Madonna’s Like a Virgin blared through the Book Cellar’s kitschy speaker system. The eerie sound made gooseflesh break out on her arms, putting her a little on edge. When someone laid a hand on her bare arm, she jumped back in surprise.
“Wow, look at you!”
Jesse and Vi both wore huge grins on their faces.
“Trudy sure has outdone herself,” Jesse said. “You look amazing, both of you do.”
“Thanks. Sorry I’m late, I was at the hospital.”
Vi shot her a look of immediate concern. “Is Marcus okay?”
She let out a gigantic sigh of relief. “He’s perfect. He’s awake and breathing on his own.”
“Oh, thank God! What wonderful news!” Vi gave her a tight hug, then whispered into her ear, “I was praying for him.”
Jesse glanced distractedly around the room. “I’ve got to head over to my post. I’ll chat with you lovely ladies later. Make sure you both save me a dance. K?” Rather than wait for a response, he shoved a hand into the jacket of his designer tux and walked away.
What’s up with him?
Annabeth turned back to Vi. “Where’s Brooke? Is she mad at me?”
Vi turned in close and whispered in Annabeth’s ear, “She—uh...she’s having a hard time right now. So just be patient with her.”
Annabeth shrugged. She wanted to ask for details, but something in Vi’s expression told her that would not be okay. Whatever had happened had to have been pretty major to bring Vi back on the team Brooke bench. Especially after the appalling way she’d treated her that afternoon at the salon.
“Please, for me.” The sincerity of her plea pulled on Annabeth’s heartstrings.
Annabeth held up her right hand like she was pledging to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Vi’s eyes narrowed as if she didn’t quite believe her. She couldn’t really blame her for that though, could she?
Speak of the devil. The high and mighty Queen B had come out of the bathroom and caught Annabeth talking to her best friend. She charged at them like an angry bull. Could Annabeth pull off Brooke’s signature fake friendliness? Only one way to find out...
“Brooke, so sorry I’m late. I was with Marcus in the hospital. He’s awake.” She smiled, but Brooke did not smile back. “I, uh, knew you would understand.”
Brooke slowed her charge to a full and complete stop. She seemed taken aback by the rapid fire news just as Annabeth had hoped.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. You’re late. Thankfully Vi here stepped in for you. Guests are arriving. Keep in mind that we want to make sure they feel, you know, welcome.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes a little, but Brooke was so wrapped up in herself that she didn’t even notice.
“Here’s the sign-in. Make sure that only the people on the list come in. We can’t afford to give away free food and drinks to people that haven’t paid. Do you understand?”
Annabeth narrowed her eyes at Brooke. Was she serious? “Yeah, I think I got that, thanks.” She couldn’t hide the sarcasm from her tone.
Brooke spun on her heels and stalked off in the other direction. Heaven help the person who messed up or got in her way tonight. The woman was half-cocked and ready to fire.
When she had signed up to do the welcome table, she had thought it would be a simple job. Boy had she been wrong. The majority of the party-goers barely acknowledged her as they came in. They would toss their names her way like they might their coat to the coat check. Then there were the irritable ones that became irate if she didn’t find their names right away. One woman had the nerve to yell at Annabeth for the event being moved to the Book Cellar instead of the country club, as if it had been all her doing—elitist jerk! Through it all, she managed to keep her cool and smile politely despite their abhorrent behavior.
Even though the theme was Glam in the 80s, everyone looked more glam than 80s. The dress Ligia had given Annabeth was perfect for the event—a mix of glam and 80s style. She had her wrist brace on, but had forgotten her sling as part of her mad dash to get out the door.
A few men had hit on her—hanging around the table while their wives shot her hateful glances. During one of the lulls she got a text message from Marcus.
Sneak into the hospital tonight, babe. Let’s make things official, if you know what I mean ;-)
The solitary time spent at the welcome table gave her lots of time to think. It was getting harder and harder to push thoughts of Marcus out of her mind. Especially since she saw couples everywhere.
I need a drink, she thought as a waiter passed her with a tray full of champagne flutes. She snagged one before he could get away. Brooke’s rules for volunteers were clear—no drinking—but after her week, a drink was definitely needed.
As she sipped her champagne and watched the decked out couples dancing on the makeshift dance floor, her mind began to wander back to Marcus and his promise to be faithful to her this time. She wanted to believe him. They would have to wait until the case was over before they could tackle their relationship woes head-on. They had made that decision when they took the case. At the time it had been a simple thing to agree to, but now…
“Can you believe they have clam shooters? I would’ve thought Brooke would have better taste than that,” said a woman in a hushed tone to her friend as they passed by Annabeth’s table.
Is that what those were? They smelled awful!
Annabeth shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She wasn’t used to wearing heels and her feet had already begun to ache. She wished she could dance to help get her mind off Marcus, the case, and her sad little feet. Too bad she’d already exhausted her Vicodin prescription.
Even though her time was up at the welcome table she had no desire to mingle with anyone at the party.
