The Perfect Frame Page 14
“Such a serious look.” His eyes pleaded to be let in on her thoughts.
“Not so serious, just thoughtful is all. You’d better go.”
“Trying to give me the bum’s rush?”
“Not at all, but as you said, Bob awaits.”
God, he didn’t want to leave her. Mack lowered his head for a parting kiss that changed into a passion-arousing sensation threatening to glue him to the spot. Reluctantly, he ended the kiss and set her away from him. He found he was trembling as much as the woman standing in front of him.
“We have unfinished business, pilgrim,” he said in a husky, slightly off kilter John Wayne imitation.
“That’s the best I’ve heard so far.”
He grinned at the compliment. “I’d better go.” He headed for the door.
“When will I see you again?”
“I don’t know, baby. I’ll call you.”
As Toni watched him leave, loneliness gripped her. It was as though a part of her had walked out the door.
* * *
As he headed for his brother’s house, Mack felt incomplete. Toni Carlton made him feel whole. From the first moment he saw her she’d affected him like no other woman had since Linda Hutton. But what he felt for Toni was stronger and deeper than that had been. Toni had the power to destroy him. And if she were proven guilty, she’d do the same thing to him professionally, too. He intended to do whatever it took to free her and clear her name because he knew deep in his soul she was innocent.
Mack guided the van into his brother’s driveway. A few minutes later he was in Matt’s living room. He slipped the keys to the beach house off the ring before handing him the keys to the van.
“I thought seriously about not giving your Jag back.”
Mack laughed. “Rides that good, huh?”
“Even better, if that’s possible. One day when I can afford it, I’m going to get one for my own personal use.”
“If Rachel lets you.”
“Oh, she will all right, she loves me.”
“I do, do I?” came a soft, feminine voice from the doorway.
“Most definitely, Mrs. Jessup.” Matt smiled lovingly at his wife.
“Enough of the mushy stuff, guys, I’ve gotta go.”
“Yeah, the mushy stuff.” Eight-year-old Matt Jr. echoed his uncle’s words as he scrambled into the room.
Mack walked over to the boy and ruffled his hair. “How’s my favorite nephew?”
“Becoming more of a smart aleck with each passing day,” Rachel supplied. “Like his uncle,” she tacked on.
“Don’t be unkind, Rach. I know you love me. I’d like to stay and listen to more of your flattery, but I really have to be going.”
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Matt said, urging Mack toward the front door.
Once they were outside, Matt started questioning his brother.
“You’re neck deep in something, aren’t you? Mama is right to worry about you, isn’t she?”
“One question at a time, counselor. For your information, I know what I’m doing this time.”
“I distinctly remember hearing you say the same thing seven years ago.”
A strained look came into Mack’s face. “That time was different.”
“How was it different? Mack, you let your heart rule your head back then. Aren’t you doing the same thing this time? Marc told me about you and this Toni Carlton.”
“Marc should mind his own damn business,” he grumbled.
“You’re our brother; we care about you.”
“I know that, but there is no need for you to worry about me this time.”
“I don’t think I could stand it if you reverted back to the way you were after the Linda Hutton fiasco.”
“That won’t happen with Toni,” Mack gritted out.
“How do you know?”
“I just do, that’s all. I really need to go see Mama and smooth her ruffled motherly feathers.”
“You’re not going to tell me what’s going on, are you?”
“I can’t, Matt.”
He heard the hurt intake of breath in Matt’s voice when he said, “I can’t force you to confide in me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to. I simply can’t at the moment.”
“Well, if you find you need to talk to someone, I’ll be here.”
Mack’s expression softened. “I know. Don’t think I don’t appreciate your concern, because I do.”
* * *
Mack thought about what he’d said to his brother after he left. He knew in his heart Toni was different. He couldn’t put it into words, but he knew it was true.
Mack sat in his car in front of his mother’s house for a few minutes before getting out to go inside. His very Spanish mother was a worrier. He’d have to think of a way to placate her until this thing with Toni was resolved. Somehow he had to find the right words.
As he started up the walk, his sister’s Jeep turned into the drive. He stopped to watch as she climbed out. When she saw him, she walked over to him. In looks Mariah took after their mother. She had the same black hair and warm chocolate eyes, but that was where the similarity ended. His only sister was a petite, adventurous bundle of keen, quick wit and boundless energy.
“Where are you coming from, pequena?” he asked, fondly pulling her into his arms and hugging her tightly. When he released her, they headed for the front porch.
“You’re not going to lay that heavy big brother act on me again, are you?”
“And if I was? Don’t sweat it, Riah. I’m glad to see you. I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Oh, God. What is it? I’m not going to do your laundry. I love you dearly, big brother, but your one flaw is not one I want to deal with.”
“Only one, huh?” He laughed.
“Actually, there are many, but that one was the first to come to mind. So what do you want me to do for you?”
