Wrapped In Shadows (18 page)

If I knew for sure that Wilkinson was sleeping with Maria, I’d tell Katie. I’d take the risk. I briefly considered asking my secretary outright, but the praise she’d just ladled on me about being professional rang loud in my ears. Besides, I knew she wouldn’t tell me the truth for fear of repercussions. I straightened my tie and sat quietly for a moment. No matter, Josh would soon be history. My desire to sever all ties with the man was buzzing urgently.

As if on cue, my cell phone rang and Matt Wilkinson was on the other end.

“Some nasty business you’ve gotten into, Davenport. It’s all over the news. Even here in Texas.”

I squared my shoulders as if the man was in the same room. My jaw clenched so tight I thought a bone would crack. “Everything is under control.”

The scratchy voice rolled into a deep sarcastic laugh, surprising me. “It’s bullshit! Those charges are bullshit! Did New York’s finest run out of real criminals to chase? I know the police commissioner and I’m fixing to give him a call. You got a good lawyer? Cuz I know someone. Top notch.”

I exhaled a breath I hadn’t known I was holding, wondering how such a good man could have fathered such a delinquent son. The only regret I had about firing Josh was that it would be a blow to his father. I knew that Matt had been hoping his son had finally found his way. Matt had once confessed to me that Josh had a juvie record that had been sealed. Apparently he’d been a problem from a young age.

“I’m good, thanks. I’ve got Jack Mason.”

The voice cackled again. “Good old Jack! You’re in good hands. But you tell him if he fucks this one up, he’ll have to answer to me. How’s Livy doing?”

I couldn’t help my smile. “She’s doing okay.”

“You tell her that she’s got something special coming for Christmas from me.”

“Not Santa this time?” I remembered that last year he’d sent a barrel full of toys from Santa with a return address of the North Pole. Livy had been thrilled.

“No. Fuck that. I’m tired of that fat bastard taking all the credit. Let her know it’s from me. So, about my boy. Listen, I was hoping to meet up with you before this holiday party tonight, but my flight won’t get in until late and I plan on taking an early flight back to Texas in the morning. You’re more than welcome to come to the party as my guest. We can talk there a bit.”

I tapped my pen on my desk and scratched my jaw. I was definitely not in the mood to attend a holiday party, and Livy was still spooked about me being out of the house.

“It’s not a good idea right now.”

“It’s the Vandercamp’s annual shindig! I wish I could pass on it this year, but you’ve probably heard that Josh is engaged to their daughter. They’re supposed to be married some time in March. That’s if he doesn’t fuck this one up.”

My stomach churned the bitter coffee and the taste rose up to scald my tongue.

Holiday party? Shit. Here I was facing murder charges and Katie was planning a holiday party. Life uninterrupted.
I wondered if the police had questioned her. She’d been at
Sensations
the night of the murder. If they had, she’d probably not revealed much. Her activities that night had to be kept from public scrutiny. Definitely not a good idea for me to show up at the party, especially feeling as explosive as I was. I was barely keeping my shit together. At least my suspicions were confirmed. Katie and Josh were back together. The wedding was on. Fucking hooray.

“Wadda ya say?”

I leaned back in my chair, trying to erase my black mood. “It would be awkward.”

“Why, because you’re planning on canning him?”

My lips tilted with irony. I loved that Matt always told it like it was.

Among other reasons
. “Yes.”

“I was hoping to convince you otherwise. He’s had a tough time since his mother’s passing. With his work history, no one will hire him. Frankly yours is the only job he’s been able to hold down. I was really hoping he’d look up to you as a sort of mentor. Shit, I’ve never been able to get through to him.”

“Sorry.” I snorted, thinking Josh was the last person I wanted to mentor. Unless it was to mentor his face with my fist.

“The Vandercamps and I go way back. They really won’t mind. Why don’t you come? We can talk some more.”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.”

I heard a deep sigh. “Okay. Let me see if I can delay flying out tomorrow. I may be able to meet early. I’ll give you a call later.”

I hung up the phone, my mind still on Katie and her family’s holiday party. It would no doubt also be a celebration of her upcoming wedding. I looked down at the mountain of paperwork on my desk and my gaze landed on a sheet displaying the bold Davenport PR logo. It signified everything I’d worked hard for. News of my arrest broke yesterday and I’d already lost a significant percent of my clients.

