“So . . . you don’t have anything to add that might help my investigation?”
“I said no!”
Ben joined Brianna. “Can’t you see she’s upset? She’s just learned her parents are missing, probably dead. Can’t you cut her a little slack?”
Holcomb reached over to press the Stop button on the recorder. He stood as well. “In that case, we’re done for now, but I’ll keep in touch.”
Brianna walked him to the door. “Good-bye, Lieutenant.”
She stood in the doorway and watched the officer stroll to his cruiser. He glanced back at the house and tipped his head at her before he climbed behind the wheel, but she had no intention of returning the parting gesture. She whirled around, stepped back inside, and slammed the door as hard as she could.
She leaned against the wall, shaking with anger. The nightmare of her parents on fire came back to haunt her. Would the authorities ever discover the reason behind her parents’ accident? She was suddenly overcome with a sense of doom. She shut her eyes to hold back the tears that burned the back of her lids. When she’d gotten her emotions back under control, she pushed away from the wall and returned to Ben and Charlene.
Chapter 4
The lieutenant had kept his word and called twice a week to give Brianna updates as the investigation progressed. He’d been correct in his assumption that the explosion wouldn’t leave much wreckage to recover. One week passed, then two, and her parents’ bodies still hadn’t been found.
At first, he considered the possibility that her parents had taken the dinghy to shore and weren’t on board at the time of the explosion. That theory was destroyed when remnants of the dinghy washed up on the beach the next day.
An eyewitness also came forward—the captain of a charter boat hired for a bachelor party. The boat had passed right by the yacht. The captain remembered seeing a man and woman dancing on deck before they disappeared below. He was a mile away from the marina when he heard the explosion and saw flames in the distance. That was when he called a Mayday into the Coast Guard.
The lieutenant interviewed the men in the bachelor party. Several substantiated the captain’s statement. The rest were too inebriated to remember much of anything.
Once all the statements had been collected, Holcomb was certain her parents hadn’t gotten off the yacht before it exploded.
After the authorities reviewed all the evidence, they concluded their investigation. The explosion was ruled an accident. Even through her parents’ bodies were never recovered, they were declared legally dead.
Today was the memorial service at their place of worship. Brianna wasn’t looking forward to the ordeal.
She stared at her image in the bathroom mirror where the strain of the last two weeks reflected back. All the sleepless nights showed in the paleness of her face. Her cerulean-blue eyes were puffy and red-rimmed due to all the visitors coming by to give her their condolences. She needed to apply more makeup today than usual to hide the visible signs of grief. The emotional signs wouldn’t be as easy to hide.
Brianna ran the brush through her wavy, walnut-brown hair, smoothing it down over her shoulders. As she continued to stare at her image, she recalled six years ago when her parents came to her room after her maternal grandparents had been killed in an eight-car pileup on the interstate. They told her it was okay to be sad. She would miss them, but her grandparents had always wanted to die together, and they had. That’s when her parents told her they hoped to be so lucky when their time came.
The corners of her mouth lifted in the semblance of a smile with the realization that her parents’ death was simply their wish being granted.
Shaking herself from the past, she focused on getting dressed and stepped into a navy-blue sheath, sliding it up her slender form and running her hands over the clingy fabric to press out imaginary wrinkles.
A quick application of foundation, powder, and rose blush helped to camouflage the paleness. A coat of pink lipstick and a light application of mascara concluded the morning’s regimen.
“Bree, are you about done? Char will be here any minute.” Ben stood in the bathroom doorway, one hand resting on the frame.
“Can you give me five more minutes?”
“Sure. I’ll wait for you downstairs, but don’t take too long or we’ll be late.” He walked up behind her and whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful.”
“I won’t, and thank you.”
Ben kissed her cheek and left the room.
She took a moment to calm her nerves. Her hands trembled knowing she would be under a microscope during the entire service. The media had created a mound of speculation surrounding her parents’ death. Of course, she was a major player in every scenario. She knew the other mourners would be watching her every move to gauge her innocence or guilt. She had to stay calm.
She’d planned a repast at her condo for family and close friends following the memorial service. Afterward, her parents’ attorney, Robert Caro, wanted to meet with her to discuss their wills. She wasn’t looking forward to either, but she kept telling herself it would all be over soon. The sooner the wills were read, the sooner she could put this nightmare behind her, and move on.
Her five minutes had passed. She couldn’t stall any longer. Taking a deep breath, she inspected herself in the mirror one last time. The next few hours would be unbearable, but it couldn’t be avoided.
Her father’s favorite saying was to keep a stiff upper lip. Could she? She had to. She didn’t have a choice.
***
Nestled between Charlene and Ben in the first row of the pews, Brianna felt a welcome sense of security, which was a rare commodity these days. Every time she left the house, she had to deal with a constant barrage of flashing cameras and rude reporters shoving microphones in her face, asking inappropriate questions she had no intention of answering.
She was grateful Ben and Charlene had remained by her side every day since the accident. When Ben had to leave for work, Charlene would step in, and vice versa.
