Holy cow. Were there more victims?
He was working on a bank teller in Louisiana. Her father owned the bank. He was planning some sort of scam to get access to the banks computer system. But we caught up with him before he could actually steal anything from her. Flushed him out. We recovered some of Cindys money, but Marvin got away. She laughed. He had to run naked down Main Street to get away from us.
She chanced another look at McPhee and realized shed surprised him. He was staring at her, slack-jawed. Let me get this straight, he said when hed recovered from the shock. You went with Brenna and Cindythose two pretty blondes I met a couple of weeks ago when you went to Dallason a manhunt? Thats what you were doing all that time you were out of town? Thats why you were in New Orleans?
Yes. Then there was New York.
You went to New York? McPhee asked in a voice that sounded fearful of her answer.
No, silly. But Brenna did. She and Agent Packer had him cornered at that jewelry show.
The one you were helping her get ready for?
Sonya nodded. Marvin escaped by jumping down an elevator shaft. The story had been reported on CNN, and even the Houston Chronicle had run a piece on it. Thankfully, Marvins real name hadnt been mentioned in either story.
Its all starting to fit together now, McPhee said thoughtfully. But its weird. I never thought of you as one of Charlies Angels.
As Ive pointed out before, she said with exaggerated patience, you dont know everything about me. Whats more, I intend to continue the hunt for Marvin. Hes getting bolder and greedier. Pretty soon hes bound to do something really stupid and get himself caught. Or get somebody hurt.
Its too dangerous. You cant
I can, and I will. Mothers illness derailed my participation, but once we get her squared away, Im back in it. Law enforcement isnt making much of an effort. Marvin didnt murder anyone or rob a bank, so hes a low priority.
What about Packer?
He was the only FBI agent to take the case seriously, but then he got fired, and when he recovered the stolen Picasso they tried to give him his job back, but he refused, and now hes a private investigator.
McPhee squeezed the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, as if he had a headache. Stolen Picasso?
Sonya was pleased to have surprised McPhee. As she recalled how strong she and the other womenThe Blondes, as the people of Cottonwood had dubbed themhad been together, she felt a surge of power wash through her. The feelings of helplessness and inadequacy that shed almost succumbed to a few minutes earlier receded. She wasnt just a spoiled debutante, no matter what McPhee thought. She was smart and capable, and she could accomplish great things when she put her mind to it.
We think Marvin might have gone to
McPhee held up a hand to halt her explanations. Please, I cant take any more of this. Youve thrown my whole universe off balance.
Good, she said with a smile. You need that, sometimes.
JOHN-MICHAEL LEANED BACK against the limos buttery leather seat, stunned to the core. Hed known Sonya was harboring a secret. Hed tried to put it together a couple of weeks ago, when shed taken a quick weekend trip to Dallas to help Brenna prepare for a jewelry show. Hed discovered then that she had another new friend, Cindy, from Cottonwood, Texas, and the three of them had behaved the way closely bonded, longtime friends act. He knew there was a story there, but hed been at a loss. He hadnt gotten many facts out of Heath Packer, either. The FBI agent had been friendly to John-Michael, and his personal interest in Brenna had been apparent, but hed volunteered little information as to the nature of the friendship among the three women. By the time John-Michael and Sonya had returned to Houston, hed been no wiser.
His theory had been that Sonya had a lover. That would have been shocking enough. But to find out shed been living a clandestine life hunting down a criminal blew him away. He could hardly wrap his mind around it.
Sonya, pensive now after her long, convoluted explanation, took another sip of her latte, leaving a slight whipped-cream mustache. She licked it off.
Not now, John-Michael thought disgustedly. Now was not the time for his sporadic lust for Sonya Patterson to rear its ugly head. Hed been dealing with it for years, and usually all it took was a sharp reminder of exactly who Sonya wasa spoiled, useless little rich girl with nothing more important on her mind than her next manicure appointmentto cool his desire. Physically she might be a pure turn-on, but hed long ago learned to look beyond a womans body to the substance of her. Pretty girls were a dime a dozen, and he had no trouble attracting them. But finding one who was pretty and intelligent and interestingthats what it took to capture John-Michaels libido for more than thirty seconds.
Sonya had become suddenly interesting, damn it. Perhaps she had a lot more behind that cool demeanor than she let on. She did have a degree in chemical engineering from Rice University, and graduating from that school was no cakewalk. But frankly, hed assumed Sonyas family wealth had bought the degree. Her mother had donated buckets of money to her fathers alma mater. And hed never seen Sonya study much while she was in college.
This was a helluva time for him to start thinking of her as more than arm candy. He had a future planned, a life apart from the Pattersons. Hed actually been looking forward to moving on. Now, suddenly, he wasnt so sure.
He forced himself to think about freezing cold waterfalls and cornmeal mush until his jeans were no longer quite so tight. Then he returned to the matter at hand.
When are you going to tell Muffy?
Her eyes widened in alarm. Im not. Are you kidding? The news would kill her! Dr. Cason said we had to keep her smiling and laughing.
Youll have to tell her at some point. I mean, lets face it, the groom isnt going to show up for this wedding.
Sonya started to chew on one of her nails, then quickly stopped herself. She used to bite her nails as a child, he remembered. It was only when shed discovered acrylic-sculptured nails that shed been able to stop.
Ill tell her when shes stronger, Sonya said. But not now, not yet. Shes not even out of the hospital. And you cant tell her, either, she said, suddenly fierce. You cant tell anyone. No one is to know that this wedding isnt going to take place.
Dont you think people are going to get a little suspicious when they never see the groom-to-be? Isnt his absence going to be noted?
Ive already told people he travels on business a lot. And he supposedly lives in Boston. Anyway, most men are weddingphobic. They wont come near the preparations. No one will think its odd in the least, believe me.
Butyou cant just let your mother keep throwing money at a wedding that wont ever happen, John-Michael objected. Doesnt it strike you as a bit cruel to lie to her, to keep up the pretense? The farther along you get with this thing, the harder its going to be when you have to call it off.
Damned right it would be hard. And he wasnt helping. But Muffy could stand to throw away a few bucks a lot more easily than her heart could stand an emotional shock. And somehow Sonya would figure out a way to pay her back. As soon as her doctor says shes well enough to handle gruesomely unpleasant news, Ill tell her. But not before. McPhee, promise me. Not a word.
Damned right it would be hard. And he wasnt helping. But Muffy could stand to throw away a few bucks a lot more easily than her heart could stand an emotional shock. And somehow Sonya would figure out a way to pay her back. As soon as her doctor says shes well enough to handle gruesomely unpleasant news, Ill tell her. But not before. McPhee, promise me. Not a word.
All right, I promise. What choice did he have? He wasnt going to be responsible for causing Muffy a second heart attack. But his instincts warned him that the longer they maintained the lie, the messier it was going to get, for all parties concerned.