I needed to focus on the charges against me and on mitigating the damage to my company. I prayed I wouldn't have to divulge Kay as my alibi. I’d rather spare her that. Despite everything, I understood her situation. Despite everything, I still wanted her, still craved her desperately. But she wasn’t mine. She never was. I had to stop thinking of her as mine. I couldn’t afford to let Katie rule my thoughts. Let it go, I told myself. I had enough to worry about without adding more to the mix, and didn’t need the distraction. I rolled my shoulders and took a sip of coffee as a bitter laugh filled my head and the black void in my chest tunneled deeper. I was overcome with a profound sense of loss. I’d been a fool to have hope. Hope had died and been buried along with my wife.

When Jack called and said he needed to meet urgently, I wasn’t sure what to make of the request. After my morning at the office, I spent time with Livy doing some last minute Christmas shopping and then at home finger painting. I couldn’t believe that Christmas was in less than a week. If it were only me, I wouldn’t celebrate at all, but Livy was bubbling with anticipation of the holiday. She’d sent a lengthy Christmas list to Santa that would keep his elves working twenty-four seven.

In between my activities, I’d manage to review some of the reports from Grummel. Everything seemed in order. Glen ran a tight ship and it was nice to see that ACE treated its employees well. A substantial amount of money was paid out in overtime and everyone was entitled to benefits whether they were part time or full time. There was a complete match 401K for the employees and a time share. Hell, seemed there was even a contract with Dylan’s Limosine and Taxi service to shuttle employees around. And the staff seemed to make frequent use of this, judging by the expenditure, but some perks were worth it if it kept the employees happy and productive.

I exited the elevator on the floor that housed the Kandall-Mason Law offices. Jack had offered to come to my apartment, but I thought it best if we conducted business here. The officers’ intrusion into my apartment had terrified Livy and I knew having more strangers at our home would only upset and confuse her. I’d left her dancing around the kitchen baking Christmas cookies with Mrs. Rogers.

A secretary showed me into Jack’s office and I took a seat at the desk across from him. Jack’s usually placid countenance was pinched with a frown and I knew immediately that whatever this urgent matter was, it wasn’t good news. I braced myself as Jack pressed an intercom button and asked the person on the other end to come into the room.

“Coffee?” he asked, thumbing through a stack of papers on his desk.

I shook my head, wishing my lawyer would get to the point. I’d just opened my mouth to question him when the door pushed open and a middle-aged man strolled into the room. The man’s face was stiff and deeply weathered, and I knew the five o’clock shadow coating his jaw was a permanent accessory.

“Luke, this is Rasco. He does some investigative work for our firm.”

I stood as the man pumped my hand and grunted. I turned back to Jack, eyebrows raised, and Jack motioned for us both to sit.

“I wanted to talk to you because something came to my attention today. The DA made a request for records from the Medical Examiner’s office that concerned me.” Jack nodded to Rasco, who I now noticed was carrying a manila envelope.

Rasco deftly opened the envelope and drew out a large eight-by-eleven glossy photo, handing it to me.

Confused, I took the photo, my gaze glancing without recognition over the attractive blonde woman staring back with a smile.

“Do you recognize her?”

I shrugged and shook my head, feeling a crease worm over my brow.

“Should I?”

I noticed Jack and Rasco exchange glances and I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration, wishing someone would just explain what the hell was going on.

“You both attended the same party.” Jack’s gaze fluttered down at some notes. “A party thrown by a Mr. Kotobuki. Her body was discovered late that morning.”

I nodded, my memory stirring with a story that Bruce had told me. I didn’t know why but an uneasiness settled in the pit of my stomach and the organ soured. “Yes. I remember hearing something about it.”

Jack folded his hands on his desk and leaned in, his perturbed stare fixed on me. “She was strangled to death in the same manner as Ms. Carmen. I don’t have forensics on the murder weapon found by the body, but I fear it will match the rope found in your office.”

I recoiled as if I’d been hit. The sharp blow of Jack’s words was like a vicious blow to my skull.

I started to speak, but had to stop and start over. “That’s impossible. I thought she was drunk and stumbled onto the train tracks. I thought she’d been killed by the train.”

“Her body was discovered on the tracks, but her cause of death was asphyxiation by strangulation. Someone killed her then left her body on the tracks. The police haven’t released that information. Newspapers are saying she was killed by the train,” Rasco explained.

I fought down the wave of nausea swamping me. I lowered my head, propping it with an elbow on the desk to stem the sweeping tide of shock waves. I couldn’t believe this was fucking happening. The edge of the photo of the girl crept into my vision and something triggered a ringing alarm in my head. My gaze lifted and I slowly absorbed more of the picture, the ringing growing louder.
What was it about this picture?
The blonde woman…the pretty smile…the platinum hair. The dark coat with the furred neck line.
Shit!
The other coat. The one I almost took.

