Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 (14 page)

Daphne came through the doors and brushed past Blain. “Time to rest for a while. You might get sunburn if we don't get you back inside.”

Sonia shook her head. “I like it out here.”

Rikki stood. “Daphne's right, Mama. We've been out here for almost an hour.”

Blain helped to get Sonia back into the bedroom but Daphne waved Rikki and him away. “I've got this. I'll get her a bath and get her all tucked in. You two go ahead and visit.”

Rikki took Blain back toward the den. “That was interesting. She hasn't stayed up that long in a while. And she was making some sense today.”

She wanted to tell Blain everything her mother had said to her but he seemed intent on something else. “What is it?”

He pulled her down on the couch and held her hands. Then he pulled her so close, she could smell the fresh air on his skin. With a whisper in her ear and a finger to her lips for her to stay quiet, he said, “The car that tried to run us off the road the other night? Even though he wasn't driving it, it was a rental registered to your brother Victor Alvanetti.”

FIFTEEN

S
hock caused her to stiffen and pull away. “But he's not here.”

“Or so we thought,” Blain said, still whispering. “I've ID'd the man who was driving the car but we don't know who the passenger was. I know I saw two people in the car, though.”

“I did, too,” she said, getting up to pace in front of him. Then she hurried back and sat down close to him so she could keep her words low. “Do you think the other one could have been Victor?”

“I don't know yet. We can't locate the vehicle but we've put out a search. I have a feeling the car is long gone but we're bringing in the driver and I'm going to interrogate him later today.”

“Who is he?”

“I can't say right now,” he said, motioning with a finger as he pointed up and around. He mouthed, “Bugs.”

Bugs? Now he thought this house was bugged, too? No wonder he'd insisted on whispers.

“Can you get away for a while?” he asked, louder now.

“I think so. Daphne's here. I wanted to go and check on my father since I haven't heard from Santo this morning.” She checked her watch. “It's midmorning. He should have called by now.”

“We can do that.” He stood and lifted her up and into his arms. “Go and check with the nurse and then meet me back here.”

Rikki hurried to her mother's room but Sonia was already asleep. After she explained that Detective Kent was escorting her to see her father, Daphne tucked in her mother and came to stand with her near the door.

“I gave her the usual sedative for pain. She should sleep until dinnertime.”

Rikki gave her mother a kiss and thanked Daphne. “I'll be back in a couple of hours.”

“Take your time,” Daphne said, her tone a tad impatient.

Deciding Daphne didn't like people hovering while she did her job, Rikki went to her room and grabbed her purse and a light jacket.

Blain was checking his phone but glanced up when she returned. Together, they walked outside. Rikki alerted the guards that she was leaving and sent one of them to sit inside in case Daphne and her mother needed anything.

“What's really going on?” she asked Blain when they were in his truck. “You're not in your official vehicle.”

“I went by my folk's house for breakfast and came straight here,” he told her. “I got the call about the car's registration right after I left there.”

Then he took her hand. “And I just needed to see you and make sure you're all right.”

“I am today,” she said, the warmth of his touch giving her strength. “I tried not to think about last night and everything else that's happened to me lately.” She stared out the window as the truck moved up the shell-encrusted land toward the iron gate. “I keep remembering Chad and how he tried to control me. What was he up to? Why was he here? He's dead now and I should feel something, but I'm so numb and in shock I honestly don't know what to feel.”

“You and he were close for a while, so it's natural to mourn him. Someone murdered him and that's cause for you to be concerned for your own safety.”

“Any idea who might have done this?”

“No answers on that one yet. It might take a while for the medical examiner to give us a cause of death or any other clues.”

“Two people I knew just wiped away. It's not fair, Blain.”

“No, it's not, but evil doesn't care about that.” He gave her a solemn stare. “We have to hold out hope that God will see us through. That together, we can figure this out.”

Her cell rang and Rikki jolted up in the seat. “It might be Daphne,” she said. But when she saw the caller ID, her pulse shot up. “It's Santo.”

“Can you come to my house?”

“Santo?” She glanced at Blain and saw the question on his face. “What's wrong?”

Her brother heaved a sigh. “I'm here with the kids and Lucia is sick with a horrible cold. I need to work and check on Papa, but my sitter didn't show up.”

“And you want me to come?”

“Yes. I know you're not supposed to leave but maybe you can get someone to come with you?”

Rikki could hear children in the background. Little Nate was just a toddler and Lucia and Adriana were eight and six. How could Althea leave her children?

After explaining to Blain, she gave him a beseeching stare. “Lucia was a toddler when I left and now she's eight. Adriana and Nate don't even know me. I have to go, Blain.”

