“It’s true.”
Rhonda’s paling face made the blue smudges under her eyes turn dark plum. “Who told you that?”
“Theo Ziegler, and Mother sure didn’t deny it when we talked on the phone a few minutes ago.”
Her hip bumped against a chair. “They’re playing games with you. Isn’t Ziegler the man you saw running away from this house last night?”
“Yes, but now I’m not so sure he’s the killer. In fact, Darcy’s a suspect, too, and last I heard he’s avoiding the police. Now that Lalonde has a man watching this place, I doubt Darcy will be back. Please, Rhonda, you’ve got to believe me. The guy’s no good.”
Rhonda bit her lower lip. “I suppose Lillian’s the one he’s been phoning so much. I’m throwing that shithead’s junk on the street.” She started to pace the room, then stopped. “If Darcy’s involved in crime, chances are Lillian is too. God, what if they both killed Marcus?”
“Which is why I need to know how deeply Mother’s involved. I’m going to search her place tomorrow, whether she’s there or not.”
“Not smart, Casey.”
“There’s not a lot of choice here. Mother is up to her neck in this, and I know she’s not telling me everything. Besides, if she catches me, she won’t call the police. Despite Lalonde’s good opinion of Mother, you and I know that she was raised to hate cops and probably still does.”
“True, but what if Darcy’s with Lillian?”
“Then I won’t go in.”
Rhonda stared at her, then turned away and sighed. “I found your lock pick set on the floor while I was trying to put your apartment back together that night. I put them on the top of the fridge because I didn’t know if you still kept them in your junk drawer.”
“I do, and thanks.”
Casey opened the back door and stepped outside, feeling guilty for not revealing Gustaf Osterman’s existence. Rhonda should be told, but the news would lead to questions she didn’t have time to answer.
When Lou answered her knock ten minutes later, he was buttoning his shirt. Before he could finish, Casey spotted two large bruises on his ribs. Guilt made her want to sink through the floor.
“That looks like it still hurts a lot.”
“It’s not bad. Come on in.” He sat with her on the sofa.
She glanced at his sparse chest hair, the injuries to his face. “Asking you to go was a mistake. Sorry.”
“You shouldn’t go either.”
“Listen to me.” She gripped his hand. “Darcy will hurt Rhonda and Summer if I don’t.”
“The cops can pick him up before that happens.”
“What if he makes bail?” She watched Lou cross his arms and frown. “I have to do this.”
“For shit sake, Casey.”
“Face the fear, act quickly, then move on,” she said. “It’s what Dad would have done.”
“You wouldn’t do a lot of things Marcus did, which is good.”
Casey glanced at the giant get-well card on Lou’s coffee table. She’d read it when she’d stayed over. Seeing Marie’s flamboyant signature with the two hearts beneath it still irritated her.
“What about asking Theo Ziegler to go in your place?” Lou said.
“I don’t trust him. He showed up on the M8 and said that Darcy paid a waiter to give Dad the botulism.”
“Shit.” He slumped back against the sofa.
“Supposedly, there’s proof, but he left before I could see it. Needless to say, I have a problem with his credibility.”
She watched Lou scratch the eczema on his hand. The rash always appeared when he was under stress.
“He left a phone message while I was napping this afternoon, but I haven’t returned it.” Casey checked her watch. “I should go.”
Lou gripped her wrist. “I thought you wanted to move on with your life and let Lalonde handle things.”
“That was before Simone died.”
“Have you called Lalonde yet?”
“I got his voice mail and left a message.”
“What if he doesn’t get it in time? He won’t want you near the place.”
“I’ll drive out there but stay in the car, and leave when Lalonde arrives.”
“Bad idea, Casey. A million things could go wrong.”
“I’ll keep the doors locked and let you know how it went.”
He wouldn’t let go of her. “You’re not leaving.”
“Lou—”
“Don’t try and explain or rationalize your way out of this. I mean it.”
She couldn’t remember when she last saw Lou this angry. He’d never been much for arguing or physical fights, but even Lou had a breaking point. Slowly, she pried his fingers off her wrists and met his beseeching gray eyes.
“I’ll be okay, I promise.”
“Call Lalonde again.”
She removed her cell phone from her jacket pocket and dialed his number. “Still voice mail.”
Lou grabbed the phone from her and stood up. “This is Lou Sheckter. Casey’s on her way to the Marine Drive house right now and she’s in danger.” He paced the room. “Can you go there now, or send help, or at least call us back?” He gave the date and time, then disconnected.
“Lou, I can handle—”
“No, you can’t. If this is about facing your fears, then you need to wake up and realize that there are some people you
Casey swallowed back her frustration. Why didn’t he understand that saving people she loved from being hurt was worth the risk? She started to head out, but Lou scrambled past her and flattened himself against the door. It would have been funny, if it weren’t for the deadly intent on his face.
“Lou, please.”
His lips were pinched with determination. Casey brushed brown strands from his forehead and swept her fingertips over the light spray of freckles on his cheeks. Why hadn’t she noticed how sexy he was before? When he wrapped his arms around her, she inhaled sharply. She felt his breath in her ear and a soft, heart-melting kiss on her temple. Casey rested her head on his shoulder and turned him around until she was in front of the door.
“You really do care, don’t you,” she murmured.
“Always have, always will.”
The worry darkening his bruised face nearly broke her heart. Kissing his cheek, she reached for the handle and then slipped into the corridor, unable to look at his crestfallen face.
“I’ll follow you,” he called out.
“You don’t have to.” She checked her watch. Man, she was going to be late. Casey began to run.
Twenty-four
CASEY PULLED ONTO the shoulder of Marine Drive, four houses before Dad’s place. Not a great place to park, but the best she could do without announcing her presence to Darcy.
Five minutes to six. She’d hoped to see Lalonde’s car and at least one police cruiser at the house, but she’d already driven past the place once and no vehicles were in the driveway. Where in hell was everyone? Had Darcy hidden his vehicle to plan an ambush?
Ten minutes later, the property still looked deserted. Casey turned into the driveway, backed the car out, and parked on the shoulder. Ten more minutes dragged by. Damn it, where was Lalonde? She reached for her cell phone, but it wasn’t in her pocket. Oh, crap. Lou hadn’t given it back. Part of her wished that he had followed her, but part of her was glad he was out of danger.
Frustrated and edgy, Casey stepped out of the car, noting each passing vehicle on Marine. She needed to call
