She’d thought affair, and more than once. But until now she’d never really considered thievery—not in a major sort of way, whatever that detective had claimed. And millions of dollars in jewelry?
That was about as major as it got.
And now that she knew? She shook her head as she pulled into the drive. She had nothing. Just nothing.
She gathered her things, waved to Forrest. And when the first thing she heard when she opened the front door was Callie’s laughter, she let everything else go.
After hugs and kisses and an excited retelling of her day with Chelsea, Callie settled down with a coloring book while Shelby helped her mother in the kitchen.
“You’ve got pretty white tulips up in your room,” Ada Mae said.
“Oh, Mama, my favorite! Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. They came about an hour ago. From Griffin.” Ada Mae slid her gaze and smile over. “I think you have a beau, Shelby Anne.”
“No, I— That was awful nice of him. Sweet of him.”
“He’s got a sweetness, and not so sugary it makes your teeth ache. Such a nice young man.”
“I’m not looking for a beau, Mama, or a young man.”
“It’s always seemed to me things are more exciting when you’re not looking and you find them.”
“Mama, I’ve not only got Callie to think about, and what’s already in my lap, but what just fell into it this morning.”
“Life’s still got to be lived, baby girl. And a nice young man who thinks to send flowers adds a pretty touch.”
• • •
IT DID. She couldn’t deny it as she glanced over at the white tulips. Her favorite flower, she mused, so he’d obviously asked someone who knew her. She thought about it while she changed into a simple, classic-cut black dress.
Whether she looked for it or not, Griffin was giving her some romance, and it had been a very, very long time since anyone had.
And she bet he knew the flowers made her think of the way he’d kissed her—twice now. She couldn’t blame him for that—and found she didn’t blame herself for thinking she wouldn’t mind being kissed again.
Soon.
She put on earrings. She’d thought to find something stage-flashy, but had opted for simple, like the dress, and pinned her hair back at the sides, let it fall in mad curls down her back.
“What do you think, Callie?” She did a model’s turn for her daughter. “How do I look?”
“Bee-utiful Mama.”
“Bee-utiful Callie.”
“I wanna go with you. Please, please!”
“Oh, I wish you could.” She crouched down, stroked Callie’s hair as her daughter pouted. “But they don’t let kids come.”
“Why?”
“It’s like the law.”
“Uncle Forrest is a lawman.”
Laughing, Shelby cuddled her girl. “A lawman.”
“Uh-huh. He said. He can take me.”
“Not tonight, baby, but I’ll tell you what. I’ll bring you with me to a rehearsal next week sometime. It’ll be like a special show just for you.”
“Can I wear my party dress?”
“I don’t see why not. Tonight, Granny and Grandpa are coming to be with you, and won’t you have fun?” And after the first set, her parents would come back, switch off.
It was good to know her family would be there.
“Let’s go down now. I’ve got to get going.”
• • •
THE PLACE WAS PACKED. She’d expected a crowd this first night as people were curious, or in the case of family and friends, supportive. Whatever brought them in, it felt good, damn good, to know she’d earned her keep this first time out.
She’d said hey and thanks for the good wishes countless times before she made it to the table, right in the front, where Griff sat.
“You look amazing.”
“Thanks, that was the aim.”
“Dead on.”
“Thank you for the flowers, Griffin. They’re just beautiful.”
“Glad you liked them. Emma Kate and Matt are on their way, or nearly, and I had to fight off a dozen people to keep their chairs. That’s close to literal with some giant Tansy called Big Bud.”
“Big Bud? Is he here?” She did a quick scan, spotted him with his mighty bulk squeezed into a side booth chowing down on ribs while a skinny girl she didn’t recognize sat across from him poking at whatever was on her plate and looking bored.
“We went to high school together. I heard he’s a long-haul trucker these days, but . . .”
She trailed off as her gaze passed over Arlo Kattery, then backtracked to meet his eyes.
He hadn’t changed much, she thought, and those pale eyes of his still had the power to give her the creeps when they stared.
He kicked back in a chair at a table shared with a couple of men she thought she recognized as the same two he’d always hung out with.
She hoped they wouldn’t stay long, and take Arlo and his snake-stare around to Shady’s, where they usually spent their beer money.
“What’s the matter?” Griff asked.
“Oh, nothing, just somebody else from back some years. I expected some would come in tonight, curious to see if I rise or fall.”
“Sensation,” Griff said. “That’s the word of the day, since you’ll be one.”
She turned back to him, forgetting Arlo. “Aren’t you clever with your words?”
“The word of the day has to fit. This one does. I was supposed to let you know Tansy’s got your parents, Clay and Gilly there.” He gestured to a table at his right with a big RESERVED card on it. “Nobody argued with her on that one. Not even Big Bud.”
“Oh, Big Bud always did idolize Clay. He’s all right, Griff, just . . . insistent now and then. Daddy’s just waiting on Mama to finish primping, so they’ll be here soon. I’m really glad you’re here now.”
