Wedding Takedown

by Geri Krotow

  She was quiet for a bit and he let her think. He was the same way. He needed his space to figure things out. It was one of the common traits they shared that had attracted him to her. Kayla wasn’t one to blurt out whatever she was thinking. Her responses were always measured, considered. It was no doubt a key to her success as a florist, with the wide range of situations and emotional states the people she dealt with were in.

  Kayla shook her head. “No, there’s no way someone saw my van. I parked so far down the drive. We’ve been over this.”

  “We have, but that was before we confirmed that the side door of the barn across from you was ajar. There’s a possibility there was a third person in the barn.”

  “And he or she didn’t run into the fields behind the barn like the man who heard me.”

  “Until we prove it didn’t happen, we’ll assume it did. Have you picked up on anything questionable in your shop since this morning?”

  “No. Jenny and I have been working nonstop since this morning. Gloria hasn’t called me with anything other than a few orders that had last-minute changes.”

  “Okay. Now I need to tell you something about what’s happening with Keith that might relate to Meredith’s case. You know how sketchy the circumstances of Mayor Donner’s indictment were? Well, I think the same group of people may be behind the accusations against Keith.”

  “Go on.”

  He pulled out his phone, where he kept his notes, and used them to make sure he didn’t miss anything he felt she needed to know. Because Kayla needed to know about the True Believers. If he didn’t tell her, he’d never forgive himself if she didn’t take the threat against her seriously.

  “Several members of a former cult that formed in upstate New York thirty years ago were released from prison over the past six months or so. For reasons that I can’t go into right now, and more that I don’t even know about, they’ve decided to settle in Silver Valley. The ringleader found a beneficiary who helped him purchase the entire trailer park community on the eastern outskirts of town.”

  “Cozy Acres Trailer Park?” She was alert, her eyes sparkling with interest. It was heady, having Kayla hang on to his words. He wanted her to hang on to his body with the same intensity.

  “Yes, that’s the one. You know it?”

  “I’ve taken some floral orders from them. I only know it because the caller ID comes up when they call the shop. I didn’t think there was anything odd about it because unlike the Female Preacher Killer last Christmas, they didn’t use untraceable means to order flowers. They did what everyone else does. They called me.”

  “They might be fine, Kayla. Not everyone in that trailer park is a former True Believer, even though a former member appears to have used a front man to purchase the entire property.”

  “A True Believer?”

  He sighed. None of this had made the press when SVPD had caught the Female Preacher Killer last December. For good reason. Superintendent Todd had been explicit that nothing to do with the cult could hit the media. They had to protect the ongoing investigation that the Trail Hikers were conducting into the True Believers.

  “The True Believers were run by a man named Leonard Wise, who we haven’t seen in Silver Valley yet, but we expect he’ll show up down here. He served his term in New York and was granted permission to serve his probation here. So far, three of his cronies have shown up and live here. They haven’t done anything openly illegal, but people like them, who used to hold women and children under their control with brainwashing and abuse, don’t change.”

  “Was it a religious cult?”

  “Oh, yes. With Wise as the ringleader. He impregnated girls once they were seventeen, after choosing them by the age of twelve to be the mothers of future True Believers.”

  “How the hell did someone like him ever get out of prison?” Her frustration echoed his.

  “He wasn’t convicted on every charge that he should have been. It’s a hard crime to prove, since the girls were over the age of consent when he had sex with them.”

  “You mean raped them.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re telling me about this why? Do you think this cult had something to do with Meredith’s murder? And what can I do about it besides listen and observe and let you know what I see?”

  “I’m telling you for a couple of reasons. First, I want you to know that I’m not blowing smoke when I tell you to be careful and don’t fight me on the extra SVPD patrols around your shop and house. Your safety is paramount. With this cult in town, anything is possible. Second, I have reason to believe that one of Wise’s cronies is the lawyer who represents the family from Silver Valley Community Church who pressed charges against SVFD initially, and now Keith.”

  “I read in the paper that the family was new to the area, poor and felt disenfranchised by the church community.” Kayla didn’t miss one clue.

