Garden of Secrets

by Barbara Freethy

  “Thank you.”

  His hands gently kneaded the tight muscles in her shoulders. “I’ve made you tense.”

  She was more tense now that he was touching her. She swallowed back a sudden knot in her throat as she remembered the last time they’d been this close, his hands threading through her hair as he angled his head for a deeper kiss.

  His massage stopped abruptly, his gaze meeting hers, as if his memories were taking him down the same path. The air between them sizzled with anticipation. They were close but not close enough.

  Then the elevator dinged, and they jumped apart.

  A woman stepped out, wearing black jeans, spike-heeled boots, and a black leather jacket over a white silk top. Her dark blond hair was long and thick, drifting past her shoulder blades. Her legs were skinny, her bust a triple D.

  Charlotte’s heart began to pound. She knew that body—that face—those eyes that had once mocked her.

  “Oh, my God,” the woman drawled, recognition flashing in her eyes. “It’s Charlotte Adams, isn’t it? Funny that you would be the first person I would see in Angel’s Bay. You remember me, don’t you?”

  How could she have forgotten the girl who had stolen Andrew from her and been picked in their high school yearbook as “Most Likely to Have a Spread in Playboy”?

  “Pamela.”

  “That’s right. We meet again. You’re living here now?”

  “Yes,” Charlotte said. “I am.” She felt awkward and tongue-tied, the way she had when she and Pamela were teenagers. No one had ever gotten under her skin like this girl. With most people, she was outgoing, talkative, and confident, but somehow Pamela always made her feel foolish.

  Pamela’s attention drifted to Joe. “And you are?” she asked, her predatory gaze making a bold run down Joe’s body.

  Charlotte frowned, fighting a ridiculous urge to stand in front of Joe and tell Pamela that she couldn’t have him.

  “I’m Joe Silveira, the chief of police,” he said.

  “Just the man I wanted to see. I’m Pamela Baines, Theresa Monroe’s sister. My brother-in-law didn’t tell me much, except that Theresa had been assaulted and her jewelry stolen. What are you planning to do about it?”

  “I’d be happy to fill you in on our investigation, perhaps after you’ve had a chance to see your sister,” he suggested. “Her room is just down the hall.”

  “Thank you.” Pamela cast Charlotte a speculative look and then left them alone.

  “So that’s your old nemesis,” Joe said.

  “That’s her,” she said, watching Pamela’s sexy swagger. She hadn’t changed a bit.

  “Are you all right?”

  She shook off her feeling of dread. “I’m fine. So what if Pamela is back? She’s here to see her sister. It’s perfectly natural. Not at all a big deal.”

  “Are you done?” he asked when she ran out of steam.

  “I don’t like her. She annoys the hell out of me.”

  “Really? Because you hide it quite well.”

  Her mouth curved into a reluctant smile. “Sorry. It’s been a dozen years, but she still makes me crazy. And she doesn’t appear to have changed at all. She still has that hair, that smirky smile, those skinny legs, and those boobs. God! She flaunted those from the day she got them, and I’m betting they’re even bigger now. It’s not funny,” she added as Joe’s grin broadened.

  “I’ve never seen you so worked up.”

  “You’re right. I need to calm down. We’re all adults, and I should start acting like one.” She pressed the button for the elevator. “But a word of warning: when you talk to Pamela, keep your guard up. Don’t trust her. She always had an agenda, and I’m betting that hasn’t changed.”

  * * *

  Joe thought about Charlotte’s warning as he walked down the hall. She normally had good instincts about people, but she might be too caught up in the past to see Pamela clearly now. He wouldn’t have that problem.

  “Morning, Chief,” the guard greeted him.

  “Everything been quiet?” he asked.

  “Only visitors have been the mayor and the sister. I didn’t let the sister in until the mayor gave the okay.”

  Bart didn’t mention that Charlotte had been inside. “I’d also like you to keep track of the hospital personnel going and out of these doors,” Joe said.