“Luke, I just got the heads up on this. I’m not sure what to make of it, but it’s best that we be prepared.”

I sat back and regarded Jack, barely hearing his words through the din in my head. My mind was racing with confusion, a cloudy memory trying to solidify and break to the forefront.
Something about the party…grandmother’s earring…a pearl earring that suddenly appeared…in a shoe.

“Luke, if you’ve changed your mind about divulging your alibi, now would be a good time.”

That I did hear, and I inclined my head, fear mingling with my shocked confusion.

It didn’t make sense.
Katie.
I needed to talk to her.

CHAPTER SIX

Katie

The Vandercamp holiday party was in full swing. The grand ballroom at the Lincoln Hotel was packed with guests bedazzled with jewelry and draped in flowing evening gowns of silk and satin. The enormous crystal chandelier twinkled overhead and shimmered light on all the beautiful stones. This black tie event was a celebrated tradition that highlighted the festivities each holiday season. I watched my mother flutter around the room, beaming as she charmed the influential guests. I also knew my mother’s smile was for the ubiquitous photographers whose photos of tonight’s event would grace the pages of several lifestyle magazines in the upcoming week. I swept my gaze to the band on the far side of the room and suppressed the urge to consult my watch. I knew there were still a few hours left of the party. The MC was rallying the crowd, trying to get them onto the dance floor while the band segued into a jazzy swing number.

“You planning on dancing?” Michelle inquired next to me.

“Only if the next song is by Busta Rhymes.”

Michelle grinned. “Not gonna happen. Although I’d love to see this uppidy crowd tear da roof off.”

I chuckled but found I couldn’t quite indulge in my friend’s humor. I prayed I’d get through this night. My thoughts dwelled elsewhere. Since hearing of Luke’s arrest, I’d been numbly distracted and constantly worried about him. It had been hard seeing him at the court house. I could tell from his stiff posture and the tight set of his jaw that this ordeal weighed heavily on him.

The brief moment we’d made eye contact had filled me with a surge of deep remorse and, strangely, guilt. I knew he was innocent. I had no idea what he’d told the police. He’d promised to keep our night a secret, but surely if he’d be vindicated by disclosing the event, I’d understand. I’d wanted to talk to Luke, to tell him I’d stand by him. A part of me wanted to run to him and hold him close, to offer assurances that it would all work out. I wanted to shout his innocence to the world. If the police needed to speak to me, I’d tell them the truth. I sighed, not willing to think of the possible fallout. The only thing that mattered right now were getting the charges dropped.

The night he’d been released I’d gone to his apartment intending to talk to him, but I’d lost my nerve at the last minute, feeling stupid for showing up at his home. He’d probably been surrounded by family.

“Did you find another apartment?” Michelle interrupted my thoughts.

I sighed and shook my head. I’d lost the brownstone apartment. There really had been another interested party and I hadn’t made it to the broker’s office in time.

“I don’t get it.”

Michelle frowned. “I thought you had it in the bag! Too bad your phone went dead. Maybe you could have called and told them you were on your way.”

My cheeks heated. “I’ll just have to keep looking.”

I felt the press of a palm to the small of my back and turned to face Josh, donning my party smile. He was handsome in a black tux that fit his tall muscular frame and I smiled genuinely as I stared up at him. He replaced the empty champagne glass in my hand with a full one and deposited mine on the tray of a passing waiter.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he said close to my ear.

I pursed my lips in thought. “You might have mentioned it once or twice.”

I was wrapped in a black strapless gown with intricate beading across the bodice and my hair was pulled back from my face with two diamond combs.

“Then I’ve been derelict in my duties as your future husband.” With a charming grin, he swooped down and pecked my naked shoulder.

I could see Michelle rolling her eyes behind him and suppressed a laugh.

“You can’t expect to hog my granddaughter all to yourself!”

The admonishment came from behind us and recognizing the voice, I turned with a wide smile. My grandmother stood with Margaret Lindon at her side. I threw my arms around my grandmother and squeezed tight, welcoming the familiar embrace. Grace Vandercamp pulled back, cupping my shoulders. Her sage blue gaze roved my face and her lips pinched mildly.

“How are you, my dear?”

I produced my brightest smile, knowing the woman had an uncanny ability to always read my feelings. I looked behind her for my grandfather and spotted him speaking to some gentlemen close by.

