by Mona Risk
“He wasn’t in the procession,” Alexa noted. “But now he’s going to the casket right after the widow and daughter.”
“I didn’t see him enter. Has he just arrived?” Damn, how had he missed Carter’s arrival? “I should have stayed in the front to see his expression when he bids farewell to his good friend Steve.”
“Oh my God, he’s standing next to Julia to receive the condolences. Imagine his guts.” Next to Dante, Alexa shuddered, her fingers entwined in her lap.
“Let’s go right away and mingle with the mourners. I’d rather we’re not the last people to salute the departed.” And be scrutinized by Ladd and each person present.
In fact on the right side of the casket, Julia was busy shaking hands and receiving hugs. Dante kept close tabs on Alexa. Her chin straight, she projected a calm demeanor, although her lips trembled as she glanced at the body. “I’m with you,” Dante murmured. She shot him a sideways look and subtly nodded.
They paused at the coffin, crossed themselves, and continued toward the widow and her daughter.
“My condolences,” Alexa muttered as she nodded to Julia, and immediately kissed Katy on the cheek. They ignored Carter and the rest of the official line, and stood next to Ladd.
“Any interesting observations?” Dante asked.
“Not until I look at the video, my cop took.” Ladd raised his chin to the balcony at the rear of the church where the man with the video camera stood.
Dante arched an eyebrow. “I hope you’ll share your findings.” With a gentle touch on Alexa’s arm, he signaled they should go back to their places.
“Wait for me outside,” Ladd muttered. “I’ll follow you with Officer Raines.”
Just at that moment, Dante’s phone vibrated against his side. He marched toward the hall of the church and opened his cell to read a text message from his colleague. “Got news for you. Call me, Jay.”
Chapter Eleven
Thunder roared, and dark clouds greeted them outside the church. “Perfect weather for a funeral,” Alexa snorted.
“Hurry before we get soaked.” Dante clasped her hand, and they rushed through the parking lot. As they left the church grounds, the rain pelted the car and obscured their vision. A police car whizzed by. The passenger window lowered. “We’ll clear the traffic. Follow us,” Detective Ladd said.
“What the heck. We’ll speed after them.” Dante chuckled and pressed on the accelerator.
Alexa shivered. “I used to love my condo so much. Now it gives me the creeps.”
He frowned, and glanced at her, then he grinned, a big silly grin. “I know how to erase your willies. Imagine your apartment, your splendid room with a large comfortable bed. Can you see it?”
“Of course. So?”
“In your bed, there are two people, rolling on your satin sheets. You, cuddled in my arms. Me, kissing you, caressing you, holding you and—”
“Enough.” A blush heated her cheeks, and she squirmed.
“Can you see the picture of—”
“Yes. Yes, I see it too well.” One more word, one more vivid description, and she’d have to fan herself.
He chuckled. “Me too. Visualize this picture every time you think about your apartment.”
“No need to say more, or I’ll ask you to stop the car and kiss me.”
“My pleasure, but our friendly detective won’t appreciate the delay.”
With a blaring siren clearing the way, they covered the distance to the Blue Waves in half the time they took to get to the church. They met with the detective and his officer in the lobby.
“Ms. Alexa, this is Officer Raines. He studied your report about the attack and started an investigation. He wants to ask you a few questions.”
The tall blond police officer shook their hands. His kind, understanding smile reassured her that he’d do his best to help her. In spite of their cheerful banter in the elevator, a lousy feeling of doom crept along Alexa’s spine as they stopped at her floor. She handed her key to Dante. He opened the door and let her pass.
“Oh my God.” She froze in her tracks. Her heart sank at the sight welcoming her.
“What happened?” The three men’s voices echoed in the silence.
Shreds of glass carpeted the marble tiles of the floor. Her valuable Chinese centerpiece lay broken in a hundred pieces. Pushed by the wind blowing from the balcony, the Venetian-glass vase usually decorating the cocktail table rolled on the Persian rug.
“Ms. Alexa, did you forget to close the sliding door to the balcony?” Detective Ladd grumbled with the voice of a stern teacher.
