The Scent of Lies: A Paradise Valley Mystery (6 page)

Driving out of the parking lot, Emily received a call from Maggie.

“Em, is everythin’ okay? I haven’t heard from you since you ran out of the restaurant on Saturday?”

“Everything’s fine, Maggs. Why don’t you come over for an early dinner, say five o’clock, and I’ll fill you in on what’s going on.”

“Okay, I’m done with my last client. See you in a few.”

Emily stopped at Quik Wok, picked up some Chinese food and had it all placed on the table when Maggie arrived.

“Knock, knock,” Maggie sang out as she walked through the front door, looking like a Barbie doll in bright blue spandex.

“Hey, Maggie.” Emily gave her a quick hug. “The food’s ready.”

Maggie followed Emily to the kitchen.

“Grab a plate and dig in,” Emily said.

Maggie picked up a plate and spooned out a little Cashew Chicken and Chow Mein. “What happened to you on Saturday? It’s not like you to bolt without a word of explanation.”

“I am sorry for the way I left. All that talk about husbands and infidelity made me painfully uncomfortable. I had to get out of there.”

“That makes no sense at all, Emily. There’s gotta be more to it than that, hon. Spill.”

Emily recounted the story of finding the note with Delia’s name and phone number on it in one of Evan’s old sweatshirts right before she left home to meet them for lunch, and how she hadn’t been able to shake the nagging feeling that maybe he was having an affair with the woman. She explained that with all the talk about Abby finding out her husband had been cheating on her after she thought she had a perfect marriage, and then Camille wondering if her husband had ever cheated on her when he was out of town on business, it had made her so uncomfortable she just had to escape.

“Oh, Em. You can’t believe Evan would ever have cheated on you. He adored you.”

“I’m sure that’s what Abby’s friends told her too—before she found out the truth. So, I had to discover who Delia was.”

“Did you?” Maggie’s eyes were wide with obvious anticipation.

“Yes,” Emily replied, grabbing an egg roll and wagging it at Maggie for emphasis, “and I called the number.”

“That took a lotta guts.”

“Turns out she was a client.” Emily took a bite of the egg roll.

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“As a matter of fact, she asked me to take over the case and finish the investigation Evan started.”

“You? You’re a Realtor.”

“I know. I had this same conversation with Isabel.”

“Isabel knows? And no one bothered to tell me? Does Camille know, too?”

“No, not yet.” Emily scooped some Chow Mein onto her plate.

“Are you able to tell me what the case is?”

“Just that she thinks her husband is cheating on her.”

“Oh, crap! What is wrong with these men?” Maggie hollered.

“I’m going to be following him tonight to see where he goes. The wife said she’d call me as soon as he leaves the house.”

“Can I tag along? I’ve never been on a stakeout before. Please,” Maggie pleaded, flashing Emily her big blue puppy dog eyes.

Emily didn’t see why not. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to have some company. Sure.”

* * *

Delia phoned Emily from her patio at about six o’clock. Ricardo had told her his appointment was at seven, so she assumed he’d be leaving by a quarter ‘til.

Emily and Maggie drove over to Delia’s and parked down the block, facing the direction he would drive out. Emily turned on her GPS monitor and they watched for his car.

One of Evan’s first rules was to be inconspicuous, so Emily handed Maggie a dark ball cap and asked her to stick her blonde hair up in it as she pulled the hood up on her own sweatshirt.

“Oh my gosh, Em. Maybe next time we should bring some wigs and sunglasses,” Maggie joked.

“I know you’re kidding, Maggs, but that might not be a bad idea.”

The black sedan caught their attention as it pulled out of the driveway and drove down the street. Emily gave him a good lead then she pulled out to follow. She kept an eye on the GPS monitor propped up on the console. The women followed at a safe distance for about twenty minutes as he led them into downtown Boise.

Then he pulled into the parking lot of a new eight-story condo building. Emily parked across the street with a clear view of the entrance to the building. She readied her camera with the telephoto lens, making sure the time and date stamp was turned on.

Ricardo stretched out of his luxury car and sauntered to the building’s entrance, glancing around suspiciously before he pushed the speaker button. He leaned in as if speaking to someone and he was buzzed in.

Emily snapped a few shots, managing to capture his face as he turned their way.

“I know that guy.” Maggie exclaimed.

“You do?”

“That’s the client I was tellin’ y’all about. You know—the tall, dark, and handsome one. Of course, he’s married.” She slapped the dashboard with the palm of her hand. “His name is Ricardo Vega, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Emily confirmed.

“Figures,” she replied, pursing her lips.

Emily hoped she could snap a shot of him coming out of the building with a woman, but after two hours he came out alone. She shot a picture of him exiting the building with the time stamped on it, showing how long he had been in there, but for all she knew he could have been meeting with someone about business. He got in his BMW and they followed him uneventfully back home.

“The night was a total bust,” Emily complained to Maggie when they reached Emily’s house.

Maggie got out of the car and headed for her own. “Maybe next time,” she encouraged. “At least I learned who Ricardo really is and I can stop moonin’ over him like a silly school girl. See. Not a total bust.” She grinned and waved good-bye. “See ya later, Em.”

* * *

Emily had gone inside and hopped on the Internet. As a real estate agent, through the multiple listing service, she had access to county records for all the owners of properties in their area. She had scanned the names of the owners in that condo building, but none of them stood out to her. They were all names of couples and single men. The county records showed the owners, but she assumed some of those units were probably rented out and she needed to get a look at
that
list.

So, early the next morning, she had driven over to see the manager of the condo building. Emily had done her best to sweet talk, cajole, and outright beg the stodgy old guy for the list, but to no avail. He would not give up the names of the people living in his building. She would have to find another way to get them.

