As he hung up his Windbreaker and hat, I said, “When you get a chance, please set up the craft alcove for the Quilting Queens.”
The quilting group usually met on the opposite Tuesdays from the scrapbookers, but something had come up and they’d asked to use the space today. It meant rearranging the furniture and getting a second round of refreshments from the bakery, but the quilters spent a lot of money on supplies, so I couldn’t refuse them.
Especially since I’d recently gotten a great deal on bundles of precut autumn fabric. Once I’d checked on Ms. Poodle and fulfilled her request for a glass of water, I swapped the scrapbook material display for the quilting fabric and threads. When I was finished with that, I restocked and straightened the rest of the store shelves.
The woman at the soda fountain finally finished her treat and left, so after letting Dad know where I was going, I made a quick pit stop in the back. The necessities taken care of, I refastened my ponytail, put on a little lip gloss, then headed upstairs to talk to Jake.
I could hear his voice as I neared his office. Although he didn’t sound angry, his tone wasn’t exactly happy, either. The door was open, but I knocked lightly on the wood anyway. He flashed me a smile and gestured for me to come in and take a seat.
As he continued to talk on the phone, Jake rolled his eyes. “No. Really. I’m only looking for the one lady.” He listened, then said, “While I appreciate your help, there’s really no need to call every time a lone woman checks into your motel.”
After a few more uh-huhs, Jake hung up, grinned at me, and said, “It’s great when folks are helpful, but the ones who are helpful and bored can be a problem. Dill Dorland from the Halfway Inn has called me six times already. Who knew that many single women checked into the place?”
“Considering that motel’s reputation”—I giggled—“quite a few.”
“Ah.” Jake’s cheeks creased. “I kind of wondered if that was the case.”
“The rent-by-the-hour rates should have been your first clue,” I teased.
“Since I wasn’t there for a room, I didn’t inquire about the price.” Jake leaned forward, lowered his sexy voice, and murmured, “I promise we’ll go somewhere much nicer for our weekend getaway.”
“If I agree to go.” I crossed my legs and let my foot swing back and forth.
Jake frowned, then nodded and asked, “Busy day in the store?”
“Surprisingly so.” I smiled. “But a brisk business day is a good thing.”
Jake had come downstairs several times during the morning to see if we could talk, but I’d always been surrounded by shoppers. It was a relief that he hadn’t demanded my attention or gotten angry that I didn’t have time for him. Instead, he’d just waved and returned to his office. It boded well for our relationship.
“I’m glad the store is doing so well.” Jake picked up a pen and threaded it between his fingers. “I know how you agonize about that.”
“Thanks. I do worry.” I appreciated how he always listened to my concerns. “Anyway, there’s a bit of a lull now, so I should be okay until the quilters arrive.” I straightened. “Bring me up to speed.”
“After you left to meet Poppy and Boone, I started showing Gabriella’s picture around at various motels and restaurants in about a twenty-mile radius,” Jake said. “I figured if she’d left of her own free will, she couldn’t get too far without her purse or vehicle.”
“Unless someone picked her up,” I said slowly. “Or if she’d been organizing this for a while and had a car and cash stashed somewhere.”
“True.” Jake wrinkled his brow. “But it’s best to work on one theory until it’s exhausted, then move on to the next. And the easiest one to eliminate would be that Gabriella left on the spur of the moment because of her fight with Elliot about the wildlife park.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “I can see your point. You were working under the assumption that she might have gotten a buddy to take her somewhere nearby, hoping to make her husband worry about her. Then after he’d suffered for a few days, she’d go home.”
“Yep. If she were truly leaving Winston, she’d probably be back in L.A.” Jake tossed the pen in the air and caught it. “Today, I’d planned to visit the people that Winston listed as her friends.”
“But the ransom note that Elliot received last night changed your mind,” I guessed.
“That and what I found out from my new pals Dill and Tootie Dorland.” Jake grinned. “Although Gabriella hadn’t been at the Halfway Inn recently, she had spent the night there a month or so ago.”
