College. I grabbed his arm. "College!"
Warily, he studied me. "Right. College..."
"You don't understand." College had been the thing in the files that had been eluding me these past two days. I quickly explained to Kevin. "I was thinking to myself how Honey's and Ethan's backgrounds were so similar, except for the loss of Honey's brother. They're similar in age, have clean records, and my brain just realized they went to the same college." I shoved him a little bit. "The same college! And they both moved to Cincinnati at the same time. I'd bet my last roll of cookie dough that they know each other." You love her, don't you? "Maybe better than any of us dreamed."
His eyes darkened. "Delphine did say that it was Joey who brought Ethan onto the crew."
"Undoubtedly Honey finagled that somehow."
I leaned against the wall. "Did she mastermind this whole thing? The life insurance, having an airtight alibi when her husband was killed..."
Oh my God, Jean-Claude. How did he fit into this mess?
The cafeteria was quiet as we filled cardboard mugs with stale coffee. "Did you interview him earlier? What did he have to say about his prints at the house?"
"I couldn't find him. He'd been discharged from the hospital, and he wasn't at home. I have patrol looking for him."
You love her, don't you?
"You realize he's probably the guy Mario heard in the house with Joey, right?" My mouth dropped open and I latched onto Kevin's shirt as another realization hit me hard.
His gaze dropped to my hand, clutching a fistful of cotton.
"Mario," I whispered. "He tried to kill Mario, too."
"Nina, that's quite a leap."
"No, no. It makes perfect sense. Mario said he recognized the voice in Joey's house but couldn't place it. What if Ethan was scared he eventually would? On the day the water heater was installed, Mario was supposed to spend the night at the house, but at the last minute decided to stay another night with Kit. If Ethan tinkered with the water heater before he left, he probably figured Mario would be a goner by the morning."
"And when he showed up and Mario wasn't dead?"
"Let's just say it probably wasn't a coincidence that Ethan was working in a space with good ventilation and took lots of smoke breaks. He probably wasn't too concerned about the collateral damage."
Because he was a killer.
My instincts had been vindicated, but this wasn't the time to gloat. "Mario's still in danger."
"Let me make some calls. I'll get hospital security up to Mario's room right away, and a security detail here as soon as possible. And I might have to leave after all. I need to have a talk with Honey."
I bit the inside of my cheek as he wandered off to find better cell phone coverage. My stomach churned, and I ended up dumping my coffee.
Kevin was back a minute later. "I need to go."
"Let me get Gracie from your car."
The rain had let up, but it was still drizzling. The worst of the storm had passed to the east, but I had a feeling the aftermath of what it had left behind wouldn't truly be revealed 'til morning.
Kevin clicked his keychain to unlock the doors, and reached in for the duffle. He'd left the windows down an inch for air circulation for Gracie, and the upholstery was soaked, but he didn't seem to mind. He handed the bag over to me, and I peeked inside. Gracie was sound asleep.
Footsteps caught my attention and I looked up as a doctor in blue scrubs, a white lab coat, and a surgical mask pulled up over his chin walked by, heading into the hospital. I squinted after him.
Kevin dropped a kiss on my cheek and headed for the driver's door. Suddenly, I grabbed onto his shirt again.
"You really have to stop doing that," he said, staring at my hand.
"That doctor who just walked by... The scrubs threw me off, but I'm pretty sure it was Ethan, Kevin."
"You're sure?"
The more I thought about it, the more I was sure. I'd seen Ethan at Perry and Mario's wearing a dust mask and the look was similar. "Yes! Go, go! Hurry!"
Kevin sprinted off. I tried to keep up, but Gracie and my headache were slowing me down. My heart pounded. Ethan had to be going after Mario. I could only hope that hospital security was already at Mario's room.
I chugged up the stairs and stopped on the maternity floor to drop off Gracie. I didn't want to go into Maria's room and have to explain everything, so I opened the door, shoved the duffle bag inside and quickly closed it again.
Maria's voice echoed down the hallway as I ran for the stairs. "Neee-naaah!"
