The Watcher (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 4)

by Linsey Lanier

Miranda slid into the chair Parker held for her and a young man dressed in black began serving the meal.

  If she were in charge of this case, Miranda thought, she’d jump right into the meaty questions, never mind that everybody’s mouth was full. But Parker had been raised on too many ritzy dinner parties for that. He had manners. She knew he was waiting until after everyone was full to talk. And maybe he wanted to speak to Tia alone.

  So she waited for him to make the first move while she dug into the main dish.

  It was something called feijoada, which Tia said was the national dish of Brazil. It was a dark, flavorful concoction of beef and sausage and spareribs and black beans served over rice. Could have used a dose of extra spicy hot sauce, but it was delicious and hinted of that fresh air taste she’d had in town. She wished she hadn’t eaten so much fish at lunch. She couldn’t get down more than half a bowl.

  Paired with green vegetables, orange slices and rich red wine, it was so satisfying all Miranda wanted to do when the server took her plate was fall asleep. Maybe Parker was right to wait until after dinner. Easier to make them talk when they were feeling too lazy and relaxed to fight back.

  “Pipia is so excited,” she heard Tia say.

  She sat up. “Excited?”

  “About the Winter Festival.” Parker gave her a look that told her that was the current topic of conversation.

  “Oh, yes. The Winter Festival.” He had mentioned that. What was it about? Music?

  Tia beamed across the table at her daughter. “She plays the violin and beautifully if a mother may brag about her child.”

  Pipia’s pretty young cheeks flushed. “I try.”

  “You do more than try. She’s been playing since she was a child. She hopes to study at Julliard.”

  “It is my dream.”

  Parker smiled at her kindly, obviously empathizing with a parent’s pride in their child’s accomplishments. “I hope your dream comes true, Pipia.”

  “Thank you. I hope you and Miranda will be able to come to my concert Wednesday night. It is the first big performance of the festival.”

  “Pipia has a solo,” Tia said proudly.

  Parker gave Miranda a glance and then smiled graciously at the young woman. “We hope we can attend.”

  The conversation turned to details about the festival. Several dozen top musicians from all over the world had come here at Campos do Flores to coach and perform with young hopefuls. A select few would be given scholarships to the leading conservatories of music in cities like New York and London. From the details Pipia rattled off Miranda gathered it was sort of like a Brazilian classical version of American Idol.

  The server brought out some sort of tapioca slathered with a rum sauce and slivered almonds for dessert. It looked so good, Miranda had to find room for it. She told herself she’d walked enough today to afford the calories and dug in while the conversation about the festival and its music continued.

  Heavenly, she thought, as she savored her last spoonful.

  “May I be excused, mother?” Pipia asked, rising. “I must practice. I have my lesson with Arturo tomorrow.”

  “Certainly, dear.”

  Didi got to her feet. “I have some things I need to take care of as well. If you’ll all excuse me?”

  They said good night and Didi left the room.

  Now it was Tia’s turn to rise. “Let’s retire to the drawing room.”

  She behaved as if they were just a group of good friends settling in to enjoy each other’s company but Miranda knew she expected her detectives to lay out what they had come up with so far.

  And apparently, she wanted her lawyer to hear it, too.

  ###

  A few minutes later the four of them were sitting in high back chairs in a cozy, light colored chamber. A full sized grandfather clock ticked away in one of the corners, and in another sat an antique brandy cabinet. Between them stood a huge marble fireplace with homey pictures of Tia and her daughters across the mantel. Rico wasn’t in them.

  A small blaze burned inside the hearth making the room a little too warm, in Miranda’s opinion. Or maybe it was the awkwardness everyone was ignoring.

  She studied Tia’s legal counsel a long moment, wondering if she could trust him. She decided to test the waters. “So, Valdinho. You enjoy being a lawyer here in Campos do Flores?”

  He smiled a rich Brazilian smile. “Very much.” His low accent was almost hypnotic.

  “I would think such a small town would get boring.”

