Sara could hear the caller was a woman and that she was excited. She sat up, tucking her legs beneath her. “Who is—”
Sean held up a finger and spoke into the phone. “We’ll be right there.”
“Sean?” Her heart was racing. She felt the energy in the room—something terrible had happened.
Sean took her hand. “That was Catherine. Earl’s missing.”
Her undying urge to make love to her husband muted to the background. “We better get going.”
Catherine paced the floor of her room. Her hand snapped to her mouth and then lowered. “He’s nowhere to be found. I’ve been all over the resort. I’ve called his cell phone.”
“Did you call the police?” Sara guided her back to the sofa.
“What are they going to do?”
“Sara,” Sean said.
“Yes, dear.”
“Why don’t you see if you can round up some tea for Mrs. Spencer?”
Sara patted Catherine’s knee and got on the phone. She cupped the mouthpiece. “They don’t typically do this, Sean.”
“Tell them I’ll pay whatever they like.”
She spoke to the resort employee. “Yes, I know it’s an all-inclusive resort. Please, just bring up some tea…we will pay cash. Yes, gracias.”
Sara sat beside Catherine again.
“You two are the sweetest people.” Catherine reached for Sara’s hand.
“Please, Catherine, tell us everything that happened. When did you last see him?”
“Last night. You two went on your way. We stayed in the lobby and had a few more drinks.”
“Then what?”
Catherine shared looks between them. “You were cops before, weren’t you? That was your day job? Earl said that’s what he thought.”
Sara glanced at Sean.
He nodded, his protective guard chipping away. “Yes, we were. We’d like to help, but you should call the police.”
Catherine cast a deadpan stare in his direction. “You are both telling me to do that, but until we know that something truly happened to him, aren’t we acting prematurely? It can’t be easy reporting things like that down here, and I don’t know the language very well.”
The phone rang and Sean answered, prepared to argue with the front desk over tea. Instead, the caller had a different message. Sean pointed to the receiver and both women went quiet.
He spoke to the caller, but his eyes were on Catherine. “She is, but you will speak to me…who I am doesn’t matter. What is your message?” Sean was certain his face was pale, mirroring that of the women.
“Sean?” Sara went over to him. “What is it?”
He replaced the receiver to the cradle. “They used a voice distorter, so I can’t tell if it’s a man or woman.” He heard defeat mark his words. “But you have your proof, Mrs. Spencer. Someone has Earl.”
“Oh my God.” Catherine let out a wail and bent over in sobbing convulsions.
“What do they want, Sean?” Sara asked.
“They requested fifty thousand dollars by Thursday. They’ll give more details then.”
“Thursday? That’s tomorrow.”
Catherine looked up. “Or? There’s always an or.”
Sean latched eyes with Sara.
Sara squeezed Catherine’s shoulder. “In situations like this it’s best we keep a level head. They’ve made their demand and now we just have to meet it. We’ll help get your husband back.”
The eye contact Sara made with Sean drilled home the fact she wasn’t going to look the other way with this. She was determined to see it through and make good on her promise.
Sean got up and paced the room, taking everything in, habits from the job resurfacing.
There were two wine glasses on the table—both with wine, but one had red lipstick on the edge. The other didn’t appear to have been touched.
“When did you last see Earl?” Sean asked.
Sara put an arm around Catherine. “It’s okay. Tell him.”
“Well, he went up ahead of me. I stayed down in the lobby and had some more drinks.”
“And Earl was in the room when you came up?”
“I think so.”
“You think so?”
“Yes, of course he was. Where else would he have been?”
Sean held up a hand. His instincts were firing all over the place and it was hard to pin them down. Earl had confessed to an indiscretion and hadn’t denied that his mistress was on the premises. Two wine glasses, one with lipstick—did it belong to her?
Sean rephrased his earlier question. “So, your husband was in bed when you came up?”
“I think so, okay? Is that what you want to hear? I was feeling pretty good.”
“Did you have wine with him in the room last night?”
“No, not that I—”
Her eyes followed through to the table. She walked over and went to lift the glass with the lipstick.
Sean stopped her. “Just in case we need it for prints, or for some other reason.”
Catherine nodded. “Someone must have found out about how successful he is. It’s not hard to find things out these days. Not with the Internet. His business is in his name. Oh my—” Sobs stole her breath.
Sara got up and shuffled Catherine back to the couch. “It will be all right.”
There was a knock on the door and Catherine jumped.
“You ladies stay right there.” Sean glanced out the peephole. “It’s just the tea.”
With the service paid for, he handed the beverage over to Catherine.
“Thank you.” She blew on it and sniffled before taking a small sip, and then she set the cup down on the coffee table.
During this time, Sara kept eyeballing from Catherine to Sean and sweeping back again.
It was just yesterday he had been craving a little action, and now it was here, he wasn’t sure he wanted to get involved. What if something happened to Sara?
“Catherine,” Sara said, “Sean and I will find your husband. Won’t we, dear?”