“Then I'll be the one to take you.”

He turned the truck to the left instead of heading back toward the hospital. “And you can call and check on your father while we're driving.”

“Okay.” She told her brother they were on the way. After she ended the call, she shook her head. “I don't see how a mother could leave her little children like that. What is wrong with my family?”

“Good question,” Blain said. “Hopefully, we'll soon get the answer to that question and all the others we have.”

* * *

Blain took in the striking modern house sitting on a low bluff over the bay. The stark white tri-leveled home was a contrast from the Alvanetti mansion up the road. This one was more glass than wood, with calculated symmetry and shifting roof lines. He could see the sparkling blue water straight through from the massive glass doors and the wall of windows across the back of the house.

“Impressive,” he said to Rikki.

“Althea's dream house.” She glanced around at the oleanders and sago palms. “And now she's nowhere to be found.”

Blain made a note of that. “Interesting.”

“You don't think—”

He didn't answer the question since the door swung open and Santo Alvanetti stood there looking rumpled and frazzled in jeans and a white button-up shirt. He gave Blain a hostile glare and then focused on Rikki. “Thanks for coming.”

Rikki and Blain entered the big open foyer, the sounds of children coughing and calling out echoing up into the rafters of the house. Blain took in the polished wooden stairs and the high ceiling where a glass-and-wood light fixture bigger than his truck hung suspended in an artsy display. An open gallery ran around the second floor, allowing for a stunning view of the entire house. A massive Christmas tree stood on one side of the staircase, surrounded by presents all wrapped with matching paper and bows. And toys of various sizes and shapes littered the entryway and moved like a trail of colorful crumbs toward the back of the house.

When he heard more screaming and crying, he followed Santo and Rikki to the left where a large family room furnished with a white leather couch and two bright blue wing chairs seemed to be command central. The couch had splashes of a bright red goop on it and the chairs were smeared with what looked like the remains of canned spaghetti noodles.

The kitchen across the way was even worse. Dirty dishes everywhere and the distinct odor of burned toast lingering in the air. The row of windows displayed an infinity pool and a panoramic view of the water below. A big, furry dog barked to be let into the house.

And then there were the kids. The oldest, Lucia, as Rikki had called her, lay on the couch wrapped in a blue-and-white throw. Her expression exhibited dismay and fear.

Blain could identify with those feelings. He'd never been good with kids. He'd never thought about having any children.

But then, he'd never thought about being a family man until he'd met Rikki.

Another little girl ran to Rikki and started crying.

Rikki lifted the child into her arms and patted her dark head. “Adriana, I'm your aunt Rikki.” She looked over the child's head at Santo. “She was a baby when I left.”

“You've missed a lot of things,” her brother said with a growl.

Blain watched Rikki with the little girl and his heart seemed to grow two sizes. He pushed at the emotion roiling through his system like a giant wave. He needed to get his head back in this investigation.

“What can I do to help?” he asked Santo, hoping to take his mind off things he couldn't have.

The other man shook his head and looked around. “Do you know how to change diapers?”

“Not really,” Blain said. “But I do know how to clean a kitchen and I'm pretty good at removing food stains from furniture.”

Santo's look of appreciation marked yet another twist in this case. Maybe Blain's dad was right. Maybe the best way to get to the truth was to keep plugging away and earn the trust of this family. Blain could be wrong about them, but someone was definitely after the Alvanetti family for a reason.

He'd help get this situation under control and then he'd sit down with Santo and Rikki and see if he could get them to talk to him. About anything and everything.

* * *

A couple of hours later, Rikki had bathed Adriana and Nate and made sure they had a good lunch. Then she'd put them both down to rest. Adriana was reading picture books in her room and Nate was drifting off in his race car bed. Now she was sitting with Lucia. She'd checked the little girl's temperature and made her a bowl of chicken soup. Then she'd called the pediatrician and gotten advice on which over-the-counter cough syrup to use.

Now she watched as Blain cleared the kitchen and made sandwiches for the grown-ups. He'd also cleaned the floors, stacked the toys in a corner and sprayed the whole pile with disinfectant and somehow managed to get the tomato-sauce stains out of Althea's prized French blue high-back chairs.

Amazing. He'd been a real trouper. She knew he was a good man but seeing him in such a domestic situation made her dream of her own home and a man like Blain helping her with their children.

“I called the hospital,” Santo said after coming downstairs. He'd had a shower and now wore a clean shirt and jeans. “Papa is awake and demanding to be released.”

“That's good to hear,” she said, blinking away the scene she'd just envisioned. “Can you go and pick him up, Santo?”

Her brother glanced around. “Yes, as long as you can hold down the fort here.”

