Dead and Breakfast (28 page)

Purple and white crepe paper decorated the gym, and cardboard stars coated in glitter hung from the rafters. A nun swayed near the record player, examining each record before sorting them into piles, even as she tapped her black shoe to the music. Inez assumed each pile represented good vs. evil. Just like her and Mariana. Except Inez wasn’t evil. She just took what she wanted when she wanted it—like any man would.

The freshmen girls huddled together under the basketball hoop while the upperclassmen danced in the center, making sure to maintain a respectable distance from the chaperones.

Inside, Inez moved in rhythm to the music, bunching up her red dress as if she was a flamenco dancer performing for the king of Spain. She was feeling better finally, like her old self, and Inez figured tonight, after the dance, she would have to conduct the dirty business of breaking Mick’s heart.

Outside, distant thunder rolled. Inez could feel it in her bones—a storm was forming off the coast.

One of the senior girls changed the record and a crowd rushed the floor, eager to dance to The Rolling Stones until the record player scratched and a Perry Como song played instead.

“¿Dónde está tu anillo?”

“¿Qué?” asked Inez.

Mariana pointed to Inez’s naked ring finger. “Tu anillo? You’re not wearing it.”

Inez glanced at her empty finger and shrugged. “I can’t find it.”

“It’s still in my jewelry box. I picked it up the last time you threw it in your fiancé’s face. I’m surprised you haven’t retrieved it since then.”

Mariana was too astute, too keenly aware of Inez’s behavior. Inez had been careful with Leo, making sure only to corner him when he was alone. She knew Leo would never say anything to Mariana for fear her sister would not believe Inez made the advances. Mariana was astute, but she was fiercely loyal as well.

“Won’t Mick be upset to see you’re not wearing it?” said Mariana.

Inez tapped her foot in her black pumps and swished the crinoline. “I don’t care.”

“Inez—”

“I don’t know why I let you put me on this dance committee,” Inez interrupted. “Now, we’re stuck here. Where are the boys?”

Mariana hovered near the refreshment table and adjusted the napkins, but her shoulders tensed. She smiled at Ralphie’s sister, an S-shaped stick with blonde hair, who was doling out the punch. A chestnut cane leaned against the table.

“They’ll be here any minute,” said Mariana. “They’re at Duncan’s setting up for later.”

Thunder boomed. “We should go before it rains.”

“Nonsense,” said Mariana. “The dance isn’t over for hours. We all agreed to come here first and then we’ll go to Duncan’s. The night is young.”

“Doesn’t feel like it,” Inez murmured. Anxiety surged through her skin. She wanted to get Leo alone so she could show him that she was the better Cruces sister. Sure, Leo claimed to only have eyes for Mariana, but Inez knew that once he kissed her, he’d see that Mariana was like tepid water.

Mariana shrieked and Inez whirled on her heels. Leo had appeared and planted a kiss on Mariana’s cheek. She swatted him away. “Stop it before Sister Therese sees.”

“Those old nuns don’t scare me,” said Leo.

Inez’s heart swelled when she saw Leo in a sports jacket with a red tie. Civilian clothes. He even matched her dress. A good sign! Inez caught Leo’s eye. She blew him a kiss, but Leo averted his gaze. Leo held out his hand to escort Mariana to the dance floor.

Inez’s stomach twisted into a chignon. She sidled up to the refreshment table. Ralphie’s sister, whose name Inez never bothered to remember, ambled up and grabbed the ladle to dole out punch into a paper cup. She handed it to Inez with a big smile. Inez accepted the punch and eyed the girl’s cane. A cruelty came over her and she said to the girl, “I love dancing, don’t you?”

Ralphie’s sister grimaced and sat down.

Inez removed a silver flask from her dress pocket and tipped the contents into her cup. She thought she was being discreet until she caught Ralphie’s sister’s raised eyebrow. “Oh, you’re not gonna say anything, are you?”

The girl shook her head.

“I didn’t think so.” Inez downed her punch and went back for seconds, this time doling out a portion herself.

Inez watched Mariana laugh and twirl with Leo. Then she ducked out of the gym and into a small alcove near the boys’ locker room. She skipped the punch and took a swig from her flask. Inez liked how the gin burned her throat and lit a fire inside her belly. From here, she had a perfect view of her sister and Leo. Unfortunately, the booze did little to calm her jealousy, it just fueled her bravado.

She watched Leo escort Mariana over to the bleachers where the rest of the gang had gathered. The gang. Leo, Ralphie, Mick, Duncan, and Glenda. Inez and Mariana had been last-minute additions, but despite being Mick’s girl, Inez was the outsider. Mariana fit right into their card games and fishing trips on Ralph’s little boat, but Inez was too big for the group. As if she was a volcano, and they were the little town down the mountain. An eruption from her would destroy them under a blanket of fire.

Leo disengaged from the gang and headed her way. Inez hid her flask in her skirt and smoothed down her hair. She waited for him in the shadows.

Leo strode past her, but Inez reached out and grabbed Leo’s sleeve. He skidded to a halt.

“Where ya going?” Inez crooned.

“To the boy’s lavatory,” Leo said, impatiently.

Inez pushed herself off the wall and slinked over to him. The gin made her head fuzzy, and her body move like liquid. “Why don’t I join you?”