“No.” She shook her head, stunned by the disaster ravaging her own home. Wrapping her arms around herself, she prayed not to collapse. Had someone jumped onto her balcony? On the twenty-first floor? No way. Staring at the rolling vase, Alexa couldn’t take a step forward if her life depended on it.
“Everything was closed and locked,” Dante answered with a scowl at the insensitive detective. “I verified this particular door myself.”
“A break-in?” Ladd examined the doorknob.
“Someone entered her condo and opened the balcony. Someone who has a key,” Dante suggested.
“The same way Steve had a key when he entered my condo uninvited,” Alexa blurted.
“Officer Raines, we take a look around,” Ladd called to his young colleague. Both pulled their guns.
The officer gave her a sympathetic look. “Ms. Alexa, please step out of the apartment. You too, Mr. Cantari. We need to check it, make sure no one is hidden, and dust for fingerprints.”
Sending a look of dismay at her living room, Alexa spun around and left her apartment, without protest. Her cherished condo was now a violated place. By who? And for what reason? Dante followed on her steps as quietly.
Silence hovered over them as they concentrated on their thoughts. On and off, the sound of cabinets opening and closing reached them. As she paced the length of the twenty-first floor corridor, her companion leaned against the wall facing the elevator, a deep scowl wrinkling his forehead. From time to time, he checked his watch, glanced at the closed door, and cursed.
No gunshots erupted. No heavy thump or loud bellow. Her heart heavy, Alexa sighed.
Raines reappeared after an eternity. “We cleared the place. No one is here. You can come back, but watch where you step.”
The detective exited from her bedroom and walked toward her. “Ms. Alexa, your bedroom has been ransacked. But you can go in now.”
Alexa didn’t wait to rush into her room. Dante had already entered behind Ladd. The mess of the room rooted her at the door. “Oh my God. They threw everything on the floor.”
The drawers were wide-open, her clothes thrown in heaps, on the bed, the tiles, and the rug. The dressing closet offered the same chaos. Raines swiped a flashlight on every corner and every wall, and Detective Ladd took pictures of the mess.
Her stomach clenched. Had they found the secret safe? The officers would have said something if the safe had been opened. Wouldn’t they?
“Ms. Alexa, go through your things and see if something is missing,” Ladd said with a knowing look. “Anything of value.”
“Yes.” Unable to withstand the suspense, she gathered the garments from the floor and spread them on the bed. Moving to the closet, she collected some discarded clothes. Her fur jacket lay on the floor but the other heavy coats still hung. With a sigh of relief, she pushed aside her gray coat and examined the hot-pink spot. As far as she could tell, the burglars—or whoever had been in her condo— hadn’t discovered her safe. Of course, she’d have to open the safe and reassure herself her jewelry was still there.
“Excuse me. I need a private moment.” She pulled the closet door behind her. Her heart hammered as she unlocked the secret cabinet and entered the combination of the safe. With a shaking hand, she unlaced bags, opened boxes, and checked her jewelry, money and checkbook. All accounted for. A sigh of relief escaped her. After locking everything back in place,
she rearranged her clothes and hung her fur coats. “I’m done.”
Dread coursed through her, but she mentally shook herself. Should she tell them about the safe? Dad had made her swear her never to reveal its presence, except to her husband.
Detective Ladd pinned her in place with a sharp gaze. “This must be horrible for you, Ms. Alexa.”
“It is.” Had he noticed her brief moment of reprieve?
The detective nodded. “I’m glad you’re handling it better than many women would. No hysteria, no panic, except for a moment outside.”
Dante gathered her in his arms. “Indeed it’s terrible for Alexa. Any other woman would have collapsed after all she’d faced this week.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Alexa. Be assured we’ll do everything possible to find those responsible,” the officer firmly said.
Ladd shrugged. “We’ll take another tour of the apartment, then we’ll talk.”
“I’ll make us some coffee,” Dante suggested. Promising support, his arm surrounded her waist. He tugged her out of the bedroom and its mayhem.
