Thrilled To Death (9 page)

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Authors: Jennifer Apodaca

BOOK: Thrilled To Death
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Their dad had been a fireman and he'd been killed when Gabe and his siblings were young. I wasn't exactly clear on the details of it, but something like that left a mark on kids, the kind of mark that might make Cal want to be a fireman just like the dad that he lost. And Gabe—he became a cop. I knew it had to do with the hero streak that ran deep inside of Gabe—a hero streak that I suspected woke up the day his father was murdered. Back to the subject, I said softly, “Maybe you should tell Melanie that about Cal.” If she cared for Cal, she wouldn't want Cal to throw his career away.
“Cal doesn't want me talking to her. She wouldn't take my calls anyway.”
I stared down into my coffee and said, “Maybe she'd talk to me.”
Gabe shoved his chair back and lunged to his feet. “Are you out of your mind? You aren't going anywhere near her. Do not get involved in this, Sam.”
I looked up at him and struggled not to let the hurt show on my face. “Whatever you want. I have my own work to do. I'll see you later at the office.” I stood up.
Gabe closed the distance between us. “I don't want you going near Melanie, because it's possible that her husband will show up. Then you'd be in danger. A man who knocks around a woman he supposedly loves isn't going to think twice about going through you to get to her.”
That was a little better than banishing me from his family problems because he thought I didn't understand. “Okay.”
He leaned down and kissed me. “Sam, we need to get away. Just the two of us. We've never done that.”
He looked like he needed it. “Gabe, the boys . . . I can't leave them.” I was not going to be the kind of mom who ran off for weekends with my boyfriends. When the boys were grown, that would be different. But they had already lost their dad, and I meant to be there for them.
He didn't miss a beat, just pressed his forehead against mine and said, “Okay, just the four of us.” He took a breath then added, “But you're sleeping with me.”
“But—”
He kissed me and I shut up.
We heard Grandpa coming down the hallway and broke apart. I realized Gabe was right. We were dealing with all the details of life, but we hadn't had any time together to relax.
“I've got to go.” He looked down at me. “There's not much you can do at the office today. Just stop by and see how it's looking when you get time.”
“I'm going to go through my phone tree and see if I can find someone who might have a clue about Shane's upcoming show.”
Gabe shrugged. “Can't hurt. Just be careful.” He kissed me, then turned and left.
I sat back down at the table, and Grandpa joined me with a steaming cup of coffee for himself. We had about fifteen minutes before the boys exploded out of their rooms. “Was Gabe here when you got up?” I asked Grandpa as he sat down.
He shook his head. “Showed up just when I was making coffee.” He winked at me. “Guess he was too late to sneak into your room before I saw him.”
I tried not to blush. He was my grandfather! I figured since Grandpa's bedroom faced the front of the house, he'd probably heard our discussion last night. I changed the subject. “Grandpa, why didn't you just tell me about Shane?”
He reached out and took hold of my hand. “I knew Shane would use you or the boys to get to me. That's the reason I didn't tell you about him, Sam. And my pride. Shane was a huge mistake that I regret.” He sighed, his gaze shifting from mine to look out the sliding glass door. “Your grandmother said I was trying to mentor young people because I thought I failed your mom. She was probably right. Beth was usually right.”
I was stunned. “Grandpa, you didn't fail Mom.”
He looked back to me. “I did, Sammy. She left Elsinore and wanted nothing to do with us. When she came back, she was different, bitter, and she refused to talk about your father. She was four months pregnant. I was furious. I can't explain the fury of knowing my daughter was hurting and I couldn't fix it. She wouldn't let me fix it.”
“Like Gabe won't let me help him fix his problems,” I said, thinking that I could talk to Melanie and see where she stood on the mess. But then I shook that off. “But Mom doesn't think you failed her.”
He looked at me sadly. “Your mom thinks I should have given up magic and gotten a real job. A nine-to-five job where I wore a suit and had a title.”
“But you're a magician!” I knew my mother. Grandpa was right in a way, but I could never understand it. I had the coolest grandpa ever while growing up. It made up for not having a dad.
“It wasn't easy for your mom. We struggled more when she was little, Sam. And your grandma, she was the best assistant ever, but she gave it up to raise your mom. Katy knows that and somehow felt that it was unfair, that I got my cake and ate it too while her mom sacrificed.”
I had seen pictures of my grandma on stage, but it didn't really seem like the cookie-making woman I remember. Grandma was the woman who introduced me to romance novels. We could talk for hours about books, characters, authors . . . but it had never once occurred to me that she had regrets. “Did Grandma regret giving up magic?”
Grandpa nodded. “She did sometimes. And there were times when your mom was young that we fought about it. It was right when your mom started school. Before that, it was simple to take her on the road with us, and Beth got to do some work. But once your mom started school, all that stopped. It was an adjustment for all of us.”