Breathing hard, I raced up the steps. On Mario's floor, I flung open the stairwell door, took three strides down the hallway, and nearly collided with Ethan, who'd been sprinting for the stairway.
His eyes widened when he recognized me, and suddenly he didn't look like a creepy serial killer anymore but a scared kid.
Footsteps pounded, coming toward us. Ethan threw a look over his shoulder, then sprinted straight at me, grabbing my arm and twisting it behind my back before I could even think to react. He pulled me against his chest to use as a human shield just as Kevin and two uniformed guards turned the corner, guns drawn.
Ethan pressed something to my neck, and I could just barely make out that it was a syringe.
My knees went weak, but Ethan kept a firm grip on me. "Not another step!" he said to the men.
"Let her go, Ethan," Kevin said in a firm voice.
"No way."
I noticed that Kevin wouldn't look at me. Cool and calm, he kept his gaze squarely on Ethan.
My pulse jumped wildly in my throat, and I tried to calm down a little. Get a grip on the situation. Figure a way out of it.
"Listen," Kevin said. "You're not too far into this that you can't get out."
I thought that was a bit of a stretch. Ethan had been responsible for killing three people. Possibly four.
Tears stung my eyes as I thought about Mario. I hoped and prayed that Ethan had been thwarted before carrying out his plan to kill Mario.
"You're not to blame, here." Kevin's voice soothed. "You were duped by Honey to do her dirty work. Put the syringe down, and let's talk about making a deal."
"Leave Honey out of this," Ethan seethed.
"Sorry, I can't. She used you, Ethan, plain and simple. She's used you, and she's going to let you take the fall while she picks up her life and moves on with a whole lot of cash and a brand-new lover."
"You're wrong! She loves me!"
I felt Ethan's body tense and hoped Kevin wouldn't push him too far. The prick of the needle on my neck kept digging a little deeper into my skin, in direct relation to Ethan's agitation.
"Yeah, she loves you so much she had you kill her husband."
"He deserved to die."
"And frame an innocent woman."
"She's not so innocent, is she?" he sneered.
"And to make sure she had an alibi when you made that call to Joey to lure him to his death so her hands would be clean. She had a relationship with another man as a cover."
"He doesn't mean anything to her."
The needle jabbed harder, and I closed my eyes. I'd been up close and personal with death and killers before, and decided I'd never understand the psychosis behind their actions. Honey had sought revenge against Joey, yes, but in doing so she became no better than he was, maybe worse, because she had used Ethan to bring her plan to fruition.
Ethan started walking backward, toward the stairs. "Don't follow us. Or else."
I opened my eyes to find Kevin's gaze directly on mine. It narrowed and he looked toward the floor, then gave an almost imperceptible nod.
He wanted me to drop.
Easy for him to say.
Taking a deep breath, I pretended to stumble when Ethan took another step backward. Swinging my arm back, I hit him where the sun don't shine, and let my body go slack. I hit the floor like a sack of flour, and looked up in time to see Ethan bringing his hand down to stab me with the syringe.
I threw my hands up in defens
e and let out a scream as a single gunshot sounded. Blood splattered over me like a surreal rain shower as Ethan dropped the syringe and crumpled next to me, crying out and cradling his shoulder.
In a blink, Kevin was next to me, cradling me against his chest as the uniformed officers took care of Ethan. Hospital staff and curious patients filtered into the hallway.
Kevin's heart beat wildly against my cheek, and he held my so tightly I could barely breathe. "You're okay," he said softly.
I knew I was. Thanks to him.
"Mario?" I asked.
"Fine. The security guards stopped Ethan from getting into the room."
I let out the breath I'd been holding. What a nightmare this was.
Tucking my hair behind my ear, Kevin let me go. "Let's get you cleaned up."
I could barely look at myself. "There's blood on your shirt."
He cupped my face and looked at me tenderly. "I thought you said it was your shirt."
"I lied."
He laughed and pulled me back into his arms, hugging me tightly. "Don't worry, I know where you can get another one."
I let him hold me like that for a long, long time.