  With a half shrug he poked out his lower lip. “I have a comfortable practice. I like the area. I couldn’t be happy anywhere else.”

  “We are both happy here,” Tia said, sounding a bit defensive.

  The lawyer adjusted his glasses, reached for her hand, and gave it a tender squeeze that made Tia smile. Miranda might be new around here, but she was pretty sure that was more than the usual Brazilian friendliness.

  Parker put his after dinner brandy down on a glossy side table. “I don’t mean to appear rude but we have some things to discuss with Tia of a personal nature.”

  Tia’s dark eyes glowed in the firelight. “You may speak freely in front of Valdinho, Wade.”

  Parker gave her a measured look. “It’s entirely up to you. However, they concern a sensitive matter.”

  The lawyer looked down at his own drink. “Do you mean the letters Tia has been getting?”

  How many people had she told?

  Parker remained silent.

  “Wade,” Tia said. “Valdinho is a long time friend. I trust him. He has never broken his word and his legal advice has been invaluable to the resort.”

  “Very well.” Parker drew in a breath. “Carlota told us some of the details around Geninho’s departure.”

  He was starting easy. Giving Tia enough time to change her mind and kick the lawyer out if things got too “personal.” Somehow Miranda didn’t think she would.

  Their client’s face turned sad. “The business with Geninho was a very painful experience. I have never fired an employee before.”

  “Carlota insists Geninho never threatened you.”

  Tia blinked at Parker then at Miranda, remembering her daughter’s earlier accusation. “He said I would be sorry if I fired him. He was angry. Didi has made too much of the comment.”

  Or maybe just enough.

  Parker simply nodded to acknowledge Tia’s reply. “Carlota said Geninho had a problem with wine.”

  “Yes. That is true.”

  “There was also an issue with another matter.”

  Tia nodded as if it ached to admit it. “Yes. Nelito. But he had nothing to do with Geninho’s firing. In fact, he was gone when it happened.”

  So she knew about the fight between them. “Where did Nelito go?” Miranda asked.

  Tia’s graceful dark brows drew together as she tried to recall. At last she shook her head. “I do not know. He said he intended to hike to Árvores—a little village near here—and see where the wind would take him. He was a foolish, idealistic young man.”

  “Tia, do you remember exactly when Nelito left the resort?” Parker asked.

  Again Tia’s brow creased. “That morning, I think. I can check the records.”

  “The morning of the afternoon you fired Geninho?”

  “Yes, yes. I remember now. It was a few days before the end of May. I was in my office and Nelito came and asked for his last paycheck. I tried to convince him to stay until the end of the month but he refused. He said life was waiting for him and he did not want to miss a moment.”

  A little more than a month ago? Miranda glanced over at Parker. He held her gaze a moment and she could almost feel them exchange thoughts. This could be their mountain killer.

  Parker leaned back in his chair as if he were having a conversation about the weather. Casually he picked up his drink again. “Wasn’t Nelito a student?”

  “Yes,” Tia said. “At the University of São Paulo. He was a performing arts major. But
he had decided to take a year off to experience life, so he said.”

  The dramatic sort. The kind who might be highly insulted by an old drunk calling him an idiot and a sonofabitch.

  “Wade, you don’t think…this doesn’t have anything to do with the body we saw today.”

  Valdinho squeezed Tia’s hand. She must have told him about their adventure on the mountain. Apparently she didn’t keep many secrets from this guy.

  Parker’s voice was rock steady. “We won’t know anything for certain until the police finish their analysis. There’s no need for conjecture.”

  Unless you were professional conjecturers like they were.

  With a scrutinizing look he might use in a court room Valdinho eyed Parker. “Was that the sensitive matter you mentioned?” he asked.

  Parker drew in a slow breath and shook his head. “There’s more. This afternoon Miranda and I had lunch in town.”

  “Yes,” Tia said. “Did you find my courier?”

  “We did. That went well.” Parker took a sip of brandy to buy a little more time. The clock in the corner ticked quietly. “While we were there,” he said at last, “we saw Didi. She was with a young man.”