“Can you spare a week or two from your busy schedule?”
Mariah’s brows arched curiously. “I’m not that busy at the moment. My boss is on a month’s vacation so I’m free to do pretty much what I want until he gets back. Why?”
His sister worked part-time for Ken Worthington, a private detective. She was his girl Friday, or something like that.
“I have a friend who—”
Mariah’s eyes lit up like an arcade game. “It’s the new woman in your life Marc keeps raving about, isn’t it? You want me to keep an eye on her. All right.” She stretched the last two words out. “I read about the police finding her at the scene of a murder. Her boss’, if I remember correctly. You don’t think she did it, do you?”
Mariah never failed to amaze him. She was quick on the uptake. “No, as a matter of fact, I don’t.”
“I can tell by the way you said it you’re gone on her.”
“And if I am?”
Before Mariah could answer the porch light came on and the front door opened.
“Are you two going to stay out there all night?” Marianna Jessup inquired, opening the screen door.
“No, Mama,” Mack and Mariah answered in unison and walked past their mother into the living room.
“Sit down and talk to your mother,” she said to her son. To her daughter she said, “Mariah, go out to the kitchen and get us some coffee. I just made a fresh pot.”
“Yes, Mama,” she answered and hurried out to the kitchen, leaving her brother to face the music alone.
Mack cleared his throat. “Matt caught up with me and told me you were worried.”
She shook her head. “You’re so like your Uncle Juan. You both tend to keep things bottled up inside, especially the hurt. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to lecture you. I just had to see for myself that you were all right. And this girl of yours, when am I going to meet her?”
“Soon, Mama.”
“How do you feel about her?”
“Mama.”
“All right, keep the knowledge locked in your heart.”
She smiled. “I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with that.”
He wanted to shout to the whole world that he loved Toni, but right now he had to do everything in his power to save her. And the way things were shaping up, it wasn’t going to be easy.
He and his mother and sister sat enjoying their coffee. After a while his mother went to bed, leaving the younger generation, as she called them, alone to talk.
“Riah, can you stay with Toni?”
“I don’t see why not. Mama is going to be visiting Uncle Juan and Aunt Rosa for two weeks. They’ve been begging her to come for a visit almost forever.” Mariah laughed. “Our cousin Gina told Mama she needed to get a life.”
“She did? She has the nerve of a tightrope walker.”
“She has a point, Mack. Mama is still young and attractive. Several gentlemen at the church are interested in her.”
“I agree. She needs someone else to worry about and fuss over besides us. You’ll be moving out soon.” Mack handed her a copy of the key to the beach house.
“Maybe, but not for a while yet. Now, tell me about your girlfriend.”
* * *
Mack felt completely wiped out by the time he reached his house. He wasn’t surprised to see Bob’s car parked in front. He’d hoped to avoid him until tomorrow, but he should have known better. Bob was a tenacious cop. Toni’s disappearance reflected on him, since she was unofficially his responsibility.
Bob got out of his car and walked across the lawn to where
Mack had parked his Jag. “All right, Mack, where have you stashed her?”
“You look as tired as I feel. How about having a drink with an old friend?”
“You’re not going to get around this by ignoring my question, Mack.”
“You’re off duty now, aren’t you?”
“All right, have it your way for the moment, but eventually I intend to receive an answer.”
Mack unlocked his front door, then stepped aside to admit his friend. Once they were seated on the couch with drinks in hand, Mack turned to Bob.
“Toni’s not your killer, Bob. I’d stake my reputation on it.”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing, you know.”
“Bob, I have to help clear her.”
“Meaning that you want me to let you tag along during the investigation?”
“I can be of help to you as well. You need a partner since you’re temporarily without one. I’ve already talked to almost everyone involved in the embezzlement case. The two cases are too closely related to separate them.”
“I figured that much out for myself. You can come with me on one condition, and in one capacity only.”
“I know, as an observer.”
“Like you’re going to go exactly by the book. You never did when you were on the force. A leopard doesn’t change his spots.”
“That’s not precisely true.”
“Are we going to start being precise now? Where is she, Mack?”
“In a safe place.”
“That’s all you’re going to tell me, isn’t it?”
“It’s all I can tell you right now.”
“If it turns out she’s guilty as sin you’re going to have to tell me or I’ll have to take you in for obstructing justice, an accomplice after the fact, you name it.”
“You’re coming across loud and clear, Bob.”
“Just so long as we understand each other.”
“Oh, we do.”
“You have it bad, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. As one friend to another, walk softly, Mack. Love can be a double-edged razor, as you’ve learned from past experience.”
“Were you also going to say it cuts both ways?”
“Something like that.” Bob took a swallow of his drink.
“Don’t worry, Bob. As I said before, I hear the warning loud and clear. So when do you officially start the investigation?”
“Tomorrow when we get the preliminary report from the coroner’s office.”
“Surely there’s no question that Clifford died from the gunshot wounds.”
