Wedding Takedown

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Wedding Takedown Page 20

by Geri Krotow

“They’re paying respects for Cynthia’s wedding, Gloria.” Tony stood up. “What do you think they’re doing here? They’re running the security today. We don’t want any fruitcakes ruining my baby’s wedding. Go on ahead, I’ll be right there. We were almost done.” Gloria left and Tony shut the door behind her, leaving his hand on the doorknob as he turned back to them.

  “We’ll tell everyone else after the wedding ceremony, and you can ask questions as needed then. And I swear, if either of you ever accuse my wife of screwing around on me again, I’ll make sure your badges are gone so fast you won’t know what hit you until you’re in the unemployment line.” He opened the door. “I trust you can see yourselves out.”

  “Not so fast, Tony.” Colt smiled. “We’re staying for the wedding. To make sure the security is tight and all.”

  The mayor of Silver Valley growled at them as he turned and left.

  * * *

  “Do you think it was him?” Colt murmured to Rio as they smiled at arriving guests. They stood apart from the general crowd, between the gazebo and back porch.

  “I don’t know. He seemed genuinely surprised that Mickey was dead. But he knows more, I’m certain. Like who Mickey would have left with, if he was too drunk to drive.”

  “Yeah.” Colt stretched his neck. “Did you see the food they’re setting up inside? They’re having a lunch buffet after the ceremony and the big dinner tonight. No one’s going hungry at this wedding.”

  “What looked good to you?”

  “The seafood risotto. It’s from Veronique’s Café, in Harrisburg.”

  “I didn’t know you got to the other side of the river much, boss.”

  Colt laughed. “I do have some free time, and I enjoy a good meal as much as anyone. You know I’ve been to Paris, right?”

  “No, I didn’t.” Rio never asked Colt about his personal life. It just wasn’t done in the precinct.

  “Yup, spent two weeks in Europe last summer on my leave. It was something I always wanted to do, but my wife and I had never had the money, back when we were younger and raising kids. Now I make sure I have enough to spoil my grandkids and I use the rest to do what I want.”

  “Sounds like a good approach. I wouldn’t mind taking a trip like that sometime.” He remembered someone saying Colt was widowed, but the man rarely revealed his personal side.

  “It seems like you might have some vacation time coming up. With a certain florist, if my hunches are correct.”

  Rio didn’t answer. He was staring at Kayla as she and Jenny moved from groomsman to groomsman, bridesmaid to bridesmaid, checking their flowers. Kayla walked by him and motioned for him to follow her. “Be right back, boss.”

  He followed her into the house and she faced him. “What’s going on?” Her voice was low and it looked as if they could be discussing the weather.

  “We’re providing some extra security for the mayor.” He leaned close to her ear. “Mickey’s dead.”

  Her eyes widened a tiny bit, but she didn’t react otherwise. His respect for her was only surpassed by the feeling that had been growing in him since he first saw Kayla at that barn. A once-in-a-lifetime emotion. “Kayla, we need to talk.”

  “After, of course.” She looked at him and he hoped he wasn’t just seeing what he wanted to see.

  “This risotto is still too firm.” Gloria walked into the kitchen, looking around for Veronique.

  “No problem, Gloria. It will become tender over the next half hour. When the ceremony is done, it will be perfect.” Veronique said “perfect” like “parfait,” her French accent on full display for any future clients. Kayla tried not to smirk.

  Gloria handed Veronique a spoon. “Well, see that it is. I will say the base tastes divine, as always, although maybe you added a bit too much pepper?” She turned toward Sylvia, who’d just walked in. “It’s time, Sylvia. We need to get everyone back inside so that we can start the procession.” Clearly Gloria was throwing herself into the ceremony wholeheartedly. Was it because she was worried about Mickey and it was a distraction for her?

  “I’ll see you out there.” Rio couldn’t kiss Kayla, but he looked at her and hoped his glance made her smolder.

  Judging from the flush he saw on her neck, it had.

  * * *

  Kayla and Jenny agreed to stay on opposite sides of the gazebo, on the edges of the structure. Jenny would give the flower girl the basket of petals to start the procession, and Kayla would stand by for any other emergencies.