Chapter Twenty-seven
A few days later, a full moon cast bountiful light over Mario and Perry's back yard. It was a glorious night, warm and balmy, perfect for a party. A slight breeze ruffled the leaves of the newly planted trees, and swished the long grasses along the fence and decks. On a night like tonight it was easy to imagine nothing but clear skies ahead.
People milled through the yard, talking under giant red lanterns, gathering around the food tent, and dancing in the moonlight. Peppy music couldn't quite drown out the sound of the crickets, but their incessant chirps only added to the festivities.
Perry hadn't left Mario's side since the party started—they were camped across from me on the sun deck, sharing a loveseat. They were in deep conversation with several neighbors, gossiping about the newly sold house next door to mine and what kind of neighbors might be moving in. No one knew, and it was driving everyone crazy.
Mario had been home for only a day and had no recollection of the horrible things that had happened here. Of the danger he'd been in. No one filled him in. Personally, I hoped those memories would forever be erased.
Tonight was all about celebrating. A homecoming. A new engagement. And a new baby.
Life.
The party had been thrown together at the last minute, and I decided those were my favorite kind of celebrations. There had been no invitations, no RSVPs, no pretensions, just a lot of people helping Mario create a wonderful new memory.
"She looks good on you," Kevin said, stepping up onto the platform and taking the chair next to mine. "Maybe not as good as a wet T-shirt, but it's close."
Moonbeams fell across his face, highlighting the humor in his eyes—and the hint of heat, too. I continued rocking, holding my brand-new niece against my shoulder. Her name was Vivienne Celeste, her middle name after my mother, which had immediately silenced my mother's very vocal long-distance distress over having missed the birth. Her nickname was Vivi, and I loved her with all my heart. I pressed my cheek against the warmth of her blond downy head and inhaled her sweet baby scent. "She does, doesn't she?"
With a soft touch, Kevin reached over and pushed aside a lock of loose hair that had fallen across my cheek, tucking the strand behind my ear. His hand then went to Vivi's head, cupping it oh-so-gently. "I was wrong. She is better than the wet T-shirt."
"Kevin Quinn, you big ol' softie."
"Don't let it get around."
Maria hovered nearby, casting furtive glances my way. She'd planned to stay only for a few minutes since a party wasn't the best place for a newborn. She was here long enough to show off her new daughter, collect some presents, and then be on her way with Nate.
One of my gifts to Vivi had been a toddler basketball set. Maria had immediately asked for the receipt.
Gracie was still staying with me. I wasn't quite sure why—or for how long—but I wasn't arguing with it, either. I liked the company.
I smiled at Ana as she and Kit danced on the lawn, laughing as he spun her around and dipped her low. Soft light from a lantern glinted off her new ring, making it sparkle like a bright star in a murky night sky.
I'd never seen her so happy, and I couldn't be happier for her. She deserved it. "They look good, don't they?"
"Yeah. They do." He leaned back in his chair, drew his right ankle onto his left knee and crossed his arms behind his head. "So, do you have plans for the weekend? You don't have a date with the coroner guy, do you?"
Even though he tried to make the question sound casual, I heard the serious undertone. "Not this weekend."
"I guess I deserved that," he said.
I didn't disagree. I thought about Cain. Seth. I'd received the all-clear from Ian yesterday. There was no threat on Seth's life. I didn't know what to do with the news and finally decided I'd take a wait-and-see approach. I didn't want to turn Seth's life upside down. It was enough for me to know he was alive. He was well. "And no, no plans other than to sleep and try to forget this past week."
Ethan was still under guard in the hospital recovering from the gunshot wound to his shoulder. The charges against him were numerous, pretty much guaranteeing the death penalty should he not make a deal to squeal on Honey.
So far, he wasn't squealing. In fact, he denied she had anything to do with what had gone down. That he acted alone. That she didn't even know him that well and that he was an obsessed stalker.
Honey, of course, denied everything, too. The police were trying their best to tie her to the crime, but at best their case was circumstantial. And it was a weak case at that. She'd covered her tracks well.