Now, sitting before the computer, she thought about the Heaven Scent Launch Party she had to attend later that night. She was not looking forward to playing the part of a seductress. She hadn’t enticed a man since she began dating Evan, over six years ago.
Flirting should come naturally to just about any woman.
I can do this.
She looked at herself in the mirror and encouraged her inner temptress. “Emily Parker, you can do this.”

Chapter 5

After her unproductive meeting with the condo manager, Emily had phoned Delia and explained what she knew so far, which was basically nothing. She had no clear evidence yet that Ricardo had been unfaithful, but she would do as Delia asked at the launch party that night.

Dressed in an elegant strapless black evening gown—the only evening gown she owned—Emily had piled her golden curls on her head in an elegant twist. Cubic zirconium drop earrings and a matching necklace completed her look as she stepped into the role of temptress and through the doorway leading into the event.

Camille had done an amazing job turning the convention hall of the Heaven Scent building into a glitzy Hollywood-glamour theme. There was a forties-style big band playing and it seemed to be a huge hit with the crowd. The event was in full swing and quite a few couples were already taking a turn on the dance floor. Emily felt suddenly uncomfortable as heads turned toward her. This was not a look, or a role, she was use to.

Emily’s eyes darted around the room. Where was Delia? She spotted her redheaded friend giving orders and directing members of the wait staff. Camille stopped talking and froze, her mouth dropping open for a moment when she caught sight of Emily. Quickly, she gave a couple of short directives to the staff and cut her way through the crowd toward Emily.

“You look fabulous, Em,” Camille gushed. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

“Delia invited me.”

“Oh, that’s right, the case.”

Emily scowled and caught Camille by the arm, pulling her over to a private corner. “How do you know about that?” She was not happy that her undercover role was not so undercover.

“Maggie told me,” Camille answered, pulling her arm free.

“That blabber-mouth,” Emily scolded, peering around the room to make sure no one heard her. She leaned toward Camille and whispered in her ear, “It was supposed to be kept hush-hush.”

“I won’t say a word, I promise,” Camille assured her, “but I need to get back to work.”

“Me too. Remember, Cam—hush-hush.”

Emily surveyed the room again and found Delia this time, greeting a distinguished-looking gray-haired couple. With her dark hair floating around her shoulders, Delia looked stunning in a flowing, red, one-shoulder gown. When she was free from her guests, Emily approached her.

“Hello, Delia.”

“Emily, you look gorgeous!”

“Thank you, so do you,” Emily said, returning the compliment. “So where is your husband hanging out?”

Delia glanced around the room and spotted him at the bar. “Looks like he’s getting another drink.” She nodded in his direction.

“I see him,” Emily said. “I think I’ll go get a drink too.” She smoothed her dress, leaving Delia to watch.

You can do this, Emily.
She wandered over to the crowded bar and casually made her presence known, lightly brushing her breasts against his arm as she squeezed up to the counter.

“So sorry,” she said to Ricardo, touching his arm seductively. She leaned in to the bartender and spoke, capturing both men’s attention. “Can I get a drink?”

“What can I get for you, ma’am,” the bartender asked, smiling broadly.

“A white wine spritzer, please.” Emily felt Ricardo’s body turn toward her and she swore she could feel the heat of his gaze too.

“Do I know you?” Ricardo asked in a deep and sexy voice. His dark brown eyes lit up, looking at her like a hungry wolf might eye a piece of prime beef.

“No,” she answered, looking into his handsome face. She understood Maggie’s attraction. “I don’t think so. I would definitely remember you.”

“Well, let’s get acquainted. My name is Ricardo.”

“I’m Emily. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, holding his gaze for a moment, then looking back to the bartender as he set her drink down on the counter.

“What a beautiful name,” he said. “Are you here with anyone?”

“No, flying solo tonight.”

“I know you don’t work for Heaven Scent—I’m pretty sure I know all the lovely ladies that work there.”

“No, I don’t. I’m a friend of the caterer.”

“Ah, a party crasher,” he chuckled. “Well, I won’t tell anyone. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, I am, especially the big band.”

“Would you care to dance?” he asked, taking her hand before she had a chance to answer.

Emily felt a tingle when he touched her fingers. The combination of his charm and sex appeal was undeniably magnetic.
This guy is good.

“Mr. Vega,” a young woman’s voice called out from Ricardo’s other side. He instantly dropped Emily’s hand and turned to face the woman. Emily caught a quick glimpse of her and recognized she was Delia’s assistant.

“Anna,” Ricardo said, “what can I do for you?”

“I need to talk to you,” she said in a serious tone.

Emily turned away so as not to be recognized, and she slipped away into the crowd. She found Delia and reported to her. Keeping her voice low, she explained that her husband was starting to flirt with her, but they were interrupted by her assistant, Anna.

“Did she see you?” Delia asked.

“I don’t think so. I tried to hurry away before she noticed me.”

“What did she want with my husband? I wouldn’t think she’d be discussing business tonight.”

“I couldn’t tell from what little I heard, but she sounded serious. I didn’t think I should stick around to find out.”

“That’s probably best,” Delia agreed. “Do you want to have another go at it?”

Emily looked across to the bar, but she didn’t see Ricardo or Anna there any longer. She glanced around the room. “Do you see him anywhere?”

Delia surveyed the crowd at the bar as well, but shook her head. At six foot four, he would have easily stood out. Her gaze shot around the room, “I don’t see him.”

“Do you think maybe he left?” Emily asked.

“He better not have.” Her red-painted lips tightened over her clenched teeth.