The music shifted from a slow song by the Cure to an upbeat Duran Duran song. That got the crowd out on the dance floor. One couple in particular caught her eye. The young girl was a vision in white. Her cocktail dress flared at the bottom in a puff of multi-layered taffeta. On her arms she wore white lace Madonna-like gloves and her wrists were covered in shiny bangles. The outfit on its own would have been ridiculous, but on the girl it looked dazzling. When she spun around, Annabeth saw her face and recognized her at once—Ligia.
Her graceful partner wore a classic ruffled blue suit and shades. His feet moved in long graceful strides as they glided together in precise steps that looked almost choreographed. Their elaborate moves drew a crowd that cheered them on. As the song came to an end, he lowered his shades and winked. Annabeth recognized him immediately, too—Carlos—the charming hipster from Fin’s sound crew. So Ligia had saved him a dance, after all.
Annabeth’s skin prickled as his eyes met hers and he gave her one of his signature winks. What were the odds that he wasn’t part of the trafficking ring? As far as Annabeth could figure they had to be pretty slim. Was he trying to lure Ligia? She was a very young and beautiful college student all alone in the country just like the other girls had been. If she could just get him in for questioning she might just have a chance at saving all of those poor girls. She, of course, had no weapon—hadn’t thought it would be necessary for a charity event. Shoot. But, gun or no gun, she couldn’t just let him go...
As the DJ transitioned the music back to a slow song, Annabeth left her station and walked over to the young couple. She tapped Carlos on the shoulder with her good hand. “May I?”
Ligia wrapped her arms tighter around him and moaned, “Carlos, make her go away.”
He gave her butt a squeeze and laughed. “The night is young, and it is just one dance of many.”
Ligia yanked away, mumbling something about trading in a Mercedes for a pickup truck, then stalked off—no doubt in search of Brooke.
Carlos seemed unmoved by the outburst and took Annabeth into his arms. He glided her across the dance floor with a measured ease. “You look exceptionally beautiful tonight. I can see why Fern
ando is so infatuated with you.”
Annabeth met his eye and held it. “Where is he? I was hoping to see him tonight.”
Carlos smiled and pulled her in more tightly against him, making her heart hammer. Adrenaline surged through her veins, bringing her to a new level of alertness.
What was I thinking? I have no plan...
His lips grazed her bare neck all the way up to her ear. “You’ll see him soon enough. Don’t you worry. My brother has big plans for you.”
His touch and the whispered words against her skin sent a chill down her spine. Wait...brother? Carlos was Fin’s brother? Annabeth bit her lip to steel herself against the fear that bubbled in her gut.
“Oh?” she said at last. The deep husky sound of her voice sounded foreign to her ear.
Carlos chuckled. The strong, sure hand on her back slid a little further down and his pelvis shifted—pressing against her in a suggestive manner that frightened her. Of all the times to be without a weapon.
“He isn’t the only one with ideas for you.”
Annabeth’s breath quickened as his hand slid even farther down, coming to rest on her butt. The rough point of his tongue grazed her neck, and she realized then what she needed to do. “Maybe we should go somewhere a little bit more private to talk.”
Carlos turned his head so that they were nose to nose. His enchanting brown eyes studied her with interest. “Talking isn’t what I have in mind.”
Annabeth took in a slow breath to steady her voice. “Let’s go outside.”
Carlos nodded with a sly smile. She led him off the dance floor and toward the back entrance.
She gasped as a well manicured hand clasped hold of her wrist.
“Hey!” Carlos called out.
Brooke shot him one of her practiced smiles. “I’m going to need to borrow Annabeth here for a sec. And I think your date would like a word with you.”
Carlos nodded. “Yes, of course.” Then headed back into the pulsing crowd.
“Wait—” Annabeth called out after him, but it was too late—he was already gone.
Brooke grabbed Annabeth and pulled her into a quieter spot by the kitchen—cornering her with her tall, commanding presence.
“What the heck are you doing? You’re a married woman! Or have you forgotten that?” Brooke’s overly white teeth were bared, and she was clearly out for blood.
Annabeth stepped back against the wall, and Brooke stepped with her in a frightening dance.
“What the heck, Brooke!” Annabeth tried to step to the side, but Brooke blocked her.
“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere until you explain yourself.” Brooke rested her hands on her hips and leaned into Annabeth like a parent scolding a child. “You may have everyone else fooled, but not me.”
Annabeth crossed her arms over her chest—resting her injured arm against her breasts. “Brooke, you need to mind your own business for once. None of this has anything to do with you.”
“After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you thank me?”
Her snarl startled Annabeth.
“I’m not going to let you drag Ligia into whatever perverted porno-rape-murder business you’ve got going on over there. It’s bad enough you’ve turned Vi against me.”
Annabeth tried not to laugh. Was she really being serious?
“All that you’ve done for me? Yeah, okay. As for Vi, she’d be better off without you, and I think you know that. The rest of that stuff? You’re beyond crazy.”
Brooke paled.
“I don’t have time for your crazy busybody routine right now, okay?” Annabeth stepped forward to walk away.
The hard slap across her right cheek stung.
I should have seen that coming.
“Darn it, Brooke.” She gritted her teeth and cupped her stinging cheek with her palm.
