As though she’d been called to the stage to accept an award, Jillian smoothed back her hair, moistened her lips, and followed the detective into the room.
As soon as the door closed behind them, I hopped up from the bench and went over to Tara. “How did it go?”
“She was very brave,” Kathy said, stroking Tara’s hair. “Weren’t you, honey?”
“I identified the kidnapper,” Tara told me, her voice a bit shaky from the ordeal. “The scuzzball was number five in the line.”
“Are you sure it was him?” Marco asked.
Tara nodded. “I didn’t recognize him until the detective asked him to put up his hood and turn to the side. Then I was pretty sure it was him, because I could see his profile whenever he was talking to Blondie. But just to be sure, I asked the detective to have him say what I heard him tell Blondie right before I got away. Then I knew it was him.”
“What did he say?” I asked.
“ ‘You’re a dead woman.’ He kind of screamed it at her.”
“Did you hear any more of their argument?” Marco asked.
Tara nodded again. “The scuzzball called Blondie a doublecrosser and accused her sister of turning Blondie against him. Then Blondie called him crazy and stupid, and then he yelled back that she was a dead woman. But the detective said that was too much to have him repeat, so instead he asked him to say only the last part-about her being a dead woman.”
Tara turned to me. “Did you know Blondie died? Mom said they found her body outside one of those garage doors at Uniworld, and that maybe a semitruck crushed her, but I’ll bet the scuzzball ran her down.” At a buzzing noise, she pulled a cell phone from her pocket. “Is it okay if I text now?” she asked her mom.
“I guess so,” Kathy said.
While Tara sat on the bench, tapping out her message, I said to my sister-in-law, “Did the detective mention anything about the evidence they found?”
“Only that they were analyzing it. Detective Maroni said he’d let me know when he had any updates.”
“Would you let me know if he calls you?” I asked.
“Sure.”
Tara put away her phone. “Can we go home now? My stomach feels funny.”
I glanced at the door where Jillian would emerge shortly and said, “Mine, too. We’ll walk out with you.”
As we headed back to Bloomers, I mulled over Tara’s revelations, trying to fit them into the puzzle. “Marco, what do you think Dwayne Hudge might have meant when he accused Blondie-I mean Charlotte Bebe-of double- crossing him?”
“That Hudge was afraid Charlotte’s sister had convinced her to cut him out of whatever their deal was.”
“Do you remember Tara saying that they were arguing about where to take her? Charlotte wanted to go somewhere they couldn’t be heard, remember?”
“Sure. That’s why we thought their intent was to kill Tara-you.”
“But if Charlotte was planning to double-cross Hudge, maybe her true intent was to kill
“True.”
Terrific. We were on the same page again. “I wish we could sit in on Hudge’s interview. I really want to know about those two pieces of evidence that tie Raand to Hudge and Charlotte.”
“What two pieces of evidence?”
“I forgot to tell you I called Greg Morgan today. So much is going on, I can’t remember who I told what.”
“Morgan talked to you about the evidence?”
“Sort of. Anyway, he said the cops had recovered two pieces of evidence that linked Raand to the kidnappers-a note and flowers. I got it out of him that the note was from Raand, but he wouldn’t say who the recipient was or how flowers fit into the picture, so maybe Reilly can help there.”
“We can’t keep asking Reilly to divulge information from the police files, Abby. He’s taken too many chances for us.”
“Not on this case.”
Marco gave me a frown. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Go there. Leave Reilly alone.”
Our page numbers were not lining up now. “Then what do you suggest we do to get more information?”
“Why do we have to do anything?”
“For my peace of mind.”
Marco glanced at me. “You’re going to work this like a dog with a bone, aren’t you?”
“Can you blame me?”
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Okay, here’s an idea. I’d be highly surprised if Hudge had enough money to hire private counsel, so he’ll ask for a public defender. And who is the county’s public defender for major crimes? Your old boss, Dave Hammond.”
“And of course Dave will need to hire an investigator, and that will be you.”
“Now you’re getting the picture.”
“Then you’ll need an assistant, and that will be me. So let’s get moving on this. I should have some free time this afternoon to…”
Marco frowned.
“What now?” I asked in exasperation, as we pulled up in front of Bloomers.
“Let’s not jump the gun. Hudge has to have his initial hearing first. Then if he qualifies for a public defender, we can get moving on it.”
“Are you kidding me? We’re talking a week, at least, and I’m really tired of checking the roof for snipers.”
“Snipers?”
“All I’m saying is that I want to know
“I didn’t say it was unreasonable.”
“Think of it this way. If we can prove that I’m no longer in danger, you’ll be off the hook as a bodyguard. You’ll be able to resume your normal duties at Down the Hatch instead of hanging around Bloomers, bored out of your mind.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“What? No. Of course not.”
The corners of Marco’s mouth curved up in a sexy grin. “You’re sure about that?”
I leaned across the console to gaze into his eyes. “Not on your life would I want to get of you, Salvare.”
“You mean
Marco had started using that nickname on our romantic getaway, and it still had the power to heat up my blood. “You want to see fire?”
“Do you need to ask?” He met my lips in a passionate kiss that swept me back to that dreamy, steamy weekend we spent in Key West only a month before. Then, nibbling a trail along my jaw, he murmured, “I don’t want you to worry about Hudge and Bebe. You take care of your flower shop, let me take care of protecting you, and let the cops handle the investigation.”
“Mmm,” I replied, my eyes still closed, my thoughts taking a leisurely stroll along the white sands of Smathers Beach.
“If Dave Hammond gets the case,” he whispered in my ear, “then we’ll talk about getting involved. In the meantime, I have to head down to the bar to see if my new bartender showed up today. I’ll give you a call in a bit to see how everything is, okay?”
“Mmm.” The warm sand massaged my bare feet; a tropical breeze lifted my hair…
He straightened, all business now. “And remember, if you have to go out for any reason, call me. I’ll take you. Not a problem. And make sure the ladies don’t leave you alone for even a minute. You’ve got your cell phone on,