  Tia blinked in surprise. “Oh, yes. She told me she was going to see Joca. He’s a local soccer player. They have been dating.”

  At least Didi wasn’t seeing this dude on the sly.

  Parker set his glass down again. “How long has she been seeing him?”

  Tia waved a dismissive hand. “I think it’s been about two months now.”

  “Is it serious?” Miranda wanted to know.

  Tia spun her head around to Miranda with a defensive frown. “It seems to be heading that way. Why? What has this got to do with anything?”

  Parker let out a long breath and leaned forward, his face full of concern for his friend. “Tia, we discovered some disturbing news about Joca.”

  “What?” Her fingers began to rub the jewels at her neck.

  “We saw him…let’s call it flirting…with another woman.”

  “Another woman?”

  “She works at an establishment called Gretchen’s.”

  “Gretchen Schiffer’s place? How do you know this? I am sure you are mistaken.” Tia turned away and paced to the window to stare into the blackness outside.

  “We have proof.” Parker gave Miranda a nod and she could feel his distress.

  She pulled out her phone and swiped to the photo she’d taken. She rose, moved to the window, and held it out to Tia. “I’m sorry to have to show you this. But it might be important in the case.”

  Tia stared at the photo then began shaking her head. “No. No. That cannot be right.”

  Pretty crappy for your daughter to have a cheating boyfriend as well as a cheating father.

  “I’m sorry,” Miranda said again, badly wanting to bloody Joca’s nose.

  “Let me see that.” Valdinho shot to his feet and hurried over to the window.

  A trembling hand covering her mouth, Tia handed the phone to him.

  He scowled down at the photo. “Yes, that is most certainly Joca. And that is Gretchen Schiffer with him. She owns that pub.”

  Tia looked as if she were about to cry. “This is going to crush Didi. I feel as if my whole world is falling apart.”

  And it was about to get worse.

  Parker had been watching the scene from his chair. His face was so hard with pain, Miranda wanted to blurt out the rest and spare him from having to do it.

  The grandfather clock in the corner ticked as he rose and crossed the floor to the party at the window. He took the phone from Valdinho. “We overheard Joca and Gretchen talking in the pub. They seemed to have some sort of scheme.”

  “What kind of scheme?” Valdinho wanted to know.

  “To use Didi to become rich somehow.”

  Tia let out a bitter laugh. “How could they do that?”

  “If something were to happen to you, who would get control of the estate?”

  Tia turned to Valdinho, whose face was dark. “Tia’s will grants all of her belongings to her daughters. Half to each. But as of now Rico still owns the resort.”

  And still would if Joca was the killer and acted before the divorce was final.

  Parker seemed to be factoring that in. “Wouldn’t it be reasonable to assume Rico would let Didi continuing managing the resort?”

  “I suppose so.” Tia hurried to her chair and downed the rest of her drink. “What are you saying, Wade? Do you think Joca wrote those letters?”

  “He may very well have.”

  Adamantly she shook her head. “No. It was Rico. I know it was Rico.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  Her voice rang with terror and frustration. “Because I received the first one the day after I met with Valdinho to start divorce proceedings.”

  Parker turned to the lawyer. “Have you served Rico papers yet?”

  Valdinho shook her head. “Not yet. We are strengthening the case. We have to make certain Tia will keep control of the resort.”

  “I love this place,” Tia said emphatically. “It is my home. I will not let Rico take it from me.”

  Valdinho moved to her side. “I will not let that happen.”

  There was another long pause in the room. Miranda ran a hand through her hair as she returned to her seat. Parker was right. They didn’t have enough evidence. But they needed to get some fast.

  “How were the letters delivered?” she asked.

  Tia didn’t hesitate to answer. “On the portico. At the front door of the office.”

  “And you told us the last time Rico was here was three months ago.”

  She nodded. “Yes. He came here to see Didi and Pipia. He said he was on his way to visit some of his brothers and sisters in Minas Gerais. Despite his carousing, he is a man who highly values family.”