He knew both women awaited an answer. He reiterated his earlier direction. “Catherine, don’t let anyone touch that wine glass.”
It’s All About The Money
SARA AND SEAN FILTERED INTO the hallway. He recognized the spark in her eyes, but he harbored doubts about their finding Earl. “Are you sure about this?”
“We used to be cops.” Sara crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “Do you have any ideas? We’ve never handled a case exactly like this one before. Usually everyone’s dead by the time we deal with an investigation.”
“This time we need to prevent that from happening.”
“Sean, do you even hear us talking? This isn’t Albany. This is Mexico. It’s the first time here for both of us. How do we even get the money to them?” She paused. “Wait a minute. You said they’d provide more details, but did they say where the money drop would be?”
“Chichén Itzá.”
“The ruins?”
“That’s right.”
Panic danced through her eyes. “It’s not exactly how I saw the excursion going.”
“There is something else I need to tell you.”
“Sean, why do I sense I might not like what else you have to say?”
“You won’t, but it doesn’t change the facts. Their marriage, it isn’t so perfect.”
“I know. Earl needs to learn how to romance his wife, treat her like a lady.”
“No.” Sean closed his eyes for a second and opened them to Sara’s loving yet curious gaze.
“Tell me.”
“Earl Spencer has a mistress.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“He does, darling. He told me so himself.”
“I never saw that. Why didn’t I see that?” Her brows pinched down. “If I couldn’t pick up on that about Earl, what about you? Would I ever know if you cheated?”
Sean kissed her nose. “It’s something you never have to worry about.”
/>
She smiled and caressed his face before kissing him on the lips. “Are you sure you want to do this? We are on our honeymoon.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “We did promise her.”
“True, and you do seem restless.”
“It seems I’m not the only one.” Sean wrapped his arms around her and they headed to the elevator.
In The Name Of Love
THE ELEVATOR CHIMED ITS ARRIVAL to the main level.
Sara looked up at Sean. “Where do you think we should start?”
“Earl’s mistress is apparently on the resort.”
“And you wait until now to tell me? Why not tell me upstairs when you dropped the rest of the bomb on me? I always thought we communicated well.” She hurried her pace, going past the travel desk and toward the lobby. “I can’t believe he brought his mistress here. When we get our hands on this man, I think I’ll kill him myself.”
“Calm down, darling. Although, you are rather adorable when you get all fired up.”
She narrowed her eyes and kissed him, and when she pulled back, she was smiling. “That’s one thing we never got to do on the job.”
“I can think of many more.” He hugged her.
She pressed her hands to his chest. “You’re going to have to behave, Mr. McKinley, at least until we save a man.”
“Whatever you say, dear, whatever you say.”
She resumed walking.
“Oh, please, do wait up.” Sean’s words came out fragmented by laughter. “Do you remember that woman who lost her hat at Earl’s feet?”
“You’re wondering if I remember something?”
“Good point.”
Sara’s memory was one of her strongest assets—not discounting her looks by any means.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “She’s also the same woman that was on Isle Mujeres. The one I caught you looking at.”
“Correct again. Anyway, I believe that is Earl’s mistress.”
“No way.”
“What do you mean, no way?”
“Just that. She’s in another league. She’s young.”
“What does that say about Catherine?”
“Now don’t be like that. We don’t have any idea how charming and debonair the man was as a younger fella, but I can guarantee you he wasn’t any Sean McKinley.”
“You’d be right about that. I’m one of a kind.”
“That you are, darling, that you are.”
“How do you suggest we find her?”
“You must think I have all the answers.” She pulled back on Sean’s hand, her legs grounded to the floor. “You wished for a mystery and now you have one. Do you regret your wish?”
“We have all of our lives to take things easy, sweetie. Let’s have one last adventure.”
“One last adventure? No, Sean, I want many more.”
“Then your wish is my command—once I have a coffee.”
“You, a coffee? I always thought I—”
Sara followed the direction of his gaze to where a grouping of tables sat on a raised landing, overlooking the pool. The woman from yesterday sat there, in her large-brimmed white sunhat, reading a novel. She wore a purple dress.
“I believe you’re right, and I think I just found the perfect place to sit.”
Sara placed her hand on his forearm. “You go and grab our coffees. I’m going to make a new friend.”
“In your words, what an excellent idea. Just be careful, darling. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“You know I can watch my back.” She sashayed with drastic hip movements then angled back to look at him.
Again, it had Sean wanting to rescind his wish for another type of adventure.
Sara pointed at the chair across from the woman. “Good morning. Is this seat taken?”
“No.” She smiled, briefly, and went back to the pages of her book.
Sara deemed the woman beautiful by any set of standards. Her red hair reached past her shoulders, her skin was smooth and flawless, and her deep chestnut eyes hinted at an intelligent mind lingering behind them. But would her bright red lipstick match the wine glass from the Spencers’ room?
“Your hat is glorious,” Sara said as she slipped into the chair. “I’ve always wanted one of those.”