“Seriously?” I barely stopped myself from squealing. “I take it she wasn’t alone.”
“She was by herself when she checked in.” Jake’s blue eyes twinkled. “But from the state she left the room in, Dill and Tootie are certain she spent the night with an extremely active companion.”
“Well, that certainly adds a twist to the situation.” I thought about all Jake had told me, then asked, “Did either of your new besties notice what kind of vehicle Gabriella’s lover drove?”
“Unfortunately, neither of them are car buffs or particularly observant.” Jake curled his lips. “All Dill and Tootie could tell me was that the vehicle was bright green and resembled a lima bean.”
Why did that description ring a bell? I replayed the last twenty-four hours. I’d seen a vehicle like that somewhere recently.
“Mac McGowan!” I shouted. “The golf pro from the country club.”
“What about him?” Jake shot me a puzzled glance, then it clicked and he said, “This McGowan drives a car that looks like a lima bean?”
“I’d say more of a lime.” I wrinkled my nose. “But it reminds Boone of an avocado. So some sort of green fruit or veggie.”
“Gabriella and the golf pro.” Jake shook his head. “It’s almost too cliché.”
“Clichés are clichés for a reason,” I said.
“Uh-huh.” It was clear Jake was lost in thought. Finally, he said, “If it weren’t for the ransom note, I’d wonder if Gabriella just got tired of her husband and ran off with this McGowan guy.”
“That and the fact that Mac was at Mexilicious last night.” I crossed my arms. “He was getting takeout, which is how I saw his car.”
“Still.” Jake tossed the pen again. “I definitely need to talk to the guy.”
“Boone had some interesting gossip about Mac.” I looked at the ceiling, trying to remember the conversation.
“Yes?” Jake made a go-on gesture with his hand.
“It seems Mac has been a very naughty boy,” I teased, then when Jake growled, I continued, “First he got caught snorting coke in the locker room, then he came to work plastered, and the pièce de résistance . . .” I paused, waiting for Jake to growl again. His deep rumble sent enjoyable chills up my spine, and I hid my shiver when he fulfilled my silent wish. Smiling, I said, “Mac was discovered in the hot tub with the club president’s wife and another woman.”
“Isn’t the help allowed to use the facilities?” Jake’s tone conveyed that he wasn’t impressed. “Breaking that rule doesn’t seem too awful.”
“All three of them were stark naked.” I leaned back in my chair, the better to enjoy the startled look on Jake’s handsome face.
“Was Gabriella the second woman in the tub?” Jake finally asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “The lady got away before her identity was revealed.”
“So Gabriella was sharing him with at least one other woman, maybe two,” Jake said thoughtfully. “Would she run away with a guy she was willing to share? Give up her marriage and her lifestyle?”
“From the little that I know about her, I’d have to say no.” I yawned and stretched. My restless night was starting to get to me. “And I learned one more interesting tidbit about Gabriella.”
“Oh?”
“Pop
py told me about this bachelorette party Gabriella attended at Gossip Central.”
I yawned again, and Jake got up, walked over to the coffeemaker he’d set up on a table against the far wall, and poured me a cup of the life-giving brew. Once he’d handed me two packets of sweetener and a little tub of creamer along with a stirrer, he returned to his seat.
After adding the condiments, I took a cautious sip and said, “Evidently, after the party was over, Gabriella was seen leaving with the male stripper.”
“Did Poppy know who the stripper was?” Jake asked. When I shook my head, he sighed. “Shit. I wonder if it could have been McGowan.”
“I doubt it. It would be too weird if the local golf pro also worked as a stripper.” Frowning, I considered what Poppy had said, then shook my head. “I’m not sure if Poppy knew Mac before last night or not.” I dug my cell from my pocket. “Let me check.”
I texted her and almost immediately she answered: STRIPPER WASN’T MAC.
