Are you only with me because your precinct thinks I’m worth looking into...you know, on account of all the murders?”
Gently, Sterling clasped his hand around hers and lowered it from his mouth. He gazed deeply into her eyes. The corner of his mouth curled into a loving grin, and he lowered, lowered, until he was looking up at her from bended knee.
She gasped. She widened her eyes. She didn’t blink. She didn’t want to miss a thing.
Sterling produced a little black box from his pocket then opened it, presenting a sparkling diamond ring.
“Does this answer your question?” he asked, green eyes aflame with hope she’d say yes.
Kitty laughed, thrown, in shock, and then it all made sense. He truly did love her.
“Kitty Sinclair, will you marry me?”
She stared at him as tears filled her eyes.
ENGAGED TO BE MURDERED (The Wedding Planner Mysteries Book 4) Page 10