  Looking around, Kayla realized how easy it would be to infiltrate the wedding. Infiltrate. She hadn’t been with Trail Hikers for a week and she was already thinking like an agent.

  After the guests were seated, the string orchestra began to play. The gazebo and yard were very large, but even so, Kayla was astounded that all 250 guests were crammed into a venue of that size. The folding chairs were set close together, and as Cynthia had insisted, everyone fit.

  Charles Blackwell looked handsome standing at the altar, albeit far too old for Cynthia. Kayla checked him out, from his grey hair to the formfitting tuxedo on his slim, athletic form. He’d be a catch for the right woman. Not for a conniving witch like Cynthia, though.

  Not your concern.

  The music swelled as Judge Blackwell’s mother was escorted by a man Kayla assumed was his brother, judging from the strong family resemblance. The woman was clearly an octogenarian, but appeared fit and much younger in a chic off-white dress, not the woman who’d been described as in a nursing home and too ill to attend. She hadn’t been at the rehearsal dinner and Kayla wondered if they hadn’t invited her. Yet another case of Charbonneau manipulation and deceit.

  Gloria followed, escorted by a groomsman, a fill-in with Mickey missing.

  Not missing. Dead.

  Kayla allowed the shudder to pass through her. They had a mission to accomplish and she couldn’t afford to allow her emotions to control her.

  But you can’t control love.

  No, she couldn’t and she’d take that up with Rio after they closed this case. Maybe even right after the wedding, if they caught the second suspect before the day was out.

  CHAPTER 20

  As Gloria approached the gazebo, she tripped on something unseen in the garden, and a groomsman steadied her. Her face was pale and she looked almost...nauseated. Kayla imagined the emotions of the day were getting to her, and wondered if the mayor had told her about Mickey. It would certainly explain the pained expression on her face.

  Gloria was seated in the chair second from the end of the first row of white folding chairs. She was no more than ten feet from Kayla, who remained off to the side in front. As Kayla started to make her way farther back so that she and Jenny could leave the gazebo unnoticed by the guests, Gloria’s hands reached upward as she coughed uncontrollably. What was happening? Kayla broke into a run and reached her side just as Gloria collapsed on the wooden gazebo floor.

  Her breath was wheezy and her face suddenly puffy. Kayla looked at the groomsman who had escorted Gloria. “Call 911 now.” She leaned close to the wheezing woman. “Is this an allergic reaction, Gloria? Do you have an EpiPen?”

  Gloria nodded but couldn’t speak between painful gasps for breath. Kayla stood up.

  “Does anyone have an EpiPen? Is there a doctor here? I think she’s going into anaphylactic shock.” Gasps and murmurs rolled through the seated guests as two shot up and ran toward them.

  “I’m a nurse.”

  “I’m a PA.”

  Kayla stepped back and allowed the medical professionals complete access to Gloria. A woman ran forward, holding out an epinephrine injectable. “This is my son’s, he’s allergic to bees.”

  “Here!” The nurse held up her hand and gave the pen to the PA, who quickly opened it and stabbed it into Gloria’s thigh.

  Kayla watched from a few feet away and was aware of Rio and other uniformed officers surrounding the area. The orchestra was off under a separate tent and finally stopped playing, which Kayla too
k to mean they’d gotten word to halt the proceedings.

  “They need to wait.” The mayor barked his request but no one paid attention.

  “No, don’t stop for me. I’m fine.” Gloria was struggling to sit up, her breathing more normal and the effects of whatever had triggered her attack fading. “It must have been the risotto.”

  “Are you allergic to anything besides scallops?” Kayla remembered Gloria specifying to Veronique at their planning session that she couldn’t have scallops.

  “No, nothing. I’ve never reacted to anything besides scallops. I tasted the seafood risotto ten minutes ago and I started having symptoms immediately. I thought the tightness and flushing was just nerves.”

  Kayla knew her mic was picking all of this up and hoped that Rio, with his headpiece that everyone assumed was for security, was sending someone into the kitchen and dining room to look for suspects.

  “Put me in my chair until the paramedics get here. As long as I’m getting better, there’s no need to change any of this. Keep on with the wedding.”