“Great,” Jake groaned. “Like we needed someone else to add to the mix.”
“Yeah,” I agreed morosely. A couple of minutes went by, then I said, “I almost forgot. Although he couldn’t confirm it, I think Boone was the attorney that Gabriella consulted.”
“Too bad there’s no way to find out the details.” Jake’s jaw clenched. “A lawyer won’t break confidentiality no matter what.”
“Right. But I got the impression Gabriella wasn’t looking for a divorce, just some sort of restraining order regarding their money.”
“When I questioned Winston about that, he said he knew about Gabriella’s attempts to get her hands on the money.” Jake scratched his chin. “He claims to have seen a letter stating that she didn’t have any legal recourse because Winston was using cash from his trust fund and Gabriella had no rights to that money.”
“Interesting.” I rubbed my temples. My lack of sleep was giving me a headache. “Tell me about the ransom.”
“The note demanded a million dollars and gave Winston two days to get the money together,” Jake reported.
“I know the guy is rich, but can he put together that kind of moola so quickly?”
“Winston says he can.” Jake nodded. “But it’ll have to come from the capital he set aside for the wildlife park, and he won’t be able to take more from his trust fund for another year.”
“Where’s the ransom supposed to be dropped off?”
“The kidnapper will let Winston know later.”
“I was sure surprised to get your message.” I shook my head. “I would have sworn Gabriella hadn’t really been kidnapped.”
“It was fortunate that I was at Winston’s house when the note arrived.” Jake pinched the bridge of his nose. “Otherwise, I’m not entirely sure he would have shown it to me. And I’m positive he wouldn’t have given it to the cops.”
“Really?” I frowned. “You don’t think Elliot would tell you and the police about the note? It proves that his wife was really abducted.”
“You’d figure that to be his first reaction.” Jake rose from behind his desk. “But either he’s a better actor than I’d guess or he really is more worried about Gabriella than himself.”
“So you’re convinced that he isn’t behind her disappearance?”
“Not one hundred percent.” Jake sat on the edge of the desk. “But if he is, he has to have a partner. Because the note wasn’t by the door when I arrived, and it showed up while I was with him.”
“No way he could have dropped it as you preceded him down the hallway?”
“Nope. I followed him, not the other way around.” Jake rubbed his chin. “And I could swear he was truly shocked when I told him about his wife having an affair.”
CHAPTER 12
When Noah realized that there was no one scheduled after his four forty-five patient, he instructed Meg not to put anyone in the day’s last appointment slot. Normally, he would have had her squeeze someone in, but today was special. He had a date with Dev, and he didn’t want to be late.
Almost giddy with the unexpected freedom, by five thirty he was out of his white doctor’s jacket, in his car, and on his way home to walk Lucky, his Chihuahua. Noah had inherited the little dog after his fiancée had been murdered. After discovering that his bride-to-be had been lying to him about almost everything, Noah viewed the pup as a constant reminder that he needed to keep up his guard around those of the female persuasion.
That is, all women except Dev. Although she may not always tell him what he wanted to hear, he could count on her to be honest. Painful as the truth might be at times, she never deceived him.
Which is why it was odd that late yesterday, Noah had had the weirdest notion that Dev was keeping something from him, and he needed to see her right away. They’d had plans to go to a Sunday matinee of The Book of Mormon in Kansas City, but a little voice told him that waiting until the weekend would be a serious mistake.
Noah wasn’t sure if his sudden compulsion to be with Dev sooner rather than later had anything to do with Meg being his newest employee or because Del Vecchio was now Dev’s tenant and was around her all the time. But if there was something nudging Noah’s subconscious into action, he didn’t intend to ignore his gut instinct.
Especially since, if he had his way, he’d spend every night with her, not just the once a week their busy schedules usually allowed. Whatever the reason, Noah had been relieved when she texted her acceptance to his dinner invitation and looked forward to their date.