“Probably not, but you know we have to go through the entire process.”
“There are a lot of people who didn’t care for Clifford or the way he did business.”
“Including your Ms. Carlton.”
“Because she had reason to dislike the man doesn’t mean she killed him. I could have done him in.”
“You think I haven’t thought of that? The day I had to arrest Toni Carlton on embezzlement charges you reacted like a lion standing guard over its mate.”
“About Hank Warren’s alibi…”
“Until we know the exact time of death we won’t know if it’ll hold water.”
“But he was with Nina Townsend, wasn’t he?”
“I can’t tell you that either, Mack.”
“Your expression tells me all I need to know.”
“You’re not going to screw up my investigation. Stay away from Warren and the Townsend woman unless I’m there with you to conduct the questioning.”
“I never expected to do anything else.”
“Yeah, right, and I’m the President of the United States. I’m warning you, Mack. Let me handle it my way.”
Mack didn’t say anything, just stared out the window and took a deep swallow of his drink. He smiled when he looked at his friend and saw the exasperation on Bob’s face. Mack was sure that Bob knew it wouldn’t do any good to say anything else to him. Moreover, he deduced that his ex-partner was calculating his next move, and damning him for making it more difficult by refusing to tell him where Toni was.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The sound of a key turning in the lock awakened Toni. She had meant to go to sleep in the bedroom, but ended up falling asleep on the couch. She expected it to be Mack, and was surprised to see that it wasn’t. This exotic-looking young woman with the black hair and chocolate eyes could only be Mack’s sister, Mariah.
“I didn’t expect you to get here until tomorrow.”
“No time like the present.” Mariah lowered her suitcase to the floor and held out her hand. “I’m Mariah Jessup.”
Toni clasped the proffered hand. “Toni Carlton.” She shook her head, and then smiled to herself.
“Okay, what’s the joke?”
“No joke. It’s just that you’re not like any babysitter I’ve ever seen.”
“Babysitter? Is that what Mack told you I’d be?”
“Well, he didn’t actually call you that.”
“But he gave you that impression, right? You’re a little old to need one, don’t you think?” She laughed. “A friendship is more likely. Has my brother told you very much about me?”
“Only that you were interested in criminology and you work for a private detective. He also said you’d be stimulating company while he—”
“Has all the fun? Well, we won’t let him get away with it, will we?”
Toni grinned. “I think I’m going to like you.”
“Since you’re innocent we’ll have to help my brother prove it.”
“Mack isn’t going to like us interfering, you know.”
“That’s a given. What do you think we should do first?”
“I’m going to need my computer. I can access a certain link to the Townsend’s computer files that might prove useful. Townsend’s is where I worked until—anyway, I need to gain access into it.”
“Is your computer at your apartment?”
“No. Actually, it’s at Mack’s house.”
“Oh, then we don’t have a problem. I’ll zip right over and get it.”
“Lieutenant Barnes is sure to have the house under surveillance, and of course there’s Mack to contend with.”
Mariah’s teeth worried her bottom lip. “You’re right, we do have a problem. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way around it. J
ust leave the strategy to me.”
“Mack’s right about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He says you’re a natural for investigation. He’s thinking of asking you to join him and Marc at Jessup Investigations when you’ve finished your criminology degree.” Mariah smiled. “He really said that?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“I’m glad you did.” A big grin spread across her face. “So he’s proud of his little sister after all.”
Toni yawned. “I think it’s time we got some sleep.”
“I agree. We’ll need all the rest we can get if we’re going to go sleuthing.”
“Sleuthing, huh? Sounds intriguing.”
“It can be, not that the man I work for lets me do much of it. Ken is a chauvinist where the idea of women facing danger is concerned. I thought he was going to have a cow when I told him I was considering joining the police department.”
“Are you?”
“Actually no, but I mentioned it to get a reaction from him.”
Toni laughed, shaking her head. “You have a bit of the devil in you, just like your brother said, don’t you?”
“Maybe a little around the edges.”
“I’d say it’s more than that. You’re not afraid of anything, are you?”
“My mother’s wrath. If she finds out what we’ve been up to there’s going to be hell to pay.”
“She sounds like a formidable woman.”
“Not really. She’s one of those people you don’t cross, not because of her temper, but because she has a way of looking at you that puts you to shame.”
“I see. She sounds like my mother. It must be their Latin attitude toward motherhood.”
“Mack told me your mother is Italian.” Mariah laughed.
“What is it?”
“I was thinking that since you and I also share a similar Latin heritage we should make a good team.”
“Only on this case. I’ll stick to stock market analyses, thank you, and leave the sleuthing to you and Mack once this whole thing is cleared up. If it ever is.”
“It will be. Mack and I will make sure of that.”
“Such confidence.”
“A Jessup characteristic, don’t you know? Look, Toni, I know how hard this must be for you, but hang in there.”