“I’m fine, Grand. Just a bit tired.”

Grace gave me a long assessing look that made me squirm in my high heels. Grace then turned to Josh. “I hope you’re taking good care of her.”

“Of course!” he answered with a grin.

Grace squeezed my hand and whispered, “You know I’m here if you need me.”

I nodded and squeezed back.

Just then my mother’s musical laughter wafted from the crowd and found us. She was chatting with a nearby group.

“I see Diana is in her element,” Grace murmured dryly. “How is the planning for the autism event coming along?”

“Great.”

“Yes. I’m sure it’ll be a thorough success. I was just speaking to Margaret about it.” Grace winked.

“I have good news.” Mrs. Lindon beamed. “My organization, Christian Relief Aid, will be making a sizable donation.”

I smiled and thanked Mrs. Lindon. Mrs. Lindon’s organization was very selective with the charities it supported. I was indeed pleased.

Mrs. Lindon lowered her voice a fraction. “I heard that Davenport PR also made a sizable donation. Since you’ll be declining that donation, I know CRA’s contribution will be even more needed.”

I almost choked on the champagne I’d just sipped. The effervescent liquid burned the back of my throat. Throughout the evening, I’d caught snatches of conversation that whispered of the Davenport scandal. I’d tried my best to ignore them, knowing how this crowd thrived on gossip. I was about to respond when my grandmother spoke up.

“I don’t see what Mr. Davenport’s troubles have to do with his generous donation. We’re thrilled to have his support.”

Mrs. Lindon’s eyes widened in censure. She fingered the string of pearls around her neck and her face creased into a scowl. “Surely you wouldn't want the foundation tainted with this sordid scandal. The man murdered a woman in a sex club!”

I saw my grandmother’s blue eyes flame. I loved when Grand got her dander up. “As far as I know, Mr. Davenport has not been convicted of any crime! And we certainly are in no position to judge events we know nothing about!”

I wanted to applaud and hug my grandmother. “He didn't do it and I have no intention of refusing the donation,” I chimed in.

Margaret Lindon turned to Michelle. “You work for Mr. Davenport, don’t you? Did you have any idea that he was such a debauched character?”

Michelle planted a hand on her hip and made no attempt to mask her irritation. She was not one to hold her tongue long, and I guessed she’d already been questioned several times that evening about her boss.

“If
he’s
debauched, then we’re all headed straight to hell in a hand basket. The charges are bullsh—”

“As Grand mentioned…” I elbowed Michelle. “Mr. Davenport has not been convicted of any crime.”

Josh cleared his throat beside me, his hand circling my waist possessively. “I’m not so convinced of his innocence. I work for him too and I’ve seen a cruel and unpredictable side of him. This just goes to show that you never know what a man is capable of. I hear he was also suspected of killing his wife.”

I barely managed to suppress my gasp. My fingers almost snapped the stem of the delicate champagne glass. I knew Josh never liked Luke, but the disdain in his voice blew an icy breeze down my back and I stiffened in his hold.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Michelle reproached Josh.

He speared her with a hateful gaze. “And I suppose you do.”

“Yes, because I’ve worked with him longer than you have.”

“Maybe because you’re always kissing his ass,” Josh mumbled beneath his breath.

I was not in the mood to listen to Josh and Michelle spar, especially about this particular subject. I was about to suggest we mingle, when Diana floated over.

“Why the dour faces?” My mother pouted dramatically.

“We were just discussing the Davenport scandal,” Mrs. Lindon explained.

Diana huffed her umbrage and waved a manicured hand. “That’s all I’m hearing about tonight! The man should be locked away for good for what he’s done!”

Michelle and I exchanged a weary look of annoyance and I struggled to engineer a means of escape.

“Josh, I think I just saw your father walk in,” Grace interjected, staring toward the door.

Josh’s expression hardened. “I’m suddenly in need of a stronger drink,” he mumbled and drained his champagne glass before strolling away.

Grace’s eyebrows rose marginally. She kissed my cheek, promising to catch up with me later, then nodded to Diana before she and Mrs. Lindon disappeared into the crowd.

Diana turned to me. “Try to mingle and be social, dear. A lot of these people will be attending your wedding. Think of it as good networking for the foundation.” Diana waved to someone nearby, then took off after shooting me a meaningful glance.

Michelle pulled her gaze from the bar where Josh was ordering his drink.

“Tell me why you’re marrying him again? It’s just so I have to wear that ugly dress, isn’t it?”