“Where else would I be?”
She hesitated, then sat. She had plenty of time. “Griffin, you’re really not going to pay any mind to what I said about my life being a hot mess and all the rest?”
“It doesn’t look like such a mess to me.”
“You’re not in it. And I found out more today, worse today. I can’t talk about it right now, but it’s twisted up something terrible.”
He brushed a hand over the back of hers. “I’ll help you straighten it out.”
“Because that’s what you do?”
“That, and because I’ve got a thing for you that just keeps getting bigger. And you’ve got one for me.”
“You’re sure of that?”
He only smiled. “I’m looking at you, Red.”
“I’ve got no business having a thing for you,” she muttered. Then as she had on Callie’s laugh, she let it go. “But maybe I do.” Her smile was pure temptation as she rose. “Just maybe I do.” She trailed a fingertip down his arm, felt the low vibration. She’d forgotten how heady that small, simple power could be. “You enjoy the show now.”
She went back into the kitchen, which was utter chaos, slipped into the broom closet of an office to take a breath.
Tansy rushed in. “Oh sweet God, Shelby, we’re slammed. Derrick’s pitching in behind the bar so we can keep up. How are you? Are you ready? I’m half sick with nerves.” She pressed a hand to her belly. “And you look cucumber cool. You’re not nervous?”
“Not about this. There’s so much else I have to be nervous about, so this? It’s like sliding into an old pair of slippers. I’ll do good for you, Tansy.”
“I know you will. I’m going out in just a few minutes, quiet them down and announce you.”
She pulled a ragged strip of paper from her pocket. “My checklist. I do better with one. Okay. The machine’s all set up just the way you wanted, and you know what to
do there.”
“I do.”
“If anything goes wrong with it—”
“I’ll wing it,” Shelby assured her. “Thanks for saving that table for my parents.”
“Are you kidding? Of course we saved them a front-row seat—absolutely top of the checklist. And it stays reserved when they leave until your grandparents get here. I’ve got to go check on a few things, then we’ll go for it. You need anything?”
“I’ve got it all.”
Since she wanted it to be easy, natural, she went out early, chatted with a few people she knew at the bar. Got herself a bottle of water.
She knew her mother tended to get worked up before she performed—or always had—so she didn’t go to her parents’ table but sent them a smile. And another for Matt and Emma Kate. One more for Griff as Tansy stepped onto the little stage.
When Tansy spoke into the mic the clattering, scraping and voices quieted some. “Welcome to our first Friday Nights. We’re traveling on back to the forties tonight at Bootlegger’s, so sit back and enjoy those martinis and highballs while we bring you tonight’s entertainment. Most of y’all know Shelby, and most have heard her sing. Those who haven’t are in for a treat. Derrick and I are pleased and proud to have her here, on our stage, tonight. Now y’all give a Rendezvous Ridge welcome to our own Shelby Pomeroy.”
Shelby walked onto the stage, faced the room, the applause. “I want to thank y’all for coming out tonight. I’m so glad to be back in the Ridge, hearing familiar voices, breathing that good mountain air. This first number puts me in mind of what it was like to be away.”
She started with “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
And here she felt like herself. Shelby Pomeroy doing her best thing.
“She’s just great,” Griff murmured. “Sensation.”
“Always was. You’ve got stars in your eyes.” Emma Kate patted his arm.
“That’s okay, I can see fine through them. They just brighten things up.”
She sailed through the first set, pleased to see people come in, crowd at the bar or at tables. When she took her break Clay walked straight up to her, lifted her off her feet.
“So proud of you,” he whispered in her ear.
“It felt good. Really good.”
“Wish we could stay, but I’ve got to get Gilly home.”
“She okay?”
“Just tired. It’s the first night in a month she’s made it past nine.” He laughed, squeezed Shelby again. “Come on over before we leave.”
She glanced over, saw Matt and Griff pushing the tables together so her family, her friends made one unit.
Maybe she’d had a rough start to the day, she thought, but it was turning into a perfect night.
She spent some time with them, then went back to the bar for more water.
It didn’t hurt her feelings when she noticed Arlo and his friends leaving. She’d lose that mild discomfort from having him stare at her.
He’d often stared at her, just like that, when they were teenagers. And, she recalled, had tried to get her to take a ride on his motorcycle or sneak off for a beer.
She’d never done either.
And she found it downright creepy that years later, he’d still just stare at her, unblinking as a lizard.
Griff slipped up to the bar beside her, and made her think of much more pleasant companionship.
“Go out with me tomorrow night.”
“Oh, I—”
“Give a guy a break, Shelby. I really want some time with you. Just you.”
She turned, looked straight into his eyes—bold, green, clever. Absolutely nothing about those eyes made her uncomfortable.
“I think I want that, too, but I don’t feel right leaving Callie two nights running, and asking my parents to sit her again.”
“Okay. Pick a night next week. Any night, and anywhere you want to go.”
