Invisibility Cloak (28 page)

Along with the Carlyles, there were two other couples seated at their table.

“Ryder, you already know Mimi and Roger.” Sophia motioned with her hand to the Carlyles as they glibly raised their hands in greeting. “This is Ramone and Selena Perez.” Gesturing to another couple he’d never met before.

Ryder reached across the table and shook their hands.

“And this is Eduardo and Camila Garcia. All dear friends of mine.”

He extended his arm. “Nice to meet you folks.”

Mimi stood. “Sophia, will you come to the woman’s lounge with me?”

“Of course.” Edgington stood up and touched Ryder’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back. Order me a Fuzzy Navel Martini will you?”

“Sure,” he said and studied the other couples at the table with him. They looked vaguely familiar. All very attractive in a designer labels way.

“So how do you all know Sophia?” Ryder asked to make casual conversation.

“Oh, we go way back.” Camila Perez flipped her dark silky hair over one shoulder.

“Oh? Know her from high school?” He took a deep drink of his beer.

“Yes, actually,” Camila said.

Intrigued now, Ryder’s mind thought on where in Arizona they all attended school. “Whereabouts?” He shifted in his seat. “Phoenix? Tucson? Or around there?”

“Ha,” Selena Perez’s eyebrows jumped up, her expression sardonic. “We all attended Santa Maria Catholic School in Mexico City.”

“What? I thought Sophia grew up in Arizona.”

“We met at
primaria,
became very close friends in
secundaria
and inseparable in
prepratoria,
” Selena Perez explained.

“I am surprised she was allowed to come so far north,” Ramone Perez said quietly, almost underneath his breath.

Ryder pulled his brows down. This conversation was turning out to be far more interesting that he thought it would be.

Roger Carlyle helped himself to a roll from the basket in the middle of the table. “And just why would you say that, Ramone?”

Ramone looked over at Roger. “Because the children are so far away.”

“Far away?” Ryder asked. “Just what are Sophia’s kids far away from?”

“Their
padre
.” Ramone lifted his wine glass to his lips.

Ryder processed the words being spoken. “Isn’t Parker Edgington the father of her two kids?”

“Have you seen Parker Edgington?” Eduardo Garcia chimed in.

“No. Why?”

“He’s as lily white as they come,” Garcia said.

“So?”

“That’s why she came up here. To raise her children in more positive lifestyle,” Camilla piped in and narrowed her eyes at her husband. “There is nothing wrong with trying for a better way of life. Especially for your children.”

“I couldn’t agree more, my love.” Her husband, Eduardo picked up his wife’s left hand and kissed her knuckles.

Chapter 16

J
ust what in hell was going on? It seemed like everyone
but
him knew some key information about Sophia Edgington.

“Yes, but it didn’t last long, did it?” Ramone said as if he just discovered the most profound question at the table and pointedly looked at the other three men. The two women at the table were ignored at that moment.

Ryder realized he needed to go meet Parker Edgington and ask him a few questions ASAP.

A hand slid along his nape and he flinched, hunching his shoulders. Sophia was back.

“Where’s my drink, Ryder?”

He swore under his breath. It totally slipped his mind and he stood up. “I’ll get you one right now.” Uneasiness slid through his body. He had to get up and walk around; get away from the table. Sophia’s forgotten drink was the perfect excuse for a breather.

“Thank you. Don’t forget it’s a Fuzzy Navel Martini.”

“Got it.” He strode to the large bar by the front door. Christ, just thinking about a fuzzy navel gave him the creeps. But if that was what the lady wanted . . .

As he approached the bar, he took in the black marbled bar top and sleek teak glassed cabinets. Nice. Everything in this damn country club was perfect. Of course that shouldn’t be a bad thing. Ryder always did like nice stuff. But all the perfection started to get to him. Maybe it was because Amanda wasn’t here to smart-off to him and have fun with.

“What can I get you, sir?” A bartender asked as Ryder slid into the barstool.

“I need a martini please.” Ryder snapped his fingers and held up his right hand. “No. Ah, make that a
Fuzzy Navel
Martini.”

“You betcha, sir.”

Who in the hell would drink anything fuzzy? “I need a beer.” He smiled. “Got a Bud?”

“Absolutely, sir.”

“Good man.” The angle that Ryder sat on the stool at the bar, gave him the opportunity to enjoy the fading pink and violet Arizona twilight. Did any other state have such a striking nightfall? Could any other state―especially with the Sierra Estrella Mountain range as a backdrop even compare? He was a tad bit prejudiced, being that he was born and raised around this area.

“Here ya go, sir.” The bartender slid his Budweiser and the Martini down the bar at him.

“Thanks.” Ryder reached for his wallet. “What do I owe you?”

The bartender, a young red-haired man with freckles held up his hand. “Ah no, sir. Everything is included with your Harbor Falls Country Club Dinner Dance ticket.”

Whoa, not bad. “Here you go, then.” Ryder handed him a five-dollar bill.

“Thank you, sir!” The kid gave him a toothy smile then waited on someone else.