  “Maybe this wedding isn’t supposed to happen.” Charles Blackwell, the handsomest groom Silver Valley had seen in a long while, spoke aloud. “It’s all been so rushed. Maybe we’ve been rash to hurry so much.”

  “Now, now, let’s calm down. That’s just wedding jitters talking.” Sylvia, the minister for the interdenominational service—via a license she’d obtained on the internet—switched back into assistant mode. “Gloria, you look better. Sit there, and let’s keep it going.”

  The mayor looked less than eager to continue, but Gloria was adamant that they should. Reluctantly, he pointed and nodded at the orchestra.

  The violinist stood and started the processional. The baroque melody was haunting in the misty yard. Sunlight was just started to peak through the clouds and Kayla wondered if they’d catch a rainbow.

  On cue the flower girl came out of the house, tossing the fresh peach rose petals that Cynthia had insisted upon. Not pink, not blush, but peach. She knew what she wanted, that was for sure. Each of the bridesmaids came out on the arm of a groomsman and took their place at the front. The doors were closed after the last bridesmaid made it down the aisle, and the standing crowd waited, looking at the house’s back porch.

  With a dramatic flourish, the doors were opened by two of the caterers and Cynthia stood at the threshold, the house acting as a backlight for her puffy gown and ridiculous floral tiara. She smiled and started down the porch steps. When she was halfway to the gazebo, the EMTs arrived, rushing toward the guests. Cynthia paused, only a few feet from Kayla.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Gloria is in anaphylactic shock.” She purposely didn’t mention that Gloria was going to be okay.

  Cynthia’s eyes widened and a strange yelping sound came out of her mouth. “But we’re not having the risotto until after the vows are said.”

  Kayla allowed a second for Cynthia to realize what she’d said and then moved toward her. As she did, Cynthia took off running toward the front of the house. Kayla was on her heels and easily took down Cynthia, who wore five-inch Jimmy Choo’s and had a hell of a lot of fabric to grapple with.

  Silk tore as Kayla fought with it as much as with Cynthia. She heard shouts from the other law enforcement, but couldn’t wait for their backup before she neutralized Cynthia.

  A quick, piercing stab to her side made her wince, but she held on to Cynthia, who was stronger than she looked. She flipped Kayla on her back. “You need to mind your own business. You’ve been a thorn in my side since Gloria sent you out to the Weddings and More Barn that night.”

  “It was you.” Kayla felt woozy and her side throbbed, but she wanted Cynthia to confess on the feed.

  “It’s always been me. And it’s going to be me. I’ve got it all planned. Are you dizzy, Kayla? You look really pale.”

  Black spots started to speck her vision and Kayla was almost grateful for them. Being straddled by a suspect she was supposed to be neutralizing was humiliating. Except for Rio, she had nothing to keep her conscious—

  Rio!

  “Get. Off. Me.” She mustered every last bit of strength she had and reached up for Cynthia’s hair, which she grabbed and pulled with all her might. She felt crushed flowers in her palm as she’d managed to get a good portion of the headpiece in with the fistful of hair.

  Cynthia’s scream was the last thing she heard.

  * * *

  “Gunshot victim. Send EMTs to right side of house, beyond the fountain.” Rio spoke as he ran, Colt right behind him. The sight of Kayla lying on the ground with Cynthia Charbonneau on top of her, blood seeping into the white fabric where it touched Kayla’s side, was horrifying.

  He’d seen blood before. It didn’t prepare him to see the woman he loved in mortal danger.

  “Get off her!” He reached for Cynthia but Colt grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Angry, he tried to shove Colt off until he saw Colt’s weapon pointed toward Cynthia, his expression grim.

  “Drop the knife.” Colt issued the warning as he let go of Rio and took a firmer stance. Rio knew Colt was a split second from firing. He aimed his weapon on Cynthia, too, who held an open switchblade in her hand, Kayla’s blood dripping from it.

  “You heard him, drop it.”

  “Cynthia, stop! What on earth are you doing?” The mayor and groom had caught up to them and Tony was trying to get his daughter to look at him. “Drop it, honey. Listen to them.”

  Rio didn’t give a crap about anything but getting to Kayla. He had to get Cynthia off her before she bled out. But if they messed this up, Cynthia could deliver a fatal blow to Kayla if she hadn’t already.