Charlene had also handled all the media turmoil surrounding her parents’ mysterious deaths, while Ben kept her shielded from the paparazzi waiting outside her home. She wouldn’t have made it through this ordeal without them.
She glanced at Charlene out of the corner of her eye. It was hard to imagine she was related to Ben, let alone that they were brother and sister. They were both tall, Ben at six feet and Charlene at five eleven, but that’s where the resemblance ended.
Charlene bleached her brunette hair to platinum blonde, and instead of Ben’s soulful, chestnut-colored eyes, she concealed hers behind violet-colored contacts—or blue or green ones, depending on her mood.
Brianna had known Charlene for a year and a half before she was introduced to Ben. He was two years older than Brianna and five years younger than his sister.
After their parents died, they were sent to separate relative’s homes. When Charlene turned eighteen, she’d petitioned the court for legal custody of Ben. She raised him the best she could, even putting her career on hold and working two jobs sometimes to make sure Ben had a college education. Charlene was sometimes overbearing, but Brianna loved her anyway.
Charlene squeezed Brianna’s hand. “You doing all right?” she whispered.
“I think so. Thanks for being here.”
“I wouldn’t let you go through this alone. We’re family, at least we will be after you and Benjie get married.”
Brianna’s attempt at a smile was a miserable failure. She concentrated on the altar, where the church had placed a blown-up picture of her parents taken the year before they moved to Carmel. They looked happy.
She thought about her life and growing up in a middle-class household. Her father took a job as an accountant for a local mining company after he retired from the Navy. He worked to provide for his family, but that wasn’t his dream. He’d spent years collecting old family recipes on the chance that one day he could open an Italian restaurant. Every weekend
, Brianna would help him cook, taste, and rearrange ingredients until the dishes were up to his standards. He would search online in the evenings for restaurants on the West Coast that were for sale, waiting for the right opportunity.
Her mother was a nurse at Fairmont General Hospital. After experiencing complications during Brianna’s birth, she was taken to the operating room for an emergency hysterectomy. The following year, she transferred to the pediatric floor. Taking care of sick kids gave her the chance to mother as many children as she wanted.
Life was simple then. That was before her parents won the West Virginia Powerball. Everything changed after that.
Not long after they’d collected the winnings, her father found a restaurant going out of business in Carmel, California. He didn’t hesitate to make an offer. The house she grew up in was sold, and they moved across the country. They’d found it easy to acclimate to their new environment. They became accustomed to the city and established a new routine but kept most of their family traditions. Her parent’s seemed happy, and so was she until . . . .
Impatient for the service to begin, Brianna glanced around the nave with its enormous stained glass windows and wooden pillars. The pews were full, and those who arrived late had to stand along the back wall. She was surprised by the number of attendees.
The employees from the restaurant took up the entire third row. Their sniffling echoed as a box of tissues was passed down the pew from one person to the next. Earlier, she’d overheard three of the restaurant hostesses bragging about how much they had enjoyed working for her father. They said he was the only boss who ever treated them like family. All the employees loved him, except for the assistant manager he’d recently fired, Anita. She was caught stealing from the night deposits. She swore she’d get even, but no one had heard from her since the night she was let go.
A handful of the doctors and nurses from the medical center where her mother volunteered a couple days a week sat in the back. The center offered medical care to low-income families. Her mother didn’t need to work, but she claimed it brought her a sense of satisfaction to give back to those less fortunate.
Two of her parents’ oldest friends and their grown children had flown in from Fairmont to show their respect.
Her parents would have been pleased with the turnout.
She continued to scan the crowd for familiar faces, and her heart dropped into her stomach when she caught sight of Lieutenant Holcomb and Deputy Gray, sitting in the last row of pews.
“What are they doing here?”
She hadn’t realized she spoke out loud until Ben whispered in her ear, “What did you say?”
“Lieutenant Holcomb and his partner are here.”
“They’ve almost become a permanent fixture around the house. I’m sure they came to show their respect.”
“Maybe, but the lieutenant gives me the creeps.”
“After today you won’t have to deal with him anymore.”
In spite of Ben’s assurances, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that Holcomb had an ulterior motive for being here. She knew he wasn’t through with her, not until he got what he wanted.
Her mouth watered, and her skin turned clammy. Please don’t throw up. Not in front of all these people. Take a deep breath and remember—mind over matter. The nausea gradually subsided.
She refused to make any further eye contact with Holcomb or his deputy and kept her eyes focused on the pastor behind the pulpit, anxious for the service to begin.
***
Deputy Gray squirmed in his seat when Brianna pinned him with her stare. He leaned closer to his superior and asked in a hushed voice, “Sir, the Rossi case is closed, so why are we here?”
“Offering our sympathies, Gray.”
“Doesn’t seem right. We didn’t even know Mr. and Mrs. Rossi, and from the way Miss Rossi looked at us, I don’t think she wants us here.”
“No, it appears she doesn’t. But why would she be bothered by us being here? What’s she hiding?”
“You think she knows something about her parents’ accident?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a feeling I have. Mr. Rossi spent years in the Navy. He was a seasoned sailor and would’ve made sure the boat was in tip-top shape. My instincts tell me someone started that fire. What I don’t know is who or why. That’s what I intend to find out.”
