Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (32 page)

Z was stopped by angels, according to her. Protected by the Precious Blood. Was he losing his mind? Or was it real? He was back on the boat with the paintings. He’d said he’d trust God. How could he do that?

And what did the man betraying him have to do with the man – Z
—
who attacked him?

***

Early the following morning, David interviewed Albert Santoro at the police station. Uncooperative, Santoro continued the string of epithets he had begun the evening before.

David decided he was wasting time. He grabbed Santoro by the neck, raising him out of his seat and off the floor. He growled down at his gasping prisoner. “Now I’ve had enough foolishness. You’re going to tell me what I want to know, or you’re going to regret it. Understand?”

Santoro managed to convey his agreement. He threw him back into the chair. Santoro worked to recover his breath.

David took a seat across the table. “Who shot Eduardo Soares?”

Santoro replied with a gruff laugh. “For some Nazi cop that offed a U.S. Senator and a bunch of his bodyguards, you’re fuckin’ demandin’.”

David replied with a threatening stare.

Santoro was petulant. “I need a cigarette.”

“Sorry, Bert. This is a nonsmoking facility.”

Santoro jumped out of his seat, and brought himself eye to eye with David. “Listen, you asshole! I’m not afraid to get that story out to every fuckin’ TV station in the country.”

David stood up, and looked down at the top of Santoro’s head. “And I’m not afraid to snap your pitiful neck, and say it was an unfortunate accident.”

Santoro sat down. He tapped the table as he thought. “I got rights. My lawyer says I don’t need to talk to any cop.”

“That’s right, Bert. You can rot here the rest of your life.” David grinned in satisfaction.

“I thought he was some one of your guys. He just showed up, took up with Darla and Sylvie. Darla told me that he told her this Soares guy was in from New York, and someone oughtta take care of him. One of my guys did it. But he paid him. Not me! Okay?”

***

David found Eduardo in the conference room with Jimmy and Alain, celebrating Alain’s safe return with their morning coffee. He shut the door behind him, his expression erasing his colleagues’ smiles, and abbreviating a hug from Alain.

“We’ve got a problem.”

“What now? The flowers don’t match the dresses?” Eduardo’s half-hearted joke signaled exhaustion. He was about to have more pressing problems.

David sat at the table and momentarily put his head in his hands. He looked up at inquiring faces. “It’s Colonel Johnson. He’s the one who sold us out. I don’t have all the proof we’re going to need for Pearson. But I know it’s him.”

Shocked, silent faces met his gaze.

David continued. “And surprisingly enough he’s nowhere to be found. I’m told he’s on assignment. Who knows? But we can’t tell Pearson until everything is laid out.”

The ensuing argument on whether to tell Pearson about Johnson resulted in a decision to dig deeper before proceeding. The two had been close friends and colleagues for years, and they decided Pearson would not accept the idea without more concrete proof.

Debbie

I purposely removed the trauma of Tuesday evening from my mind. I told my friends that David is a hero, and thought to myself that they didn’t know the half of it. I lived for his phone calls and visits. But since he was busy with work and the wedding was coming up so fast, we couldn’t spend much time together. We both looked forward to a month-long honeymoon.

My parents were gripped by second thoughts after the gory violence, but they decided I would not survive a cancellation of the wedding. They were right.

Eduardo

“Golf? We’re playing golf?” David did not look happy.

“It’ll be a quick game, just a quick game, probably spend most of the time at the club drinking beer.” Eduardo had the dubious honor of ensuring the groom arrived at his bachelor party.

“Great. You remember the last time Raphael got us out to play golf? That had to have been one of the most
frustrating
days of my life. Who put you up to this? Raphael? Was it Raphael?”

Eduardo slowly, forcefully wiped his hand across weary eyes and sighed. “No! Raphael wasn’t even around when they made the plans. Papa and Papa Frederick, George, well they figured George would really like that idea. Plus all the old guys play golf. There are a lot of old guys comin’. And the younger ones, well they play golf for business. So they figured it would be a good idea. Plus it’s at George’s club, so it’s a nice place. Just don’t blame me! I’m just supposed to get you there.”

David shook his head, “I’m sorry Eduardo. It’s not your fault. I’m not big on parties. But we’ll get through it. I hope Debbie has a good time this evening.”

“Yeah, well last I talked to Nita, she still didn’t suspect. I hope she doesn’t have a heart attack when she sees that mob of women.” Eduardo laughed. “I’d love to be a fly on the wall when she meets Sister Mary Manager.”

David laughed out loud. “I’m sure Sister Mary Grace will be favorably impressed. No doubt she’ll think God has, in fact,
not
turned his back on me.”

“Yeah. Marrying a saint oughtta get you some points. But I bet we still get our cheeks pinched before this whole ordeal is over. Nobody pinches cheeks like her! And then she’ll tell us how much she’s been prayin’ for our souls. How disappointed God is in us. Can’t wait to hear about how I’m damned to the eternal fires. Again!”

David sniffed. “Don’t worry Eduardo. I think you still have time to repent.”

“Repent? Sure. I’ll be repentin’ next week while you’re on your honeymoon. Sister Mary Manager will have me drivin’ her on her own personal tour of California. I’ll be repenting all the way to the Redwood Forest and back. Can’t wait.”

Glori

Cindy was in her bedroom hanging out her dress. I smoothed the silk, loving the soft rich feel of it. “It’s so pretty. You’re gonna be a
beautiful
maid of honor.”

“And you’re going to be a beautiful bridesmaid.” Cindy smiled. “This is really turning out to be quite the occasion. I can’t wait to see Raphael in his tux.” Her hand skimmed the soft lavender dress.

“Yeah. I wish I’d be seeing Alain in his uniform. Hmm. Six feet of muscle.” I faltered a bit.