Jean-Claude also refused to believe she was involved. They were still dating.
Delphine had been released from jail and hadn't left her sister's side. As soon as Plum was well enough she would be transferred to a mental health facility.
It never ceased to amaze me what kind of damage grief could do to a person.
I didn't want to think about any of it anymore, so I said, "Why do you ask? Does Riley have something going on?"
He laughed. "Oh, he has something going on, all right. He has a date. He's meeting Layla's parents."
I shot him a look. "Have you met Layla?"
"Not yet. I get the feeling he doesn't want her to meet us."
I smiled—I'd voiced the same concern. "I can't imagine why."
Kevin laughed. "But it's because he's busy that I need some help."
Vivi gurgled and wiggled, and I set my hand on her back to soothe her. She'd yet to unfurl her body for any longer than a second, remaining curled up in a jelly bean shape. She was the cutest little lump I'd ever seen. "Help? With what?"
"Packing."
"Packing? Are you going on a trip? Something for work?"
Uncrossing his arms, he stretched them out. "I'm moving."
Every nerve ending in my body seized, and I stiffened. "Moving? Where?" Riley was already farther away than I liked. And of course, I had no say in where Riley lived. He wasn't my biological child. A child of my heart, yes, but that wasn't going to hold up in a court of law.
I was working myself into quite a tizzy when I heard Perry say, "I hope the new neighbor is nice eye candy. Someone who mows with his shirt off."
Mario nodded, playing along. "Someone who looks like Mark Consuelos would be nice. Ha cha cha!"
Perry laughed. "I'm okay with that."
I tipped my head as I looked between Perry and Kevin, Kevin and Perry.
Moonlight lit the mischievous spark in Kevin's eyes. A confirmation if I ever saw one. "You didn't."
"Someone has to restore law and order to this neighborhood."
Dumbfounded, I continued rocking.
"Now, I can't guarantee I'll mow shirtless, but if you ask me nicely... I might consider it. I wouldn't be opposed to you mowing shirtless, either, but then I'd be encourag
ing the unlawfulness and disorder around here, and that probably wouldn't do."
I didn't know what to think about this turn of events. On one hand, Riley was moving in next door. Next door! It was almost as good as living with me. But on the other hand, Kevin was moving in next door. And I wasn't sure how I felt about that at all.
"So?" he asked. "You think you'll have time to help me pack?"
I glanced over at him, feeling like I was agreeing to much more. So much more. "I can spare some time."
His head dipped in a subtle nod. "Good."
I caught a flash of movement and looked up in time to see Maria headed my way. "Nina, you're becoming a baby hog."
"Can you blame me?" I asked.
A smile spread across her face, making her glow from within. "Not at all. But it's time for us to go."
Gently, I shifted the little jelly bean into her mother's hands. Instinctively Maria curled her arms upward, protecting Vivi. I already missed the flutter of her heartbeat against my chest.
"Maria," Perry said, "I just heard about a beautiful baby contest running in the paper. You should enter little Vivi."
Slowly, Maria shook her head. "Not yet."
I knew that tone. She meant not ever.
Maria saw me watching her. She shrugged. "I don't really like the idea of strangers having easy access to her."
"But the pageants..." I said.
"Oh!" She lit up. "I had the best idea. A granny pageant! We can hold it here in the Mill, get the neighbors involved."
"Dear Lord," Kevin muttered.
Perry clapped. "I'll help!" Maria crossed the deck to talk details with Perry.
"They're joking, right?" Kevin asked.
"I don't think so."
"Riley's never going to bring Layla around, is he?"
"Doubtful."
"I need a drink. You?"
I nodded and stood up. "I'll get them. I want to check on Mr. Cabrera."
He sat opposite us, near the outdoor fireplace in a chair next to the libation station. He had a glass in his hand that looked suspiciously like a cocktail and a dour look on his face. He wore a plain polo shirt and drab gray shorts.
The sun had gone down on Mr. Cabrera.
I sat next to him and said, "Are you hungry? There's plenty of food."