“I never knew.” I thought of my mom realizing that her mom had given up a dream for her and maybe was a little unhappy for it. It made her quest to find a successful man for herself while I was growing up understandable. Since my husband had a nine-to-five job and wore a suit, in my mom's eyes, that meant security for me.
Gabe, with his unconvential job and slightly dangerous aura, meant heartache.
“How had I been so oblivious?”
Grandpa looked back at me and smiled. “Because Beth and I had worked all that out years ago, Sammy. You saw us in a different phase of our lives. But what I'm telling you is that every relationship goes through adjustment periods. Like you and Gabe right now. And maybe Gabe and his brother.”
I squeezed his hand. He was giving me hope, making me believe that Gabe and I could hang in there and work it out. “Thanks, Grandpa. In the meantime, you and I need to talk. Fletch said he's helping you look for the magician who hired the hit man. Do you think that's a good idea?”
Grandpa let go of my hand and sipped his coffee. “Afraid he might blow up the Internet?”
I grinned in spite of myself. “Is that possible? I would have thought you'd tell Bo rather than Fletch.”
Grandpa shook his head and grinned. “I think the Internet is safe, Sam.” Then he sobered. “I didn't want to tell Bo. He has a bit of a temper, and I don't want him doing something impulsive. And he's just gotten his big break; he's here to celebrate, not worry about a spoiler magician.”
I studied Grandpa for a minute, then smiled. “You fraud. The difference between Fletch and Bo is that you can control Fletch. Bo's a lot more opinionated and stubborn. Fletch wants to please you like an overgrown puppy. He'll let you do dangerous things instead of protecting you the way Bo would.”
Grandpa lifted his chin and looked down his nose at me. “Hmph. Bo gets it into his fool head that I'm an old man. Fletch knows better.”
“Bo does not think you're an old man.” If I laughed, Grandpa might smack me. He was an old man, but he was as sharp and crafty as any thirty-year-old. Bo did not think he was feeble. Bo was just a protective man by nature. “I don't think Bo came to Elsinore to tell an old man his good news.”
“Bah.” He waved his hand in the air, dismissing the subject. “Fletch is helping me put together a list of magicians whose shows Shane has exposed. We're starting there. And we've been asking around a little to see if any magician has a particular grudge against Shane.”
My stomach clenched. “What if the magician finds out you are doing this? I know Gabe said you can look for large withdrawals, but I don't want you taking risks and getting caught by the killer.” If a magician was desperate enough to hire a hit man to kill Shane, wouldn't he consider Grandpa nosing around a threat? If Grandpa broke into a magician's financial records, could the magician find out?
He shook his head. “Sammy, I'm being careful and so is Fletch. Stop fretting. I'm not going to break into any financial records unless I need to.”
I didn't like that. “What are you going to do if you do find the magician?”
Grandpa stared at me. “The right thing. I'll tell Vance, not Shane.”
I felt better then. And I would find a way to protect my grandfather from Shane's wrath. Since I was finally getting answers, I asked, “Who did you go see Monday night?” Vance wanted to know, and he was going to press Grandpa soon.
“A friend. And I'll tell Vance the name if I have to. But until then, I'm going to keep that to myself. I have my reasons.”
8
G
randpa took the kids to school, and I sat down with some coffee and my Rolodex phone tree. I caught Linda Simpkins, the PTA president, at home. After we did the usual greetings and gossip, I asked, “So have you heard anything about Shane Masters, the magician?”
“Nope, and we have tried. We hoped he'd consider signing a few posters of the upcoming show for the PTA to auction off as a fund-raiser. But we can't get anywhere.”
I grinned in spite of the fact that Shane was a spoiler magician. He was still famous, and that meant Linda Simpkins would hone in on him to raise money for the schools. On the other hand, if Linda hadn't found out any information with her vast gossip vine, that meant Shane had a solid lid on things. “Too bad, Linda, those posters would have sold well.” Even though I broke out in hives at the very mention of PTA and soccer, I did understand fund-raising. “I know a couple magicians that might donate something. They aren't as famous as Shane, but they are getting pretty well known.”
“That'd be fantastic,” Linda said.
A loud knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. “Someone's at the door. I'll let you know about the magicians.” I hung up the cordless phone as I walked to the door. Ali beat me there and gave me a canine look that suggested I was a little slow. I pulled open the door. “Fletch. Hi. Uh, what's up?” The sun caught the reddish gold highlights in his brown hair.
“Barney and I are supposed to get an early start.”
“Oh. Come in. Grandpa took the boys to school. He usually goes to Jack in the Box, but if he knows your coming over, he'll come right home.”
“He was going to stop by Jack in the Box to see if anyone heard any gossip.”
I shut the door. “Help yourself to some coffee.” I sat down to look up the next phone number in my Rolodex. “Hey, Fletch, the local PTA is planning an auction soon. Do you have any programs or things that you can sign and donate?”