“Very good idea. I’m sure Ms. Alexa can use a cup.” Officer Raines gave her a supportive smile as he ushered them to the living room. “Careful where you step. We haven’t cleaned the floor yet.”
Ignoring them, Detective Ladd swept his eagle gaze around the room and examined the bar area. “Hmm,” he muttered and picked up the big flashlight. “Hmm,” he repeated and swiped a flash over the lamps, ceiling, and walls.
****
Preparing a pot of coffee allowed Dante to collect his thoughts and sort a few questions. What had the detective discovered when he’d uttered a few hmms? Why did he allow Alexa private time in her closet under such crucial circumstances? Why had she suddenly relaxed in spite of the bedlam that had erupted in her condo?
The aroma of freshly-brewed coffee invaded Dante’s nostrils and cleared his mind. He poured four cups of coffee and placed them on a tray. Careful to avoid stepping on broken glass, he tiptoed to the cocktail table of the living room. “Black for everyone.”
The beep of his cell phone reminded him he hadn’t returned the junior lawyer’s call. He went back to the kitchen and slipped on to the balcony through the side door. The rain had abated, but big clouds still darkened the sky.
“Yes, Jay. What’s up?”
“I paid a visit to Tom Dalen, told him I work for you, and we’re investigating Bairey’s death. He answered my questions without problem. Nice fellow.”
Leaning against the inner wall, Dante darted watching glances around him and spoke in monosyllables. “Yes.”
“As you suspected, he lent money to Steve, $200,000 at ten percent, two years ago.”
Dante whistled softly. “Ten percent? That high?”
“Tom said he did it only for Julia. He has known her for years, since before her marriage to Steve, and was feeling sorry for her, but he didn’t trust her husband. Loans and More, Inc. was facing bankruptcy. Clients were threatening to take Bairey and his partner to court. Meanwhile, Carter Morton wanted Bairey out for ruining him.”
“Good job, Jay. Anything else?”
“This sum was far from being enough. Apparently, Bairey was going to ask Greg Partson to lend him a big sum to get the investment company out of trouble. Also Juan did a search on Dianna Oliveira.”
“Anything interesting?”
“She was involved with a drug lord in Sao Paolo and did jail time, before coming to the U.S. About the surveillance of your grandmother’s house, everything is going well. By the way, Juan said your sister is a beauty.” A chuckle sounded on the other end of the line.
“Thank you for reassuring me, but tell Juan that flirting with a client, especially his boss’ little sister, may get him fired.” Dante caught a glimpse of the detective walking out of the bedroom suite. “Bye, now.”
Reassured about Nonna and Isabella’s safety, Dante entered the kitchen and joined Alexa and the men who sat across from her. He’d wait to hear what they had to say before sharing any information.
While sipping his coffee, Detective Ladd stared at Alexa above the rim of his cup. “Good and strong. We needed that, right, Ms. Alexa?”
“Yes. Thanks, Dante, for the coffee.” She set her cup back on the table and smartly waited. The silence weighed heavily for a moment.
“So, Ms. Alexa, were you relieved the intruder didn’t find your collection of gems?”
“Very relieved, but...”
“Are you sure? Nothing is missing.”
She shook her head.
Understanding dawned on Dante, and he stifled a smile. “Smart move, Alexa. I’m glad you hid them before we left.”
She bit her lip, and her gaze averted toward her suite. “It’s a horrible feeling to know a burglar entered my condo, my own bedroom. Thank God, he didn’t take anything.”
“Yes,” Ladd said. “But that means he may come back. And be dangerous.”
“Oh.” Alexa paled and stiffened.
“Think about it. Your bedroom, office and guestroom were ransacked, your kitchen and bathrooms searched. The intruder was looking for something valuable. At first, I thought about a paper, or some evidence incriminating him, but then I realized you have a fortune hidden here. Does anyone know you keep your jewelry at home?”
“Probably.” Alexa twiddled her fingers. “I change earrings, bracelets, or necklaces often, to match them with the outfit I wear. Obviously I’m not going to run to the bank on a daily basis. Anyone can guess I keep most of my jewelry at home.”