  “Sure, Chief. Dr. Adams was by and Dr. Coulter. A couple of nurses have been in and out. I knew all of ’em by sight. No strangers have gotten past me.”

  “Thanks.” He gave Bart a brief smile and headed into the ICU.

  The nurse sent him a quick glance, then returned her attention to her computer.

  Pausing in the doorway to Theresa’s room, he watched Pamela and Robert conversing in hushed tones. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their discussion seemed rather heated. He’d need to learn more about Pamela’s relationship with both her sister and her brother-in-law.

  When Robert saw Joe, he quickly ended his conversation and joined him in the outer room. Pamela remained where she was, but her attention was on them and not her sister, which he found odd.

  “What have you learned?” the mayor asked.

  “Unfortunately, not much. How is your wife?”

  “She’s fighting for her life. That’s how she is,” he said angrily. “I want to know who did this to her.”

  “So do I. We’re going over forensics and witness statements, and we’ve conducted an extensive search around your property. With the nearby beach and the thick cluster of trees, there’s a lot of ground to cover.”

  “I don’t care how difficult it is. I want every officer in the department working on this case. What about Charlotte Adams? Has she been brought in for questioning?”

  “She’s cooperating fully with the investigation.” On a good day, the mayor was impatient, short-tempered, and egotistical, and this was far from his best day. His eyes were bloodshot, and he hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours. He wanted someone to blame, and right now the only person in his sights was Charlotte. “When you have a chance, I’d like you to take a look around your house to help us determine if anything else is missing besides the jewelry your wife was wearing.”

  “I don’t know what Theresa had in the way of jewelry. She was always shopping for something.” Robert drew in a deep breath as he looked through the glass at his very still and pale wife. “She has to make it through this.”

  He could hear the fear in the mayor’s voice. He’d never thought of the mayor as a man capable of having deep feelings, but he certainly seemed to be in love with his wife.

  “I can’t leave here until Theresa wakes up,” the mayor added. “Whatever may or may not be missing from the house will have to wait.”

  “Perhaps your sister-in-law could help with that.”

  “I doubt that. Just find who did this, Silveira. If you don’t, you won’t have a job.” With that threat, Robert returned to his wife’s side.

  Pamela moved across the room, pausing in the doorway. “He’s worried about Theresa,” she said.

  “Completely understandable. Are you and your sister close, Ms. Baines?”

  “We’re sisters,” she said with a shrug. “Our blood makes us close.”

  “When did you last see her?”

  “I can’t recall. We’ve both been busy. Robert tells me that Charlotte Adams is a suspect.”

  It was an adept change in subject. Pamela obviously wasn’t going to give him much on her relationship with her sister. “Dr. Adams was one of many people in the house last night,” he conceded.

  “Charlotte and I have a history. She doesn’t like me because I stole her boyfriend.”

  “And how do you feel about her?”

  Pamela shrugged. “I couldn’t care less about her. She might have thought we were rivals, but as far as I was concerned, she was no competition whatsoever.”

  “And your sister’s opinion of her?”

  “I have no idea. Until I saw Charlotte a few minutes
ago, I hadn’t thought about her in years. I must admit I’m a little curious about why Theresa invited her to the party, though.” She paused, tilting her head thoughtfully. “We should meet later for coffee. You can fill me on the investigation, and maybe I can help you in some way.”

  It was a good idea. He needed to know the players, and with Theresa unconscious and the mayor stressed out, Pamela was his best bet at getting some insight into the family. “Call the station. They’ll get in touch with me.”

  “I’ll see you later, then.”

  She gave him a flirtatious smile that seemed out of place in this very serious hospital room. Despite the fact that Pamela had rushed to her sister’s bedside, she didn’t appear to be all that upset about Theresa’s condition. Or was her flirting a cover for something else? If she had a hidden agenda, as Charlotte suspected, he intended to find out what it was.