  “Yes. Which made them ripe for picking when some sleazy lawyer cajoled them into filing charges against your brother. The charges against SVFD wouldn’t hold and the lawyer knew it, so he recruited these folks.”

  “So all we have to do, all I have to do, is talk to this family and get them to reverse their accusations.”

  “No, you’re not going to talk to anyone. I’ve got this. I’m meeting with the lawyer and family tomorrow afternoon.”

  “You work on Saturdays, too? You’ll be doing that while I’m at the inn working on the wedding planning.”

  “I want you to stay in touch with me the entire time, Kayla. Text me when you get there, when you leave and every thirty minutes in between.”

  “Why don’t I just take an SVPD car and drive myself there in that?” She tried to be sarcastic but he saw that he’d gotten through to her. Finally, the brave woman he cared about realized her life could be in jeopardy.

  “Where will you be for the rest of the day?”

  “At the shop. I have to place orders for the wedding, along with my usual orders. I’ve got a bit of a break since the holiday rush is over and we’re still early for the wedding season.”

  He nodded.

  “I want you to call or text me before you close up. Either I or an SVPD unit will follow you home.”

  “Rio, that’s not necessary. No one has seen me—I’m the one they should be afraid of.” She smiled and hoped it would coax a smile from him, too.

  He looked at his watch. “We both need to get going. I’ll expect to hear from you whenever you change locations, Kayla.”

  After they said their goodbyes, she went back into the café and ordered Jenny’s smoothie. She wished all she had to worry about was how Jenny liked her drink, instead of figuring out how she was going to avoid getting shot during the next few days.

  * * *

  “This isn’t what I’d planned for my term as mayor. I can’t trust Mickey anymore. He was supposed to persuade Meredith not to do anything foolish. Not freakin’ kill her.”

  “But, Daddy, he told you he didn’t kill her. He said that he just roughed her up. Isn’t it possible some crook came by and robbed her? There weren’t any witnesses, right? There’s no way we’ll ever know what really happened.”

  “Men like Mickey can get worked up and do stupid things.”

  “Still, she deserved it if she was sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong. Her job was to keep your schedule running, fend off the sharks, keep the appearance of complete professionalism from your office.”

  “She didn’t deserve to die, Cynthia.”

  She laughed, very pleased with the tinkles of glee she’d perfected in front of her mirror. “I didn’t mean that she deserved to die, Daddy. Just get a little shaken up by Mickey. Do you believe him? That he didn’t kill her?”

  “Of course I don’t. He’s protecting me and the office. Right now he swears there’s no proof he was there, and if that’s true, it’ll die down. I have to trust that he didn’t leave a murder weapon behind and that if he had one, it’s long gone.”

  “Or
at the bottom of the Susquehanna.”

  “You’re my kid, Cynthia, I’ll give you that.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Saturday morning Rio walked up to the Sneads’ trailer. The memories of being in the trailer park with Detective Bryce Campbell a few months ago when they’d been hunting the Female Preacher Killer flashed across his mind. The park had seemed mostly deserted then, but now he noted several more of the drab trailers had signs of inhabitants. Boots on the door stoops, flowerpots, a dog or two barking as he walked from his car to the trailer where the Sneads lived.

  He was greeted at the door by a man he’d met before. The man had been with the guy who’d refused to tell Rio and Bryce where a missing girl was.

  “Detective Ortega. I’m Justin Lacey, the Sneads’ attorney.” He held out his hand, which Rio shook.

  “Haven’t we met before?” Justin had been wearing a flannel shirt and his hair had been closely cropped in December. Now it was longer, slicked back, and he wore a cheap suit that was too big on his scrawny frame.

  “I don’t think so, Detective.” Rio wondered if the creep was trying to provoke him or was stupid enough to think Rio would believe him.

  “I think we have. In December. You were here when I was with a colleague looking for a missing teenager.”

  A spark Rio could only describe as wariness flared in the lawyer’s eyes. “You may be right. I’ve made a few friends in this area over the past few months. Not everyone can afford a slick lawyer and expensive fees. I’m happy to take on cases from people in hard times.”