Feeling good, he sipped his beer and again looked out at the impressive sunset. It couldn’t get much better than this. But he wasn’t on his own hanging out at a really nice place. Reality punched him in the gut.
Awe shit
, he had to take Sophia back her martini.

A Fuzzy one at that
. He eyed the oversized martini glass with the orange wedge stuck on the side of it. Running his right hand over the top of his head, he looked around. A reluctance tugged at him and he glanced out the main entrance to the Country Club one last time before he had to go back to his table.

With his left leg on the floor readying to stand, he turned to admire the last shred of sunlight before it disappeared behind the mountains, when a sparkle caught his attention. Narrowing his eyes, he realized it was a silvery strand spread out on the parquet lobby flooring reflecting the sun’s rays. Gulping the rest of the beer, Ryder stood and set the empty glass down on the counter right next to Sophia’s Fuzzy Martini. The whole time his gaze was transfixed to the item on the floor and he walked over and picked it up. He rubbed his thumb over the glittery circles and the back of his neck prickled. It was Amanda’s bracelet or one that looked just like it.

Amanda.

Closing his fist around the bracelet, he shoved it into his front pant pocket. Something wasn’t right. Ryder felt it in his bones. He walked out the front door of the country club and put his vehicle ticket in the valet’s hands. Four minutes later, he gunned it down Harbor Falls Country Club Drive and jumped on I-89 southbound for Amanda’s place. Reaching under his car seat, he pulled out his Glock and rubbed his thumb over the black ribbed handle assuredly. He may not even need it, but he liked knowing he had it. This puppy was his best friend in many tight situations; like now. You never knew when you’d need the reliable back-up of seventeen continuous rounds. His Glock’s accuracy was uncanny and it never jammed.

The fact that his black handled baby took standard ammo was another plus, making it more desirable than a . . . a . . . woman?

Well almost
, he chuckled to himself before Amanda’s pretty face and soft blond hair floated through his brain.

Nah.
A woman could do a few more things than his Glock he snickered to himself. Sticking the pistol in the back of his suit pants waistband, he grinned. Who knows if they added some lips and a mouth . . .
Nah, a woman was still better.

H
er head banged and her vision was still blurry, but Amanda sat calmly in Jeffrey’s car with her hands clasped in her lap. They were almost home.
Thank the Lord!
All she wanted was to go to sleep and not remember anything about this night, except that it was a bad dream. Jeffrey’s BMW headlight’s swiped across the front of her house as he pulled into the driveway. Home, at last. Relief washed over her.

“You don’t need to walk me up,” she slurred as she yanked at the door handle. Her hand slipped on the lever and she clenched her teeth together to concentrate as she lifted her hand again to open the door.

“No, no, no.” He jumped out of the car and opened her door in a flash. Tugging on her hand, he pulled her out of the seat and guided her up to the front entrance.

She shook her head and stared bleakly at her front door.
How am I going to find my keys to open the door?

“Jeffrey, I made need some help . . .” She lowered her head and fumbled for her keys in her bag.

Jeffrey reached his hand out and turned the doorknob. “Ah ha! Mr. Angry Army Man must have forgotten to lock the damn door!” After he pushed open the door, he leaned in to turn on the foyer light. “This is just too rich!”

“
Ooooookayyyyyy.
” Amanda looked around. Ryder forgot to lock her door? She stumbled to the stairs because she was ready to lie down, but then stopped short and turned around almost falling over in the process. “Thank you for tonight, Jeffrey.” Hoping he got the message, she lightly pushed him back out the front door and reached out to pull the door closed.

Jeffrey sidestepped the wood door closing in on him. “Wait right there, Amanda.” He gave her a toothy grin. “How about just one glass of wine or sherry before I head out?”

Amanda groaned. “Jeffrey, I puked earlier.” Her head started to pound again. Irritability crashed over her and she mumbled, “Do you want to chance me getting sick again?” She crossed her arms and pinched her mouth together, trying valiantly to not lean too far over on her left side. She just wanted him to go.

“Amanda.” He stepped so close to her she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Don’t you want to see if this chemistry between us. . .” Jeffrey rubbed his index finger up and down her jaw. “. . . Extends to the bedroom?”

Squinting her eyes at the three wavering outlines of the man in front of her, she inhaled and mumbled, “Jeffrey my head feels like a garbage disposal and my mouth tastes like one.” She clutched her stomach as bile pushed its way up her throat.

His face fuzzily came into view. There was that toothy smile again. Kinda like a shark. But not a Great White, he seemed more like a lemon shark or another bottom feeder.

Tired now, she rushed her words. “I am so sorry, Jeffrey, I―”

Thud
.

She stopped instantly and listened.

Thud.

Tilting her chin, she was positive the sound came from upstairs. Like something dropped on the ceiling above her.

She widened her eyes and whispered, “Jeffrey? I think someone’s upstairs.” Why did her tongue feel so thick? “I have to call the police.” She reached for her purse.

“Amanda,” he whispered. “I think you’re imaging things, love.” Grabbing her by the waist, he planted wet kisses along her neck.