“We can do that,” Blain said from the kitchen. “But before you leave, could I have a word with both of you?”

Santo put his hands on his hips and stared at Blain. “Is this important?”

“Yes,” Blain said. “It involves my investigation.”

Rikki shot her brother a warning glance. “Let me get Lucia settled in her room.” She kissed the girl's head. “Is that okay, honey? Ready to take a nap now?”

The little girl bobbed her head. “Will you come up and check on me, Aunt Rikki?”

“Of course, sweetie.” Rikki got up to help Lucia but Blain was there.

“Let me.” He smiled at Lucia. “Wanna go for a ride up the stairs?”

Lucia's shy smile gave him his answer. He lifted her into his arms. “You can be like a little bird.”

Rikki checked her brother but Santo's scowl had turned to mush as he watched his daughter laugh. His eyes went misty and he turned away.

“I'll be right back,” she said, touching Santo's arm.

Then she followed Blain up the stairs and heard him ask where the princess lived. Lucia told him which room. By the time she and Blain had Lucia tucked in, Rikki's heart had told her what she'd been trying to deny. She might be falling for Blain Kent.

When they got back downstairs, Santo was sitting in a dining chair staring out at the water.

Rikki sat down beside him. “Why did Althea leave?”

He pushed at his thick black hair, his eyes filled with a faraway look. “She hasn't been happy lately. We fight a lot. She said she was just going to visit her family but I know she's not coming back.”

“What about her children?”

“She's not concerned about them right now.”

Blain sat down across from them and Santo clammed up and went back to staring out the window.

“So,” Blain began, his notepad out on the table, “which one of you wants to go first? Somebody needs to level with me. I need the truth, and I mean all of it. I think maybe you both know who might be coming after you but you're afraid to tell me.”

Surprised, Rikki shook her head. “You know that's not correct, Blain. If I knew who was doing this, I'd tell you in a heartbeat.”

Blain's inky gaze moved over her. “I'd hope so.” Then he nailed Santo with a hard glare. “What about you?”

Santo rubbed his eyes and looked down at the table. “I have my suspicions,” he finally said. “I think our brother Victor
might
be involved.”

Rikki's breath left her body. “Victor?” She turned to Blain. “Maybe he did rent that car that tried to run us off the road.”

Santo's gaze moved from Blain to her. “Like I said,
mia sorella
, you've missed a lot of things.”

SIXTEEN

B
lain sat straight up. “We've been trying to locate your brother and you did tell me you might be able to find him. We have reason to believe he's back in this area.”

Santo nodded. “I tried to talk to him but he's not taking my calls and my sources say he's evading them at every turn. I'm concerned about him and I'm worried about my wife being away during all of this. I have to protect my children.”

“Do you think your children are in danger?” Blain asked.

“I pray not,” Santo said. “These last few weeks have been crazy.”

Rikki got up and started pacing. Then she whirled on her brother, her hands gripping the wooden chair in front of her. “What do you know, Santo?”

Santo sank back against his chair, weariness and resolve showing on his face. “The only thing I know for sure is that our company is in trouble. Between my issues with Althea and Mama's sickness, I've been preoccupied over the last few months. And of course, I have Papa on my back on a daily basis, too.”

Rikki's guilt showed on her face. “And I haven't been here to help. You should have called me.”

Santo expression hardened. “Why? So you could tell me how horribly we treated you and that you wish you'd never been born into this family?”

A hurt darkened her eyes. “Okay, I get that I've been deliberately distancing myself from all of this, but I'm here now. I want to find out who's trying to kill everyone I love and I want the truth. All of the truth.”

Blain took notes and studied Santo. He did look haggard and tired. He also looked broken. “What kind of trouble is the company in?”

“We're losing money,” Santo said. “Detective, I believe you want to find something to pin on us but once I took over the company, I tried to clean things up. I run a legitimate company now but it's not easy. My wife is angry at me because the money isn't rolling in. I can't make her understand I want something better for my children. I want honesty and integrity and dignity. Kind of hard to put a price on those things.”

Rikki stared down at her brother as if she didn't even know him. “Are we going to lose the business?”

“Not if I can help it,” Santo replied. “I like what I do and I'm good at it. I just need some time to bring things around.”

“So...does that mean you'd do anything to save Alvanetti Imports?” Blain asked.

“No, I won't stoop to anything illegal. That was the old days before my father had a change of heart. This is now. I'm concerned someone else is possibly after the company and maybe they're going about trying to fix things in their own way. And that someone could be Victor. He's lived off the family funds for a long time now but he's also had his own thing going on the side.”

Blain scratched his head. “What kind of thing?”