  Rio figured Lacey’s cases amounted to little more than ambulance chasing, but he kept his opinion to himself. He could see the Snead family sitting on their sofa over Justin’s shoulder. “May I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  Rio sat in an easy chair across from Bill and Barbara Snead. Justin sat at the kitchen counter on a stool, a yellow legal pad at his elbow.

  “I’m here to find out what exactly you think you saw the night of the fire at Silver Valley Community Church, and to ask why you still believe it’s necessary to press charges against the chief of the Silver Valley Fire Department.”

  “We’re not pressing charges against one person, Detective. It’s the whole fire department, because they didn’t see what was coming.” Bill spoke with a sense of bravado Rio didn’t find impressive.

  “My clients almost lost their lives that night. If not for the grace of God, they wouldn’t be here to discuss this with you, Detective.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Snead, if the SVFD hadn’t done their job in the outstanding fashion they did, many people could have lost their lives. As it is, no one died and few were injured, even minimally. I’m asking you to look in your hearts and realize you’re ruining the life and reputation of one of Silver Valley’s finest citizens. Keith Paruso is a firefighter and leader we need. He doesn’t deserve this hurtful charge you’ve filed against him.”

  “You don’t have to answer that, Bill and Barbara. May I remind you, Detective, that my clients have agreed to see you? They don’t have to talk to you or anyone on the Silver Valley payroll.”

  “Actually, they do. If you have witnessed something you’re not reporting about the fire or that night, I need it for my investigation.” He ignored Justin and addressed the Sneads.

  Bill Snead remained steadfast in his indignant expression, but Rio saw the slight tremor of Barbara Snead’s lower lip.

  “Mrs. Snead, is there something you need to say? You understand that public safety is what we’re talking about, not just your safety. If you know something I need to know, please tell me.”

  “I don’t know...” She pulled a tissue out of the sleeve of her sweatshirt, which was printed with flowers and birds, and wiped her eyes.

  “Just be quiet, Barb. We already told the police what we know and no one listened.” Bill Snead faced Rio. “Now people are listening.”

  “Barbara?” Rio stayed focused on the weak link.

  “I can’t do this, Bill.” Barbara Snead blew her nose loudly before she looked at the floor and spoke. “We’ve been having a hard time since our kids moved out west. When we decided to sell our house, we never knew it would go so fast. But we owed so much and needed a place to live for a short time. We moved here and that’s when we met Justin, who’s been so nice.” She looked at Justin, who was looking at his legal pad. “You’re just doing your job, son, but I can’t keep up this fight. I don’t believe in it. Bill, this isn’t who we are.”

  “Barbara, we’ve been through this. We’re representing the churchgoers who could have been killed in that fire!”

  “But they weren’t killed, Bill. We weren’t killed. We’re right here. And as much as we need the money, I can’t take money when we made it out of that burning building. No one else from church is filing any charges, just us. Don’t you think that says something?” She looked at Rio. “I think the fire chief is the one who helped me out. And I know it’s not his fault that no one knew about the gas bomb that the murderer had planted. I can’t have it on my conscience that we ruined a young man’s life, just because we were scared for a few hours.”

  “So you’ll drop your accusations?” Rio didn’t allow any sense of relief to grab hold, not yet.

  “Wait a minute, here.” Justin was watching a chance at a good chunk of money evaporate and it obviously wasn’t his best professional moment. “You two were certain you needed to do this. Remember, it’s not about you, but the whole church community. They were all put at risk unnecessarily. It’s about keeping Silver Valley safe.”

  “We’re dropping our claims, Detective. Mr. Lacey, we’re sorry but we can’t continue to work with you.” Looking at his wife, Bill Snead spoke for them both.

  “You have no idea who you’re dealing with, Detective Ortega.” Justin’s bland face turned lethal as he spat the words. “This is bigger than you, bigger than the Sneads, bigger than Silver Valley Community Church. Certainly bigger than your local police force!”