  The mayor walked closer to his daughter.

  “Stop right there, Tony. We’ll take you both out if we have to.” Colt’s voice was steady and there was deadly force in his tone.

  The mayor froze.

  “Cynthia, please, drop the knife.”

  She looked up from Kayla’s pale face, growing paler by the moment. “I did it for us, Daddy. You and me. We’re a team. We’re going all the way.”

  “You did what for us, Cynthia?”

  “It was only supposed to be Meredith, when we found out she knew too much. You think Mickey was going to take care of her? No, he wasn’t. He was afraid of going too far, of hurting her too much if he lost his temper. And then you know what, Daddy? He was having an affair with Gloria. She was screwing your best friend. I wanted to tell you sooner and he said if I did he’d tell you I killed Meredith. So I killed him, Daddy, and Gloria would be out of the picture, too, if she hadn’t had to shove that risotto in her mouth before she was supposed to.” Cynthia’s face was flushed and bore the markings of someone who had lost all touch with reality. Rio had seen it before.

  “Put the weapon down, Cynthia.” He gave his last warning, knowing that he’d take her out with no regret if she moved the knife anywhere near Kayla.

  Cynthia looked at her father, then briefly at Charles. “We were supposed to have the perfect marriage.” She smiled, a sick, twisted smile. Looking at Rio and Colt, she lifted the knife in front of her. “If you think I’m going to let myself go to prison for the rest of my life, guess again.” A gunshot rang out as Detective Bryce Campbell, serving backup for today’s op, shot the knife out of her hands just as she turned it toward herself. Cynthia started screaming and within two seconds SVPD officers had her cuffed and facedown on the lawn. EMTs rushed in to aid Kayla, but Rio reached her first.

  “Sir, we need complete access.”

  “Kayla, can you hear me?” She didn’t stir and he reached for her wrist, but was pulled off by Colt before he got in the way of the EMTs. “Rio. You have to let them work.”

  He stood, never taking his eyes from Kayla. She had to make it. The ground near her was soaked with a puddle of blood, but he couldn’t—wouldn’t—accept that it was enough to kill her.

  He hadn’t told her he loved her yet. Hadn’t convinced her to lower those s
trong defenses of hers, convinced her that he’d be there for her no matter what.

  The medics worked on her and loaded her onto a stretcher.

  “They’ve got a life-flight helicopter landing now,” said Colt, his hand on his earpiece. “It’s in the baseball field at the end of the block.” As the medics rushed Kayla toward the helicopter, a cold shroud covered Rio’s heart. His love for Kayla hadn’t been enough to keep her safe today.

  * * *

  Kayla hadn’t ever had surgery before. She’d never experienced the disorientation of narcotics. Her mouth was dry and she felt very, very shaky. The attending trauma surgeon had told her she was lucky in that while Cynthia had hit an artery, she’d only nicked it. No major organs were injured, just some deep-tissue trauma to the surrounding muscles. The doctor had assured her that she’d get stronger each day.

  “You need to rest. You’ll come home with us and I’ll make you chicken soup.” Her mother and father smiled at her on either side of her bed, having come back from their sales jaunt in Europe at about the same time she’d been shot.

  “That’s okay, Mom. We can order out.” Keith chuckled from the side chair where he’d stayed, playing with his tablet to give their parents room to fawn over her.

  “My chicken soup is fine. What’s the problem?” Mom never understood that their only memory of her cooking in their childhood was chicken soup. They’d had a constant string of nannies and housekeepers overseas while serving with the Foreign Service, so she’d never branched out much in her cooking.

  “No problem, Mom. I’ll eat whatever you give me. Has anyone else been by, while I’ve been in here?” She knew she’d been admitted yesterday; the wedding that never happened was Saturday, so she knew it was Sunday now.

  No Rio.

  “No, honey. Your police friend—” she looked at Keith “—what was his name?”

  “Rio Ortega.” Keith’s grin was annoying. No amount of painkillers could make her brother’s teasing anything less.

  “Yes, Rio. He stayed at your side for the entire time you were out. Waited through your surgery, then in here. Once you started to stir, he left. That’s what the nurses told us. They’d asked us to go home last night, to get rest, and he said he’d stay here with you.”

 

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