“I'm afraid Victor might be into smuggling,” Santo said. “And our business is the perfect cover.”

“So when you mentioned possible smuggling to me last night, is this what you meant?”

“It's just a thought,” Santo said. “A natural conclusion.”

Rikki leaned down over her chair. “So you're saying that Victor is possibly doing illegal things and that he might be the one behind Tessa's death? And Chad's?”

“I don't know,” her brother said, slapping his hand against the table. “I can't prove anything and...he's our brother. I don't want to accuse him if he's not the one.”

Blain saw Rikki's pale face. “Hey, sit down. We'll find a way out of this.”

“Can we?” she asked as she fell onto her chair. “What if this is Victor?”

Santo's dark eyes widened. “Our brother has done many things but he wouldn't murder an innocent woman. But he knows a lot of shady people and that bothers me.”

Blain decided he should have been concentrating on the smuggling angle even more. “And what about Tessa?”

“What do you mean?” Rikki asked.

“Could she have known anybody who'd want something from you? A painting, some kind of artifact or expensive bauble?”

“I don't think so.” Rikki shook her head. “Tessa was a good person.”

“But can you ever really know all there is to know about a person?” he asked.

Her eyes went dark again. He'd pierced through her worst fears. “I don't know. You tell me, Detective.”

Santo missed the moment and plunged ahead. “Your boyfriend could have known Victor, too.” He turned to Blain. “You should check around Presley's restaurants in Miami and Tallahassee.”

“He never mentioned knowing either of you,” Rikki said, her tone full of anger. “And I never brought him home.”

“I've got someone looking into several different possibilities.” Blain saw the distress on Rikki's face and the mirrored concern on her brother's face. “Did you find anything missing after you inventoried the warehouse?”

“No,” Santo said. “I wasn't able to supervise everything but last night after everyone cleared out my workers did a thorough job and found nothing missing.”

“If something were missing or say, someone was searching for something, what would be most likely?” Blain asked.

Santo shrugged. “We bring in all sorts of items. Rugs, paintings, jewelry, purses, furniture. You name it.”

“Jewelry. That's easy to hide.” Blain was grasping at straws but he had to start somewhere.

“Or easy to hide something in if it's a locket or a jewelry box,” Santo said. His phone buzzed. “It's the hospital. I'd better go and get Papa.”

He got up and then turned back. “Rikki, thank you for coming to help me. I've taken a lot for granted lately. That won't happen again.”

“So have I,” she said. Then she walked over and hugged Santo, taking him by surprise from what Blain could tell.

“Are you going to get Althea back?” she asked.

“I don't know,” Santo responded. He checked his watch. “The babysitter should be here in about twenty minutes, if she's not late again.”

Blain waited until Santo went out the front door and then he turned to Rikki. “What do you make of that?”

“I believe him,” she said. “I've never seen Santo like this. Both of my brothers have always been confident to the point of being arrogant. But he looks broken, Blain. Completely broken. I never knew he truly cared about the company and that he wanted to make things right.”

Blain tugged her close before he could stop himself. “Well, he seems determined and he did open up to me. This information gives us some teeth. We have a connection now between Tessa's murder and possibly your brother. We can get on this and try to find Victor. Unless both of your brothers are in cahoots.”

“But I can't believe that they'd kill Tessa and Chad. This is why I had to get away but I think instead of running from trouble, I created it.” She pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You might search for Victor as Victor Kenneth Alvanetti. That's his full name. We all have nicknames. Rikki, Kenny and Sandy, although Santo hated his so we quit calling him that. And we haven't called Victor Kenny for a long time either.”

Blain's antenna went up. “Did you say Kenny?”

Rikki lifted her chin. “Yes, why?”

“The
K
we found by Tessa's body.”

“The bloody
K
,” Rikki said, a hand going to her mouth. “Do you think she was trying to write my brother's name? Kenny?”

“Another question to add to our list,” Blain said. “The letter looked like a
K
but it had a slash across it. Hard to say for sure.”

Rikki sat down on the couch. “Both of my brothers as possible criminals. But it all started when I returned.”

Pushing at her hair, she said, “I keep telling myself to get through this for Tessa's sake. Her killer needs to be locked up. And for Chad. He was a hothead and a jerk but he was murdered, too. We need justice for both of them and the guard who was shot.”

“I agree.” Blain didn't know what else to say. He wanted to kiss her and take her with him to a place where they could just relax and continue to get to know each other. But he had work to do, work that meant saving her and putting someone in jail.

Dragging her back into his arms, he held her there and then he did lean down and give her a quick kiss. When they heard a car outside, Blain stepped away.