“No! What are you doing?” she slurred harshly. Amanda brought both of her hands up to his chest and attempted to push him away. “Stop it.”

“Oh come on, Amanda.” He grabbed her roughly by her biceps and pushed her backward until they were in the living room.

Even though she was still foggy, she knew something was terribly wrong. Wiggling, she tried to get out of his grasp, but still kept quiet because of the intruder up on the second floor. His eyes narrowed as he pinned her down. Huge danger signs roiled in her gut. Jeffrey’s whole demeanor had changed. Now, he even looked scary.

All three of him
.

Squeezing her arms, he forced her down on the couch.

“Do―” He said in a low voice. “You―” Huffing a few times as he held her arms down, he said darkly. “Know where the letter is?”

She twisted on the couch and finally out of his grasp.

He gritted his teeth together. “The letter. Where is it?” His arms shot out again and he threw her back on the couch.

“What?” She flopped back down. The three visions of Jeffrey morphed into only two now and she focused on the left one.

“Your husband . . . Did he mail anything to you before he died?”

“I don’t understand. Why are you asking me about this?” she asked in a garbled voice. The intruder’s face that broke into her house a few nights earlier flew through her mind. Did he come back? She braced her hands on either side of her legs to hoist herself back up so she could stand.

“Oh no you don’t.” He nuzzled his face into her chest.

“Would you stop it, Jeffrey!” she slurred, attempting to push up off the sofa. What was wrong with him? He acted like a different person.

“Amanda.” This time he shoved her down and climbed right on top of her. And now his hands roamed. Coolness hit her legs as Jeffrey pushed her skirt up to her knees.

The nerve of him! One of his hands advanced to her upper thigh.

“Aha,” he said triumphantly. “I knew you were more spirited than everyone thought. He explored her bottom. “You’re totally nude under this dress!”

“Stop it!” Amanda said a little louder, just above a whisper. “Get your hands off me!”

“You know you want―”

One minute she was being fondled by Jeffrey with his body pinning her down and the next, she was free. His face totally disappeared from her view.

“―It!” Jeffrey shrieked loudly from somewhere across the room.

“Get your slimy hands off her, you bastard!”

Ryder
. Amanda puffed out a breath of relief. Ryder was here. But where’d he come from?

Maneuvering her elbows back, she pushed off the seat cushions of the couch and looked across the cocktail table. Jeffrey was sprawled out on the floor and Ryder held his tie up so his face was flush with his fist and he was beating the pulp out of Jeffrey.

Crap
. Where did Ryder come from? Not that she wasn’t glad to see him, of course―

But she had this under control.

She was just about to ready to knee Jeffrey in his privates. So where did Ryder come in at? She glanced at the front door.

I guess he could’ve come in there.

“No!” Smeth put his hands up to fend off another punch. His high-pitched scream resonated through the first floor. “Wait! She wanted me! Begged me to come in!”

Amanda’s eyes narrowed and she pulled herself up to a sitting position. “I did not! You creep!”
Okay, go at it Ryder. Punch him again, the liar.
She may’ve had too much wine, but she knew she did not egg Jeffrey on like he said.

“I don’t care,” Ryder snarled. “I heard her say no, dammit.” Talk about menacing. Jeffrey now looked like a Harry Potter character compared to Ryder’s dark look. A really goofy Harry Potter . . . And she even liked Harry Potter, or used to anyway.

Ryder had his elbow back ready to slam his fist into Jeffrey’s already puffed up face when another man raced down the stairs. Ryder lifted his head with a look of surprise etched on his features as he watched a dark-haired muscular man leaping down the landing two stairs at a time. Letting go of Jeffrey’s tie, Smeth’s head thudded backward on the floor.

“What the hell is going down, here?” Ryder roared before he punched Smeth one last time. Hopping up, Ryder followed the intruder and raced out the front door.

“I was just about to warn youuuuuu . . .” Amanda mumbled as she watched his form race out the door, and finally stood up and yelled after him, “To keep it down because someone was upstairs!” Not being able to stand up after all, she giggled and plopped back down on the couch.

Five minutes later Ryder walked back inside and scrunched up his forehead. “Start again.”

“Well, as I was pushing Jeffrey away I heard―”

Scowling he cut her off as he glared at her date. “I ought to kick his ass senseless for just thinking about you.”

For some warped reason, that made Amanda feel unbelievably happy and she giggled again.

“I have to go upstairs to see what he was doing up there . . .” She trailed off before half-heartedly trying to get up again.

“Here.” Ryder extended his hand to her. “Not without me you’re not.”

She slipped her palm into his and he pulled her up off the sofa to lead the way upstairs.

Looking back at Jeffrey still lying on the floor, she slurred, “Should I call an ambulance for Jeffrey?”

“Why? I barely touched him.” He peered into her room since it was the first one they came to. He stood in front of her and he pressed his hand against her. “Stay right here, I’m going to check out the bathroom and closet.” Ryder reached behind his suit coat and produced a big gun.