“Yup.” I grinned. “You’ve figured me out.”

“Damn, girl. You owe me big time.” Michelle linked our elbows and turned us toward the band with a grin. “Lets go request some Busta Rhymes.”

I needed to check in with the caterers. Well, I didn’t really, but it was the excuse I’d used throughout the evening to extricate myself from conversations that were seizure inducing, and this particular one was giving me a tick. One of my mother’s friends was dispensing marital advice, and considering the fact that she was on her fourth husband, I swallowed each dictum with a spoonful of salt and a mouthful of champagne. Ironically I was just about to make the excuse about the caterers, when a waiter whispered in my ear that I was needed in the kitchen. I inclined my head, surprised because between my mother and the party planner she’d hired, there was very little for me to do. Glad for the interruption, though, I excused myself and followed the livered waiter.

I’d last seen Josh sequestered in a corner talking to his father. He hadn’t looked happy and I guessed I’d hear all about it later. Pushing through a side door, I let it close behind me and melted back against it. The roar of the party simmered to a distant drone and I rubbed my aching temples and checked my watch. Just after eleven. Things hopefully would be wrapping up soon. I’d entered into some sort of large butlers pantry with another door leading out. I looked around for the waiter who seemed to have vanished.

“I hope you’re enjoying the party, beautiful.”

My neck jerked with a force that almost caused whiplash. My hands flew to my mouth, but my startled gasp still found an escape.

“
Luke!
”

There was no thought. No moment of reasoning. It was only pure instinct that drove my feet forward one step at a time until I was pressed against him, sliding my arms around his waist and clinging to his back with a grip that was almost inhuman.

“
Oh, Luke! I’ve been so worried…
”

I noticed his slight hesitation, a few seconds when his body went rigid with obvious ambivalence. As if losing some inner battle, he cursed roughly and his strong arms enveloped me. Luke crushed me against him, digging his nose into my hair and brushing his lips across my forehead.

I inhaled the fragrance of sandalwood and sighed against his chest. My cheek nestled into a familiar fabric and my palm came around to rub against the cloth, coasting over the hard hills of his pecs . I realized my fingers were trembling. Seeing him was doing a number on me. I was breaking to pieces inside.

I imagined the beautiful dragon nestled beneath, wrapped intricately around his shoulder.

“You wore the shirt.” The words whispered off my tongue.

The heaviness in my heart was a profound weight I couldn’t explain, and fighting back the sting of tears, I pulled away.

“I can’t believe all that has happened.” My gaze raked his handsome face. “I can’t believe that you’re here.”

“Sorry for the subterfuge, but I have a feeling I’m persona non grata in there.” He indicated the door I’d just come through.

I lifted my bare shoulders. I couldn’t care less what the people in the other room thought of Luke. I stared at him anxiously, desperately needing answers. I’d been going crazy with worry. “What’s going on, Luke? What’s with the charges against you? You didn’t do it. Did you not tell them you have an alibi?” I took a few steps back and stared at him.

Luke shifted his weight and his jade eyes tracked me.

“No, I didn’t.”

I threw my arms up, frustrated. “Why the hell not?”

He closed the distance between us and grabbed my left hand. We both zeroed in on the huge diamond ring twinkling on my finger. Feeling my stomach lurch into my throat, I pedaled my gaze back to his face. His eyes were hard cut gems and his square jaw sculpted with acute angles.

I pulled my arm from his grasp and took a few steps away from him, needing the distance, needing to be away from that potent scent of sandalwood. I kept my back to him.

“He didn’t do it. He didn’t cheat. I was wrong. We’re to be ma—married.”

His snide chuckle reached my ears. “Congratulations.”

I rounded on him then, gritting my teeth to keep from yelling. “What am I supposed to do? He’s been my life for three years! We’ve planned for a future together.”

Luke was on top of me in two determined strides. He gripped my chin and pulled me in close, my face inches from his.

“Yeah? Were you thinking about that future while I was fucking you? While you were moaning beneath me?”

I yanked my face away, feeling the tears break free. “Josh and I were broken up. You know what I was going through. That is not fair!”

“I don’t really feel like being fair right now!” he grated harshly. “You’re blind, Kay!”

I straightened my spine, curling my fists angrily. This had not been an easy decision for me, but I’d been the one to make the mistake. I’d jumped to conclusions and jeopardized my relationship. And after what I’d done,
I
should be asking Josh for forgiveness. I tried to shove away the guilt that was a constant companion.