  If you leave out his wife, Miranda thought.

  “He has not been here since,” Tia insisted.

  “He could have been here in Campos do Flores without anyone knowing it,” Valdinho offered.

  Miranda wasn’t sure about that. “Wouldn’t he have been recognized by somebody?”

  Tia’s eyes grew wide and her hands went to her necklace again as the idea started to sink in. “Not necessarily. Rico knows the employees’ routines. He could have timed it so that he was not seen.”

  Were they on to something? Miranda thought of what they had learned about Rico on Parker’s laptop. “When did you get the second letter, Tia?”

  “Two weeks ago,” she said.

  The same time as those credit card charges in town. She turned to Parker.

  “We did some research on Rico this afternoon,” he admitted.

  Tia looked up at him with an expression of awe mixed with fear. “And what did you find?”

  “He’s supposed to be in Paris.”

  Valdinho made a grunting sound. “Yes. That disgusting magazine cover announced his new enterprises there. The man is a pig.”

  Miranda agreed but that wasn’t the point now. “He’s not in Paris.”

  Valdinho frowned. “Why do you think that?”

  Parker crossed to Miranda to face their client and her lawyer. She felt him put a hand on her back to steady himself before he broke the news. “There were charges on Rico’s Cielo card two weeks ago. He made purchases in shops in Campos do Flores.”

  With a shriek Tia slumped back in her chair, looking like she might faint again.

  Valdinho knelt beside her and clasped her arms. “Querida. My darling, calm down. We will get through this together.”

  She ran a hand over his cheek. “Yes, yes. What would I do without you?” She looked up at Parker. “You must find him, Wade. You and Miranda. You must find Rico and stop him.”

  “The last charge was a large withdrawal in Rio.”

  “He must be back at his agency. You must go there. You must find him.”

  That’s what they were trying to do. It wasn’t that s
imple.

  Parker echoed her thoughts. “He could be back in Campos do Flores. He could be in Paris. He could be anywhere.”

  “No. I know him. If he did not go to Paris with his models, he is at his agency. He cannot stay away from the place. You must go and find out if he is there.”

  Parker gave Miranda a weary glance.

  She cleared her throat. “I think it would be better for us to stay close to you. I hate to put it this way, but you are the target.”

  Tia’s eyes flashed. She thought about that a moment then shook her head. “I will be fine. I have Didi and Pipia and Valdinho to protect me.”

  “They have a point, querida,” the lawyer said.

  She studied him a long moment, struggling with the impact of all this bad news. At last she straightened and lifted her head in a regal manner. “Very well, Valdinho. You must stay here in the house tonight and come to work with me tomorrow.”

  The lawyer looked pained. “Tia. We cannot jeopardize your divorce proceedings.”

  Anger flashed in her dark eyes. “Then I will manage on my own. We have visitors here for the Winter Festival. I will be busy and there will be many people around.”

  “Tia,” Parker sighed.

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” Miranda echoed. She eyed the lawyer, still uncertain about his motives.

  He caught her look and his eyes flashed as dark as Tia’s. He rose and turned to her, his voice reverberating with intense emotion.

  “I know there is no time to vet me or for me to prove myself to you. And I appreciate your skepticism. That is your job, after all and from what Tia has told me you are both very good at it. But I assure you, both you, Wade and Miranda. I would lay down my life for Tia. I would do anything to keep her safe.” Once more he reached for Tia’s hand. “I will stay with you, my love. Tonight, tomorrow, forever.”

  He was convincing. Miranda believed him and she could tell Parker did, too.

  “It is true,” Tia sighed. “We have fallen in love. I should have told you before.”

  Wondering what else Tia neglected to tell them, Miranda lifted her shoulders. “I think a trip to Rio is worth a shot.” If only to humor their client. “We’d only be gone a day, right?”

  Parker’s handsome brow furrowed. He didn’t like this plan and it was a crapshoot as to whether they’d find any trace of Rico, but at last he nodded.