Pulling into his driveway, Noah glanced at the dashboard clock. He had twenty minutes before he had to head to the dime store. He wanted to be on time for their romantic tryst. Tonight had to be perfect.
Jumping out of his Jag, Noah hurried into the house. Lucky met him in the entryway, pirouetting and barking his excitement. He swiftly attached the Chihuahua’s leash and led him down the sidewalk. They’d do a quick lap around the block, then head home.
Although Noah’s upscale development boasted a beautifully maintained dog park where the neighborhood pets could run free and socialize, he never brought Lucky there unless he was sure there would be only a few other animals present. Because the Chihuahua was so small, he’d found that if they were there when there were too many of the larger breeds, he couldn’t safely let Lucky off his lead.
As the tiny dog inspected every lamppost and fire hydrant, Noah reviewed his plan for the evening. He’d made reservations for one of the private window alcoves at the Manor, the best restaurant between Shadow Bend and Kansas City. The building was located on a man-made lake, and the way the twinkling stars reflected on the navy blue water was beautiful in the dark. The perfect backdrop for an intimate tête-à-tête.
The Manor attracted diners from all over, catering to an affluent clientele looking for an exquisite fine-dining experience or an elaborate party. He and Dev had eaten at the restaurant once before, but they’d been interrogating a suspect in a murder, not on a romantic date.
Unfortunately, before that part of the evening could begin, he had to figure out how to bring up the fact that Del Vecchio’s ex-wife was Noah’s newest employee. It would help if he had any idea whether Dev would be upset with the news or didn’t really care. Elexus had claimed that there were no other viable applicants for the position and had insisted on keeping Meg as their receptionist.
Noah was still contemplating how to tell Dev about Meg, when he heard an unfamiliar female voice call, “Doctor, wait up.”
He cringed. Too many of the divorced, and sometimes still married, neighborhood women had targeted him as their next husband. Another good reason to get a ring on Dev’s finger as fast as possible. He was tired of feeling like prey every time he went for a walk or mowed his lawn.
Turning, Noah forced a pleasant smile and said, “Can I help you?”
The woman hurrying toward him was a gorgeous brunette wearing a short black go
lf skirt and a formfitting striped top. Her sparkling white athletic shoes flashed as she darted up to him.
“Hi, I’m your new neighbor.” She held out her hand. “Muffy Morgan.”
“Noah Underwood.” Noah reluctantly grasped her slim fingers and shook.
“I know who you are.” Muffy’s silvery laughter sounded phony and scraped his nerves. “All the ladies around here have pointed you out and warned me off.”
“Oh.” What the hell was he supposed to say to something like that? Ignoring her innuendo, he said, “I wasn’t aware that any of the houses on this street were for sale.”
“I couldn’t afford a dog house in this neighborhood.” Muffy snickered, then stepped back when Lucky growled at her. “I’m living with Vaughn Yager.”
“Vaughn’s a great guy.” Noah relaxed. He might be comfortably well-off, but Yager was a billionaire. No way would Muffy risk a sure thing with him to pursue Noah. “Vaughn and I went to school together.”
“He mentioned that.” Muffy nodded. “It seems like everyone in this neighborhood has known each other since they were in diapers.”
“I suppose that’s true for this particular part of town,” Noah agreed.
His subdivision was one of the first established in the area. In the nineteen fifties, the wealthy residents of Shadow Bend who wanted to live in newer and larger houses than they could find in the city limits had purchased the half-acre lots and built custom homes.
Most still lived in them or had passed them on to their children or other younger family members. It was rare for someone who hadn’t grown up in the town to buy a place in this neighborhood. A few years ago, Vaughn had pounced when a house was put up for sale. Rumor had it that he’d paid well over the asking price.
“It’s a little hard to fit in when I’ve only been here ten months and everyone else has known each other for so long.” Muffy sighed. “My friend Gabriella and I talk about that a lot. She’s been here four years, and she says the locals still treat her like an outsider.”
Lions and Tigers and Murder, Oh My Page 11