But he did so with a new promise. “When this is over, Rikki, you and I have some things to get settled between us.”

Her eyes went black with longing. “I hope that's soon.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

They let the babysitter in and Rikki took her up to see the kids and went over what needed to be done. Then they got in the truck and headed back to the Alvanetti estate.

That moment when they would both be free and clear of this mystery couldn't come soon enough for Blain. He wanted to be with Rikki Alvanetti. And that realization floored him more than anything else.

“At least no one followed us from Santo's house,” Rikki said after they were back at the estate. “He should be here with Papa soon.”

Blain did his usual thing, checking windows and doors, calling in to the station with an update and giving her covert glances that told her he was all in.

Oh, how she wanted to believe that.

Things had been different today. No one chasing or shooting unless you counted little kids and a big dog chasing each other. Her brother had it all. A family he loved, a solid position in the company and in society, a house with a million-dollar view.

And yet, he'd looked so defeated and dejected this morning Rikki had to wonder what price he'd paid. She wanted those things, too, but she didn't have to have the big house or the view. She'd settle for a little cottage in the woods.

With a small tree and a fireplace and Blain to hold her while she slept. Knowing that might not happen hurt as much as the pain of failing her family.

“All clear,” Blain said. “I have to go file my report and put out some feelers on this latest. I've got a private detective on this case, too. Hope to hear from him soon.”

Rikki motioned for him to sit. “Do you ever sleep?”

“Only when my eyes shut.”

“I should go check on Mama. I know you need to go but stay until I get back, okay?”

“I'll be right here.”

She hurried toward her mother's room and found Daphne checking her mother's vitals. “How is she?”

“She's been restless,” Daphne said, her tone sharp as usual. “She's been asking for you. I'm glad you're here. Maybe you can calm her down.”

“Okay. I'll sit with her a while.” Rikki pulled up a chair. “Oh, Daphne, Detective Kent is waiting for me. Would you send him back?”

Daphne gave her a curt nod and left. Rikki would be glad when Peggy arrived tonight. She and Peggy got along great but she thought Daphne judged her and condemned her at every turn.

“Mama, I'm home,” she said. “It's Rikki. How are you?”

“Need to find the Bible.”

“You want your Bible?” Rikki glanced around the room. It was neat and tidy but cluttered with medicine bottles and other sick-bed necessities. So was the adjoining bathroom. “I don't see it anywhere. Did Daphne put it away?”

“Library.”

“It's probably not in the library, Mama. I'll check the nightstand.” Her mother always kept her Bible nearby.

She was digging through the deep drawer when Blain walked in. “She's asking for her Bible and I can't find it.”

“Want me to help look?”

“Check the other one,” she said, indicating the matching nightstand on the other side of the bed.

Blain opened that one and looked inside. Then he rummaged around. Rikki checked and rechecked but only found some other books and papers in the one next to her mother's pillow.

Finally, she gave up and came around the bed. “Anything?”

Blain pulled out a necklace. “Nothing but this.”

Rikki stared at the gold chain, confused. “That's odd. The centerpiece is missing.”

Blain held up the heavy necklace. “Must have been a big gemstone, right? Was it real?”

“I don't think so,” she said. The empty oval inch-wide circle looked damaged around the rim. “It's probably an old costume piece that she tossed in there and forgot. The stone must have popped out or gotten lost.”

Blain handed her the damaged necklace. “Maybe you can find it around here somewhere.”

Sonia moaned then and opened her eyes. “My necklace. You found it.” But when she saw the necklace, she gasped, her hands going to her throat. “Where is the diamond, Rikki?”

Rikki looked from her mother to Blain. “I don't think it was a real diamond, Mama. You wouldn't keep something expensive in that nightstand.”

Sonia fell back on the bed. “I need my Bible.”

Rikki shook her head and motioned Blain to the hall. “I'd better try to settle her down. We have Bibles all over the house. I'll find one for her and read from it. Maybe the scriptures will calm her.”

“I hope so,” he said. Then he took the necklace back from her. “Have you ever seen this before?”

She shook her head. “I might have and just don't remember it. My mother is famous for her jewelry. She has several expensive pieces and a lot of costume jewelry, too. But lately, she hasn't worn much of it other than her wedding ring.”

“Probably nothing,” he said. “But just in case, I think I'll take this to be analyzed by the state crime lab, if you don't mind.”

A jolt of fear hit at her already shattered system. “No, of course not.” She moved further out into the hall. “But, Blain, you don't think someone's been inside my mother's room, do you?”

“I don't know,” he said, his inky eyes holding hers. “But at this point, anything is possible.”

Then he gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I'll check back with you later.”