  FOUR

  After leaving the hospital, Charlotte stopped home to change into jeans and make up a tray of sandwiches to take to the party. Then she headed across town. Kara and Colin lived in a three-bedroom house in a quiet neighborhood filled with young families. The elementary school was only a few blocks away, as was a neighborhood park, and as on most blocks, there was a feeling of community and friendship among the neighbors. It was that feeling of belonging somewhere that she’d missed when she left for college.

  But just as she had grown up, so had Angel’s Bay. There was a lot more action within the city limits now, more stores and businesses and an influx of people who had come to live here, not just spend their summers near the beach. Yet in spite of the growth, the town still retained its charm. She hoped that would never change.

  The street was crowded, so she parked a few houses away. She had just gotten out of her car when she heard someone call her name. Turning her head, she smiled as Jason Marlow jogged across the street.

  Jason, with his light brown hair and brown eyes, had been best friends with Colin and Kara since they’d all met in kindergarten. Charlotte suspected he’d had a big crush on Kara for most of that time, but Kara had only had eyes for her blue-eyed, smiling Irishman.

  Fortunately, Jason had found his own love a few months ago when he’d fallen for Brianna Kane. She was a widow and a mother, so Jason was stepping into not just a relationship but a family. He’d never looked happier, and his career was blossoming as well since he’d become a detective.

  “I’m glad I caught you before you went inside,” Jason said.

  “You look like you’re in work mode,” she commented, his slacks and sports coat a far cry from the usual faded jeans and a T-shirt with a surfboard on it. “Brianna and Lucas aren’t coming?”

  “No, they’re at the Kanes’ house. I’m just stopping by for a few minutes. After last night, today is going to be all work.”

  “I saw Joe at the hospital. He said there hasn’t been much progress.”

  “Unfortunately, no. Which means I’m going to need to interview you again, more formally this time.”

  “I told you everything I know, Jason. I didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Theresa.”

  “Believe me, Charlotte, you’re the last person I want to interrogate, but I have to run this investigation by the book. I hope you can understand that.”

  She sighed. “We don’t have to talk now, do we?”

  “Tomorrow will be fine. Can you come in on your lunch break?”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Thanks. Can I carry that inside for you?”

  She handed over the heavy tray of sandwiches. “It’s the least you can do before you arrest me.”

  “Well, you wouldn’t be a suspect if you hadn’t been trying to run away from a kiss.”

  “Kara has a big mouth,” she grumbled. “I can’t believe she told you that. You’d better not put it in your report.”

  He grinned. “It would explain why you went upstairs just before midnight. Who didn’t you want to kiss?”

  “You’re a detective. You figure it out,” she said with a smile, then marched up the steps to Kara’s house and opened the front door.

  Inside, a half-dozen men were gathered around the big-screen television, watching a college bowl game. A few looked up to say hello, then a touchdown drew their attention back to the screen, and a series of high fives broke out.

  Charlotte took the sandwich tray from Jason, who’d paused to watch the game. “I’m going to find the women.”

  In the kitchen, Kara was at the stove, stirring something in a large pot. Her red hair was pulled back in a clip, and she had on a bright red apron over her jeans and T-shirt. Isabella Silveira, Joe’s sister, was sitting on a stool by the center island, sipping a glass of wine. She wore jeans and boots with a pink sweater. Her long, curly dark brown hair fell past her shoulders, and her beautiful, unusual blue eyes were bright and happy. She looked like a woman in love, which wasn’t surprising, since she’d recently hooked up with local architect Nick Hartley.

  Lauren Jamison was another beautiful blue-eyed brunette with the glow of love about her. Lauren was about to be married. She held a box from her bakery and was placing delicious-smelling tarts on a silver tray.

  “You’re here—finally,” Kara said.

  “Yeah, finally,” Lauren grumbled.

  “Am I late?” Charlotte asked in surprise as she set down the sandwiches. “I thought I was early.”

  “You are, but I’m dying to try on my wedding dress, and I didn’t want to do it without you,” Lauren answered, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Isabella brought it here, along with your bridesmaids’ dresses.”

