Marked for Murder Page 24

“I do,” I answered. “He threw the tire iron and his bloody clothes in a dumpster behind a gym.” While Bates stood with his mouth hanging open, I told him where the gym was. “But you need to get them before the trash collector comes in the morning.”

  “Okay,” Bates said. “What about Strickland? I’m not sure how to make the accusations stick.”

  I shrugged, suddenly tired to the bone. “I don’t know. But you can’t deny that he was involved in this. I’d be happy to help you figure it out but, right now, I’d like to go home.” I checked my watch, finding that it was four in the morning.

  “Sure. Go ahead. I’ll take care of this and let you know if you can help me later.”

  “Sounds good. I guess I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “See you then.”

  I climbed into bed around four-forty-five in the morning. Chris woke, and I snuggled into his arms. “Where have you been?” he asked.

  I explained Ramos’s phone call and my visit to the Tiki Tabu bar. By the time I got done, it was almost an hour later.

  “Wow,” Chris said, relieved. “It’s over. You did it. You even got Bates to help you.”

  “Yeah. Who would have thought? Even though we have Ethan’s killer, I’m not sure what we’re going to do about Strickland. But at least he can’t arrest you for Ethan’s murder.”

  Chris nodded. “The truth is bound to come out.”

  “I hope so.” I yawned, totally exhausted. “Now I just need some sleep.”

  Chris hugged me tight, and I relaxed in his arms. Almost asleep, I rolled over and pulled the covers snuggly around me. As I drifted away, I picked up Chris’s thoughts of love for me and smiled.

  I woke to an empty bed. The clock read twelve-twenty, and I bolted to a sitting position. The events of yesterday came flooding back. With a heavy heart, I flopped back down on the bed. Ethan had died yesterday, but at least his killer was behind bars.

  Today was Saturday. Dimples and Billie were getting married. Today. My stomach lurched, and I shoved out of bed. Since I needed to be there at three, there was no time to waste. I hurried downstairs to see what my family was up to.

  They surprised me by having most of the Saturday chores done. Chris had even started the laundry. With things under control, I ate a quick breakfast, which was really lunch, and took a nice, long shower. By the time I toweled dry, it was time to get ready.

  I fixed my hair into long wavy curls, deciding to wear it down around my shoulders. With my hair and makeup done, I was ready to slip on my dress. Billie had picked spring pastels for her wedding colors, and I knew her bridesmaids were all wearing long, mist green, sheath dresses.

  Naturally, I bought a new dress for the occasion as well. I’d found the perfect glacier-blue-green color that brought out my natural skin tones. It was a silhouette style, knee-length dress with a one-shoulder, sleeveless neckline and tucked waistband. Made of light chiffon material, it floated from my waist to my knees.

  After slipping on my silver heels, sudden dread tightened my stomach. I’d done all I could to get ready for this. I just hoped it was enough.

  Chris came into our room and whistled with appreciation. “Whoa! You look gorgeous.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled up at him. “I’d better get going.”

  Since I had to be there an hour and a half early, Chris had decided to come a little later. I caught that he regretted his decision. Maybe he should go early with me, even if it meant standing around for over an hour.

  “It’s no big deal,” I assured him. “I’ll be busy with the security team. Then I’ll have to check out all of the people working there for sinister thoughts. I’m afraid I won’t be much of a companion with all of that going on. I hope that’s okay.”

  “I’m sure I’ll find someone to talk with while you’re busy.”

  “Sounds good. Don’t forget to bring my stun-flashlight. I plugged it in when I got home last night, so it should be charged and ready to go.”

  He grinned. “I won’t.” He pulled me into his arms for a quick kiss. “It’s all going to work out.”

  “I sure hope so.” After another hug, I grabbed my small, beaded purse, that only had room for my phone, lipstick, and car keys, and hurried out to my car.

  On the drive, I tried to think of all the things that Beal might attempt at the wedding. If he got into the kitchen, there was a chance of poison. I’d learned that all too well a few weeks ago, and I had no desire for a repeat. That meant I’d need to check the workers, wait staff, and anyone going in and out of the kitchen.