He poured some coffee, fished a doggie cookie out of the pantry for my shameless hussy of a dog, and came to the table. “I'm sure I can find some stuff, Sam.” He gave Ali the cookie, then looked at me. “What are you doing?”
“Making some calls to see if anyone has an in with Shane's show over at the stadium. I'm trying to find out whose show Shane will spoil Saturday night.” I dialed but got an answering machine.
“Shane's usually got that locked down tight, I hear.” Fletch sipped his coffee. “Are you helping Barney with this?”
I shook my head. “Another client. But of course, if I come across information that helps Grandpa, that's even better.”
Fletch reached over and put his hand over my fingers on the Rolodex. “Sam, I wish you wouldn't do this.”
Startled, I looked up. “Why?”
With his back to the sliding glass door, he was backlit by the morning sunshine. But I could see his serious expression. “Shane threatened you. I'm worried. Listen, the guy is bad news, always was bad news from what I hear. You know how much I love Barney; I'll do anything to help him. But you getting hurt, that would kill him.”
Fletch really did love Grandpa. “I know. But this is just a list of my contacts from my days as a soccer mom and on the PTA. Nothing dangerous here, I promise.”
“I'd just feel better if you didn't poke around. Shane's unpredictable. Barney was really upset that he threatened you. I'm not sure you understand—” He held up a hand. “Don't look at me like that. I mean, that Shane's the magician who went bad. I'm the one who is succeeding. I understand a little better how Shane thinks and how Shane's betrayal is a black mark on Barney's stellar career.”
“It's not Grandpa's fault that Shane is what he is.” I picked up the phone to dial the next number.
“Convince Barney of that, Sam.”
I met Fletch's blue eyes and felt my shoulders sag. “I know. But I'm going to help, both my client and Grandpa.”
Fletch took his hand off mine and nodded. “I know I can't talk you out of it. Just be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you.” He turned on his silly grin. “As soon as you are done with your PI, I'm going to ask you to marry me.”
I rolled my eyes. “You just want to marry me so you can claim Grandpa.” The phone rang in my hand before I could dial. “Hello?”
The icy voice of my mother crackled through the phone line. “Samantha, I just had breakfast with some of the city leaders. Your grandfather is an embarrassment, and it's going to stop right now. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.” She hung up.
Oh boy, I had to make a run for it before my mom showed up. I stood, grabbed my Rolodex, and looked at Fletch. “Got to get to the office. Emergency.” In the form of my mother. She was on a tear. She had obviously heard that Grandpa was questioned in connection with the attempt on Shane's life. I hurried down the hallway to grab my purse off my bed and came back out. I looked at Fletch sitting at the table. Should I warn him about my mom? And what about Grandpa?
Nah, they were both magicians and masters at misdirection. They could handle my mom. I left.
 
When I got to Heart Mates, I barely had time to take in the big opening between the two suites. Gabe and Cal were patching the adjacent walls, and Blaine was talking to a man whom I presumed to be the electrician. Forcing cheerfulness to cover my desperation to avoid my mother, I said, “Hi, no time to chat. If my mom shows up or calls, I'm not here!” I hurried into my office and closed the door.
I spent the next hour going through several more names on my phone tree. My first glimmer of hope was Molly. She and her husband owned Frank's Flowers, which was located right across from the campground where Shane was staying. Molly said her younger brother, Louis, worked on the maintenance crew that took care of the grounds of Storm Stadium. He would be there today doing some work. I hung up and decided to go chat with Louis. And while I was there, maybe I'd get a chance to look around.
I hadn't heard a word from my mother. I really doubted Blaine, Cal, and Gabe could have stopped her if she decided to check my office. I doubted that anyone could stop my mom. She probably got sidetracked with showing a property or closing a deal. And now if she did show up at the office, I would be gone.
With a sigh of relief, I went to the door and pulled it open. All the men were busy. Blaine, Gabe, and Cal were all talking with the electrician. It appeared they were talking about the electrical outlets and phone lines that we wanted in the floor where Blaine's circular desk would go. They had already cut some holes.
I walked over to let them know I was running out for a while when the door on my side of the office opened. I looked up.
Oh.
The men stopped talking.
The woman who walked in was spectacular—a dark-haired beauty with shiny red lips and dangerous curves packed into a black knit dress. My first thought was, why the hell did she need a dating service? I shook off my shock and started toward the woman.
She passed by me in a delicate cloud of luscious-smelling perfume. I turned.
The men were all frozen, staring at her.
She bypassed Gabe, Cal, and the electrician. She slid to a stop directly in front of Blaine.
Umm, so maybe Blaine met her and suggested Heart Mates?
“Hello, Blaine. I'm home.” Her voice was Britney Spears breathy, her dark eyes huge and pleading as she looked at Blaine. She licked her red lips, and then added, “I've come home to be a proper wife to you.”