I will not hit her, I will not hit her, I will not hit her.
She repeated the mantra over and over until she felt her body relax a little.
Brooke tightened the hold on her hurt arm, causing a rush of pain to radiate up her arm and across her chest.
“Ugh. Fine! I’ll tell you what’s going on.” Annabeth would have said anything just to get a moment of relief. “Even though its none of your freaking business,” she said under her breath.
Brooke turned her head and a dim light cast a shadow across her jaw...no, not a shadow, a bruise. Vi had said something about Brooke having a bad day. Had Brooke been in a fight?
“All right, start talking and make it quick. It’s all your fault that I’m missing the party.” Brooke pursed her lips in irritation.
Annabeth wet her lips. If talking would end this charade then she would talk. Maybe if Brooke knew the truth she would back off.
If I don’t, she is going to keep getting in my way every chance she can get.
“Look, I know you’ve been suspicious of me from the moment I moved in and I know all about how you and Vi broke into my house—”
Shame washed over Brooke’s pinched features for a brief moment, but then her indignant Queen B persona took over once more. “We did no such thing! How dare you accuse me—”
Annabeth held up her good hand to stop her. “Brooke, just stop. Vi told me everything. You know I could have you both arrested for what you did.”
Brooke’s mouth clamped shut.
Annabeth exhaled slowly to the count of six. Once she had calmed herself a little more she continued. “But I’m not.”
Brooke’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Of course not, because we didn’t do anything.”
Annabeth shook her head. “Play it like that if you want, but I know the truth.”
Despite her words, Brooke’s shoulders dropped in obvious relief.
“There’s something you should know. I’m not who you think I am. I’m really a Private Investigator.”
Brooke exploded with laughter. “Oh...my…gosh! You can’t come up with a better story than that?”
Annabeth clenched her jaw and swallowed down her growing frustration before she continued.
“It’s not a story. It’s the truth. I’m here investigating a sex-trafficking ring. That man, Carlos, is a part of the operation. And while we stand here having this pointless discussion, Ligia might be in real danger.”
Brooke’s entire face turned bright red as she continued to laugh. “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.”
If only she had her ID on her. In her rush to get out the door and see Marcus she had left her ID and gun at home along with the stupid sling—not that anything she said or did would have convinced Brooke anyway.
Annabeth grasped Brooke’s hand, hoping to drive home the seriousness of the situation. “Brooke this isn’t a joke. If Ligia is as important to you as I think she is, then you will make sure she stays far away from that man.”
Brooke shook loose from her grasp. “Why? So you can have him all to yourself? Marcus’s dick not enough for you?”
Annabeth closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. “Ugh, I give up.”
Brooke didn’t stop her from leaving this time, but instead followed hot on her heels. Annabeth returned to the hall and scanned the room for Carlos and Ligia.
Ugh, they were gone.
Annabeth swallowed back the panic that threatened to take over.
She raced to the silent auction table where the other volunteers had gathered. An angry Brooke stalked behind her.
“Have any of you seen Ligia?” Annabeth’s words tumbled out.
“She and her date went out the back. They wanted to know where they could smoke,” one of the volunteers answered with a worried look. “Is...everything okay?”
Annabeth muttered a quick “thanks,” and turned toward the exit. She needed to hurry.
But Brooke grabbed her hand and spun her back around. “You can’t really be serious about all this?” Her words came out in a hiss.
“Yes and if we don’t hurry up and stop him, you may ne
ver see Ligia again.” She left off the part about how if Brooke hadn’t snatched her away from Carlos earlier, they wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.
No time to point fingers.
All that mattered was making sure that the girl was safe and to take Carlos in for questioning. She only hoped they weren’t too late...
Chapter Thirty-Two
Vi
Vi stepped outside to check her phone. Thirty-two missed calls. What the heck?
The majority were from Joy but there were also quite a few messages from the shelter, despite the fact that she had just been there. One was from her executive director, urging her to call immediately.
That can’t be good.
She stumbled over to a parking stump and sat down as ladylike as she could given the short skirt. Perhaps a drink would help take the edge off.
Her mouth watered as she unscrewed the cap of her flask and took a long burning gulp before calling back the director.
Her boss, Lauren, answered on the first ring. “Vi, I need you to come in tonight. We’ve had a…” Vi could hear her boss sniffle like she’d been crying.
Her breath caught in her throat and her vision began to blur. “What happened?”
“Anjali died... she killed herself.”
“No.” Vi wasn’t sure whether she’d said the word out loud or just thought it.
Lauren let out a loud sob. “I knew she was upset after talking with her parents, but...”
This is my fault. If we hadn’t pushed her.
Angry tears began to slide down her perfectly put together face. “I talked to her just a few hours ago. I never would have thought... What happened?”
“She called her parents, and they had a fight. She didn’t come to dinner. When one of the girls went outside for a smoke, she found her. Overdosed on drugs. I don’t know where they came from or if she did it on purpose, but... I think she did. I know you had a big night planned, but, Vi, we need you here.”
Walker Texas Wife (The Book Cellar Mysteries 1) Page 21