  Another possibility was some kind of poison gas. He’d rigged his basement office door with something like that, so I’d need to keep a lookout for a canister and check the air flow system. What else? I guess there was always the chance of a bomb. He could totally hide it in a package, disguised as a gift, and no one would know until it was too late.

  By the time I arrived at the venue, my stomach was a quivering mess. It seemed like I’d have to be everywhere at once. How was I supposed to do that? Walking to the double doors, I took a deep breath to settle my nerves and pulled it open.

  Inside, I found the wait staff setting the round tables with dinnerware and centerpieces. Another group of people decorated the hall with flowers and strategically placed photos of the happy couple. I paused to observe and listen to each one of them.

  Finding nothing untoward, I turned down the hall and found the dressing room with a big “Bride” sign over the top. The door was ajar, so I peeked in, looking for Billie. Her stunning dress hung on a stand, just waiting for her to put it on.

  Against the far wall, I found Billie sitting in front of the vanity in a white robe. Her mother stood beside her, watching as the hair dresser styled her hair into an intricate arrangement on top of her head.

  “Shelby!” Billie jumped to her feet and rushed to my side. Her hairdresser let out a distressed curse, dropping a section of hair she’d been pinning up. Billie didn’t even notice. She gave me a quick hug, barely containing her excitement. “Come in. Have you met my mom?”

  “Yes I have. We met after you got shot.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” Her mom joined us, giving me a polite hug.

  “Don’t let me interrupt,” I told them. “I just wanted you to know that I’m here.”

  Billie took both my hands in hers and examined my dress. “Wow. You look great. I love the color.”

  “Thanks. I can’t wait to see you in your dress.” I motioned toward her wedding dress. “I love it.”

  “I know. It’s amazing.”

  “Billie.” Her mom motioned toward the hairdresser.

  “Oh sorry.” She hurried back to her chair and sat down. “I can’t believe it’s actually happening. I’m a little nervous, but I can’t wait.”

  I smiled. “I’m going to see if I can find the security team you told me about.”

  “Right. They should be here soon. I think there are four of them.” She gave me a grateful smile. “Thanks Shelby, for everything.”

  “You bet.” As I turned to leave, Billie’s mom stopped me.

  “Do you want to leave your purse here?” she asked. “There’s a safe in the room for our things. There’s plenty of space for it.”

  “Oh… yes. That would be great.” She opened the safe, and I tucked my small purse inside.

  “Just tell me when you’re ready to go, and I’ll unlock it for you.” She was thinking it was one of those safes where the guests got to pick their own combination, and she had already set it for Billie’s birthday.

  “Got it. Thanks. I’ll see you out there.” I gave Billie’s hand a squeeze and left the room, relieved that I didn’t have to keep track of my purse.

  I searched the hall for the team, but couldn’t see them anywhere. Maybe they weren’t here yet. Deciding to check out the caterers, I found the kitchen and serving area off the main hall. Delicious smells wafted from the ovens, and the place was overrun with people busy doing their
jobs.

  A woman wearing a white jacket with a catering logo emblazoned on the front pocket barked out orders, and everyone scurried to do her bidding. She spied me, and her brows drew together. She was thinking that I was in the way, and I shouldn’t be there.

  She came to my side and steered me out of the kitchen. “I’m sorry but, as you can see, we are busy. Is there something you need?”

  “Yes. I’m with a special security team. Please don’t tell your workers, but the groom is a police detective, and he received a threat that someone might interfere with his wedding. I’m here to make sure nothing happens, but I thought you should know. Do you have anyone new on your staff?”

  Her eyes widened. “No. Most have been with me for several months, some of them years.”

  “It sounds like you trust them.” She nodded. She didn’t think that any of them could be involved in something sinister. “Okay. Good. If you see anyone in the kitchen who shouldn’t be there, will you please let me know?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank you. Also, just be mindful of your space. If something looks out of place, or something you didn’t bring shows up, please don’t hesitate to find me.” That kind of freaked her out, so I smiled. “I’ll let you get back to work.”