Huh?
Blaine's normally placid face iced over into something I'd never seen on him before. He stood up straighter, his wide shoulders spreading in a stance of raw anger. His jaw hardened as color darkened his face and turned the tips of his ears tomato red. “Too late, Lola.” Then he turned and walked over to Gabe's side of the office and disappeared around the corner.
I was frozen to my spot. Lola? Was married to Blaine? My Blaine? Blaine was married? To a woman who looked like a sex siren?
Had I fallen asleep and this was a dream?
Lola broke the spell when she turned around and headed toward me. “You must be Samantha Shaw. I'm Lola Jimenez Newport, and I'd like to sign up for your dating service.” She stopped two feet from me. “What do I need to do?”
Newport was Blaine's last name, but all I could do was stare at her. She had skin as smooth as cocoa butter. She was ridiculously sexy, and I wasn't sure she was even trying. This had to be a joke.
Blaine was a beer-and-nachos-while-watching-NASCAR kind of guy. He didn't have a hard body—well, actually he wasn't flabby. He was big, like a wrestler with no neck. This woman belonged to a Latin singing sensation.
Not my Blaine.
If Blaine were married, his wife would look like a character actress that played the lead's plump, good-natured best friend.
I glanced over at Gabe, his brother, and the electrician. They were still caught in a brain freeze. Finally, I snapped out of it and held out my hand. “I'm Sam. It's nice to meet you. But if you are married, I'm not sure that Heart Mates is the right place for you.”
Married to Blaine.
I couldn't get my brain to comprehend that fact.
“Apparently, I'm not married. Just on paper. I don't really think that counts, do you?”
My brain was starting to thaw. “Lola, Blaine works for me. If you signed up for Heart Mates, that might cause problems.” Huge problems judging by Blaine's reaction. I'd never seen a jealous streak in Blaine before, but then, I'd never seen him date. Probably because he had a wife I hadn't known about.
She shrugged. “He doesn't care. He's made no effort to contact me. I'd really like to sign up with your service. I won't be any trouble. I just want to . . .” For the first time, her breathy voice wobbled. “Please.”
My female instincts kicked in. I really wanted to know the story behind Blaine and Lola. I reached out and took her arm. “Let's go talk in my interview room.” I looked back at Gabe and the others. “Maybe you could get back to work now?”
Gabe grinned and waved his hand.
Hell, I couldn't even be mad. I had been staring at Lola too. She was stunning and sexy.
But Blaine's wife?
 
I got Lola settled into the interview room where no one could hear us. “Would you like some coffee?” We'd been keeping the coffee in the interview room where it was out of the path of construction dust and debris. I stared down at the coffee setup on a TV tray in the corner of the room. I didn't quite know where to start. I really couldn't let Lola sign on as a client, but I was dying to know the story behind her and Blaine.
Blaine was married?
Wait, Lola was talking.
“I usually take cream and sugar, but I should drink it black.”
I looked over at her. Yep, still gorgeous and sexy. “Umm, why? We have powdered cream and plenty of sugar.”
Lola's huge brown eyes filled with tears. “My boss is firing me because I'm too fat.”
“Fat?” That would make me a card-carrying cow. I ran a critical eye over Lola. The knit dress clung to her curves. Big breasts were bestowed on her by God, not a surgeon as mine had been. She had a nice curve to her waist. Sure, there was a little poof to her belly, but that went nicely with her rounded hips. Fat? More like dangerous. Gabe and Cal had both been stunned stupid by her sexiness. I don't think either one of them would call her fat. “Lola, that's ridiculous. Besides, that's discrimination. Your boss can't fire you for your weight.”
She sniffled and recovered. “My boss can. But I'll take some coffee with that fake sweetener if you have it.”
I reached for the packet of sweetener. “So what's the story with you and Blaine? He's worked for me for almost two years and I had no idea he was married.” I took the coffee to her and sat down.
“Thanks.” She sipped some of the coffee, then said, “He never divorced me. I really don't know why. He should have.”
This was crazy. “Did you leave him?”
She nodded, her face shadowing. Suddenly she looked closer to human than sex goddess. “I just thought there was more. Blaine and I met my last year of high school. I fell hard for him. He treated me like a princess. My family was poor and my father mean. Blaine was like a dream. We married, and for a couple years it was fine. But then I began to realize that I wanted more. Everyone told me I was beautiful. . . .” She stopped and looked straight at me. “You must think I'm horrible.”
“I'm not sure what to think.” I told her the truth. “This is all a bit of a shock to me. But I would like to hear more. Just so you know, Blaine is my friend. I care about him.”
She nodded. “I understand. Blaine is exactly what you see. A good man, a hard-working blue-collar guy. He loved me, and I threw that away for some white-collar fairy tale.”

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