  “I can’t wait to see it. I’m betting you outdid yourself, Isabella.”

  “We’ll see,” Isabella said. “The only wedding dress I made before this was for an actress in a soap opera, and she wasn’t really getting married.”

  “Did you make these sandwiches?” Kara interrupted with a wary expression as she glanced at the tray on the counter.

  “I can make sandwiches,” Charlotte retorted. “I tried one, and I’m still alive.”

  Kara grinned. “Just checking.” She unwrapped the tray and tossed the plastic wrap into the garbage. “We have some time before everyone else gets here, so why don’t we go upstairs and try on our dresses? Faith is asleep, and the guys won’t notice we’re gone until halftime or the chips run out.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Charlotte followed the others upstairs to Kara’s bedroom, then sat on the bed with Kara while Isabella grabbed a garment bag from the closet.

  “I hope it’s everything you imagined, Lauren,” Isabella said, “but there’s still time for changes. I want you to be totally satisfied. Whatever you don’t like, I’ll fix.”

  “I’ll take it into the bathroom and change there,” Lauren said. “That way, you’ll get the full effect when I come out.”

  “I’ll help you,” Isabella told her. “There are a lot of little buttons.”

  As the other two left, Charlotte scooted back on the bed, making herself more comfortable. “You talk too much,” she told Kara.

  Kara raised an eyebrow. “Are you referring to something in particular?”

  “You told Jason I ran upstairs last night so I wouldn’t have to kiss someone. Now he wants to know who.”

  “Oh.” An apologetic gleam filled her warm brown eyes. “I’m sorry about that. Colin was talking to Jason about why you were up there, and it came out. I didn’t think it was a big deal. It was just Jason and Colin.”

  “They’re both cops, and I’m the prime suspect.”

  “No one would ever believe you’re a thief,” Kara said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “And you barely wear jewelry. You wouldn’t know a real diamond from a piece of glass.”

  “Yes, but the mayor thinks I hate his wife. Theresa or Pamela must have been talking about me at some point, and I can’t figure out why. I haven’t had more than a brief conversation with Theresa since I came back to town last year. And before a couple of hours ago,
I hadn’t talked to Pamela since high school.”

  Kara raised an eyebrow. “A couple of hours ago?”

  “She’s back in town. I saw her at the hospital. Robert called her, and she came rushing to Theresa’s bedside.”

  “How did she look? Was she fat?” Kara asked hopefully.

  “No, she was the same. Skinny, huge breasts, evil smile . . .” She shook her head, bewildered by her strong reaction. “I don’t know why she bothers me so much. It’s been more than ten years since I really thought about her at all. But when she stepped off that elevator and looked at me, I felt all my teenage insecurity again.”

  “Everyone has someone like that in their past.”

  “Do you?”

  “Becky Saunders,” Kara said instantly. “She beat me every damn time, no matter what it was—a math contest, soccer tryouts, cheerleading. And besides that, she had the most gorgeous tan, and all I could do was freckle.”

  “What happened to Becky?”

  “Her family moved away after high school. Her father lost all their money.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “I know. I tried to feel bad for her.”

  Charlotte grinned at Kara’s unrepentant expression. “Well, at least Becky is out of your life. Pamela is right back in the middle of mine, and now I’m a suspect in her sister’s attack. If I was going to give anyone a hefty shove, it would be Pamela.”

  Kara held up a hand. “Don’t say anything more. I don’t want to be called to testify.”

  “This isn’t a joke.”

  “It feels like one. We all know you, Charlotte. We all love you. Jason won’t go after you. And Joe has the hots for you, so I don’t see him tossing you in jail.” She tilted her head. “Speaking of which, who did you run away from last night? I thought it was Andrew, but now I’m wondering.”

  “It was both of them. They arrived within minutes of each other. I couldn’t figure out how to handle the stroke of midnight, so I bolted. It seemed like a good idea at the time,” she added dryly.

  “Really? Because kissing two hot guys doesn’t seem so horrible to me.”