  That taken care of, I wandered back to the hall. I took another moment to listen to the workers for anything suspicious. Finding nothing, I stepped outside onto a large patio which looked out over a lovely grotto. Leaning against the decorative fence, I found a wide, rock-hewn staircase which led down to the chairs for the guests on the green lawn.

  The beauty of the open space held a quiet intimacy. A path between the chairs led to an arched trellis, covered in vines and flowers, where the ceremony would take place. Behind the trellis, a small pond, fed by a quiet waterfall, held a few ducks and waterlilies. Surrounded by tall trees and grasses, this space was a stunning backdrop for a wedding ceremony.

  I turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and found four, large men dressed in white shirts, ties, and dark suits bearing down on me. The first man was so big, I could barely see the others behind him, but they all had the same no-nonsense bearing of the military, with their straight backs and alert, sweeping gazes.

  The man in front tipped his head to me, while the others stood behind him. “Mrs. Nichols?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Lorin Anderton, and this is my security team.” He motioned to the three men behind him. “Brett, Wade, and Alejandro.”

  My breath caught, and my eyes nearly bulged out of my head. Alejandro was Ramos. What was he doing here? His thoughts were blocked, and he didn’t even crack a smile. Then he winked. So surprised by his presence, I missed everything the man had just said.

  “Uh… sorry, I missed that.” I tore my gaze away from Ramos. “What did you say?”

  Lorin pursed his lips. “I said that I don’t expect you to learn our names. When you need to communicate, just call us by ‘security team, or sec team,’ all right?”

  “Sure.”

  “We’re all armed, and we have ear pieces. I have yours right here. It’s a Bluetooth communicator that connects us through our phones. Just slip it in your ear, and you’ll be good to go.”

  “Do I need my phone?” I asked.

  “No. It’s a wireless system that will run through my phone.”

  “Okay.” I didn’t understand how that was supposed to work, so I didn’t even try.

  Standing close, he gently helped me push the earplug in my ear. Because it was wireless, it wasn’t connected to anything, but Lorin held a round wire with a receiver that I was supposed to wear around my neck. His was under his shirt, but he saw immediately that my wire would be visible to everyone because of my one-shoulder, sleeveless dress. He grimaced, uncertain what to do.

  “Let me.” Ramos stepped forward. Surprisingly, Lorin handed him the wire. “Hold out your arm.” Instead of slipping it around my neck, Ramos thought that I could wear it over my shoulder, under the fabric, and tuck the receiver under my arm where no one could see it.

  He slipped it over my shoulder and tucked the wire under the shoulder material. In order to get it under my arm and inside my dress, I realized that my side zipper needed to come down a few inches. Before I could suggest I find a more private spot and do it myself, Ramos expertly lowered the zipper, tucked the wire inside, and zipped it back up.

  He was thinking, you can close your mouth now, and held back a smile. I snapped my jaw shut and narrowed my eyes. He stepped back in line with the others, and Lorin stepped forward again, holding his phone.

  “Okay. We should all be connected. Report in.”

  Each of the men said, “Here,” in a low whisper, which came through the earpiece clearly. When they were done, I followed suit and whispered it too.

  Lorin smiled. “Thanks Mrs. Nichols.”

  “Please, call me Shelby.”

  “Of course. Try not to speak too loudly, and we’ll all be fine. Now if you have any concerns or see anything you need us to check on, just say it out loud. Be sure to mention ‘security team or sec team,’ so we know you’re talking to us. Also, remember that, when you speak with anyone, we’ll hear everything you say.”

  “Right,” I said, not too happy about that. I’d have to let Chris know when he got here, so I didn’t say anything personal.

  “I think that should cover it. We each have a quadrant of the facility to cover, and we’ll be taking circuitous routes during the evening. We’re all armed and ready. Again, if you need us, just let us know.”