Cin tried to steer me out of my slump. “Yes. I was surprised to hear the guys are wearing their uniforms for this. I guess Debbie decided on that.”

“Yeah. Hooray for Debbie.” I forced a smile. “Oh, I love a man in uniform.”

“Well, we better get downstairs. They probably need our help. Mom was really getting nervous this afternoon. I mean we’ve had some important people here for dinner, but all these people are from all over creation. We haven’t hosted anything like this before.”

“Yeah well, I think it’ll be fine. And whatever it was Raphael told the landscaping company, boy I never thought this place could look like this. I mean, not that the gardens weren’t beautiful before, but now it looks like fairyland or something with all the flowers and everything.”

“Oh I know! He really has a talent for that stuff,” Cindy said proudly.

“So what are you telling Debbie to get her here all dressed up?” We headed out to the patio.

“I just told her we’re having a little party for her with the bridesmaids. Sally probably has her dressed already. She knows something’s up. But I doubt she has any idea of the magnitude of it.”

“And the guys are stopping by after their party?”

“Yeah! I guess they thought since so many of them just arrived they wanted to make it kind of a simple evening. So they expect to be here for dinner.”

“So David isn’t one to go out tearing up the town before the big day, huh?” I snickered.

“It didn’t sound that way according to Cisco and Raphael. And I guess since no one has seen him or Eduardo for three years, they thought it would give them more time for visiting. Besides, why chance another episode like the other night?”

Chapter Twenty One

Debbie

Daddy muttered to himself as he adjusted his jacket, and glanced one more time into the full-length mirror. He saw me watching him in the reflection and turned to face me. “Debbie, dear, you look stunning in that pretty blue gown. Just like an angel.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

He smiled. “Well, dear, are you ready to head over to Cindy’s?”

“Yes, Daddy.” I stumbled a little bit over my words. “I need to talk to you, Daddy. I – I know you’re not really happy about me marrying David. And I know you’re concerned he has a dangerous job, and he shoots people. But you don’t know him like I do, Daddy. He would never hurt me or anyone I care about. He loves me with all his heart, Daddy. I know it. And I love him. I hope you’ll be happy for us Daddy.”

Daddy nodded in response. He didn’t say a word.

I looked into his eyes. “Daddy, I just want you to know, I forgive you. And I do love you.” I didn’t wait for his reply, and quietly closed the door behind me. Cat was right. Forgiving Daddy made me feel much lighter.

***

I gasped when I arrived on the Bainbridges’ patio with my bridesmaids. Quaking from nerves, I thought my knees would buckle. Cindy escorted me to my chair, amidst the ladies’ applause.

Maria and Mama introduced me to the guests. I was presented to the families of ministers and politicians, and to David’s family’s relatives and friends. My nerves rattled, I worried I wouldn’t remember any of their names or how to address them. Many of their accents were difficult to decipher. I wished David was with me.

The introductions complete, the women fell into comfortable chatter. I began to relax as I joined Cindy and Glori in a conversation with some of Cat’s cousins. The three sisters, all pretty blondes, were outgoing and we became fast friends. Siobhan, the oldest, was an actress who did theater in London. She and Glori had a lot to talk about.

I was sitting beside Sabena, and I told her I loved her name. I asked Sabena if I could name a future daughter after her, and she was flattered. Then I learned that she spent most of her time breeding and showing horses in Belgium and the United Kingdom. So I told her about my new horse, Valentine, and my experience with riding.

Alain

Alain was ambivalent about returning to the Bainbridge mansion after the golf game. As a groomsman, he couldn’t disappoint David, but he’d certainly have to see Glori again. He hadn’t mentioned her to his friends since he’d returned to California. He had taken note of her magazine cover, and newfound recording career. Certainly she had moved on, and she probably should have. He wasn’t marriage material.

Knowing the mansion like the back of his hand, he easily disappeared into an isolated sitting room, and dropped onto the couch, his head between his knees. Perhaps a few deep breaths would help.

He felt a small hand on his back and looked up to see Cat taking a seat beside him. “Alain. I’m so pleased to see you’ve returned safe and sound.”

There was a light about her he couldn’t quite fathom. And she was as tiny as a fairy – he could barely tell she had sat on the couch.

“Thank you, Cat.” He drew her in a hug. “I’m happy to be back. I – I think your prayer helped.”

“God is good. God is faithful.”

“Yes.” If she says so.

“Glori will be so thrilled to see you’re back safe. She’s missed you so.”

“Glori?”

“Yes, Glori.” Her expression indicated she thought he must be crazy.

He may as well be honest. “Well Cat, I imagine she’s moved on by now. It looks like she’s having a great time, and her career is taking off.”

Cat smiled a joyful smile. “It does look like that. Glori is a marvelous actress, isn’t she?”

He had to smile. “Marvelous.” He kissed the top of her head. “I guess I should go find her.”

“Absolutely.”

***

He almost crashed into Jimmy as he rushed out of the bathroom. “Hey! Dusseault! I’m gonna get goin’ now. See you tomorrow.”

Alain was surprised at his sudden rush to leave. “Where are you going? We just got here.”

Jimmy did not bother to explain, and Alain grabbed him by the back of his jacket. “What’s your rush? Where are you going?”

Jimmy took him aside. “Two words. Aubrey Rose. Cat introduced me to Aubrey Rose! And just in case you didn’t know, she’s the hottest girl in the world. And she actually wants to go out with me. Me! She wants to go out with
me
. So I’m not givin’ her a nanosecond to change her everlovin’ mind. See ya!”

“Aubrey Rose, the singer?”

Hollinger never heard him. In his haste to escape, he almost collided with Raphael.