“Ah . . . Tuesday would probably be best.”
“Tuesday. Where do you want to go?”
“I really want to see your house.”
“You do?”
She broke out in a smile. “I really do, and I’ve been trying to figure how to invite myself for a tour.”
“Consider it done.”
“I could bring dinner.”
“I’ll take care of it. Seven?”
“If we made it seven-thirty, I could give Callie her bath first.”
“Seven-thirty.”
“I need to check with Mama first, but I expect she’ll be fine with it. And you should listen to what else has come out before we make any sort of date.”
“It’s already a date.” He kissed her lightly before he walked away.
She thought that quick gesture had been a statement, a kind of stamp. And couldn’t quite figure out if she minded that or not. She put it in the back of her mind as she went back on stage for her next set.
She saw Forrest come in with her grandparents, take the empty seats.
But she didn’t notice the brunette until halfway through her set. Shelby’s heart jumped, but she kept the song going when their eyes met.
Had she been there all along, tucked into a table at the back, barely visible in the shadows?
Shelby looked away, tried to catch Forrest’s eye, but he’d gone up to the bar, wasn’t looking in her direction.
The brunette rose, stood a moment, sipping from a martini glass. Then she set it down, put on a dark jacket. She added a smile, kissed her fingertip, flicked it in Shelby’s direction, then strolled out.
She finished out her set—what else could she do? Then made a beeline for Forrest.
“She was here.”
He didn’t have to ask who. “Where?”
“In the back.”
“Who?” Griff demanded.
“She left,” Shelby continued. “Easy fifteen minutes ago. She’s gone, but she was here.”
“Who?” Griff demanded again.
“It’s hard to explain.” Shelby pasted on a smile, turned and waved when someone called her name. “I have to work. Maybe you could fill them in some, Forrest. I couldn’t get your attention when I saw her, but I swear she was here.”
“Who?” Griff demanded for the third time when Shelby walked over to another table.
“I’ll tell you about it, but I’m going to take a little look around outside.”
“I’ll go with you.” When Matt started to rise, Griff shook his head. “Keep the table. We’ll be back.”
“What’s all this?” Viola leaned over.
“Nothing to worry about. I’ll explain when I get back.” Forrest gave her shoulder a rub, then made his way out with Griff.
“What the fuck, Forrest? What woman? And why did she put that look in Shelby’s eyes?”
“What look?”
“Half scared, half pissed.”
Forrest paused at the door. “You read her pretty well.”
“I’m making a study of it. Get used to it.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s down-to-the-ground so.”
Forrest’s eyes narrowed as he nodded. “I have to think about that. Meanwhile, we’re looking for a hot brunette, about thirty, round about five-six, brown eyes.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s looking like she was married to the guy Shelby thought she was married to.”
“What? Thought? What?”
“And she’s bad business—so was the asshole Shelby likely wasn’t married to after all. A lot worse than I figured, and I figured bad enough.”
“Was Shelby married or not?”
“It’s hard to say.”
“How can it be hard to say?” Frustrated, and temper building under it, Griff threw up his hands. “It’s yes or no.”
Forrest scanned the s
treet, the cars parked along the curb, the light traffic passing by. “Why are people from the North always in such a damn hurry? A story takes time to tell properly. I’ll do that while we walk around back, see what we see. Have you put your hands on my sister?”
“Not so much. Not yet. But I’m going to, so get used to that, too.”
“Does she want your hands on her?”
“You should know me well enough by now, damn it, Forrest. They don’t go on her unless she wants them on her.”
“I know you well enough by now, Griff, but it’s my sister here, so that takes more. And it’s my sister who’s been fucked over right, left, sideways. So that’s more yet.”
He told the story as they walked around the side of the building, made their way toward the back and the parking lot.
“And you think this woman’s telling it straight?”
“She’s telling enough of it straight so I know the bastard Shelby was with was a liar and a thief. I’ll be doing some looking for something on this millions in jewelry and stamps she claims they stole or conned somebody out of.”
His eyes, shadowed in the dim light, scanned the cars. “If they hadn’t bussed the brunette’s table, I could’ve gotten prints off it, gotten her name, her real one.”
“If she’s telling the truth about being married to Foxworth, he was using Shelby all along.” Griff stuffed his hands in his pockets, paced away. “And Callie . . .”
“Callie’s going to be fine either way. Shelby will see to that. But I’d like to have a conversation with this woman who’s dogging her.”
“Brunette, right? Hot, brown-eyed brunette.”
“That’s right.”
“I don’t think you’re going to have any conversations with her. Better come over here.” Griff took a deep breath as Forrest hurried toward him. “Looks like we found her.”
She sat, slumped in the driver’s seat of a silver BMW, eyes wide and staring. Blood still seeped from the tiny black hole in her forehead.
“Well, shit. Well, shit,” Forrest repeated. “Don’t touch the car.”
The Liar Page 21