  “Okay. Uh… be sure and check the ventilation systems for poison gas, and look for suspicious packages too. I’ve already alerted the kitchen for sabotage, but you might want to keep that in mind as well.”

  “Right,” he said, thinking that he knew how to do his job, so I shouldn’t worry. He was a professional. Then he glanced at one of the others and told him to check the ventilation system since he hadn’t thought of that.

  As the men headed to their positions, Ramos thought, I’ll be staying close to you, and I opened my mouth to ask him how he’d managed to join the team. Realizing all of them would hear me, I shut it and pursed my lips. Dang. Now I’d have to wait, unless he thought about it.

  Smiling, Ramos thought, Manetto and the owner of the newspaper are good friends. It was easy. At my nod, he took the steps down to the lawn and began to walk along the outside edge of the property. Glancing around, I realized that people had begun to arrive, and I’d better get busy. The workers had finished setting up, and classical music began to play over the speakers.

  As the guests were led to the chairs on the lawn, I listened to every thought as they passed. I also kept track of the workers, since it made more sense that Beal would disguise himself as one of them.

  Michael Lewis-Pierce passed by with his wife at his side. He introduced me to his wife, telling her I was the psychic who’d stopped the shooting, and she thanked me for saving her husband’s life. “I’m just glad I was there,” I said.

  A few more newspaper people passed me, each giving me a happy greeting. One of them raised his brows, thinking he’d be ready for anything, and I knew he was privy to the threat. My stress levels spiked, knowing that so many people could get hurt, and that it was up to me to stop it.

  “Shelby,” Bates said, stopping at my side. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m okay.”

  Bates could tell I was stressed out, and guilt that he’d given me such a hard time gnawed on his conscience. “Good work last night.”

  “Thanks. Did you find Isaac’s clothes and the tire iron?”

  “Yes. They were in the dumpster, like you said. He’ll be formally charged for murder at his arraignment which should be happening on Monday.”

  “Good. What about Strickland?”

  “He’s been told. But it’s going to take some time to formally charge him.” Bates was convinced that Strickland had something to do with it, but how much, wasn’t certain.


  “Yeah, but we’ll figure it out.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure we will.”

  Relieved to have him on my side for a change, I focused on a couple of people who had slipped past me while I had been speaking. Finding nothing bad from them, I glanced back at Bates. “Let’s just hope nothing happens here, right?”

  He smiled. “We’re all here to help. Let me know if you need anything. Okay?”

  “Sure. Thanks.” This was a new side of Bates that I could get used to.

  Not long after that, the chief came to my side with his wife and introduced us. After our pleasantries, he said, “Uh… good work with Bates last night. I’m glad… well… grateful for your help. It was a difficult case.” He was thinking that he was glad Chris wasn’t involved because I was part of his team, and if Chris had been guilty… well… that would have been awkward.

  “You’re right, it was difficult.”

  Glad to have that out of the way, he glanced at the blue sky. “Beautiful day for a wedding, isn’t it? Don’t forget, I’m here to help, so let me know if you need anything.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  A few minutes before the ceremony started, Chris joined me. “Hey beautiful,” he said, slipping his arm around my waist. “How’s it going? Hear anything?”

  “No,” I responded. “But the security team is here, and I’m wearing an earpiece to keep in touch.” I glanced at him meaningfully. At his puckered brows, I continued. “That means they can hear everything I say.”

  “Oh.” Chris nodded, then thought it was a good thing I could read his mind so he could still talk to me, albeit one-sided. “That’s good. Are you going to sit down?”

  I let out a deep breath, unsure if I should sit or stay where I was. Just then, Dimples and his best man came outside onto the patio.

  He spotted me and grinned. “Hey Shelby. Good to see you. It looks like everything’s ready.” He took a deep breath, thinking this was it. “Guess I’d better get down there.” With a nervous grin, he continued to his place under the trellis.

  “Let’s sit down,” Chris said, tugging on my arm. “You can keep watch from there.”