The woman glanced up.
“Oh, how rude of me.” Sara extended a hand across the table. “My name is Sara McKinley.”
“Amelia Wolfe.” She shook Sara’s hand and went back to reading.
“Mrs. Wolfe?”
“Just Miss, but Amelia will do just fine.” She spoke without looking up.
“Is this your first time in Cancun?”
“Yes.”
This wasn’t going according to plan. Amelia Wolfe was the most tight-lipped person she had encountered at the resort. Most tourists were open to conversation with anyone.
“I’m from New York.” Sara thought she’d stick with the state. She knew Sean hated it when she provided their city.
“Nice.” The top of her hat dipped farther down.
“Oh, there you are, darling.” Sean came over and put the coffee in front of her.
As much as she had been craving some mystery, she felt guilty when she looked at him. He was all she needed. Well, him and coffee. She took a quick sip and licked her lips. “Sean, this is my new friend Amelia. She’s from—oh, I don’t think she said.”
“The United States,” Amelia answered.
Sean bumped Sara with his elbow. “You need to learn to hold things back like Amelia here.”
Amelia didn’t give any visual indication she heard them talking about her.
“I was telling her how lovely her hat is. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
“It is, but I’m not sure if it would suit you.”
“Sean.”
“I’m just being honest, dear.”
Sara put tongue in cheek and leveled a playful glare.
“And her lipstick, isn’t it the perfect shade of red?” Sara leaned on the table and rested her chin in her hand. She kept her attention on Amelia until the woman lifted her head.
“It’s Estee Lauder, Extravagant Red.”
“What a name! You’ll have to get some for me, Sean. Or will I not suit that either?” Sara pinched Sean’s thigh beneath the table.
His leg jumped and he winced. “No, darling, I think you’d suit it just fine.”
Amelia glanced between Sara and Sean. “Maybe I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Don’t be silly. You were here first. Besides you’re probably waiting on your boyfriend.”
“I’d be waiting awhile. I am here alone.”
“No. Not in Cancun alone.”
“I’m afraid so, yes.” She dog-eared a corner of her novel and placed it on the table.
“Well, if you get lonely, Sean and I are staying here. We’re fun to hang around with.”
“I couldn’t interfere. You are on your honeymoon. Am I right?”
Either Amelia excelled at reading people or Earl had told her about them.
“We are.” Sean moved his chair closer to Sara’s and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“I will go now,” Amelia said.
“Don’t leave on account of us.”
“I’m going to the beach. Have a nice holiday.”
Amelia left, walking off with a large beach bag in one hand, the novel in the other.
“Do you think Amelia Wolfe’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing or just a sheep?” Sara asked, playing on the common adage.
“Guess we better get some of that lipstick and find out.”
Break & Enter
SEAN KNOCKED ON THE SPENCERS’ door a second time.
“This is the right room.” Sara glanced down the hall. “Where would she have gone? Maybe I should have stayed with her.”
“But then we wouldn’t have gotten this.” Sean held up the tube of lipstick they had picked up at a mall, just minutes down the strip that had all the brand-name stores.
“We both know I wouldn’t have found out Amelia’s shade of red.”
Sara smiled. “No, probably not.” She knocked this time. “Catherine, it’s Sara.” She waited a few seconds. “She’s not in there, Sean. Now, what do we do?”
Sean worked diligently to pick the lock. It wasn’t easy when it was a card key, but there was a bypass and he knew how to utilize it. The light flashed green and he twisted the handle.
“We’re breaking and entering now. This is just great.” Sara peeked over a shoulder.
“We’re only here because she asked us to be.”
“I suppose, but I still don’t know if I like it.”
Sean went in first. “Be careful.” He reached back for Sara’s hand.
The curtains were drawn and, even though it was mid-morning, darkness encased the room.
Sean flicked the light switch on.
“Sean!”
He spun and held a finger to his lips to calm her. “Shut the door.”
She nodded and did as he had asked.
The room was torn apart. The comforter and sheets were on the floor and the contents of the closet were scattered about the room.
“It looks like someone was after something,” Sean made the summation.
“But it doesn’t make any sense—the kidnapping, the ransom call.”
“And the wine glasses.” Sean bent to a pile of glass shards that lie in liquid. “Looks like this is all that is left.” He found a piece that had lipstick on it.
“Does it match?” Sara hurried over and kneeled beside him, twisting the tube he had handed her.
He pulled out a handkerchief and patted a portion of the glass dry.
“They always come in so handy,” she said.
“It’s because of one of these, my dear, that we’re even here.”
“Yes, I know. Mr. Quinn thought you were a gentleman. He was right.”
Sean smiled at her, but his mind quickly went back to business. “Put some lipstick here.”
Sara smeared some across the glass. “It’s not a match,” she said dejectedly. “But it still doesn’t mean she’s not involved.” Sara snapped her fingers. “I know. We usually have more than one shade.”
Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 02 - Vacation is Murder Page 4