“You think the daughter did it?”
Holcomb shrugged. “I’m not leaving out anyone as a suspect.”
“But she seems so sweet.”
“You need to remember, Gray, looks can be deceiving. I can tell we make her nervous. People don’t act that way if they have nothing to hide. She’s going to inherit millions. Money’s always a motivator. If she’s hiding something, I’ll find out. If she’s guilty, I’ll wear her down.”
Deputy Gray snickered. “I’m sure you will, sir.”
***
Throughout the entire service, Brianna could feel Holcomb’s eyes boring into her back. To her relief, the minister’s eulogy was quick.
The pews emptied as the mourners filed out of the church. Ben stood to offer Brianna his arm, and Charlene led the way as a protective shield against unwanted media interference.
Ben led her down the steps of the church where they passed directly by the two officers. Brianna knees gave way, and she stumbled. Ben caught her and held on tight.
The deputy dropped his eyes as usual. She heard him mumble, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
The lieutenant wore a fake grin that didn’t reach his eyes, and Brianna concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. I won’t let that old bulldog rattle me. I won’t give him the satisfaction.
Ben ushered her into the waiting limo.
***
Brianna stood at the entrance of her condo with a smile pasted on her face. She tried to remember the names of the well-wishers coming by to give their condolences. She didn’t know what the standard protocol was in this situation, so she opted to tip her head in acknowledgement and shake their hands.
How many more of these strangers could she bear? They all said the same thing: “We’re sorry for your loss. Your parents were wonderful people, and they will be missed.”
They had no idea the depth of her misery. Besides, what was one supposed to say at a time like this? “Did you know my parents well, or are you only here for the refreshments and to see if I look guilty?”
With Ben by her side, she managed a polite “Thank you for coming” before pointing to the refreshment table.
She’d viewed the entire day in a foggy haze as she went through the motions of someone in mourning. She glanced up at Ben, who wore an encouraging smile.
“It’ll be over soon, Bree,” he said, squeezing her hand.
Her stomach growled. Had she eaten today?
Charlene had hired a catering firm to handle the refreshments. She flitted about the condo, the proverbial hostess, keeping the mourners plied with food and drinks. She came up to Brianna with a plate full of food. “Here, take this into the dining room and eat before you waste away.” Charlene gave her a playful shove and jabbed her finger at Ben. “Benjie, you make sure she eats everything on her plate?”
“Sure, Sis,” he replied to his sister’s retreating back.
She’d already left to confront the catering staff, shouting orders that sent them scurrying to the kitchen.
Brianna couldn’t help but grin. Charlene had done most of the planning for the memorial service and the repast. She’d even helped to make a list of friends and acquaintances to contact and had called more than half. Brianna made a mental note to find her an appropriate gift to thank her for all she’d done over the past two weeks.
The food was tasteless, but Brianna ate every morsel before pushing the plate away. Now that her stomach no longer rumbled, she couldn’t wait for the guests to leave so she could climb into bed and pretend this was all a nightmare.
Tomorrow would be a new day, and life would be back to normal, th
ough it would never be the same again. Tomorrow was the first Friday of the month, the day always set aside for family game night. Her father and mother would wait until she came home before choosing between a board game, cards, or putting together an elaborate puzzle. Once they made their decision, they would sit around the kitchen table and eat popcorn while pointing a finger at whoever cheated the most. Brianna’s eyes filled with tears that soon toppled over the rim and ran down her cheeks.
“Bree, it looks like most everyone’s left,” Ben said, lightly touching her on the arm.
She had one more duty to perform before she could call it a night—the reading of the wills. She went in search of Mr. Caro, and found him standing by the refreshment table talking to Charlene, who was outright flirting with him.
He’s old enough to be her father. What’s she thinking?
Brianna snuck up behind them and tapped Mr. Caro on the shoulder. He jumped, and quickly moved his hand from around Charlene’s waist.
“If you’re ready, we can move into the library,” Brianna said.
The lawyer nodded, walked to the foyer table to pick up his briefcase, and followed Brianna into the other room. She motioned for him to sit at the massive oak desk. She, Ben, and Charlene sat in the fine Italian-leather chairs facing him.
Mr. Caro set his briefcase on the desktop and popped the lid. With a handful of legal-sized papers in his hand, he glanced at Ben and Charlene. “Miss Rossi, wouldn’t it be more suitable if we discuss this matter in private.”
“Ben and Charlene are my only family now. I want them here.”
“If that is what you wish, we’ll proceed. I didn’t know your parents long, but in the short time I knew them, I found them to be professional in all their business dealings. They were kind, honest, and fair. They never took advantage of a situation, and did their best to make it advantageous for everyone involved. Their death is a great loss.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“I’d like to start with your mother’s will. She established a trust fund for the medical center where she volunteered. In the past year, she worked with the center to create an outreach program in the neighboring communities that would provide the same medical care to underserved areas. This trust will provide the necessary funds to keep it functioning for many years.”
Still, Forever, Promise Page 3