  Satisfaction curled in Rio’s belly. He’d so obviously hit pay dirt. But Justin’s reaction wasn’t his concern; the Sneads were. They were whispering to each other and he hoped they’d woken up to the fact that they’d been bamboozled by this sleazebag.

  Because Silver Valley needed to work together to get rid of people like Justin Lacey, a True Believer front man. It wasn’t just about Rio being able to tell Kayla her brother was cleared of any wrongdoing, either. But if it helped her see that he was on her side, and was willing to change his job description to make her more comfortable with him, it had to be a good thing.

  But is it enough to win Kayla’s heart?

  * * *

  Saturday morning Kayla drove the van into the parking lot next to an old inn in a remote area of Central Pennsylvania almost an hour south of Silver Valley. The drive through the budding apple orchards didn’t soothe her spirit as it usually did. She was as tense as ever. Helping out Rio and SVPD wasn’t the problem. It was wondering if her motives were right. Of course she wanted to help clear Keith of the charges that were wrongfully stacked upon him. But was that all?

  You want Rio free to be with you.

  It was only natural, right? Rio was the hottest thing going in Silver Valley. She’d dated plenty but no one had impressed her enough to consider giving up being single, or committing to anything more than casual companionship.

  She’d been brought up with an international sensibility that at times left her feeling out of step with the locals. Silver Valley had been her home for almost ten years, since she’d graduated college. In a town of over twenty thousand she’d never met a man as sexy or attractive as Rio. Or as stubborn.

  Grabbing her iPad and phone, she swung out of the van and looked up at the refurbished Serenity Inn. Built before the Civil War, it had additions from the Victorian era and a modern addition that was a few years old. Kayla had done two or three wedding receptions here and one celebration-of-life dinner. She did her own designs and decorations when
the client’s budget allowed and the Serenity Inn was one of her favorites. As it was so far from Silver Valley, she didn’t get many jobs down this way.

  The front door opened with ease and she was grateful for the modernization that had added air-conditioning. The day was unusually warm and the humidity a killer.

  “Hello?” Since it was before lunchtime, the restaurant area was empty as she wound her way through to the back catering rooms.

  “Oh, hey, you must be the florist. Gloria told us you’d be coming. I’m Molly.” A short woman with beautiful black hair down to her waist greeted her with a smile. “I’m the events manager.”

  “Nice to see you again, Molly. I’m Kayla. I remember you from when I worked a previous event.”

  “Yes, now I remember. I’m sorry, we have so many things going on here. Didn’t you help out with the McCrumb funeral?”

  “Yes.”

  “That was something else. Your arrangements were stunning.”

  “Thank you. It was an honor.” It was always an honor no matter the budget, but the McCrumb family had spared no expense for the matriarch of their clan when she’d passed at one hundred and three. Letitia McCrumb’s passion had been roses, so it had been particularly challenging finding the right mix of blooms in the middle of January, when she’d died last year, but Kayla had been delighted to do so.

  “Well, Gloria should be here soon, along with the caterer. Would you like something to drink while you’re waiting?”

  “No, no, I’m fine.” Gloria hadn’t mentioned that Veronique was coming, but it was probably smart. Flowers and food needed to coordinate, too.

  “Okay, then, feel free to look around and brainstorm as needed. We’ll all sit down once Gloria gets here.” Molly walked out of the room and Kayla took in her surroundings. She hadn’t been in this particular room at the inn. The other events she’d handled had been smaller than the Charbonneau wedding was shaping up to be.

  Deep walnut wainscoting ran the perimeter of the long rectangular space. A banquet table sat in front of a huge antique tapestry that she’d bet was Belgian and very, very precious. She wrote notes about the main centerpiece and then counted the round tables in the room, thirty-two in all. Each seated eight and with the head table, there’d be over two hundred and fifty guests for the wedding dinner, a fraction of the rehearsal dinner number. She didn’t need the exact numbers, but Rio might. Kayla pulled out her phone and took several snapshots of the room to include the entrances and exits. More information for SVPD.