“Two days ago, you had a drawer full of items. Today it was almost empty. What made you decide to hide them before going to the funeral?”
“I always put them back in their place. Except two days ago. I was too...shaken by the bad news and forgot, but I removed them the next morning.”
Ladd glanced at the officer, but continued, “Was it Mr. Partson who installed a safe?”
“No, it was my father, but Greg knew about it of course.”
“Your father?”
“I lived in this apartment with my Dad since I was ten, then during my marriage, and after my divorce.”
“How come your father did not install a security system on the door and windows?”
“Why would he? Our high rise has the best security system. The security agents at the reception desk spend their time peering at closed circuit TV. They monitor all areas of the building and would catch any trespasser attempting to sneak in. But we never expected the problems to come from...”
“From within the Blue Waves. Someone with the key,” Dante finished her sentence.
“I see.” Ladd exchanged another glance with Officer Raines. Dante frowned, annoyed that they hadn’t yet communicated their findings.
Ladd’s phone rang. He looked at the id and scrunched his eyebrows. “Yes, Mr. Partson?” He nodded a few times. “You can come if you want,” he added as if he was inviting Greg to a drink in his own place.
Alexa pinched her lips. Dante immediately draped his arms over the back of the sofa, behind her. Let Greg see right away that Dante had assumed the role of serious boyfriend.
“Can we clean this mess?” Alexa waved her hand around. “It’s really getting on my nerves.”
“In a moment, Ms. Alexa. I want Mr. Partson to see it. Then we’ll collect all of that in a bag and take it to the lab for fingerprints examination.”
The door bell chimed. Dante held Alexa’s shoulder. “I’m sure these gentlemen can open.”
She shrugged and gave him a sideway smile. “Good. I’d rather not be the first to be smacked with Greg’s outrage.”
“What the hell is going on here? Alexa?” Greg’s bellow answered her.
Dante controlled his snort. “You know him so well. Don’t move. They can handle him.”
“Who do you think did it, Mr. Partson?” Ladd didn’t waste time turning on his little recorder.
“I hope you find out soon, detective, and send him to rot in jail.” He stared at
the bottom of the Chinese bowl and moved it with the tip of his Loafer. “I bought this antique piece in Hong Kong. It’s unique, invaluable. Its shipping cost me a bundle. Good thing it’s insured.” He strode toward the bar and lingered there scanning the area. Dante caught his gaze flipping from the broken ceramic on the floor to the ceiling and lights. What was Greg looking for?
The officer put on latex gloves and started collecting the pieces, arranging them on the table. “I’ll wrap them after I clean this floor.”
Greg returned with a glass of Scotch in hand. Instead of sitting in a chair, he remained rooted in front of them, his bushy brows gathered into a scowl. “What d’you think you’re doing pawing my wife?”
“Ex-wife,” Dante specified without blinking. “Don’t take offense, Partson. I’m her lawyer.”
“And my boyfriend,” Alexa’s tender smile melted his heart.
“What the—”
“Mr. Partson, please have a seat. We have important news for you and need your input.”
“Shoot, but first tell Cantari to show some decency and behave in public.”
Although Ladd shrugged, Dante realized it was the wrong moment to antagonize Greg. He removed his arm from behind Alexa’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. No one will attack you here.”
“Attack?” Concern replaced Greg’s angry tone. “Alexa, were you here when this happened? Someone attacked you?”
“No, we found the mess when we came back from the funeral. These gentlemen witnessed the shape of my condo as soon as I opened the door.”
Ladd explained the whole situation in a few words.
“Alexa’s jewelry is insured, like everything else here, but I’m glad she didn’t forget to put it in the safe. Detective Ladd, do you think this incident is related to Bairey’s death?” Greg tented his fingers. Dante followed the direction of his gaze as it scanned the living room and rested on the bar. Did he want another drink or was he trying to remember something?
“I can’t say yet, but there’s more.” The detective paused until he had Greg’s full attention again.
“More?”
“Ms. Alexa was attacked yesterday. Someone tried to drown her when she took an early swim.”