“In the bathroom?” Leo’s cheeks colored. “Now, listen, Inez.”

“No, you listen,” she purred. “Why don’t we skip this kiddie party and head back to Duncan’s house where we can be alone?” Her fingers danced along his arm to his collarbone.

Leo squirmed out of her grasp. “Dammit, Inez. Take a hint.”

Inez felt the magma inside her churn and bubble, rolling up her legs and thighs, through her torso and exploding from her hands. She shoved Leo against the lockers and kissed him hard on the mouth. Leo pushed her off him and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, as if Inez’s lips tasted like poison. “I can’t take you anymore!”

Inez felt a harsh tug on her elbow. Mariana was hauling her down the hallway and toward the janitorial closet. Inez didn’t have time to brace for the slap.

Inez gasped and cupped her cheek. “Puta.”

Leo trotted down the hallway to separate Mariana and her sister.

“If you touch him again, I will kill you,” Mariana hissed.

Inez smoothed her cheek and laughed.

Leo tugged lightly on Mariana’s sleeve and led her back into the gymnasium. The last thing Inez heard was Leo telling Mariana, “We have to stop her.”

Seawater soaked Liam’s shirt, but he didn’t care. He just laid there on the floor of the yacht and observed the stars. The rocking of the boat didn’t help the buzzing in his head. He took a swig from the bottle of Jack Daniels. Somewhere below deck, he could hear the laughter of the other people on board.

Even though he tried to clear her from his head, he couldn’t help but wonder what Autumn was doing right this minute. Probably packing her suitcase. Or sleeping.

Liam closed his eyes, which didn’t ease the nausea, then sat up. He felt his brain swirl around his head, sort of like the liquor in the bottle whenever the boat rocked.

He hadn’t spoken to Autumn since she broke up with him several days ago. He really hadn’t spoken to anyone, choosing to mope around Pops’s house like he was in mourning. Then his phone rang, and he agreed to an invitation by the one person he should’ve been avoiding.

“There you are. Have you been hiding?” Victoria knelt down next to him. “We’re going to dock soon. You okay?”

“I shouldn’t be here.” He brought the bottle to his lips.

Victoria put her hand on his hand and lowered the bottle. “Don’t be so melodramatic. Enjoy yourself. You’re with good company.” She smiled.

Liam really did love Autumn, although she was willing to just up and leave, and she had made it perfectly clear she didn’t love him. Those words stung.

Liam reached out for the Jack Daniels bottle and took a sip. “You know what? I think I
am
enjoying myself.”

Victoria leaned in for a kiss. Liam turned away. The boat lurched and Liam slammed his head on the hard deck and then everything went black..

When his vision cleared, Mick Canton stood over Liam and held out a bag of frozen peas for the back of his skull. Liam groaned, but waved Mick off.

“Come on son, we’ll chat in the saloon.” Mick helped Liam to his feet and led him inside to a spacious room with shiny wood floors and built in cabinets. There were cream draperies on the windows and recessed lighting that made everything sparkle like diamonds in a jewelry store. Mick pointed to an oversized leather chair and held out the frozen peas.

Liam dropped into to the club chair, feeling more embarrassed than in pain. He waved him off. “I’m okay.”

“Take the peas, boy,” he said, gruffly. “I don’t want you suing me for getting a concussion on my boat.”

Liam accepted the frozen bag. “I’m not the litigious type.”

Mick scoffed. “Everyone’s the litigious type.” He sat down in the opposite chair and lit a cigar. Mick offered one to Liam, but he said no. Smoking had never been one of Liam’s vices.

“Did you hear I’m buying the Cayo Hueso?” Mick asked point blank.

Liam pressed the frozen peas to the back of his head and winced.

“The property is becoming too much for the ladies to handle. I always tried to get Duncan to sell, but his batty wife loved the house too much.”

Liam wanted to say that, in Duncan’s defense, it had been his childhood home, but he decided against it. He just nodded along, like a puppet, to whatever Mick said.

Mick leaned in close. Liam smelled tobacco and alcohol on the man’s breath. “To be honest, I got the place for a song.” He reclined. “I mean, it’s run-down. It’ll need a million dollar in renovations just to be presentable.”

Liam thought about the worn parlor chairs. The mahogany bar top in reception. The teal shutters that framed the ornate windows. It certainly had charm. “I don’t know about a million dollars.”

Mick grinned. “It was a steal.”

Liam shifted uneasily. First, it seemed to him pretty ridiculous, not to mention underhanded, for a nearly billionaire to be bragging about getting a property for a lot less than it was worth. Second, it sounded like Mick took advantage of Aunt Glenda’s financial situation. Liam couldn’t share in Mick’s celebration, so he just sat there like a dope.

“Heard my Victoria is going to bankroll your endeavor.” Mick examined his cigar.

Liam choked on the smoke. “I didn’t take her money. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Mick flicked the ashes into a crystal dish and shrugged. “You could always come work for me. I value loyalty, and I need someone to supervise my current scooter rental space off Petronia.” He put his cigar down and turned to Liam. “What do you say?”

“Um, can I think about it?”

“What’s there to think about? You’re a Breyer, Liam. Besides, a deal’s a deal.”

Liam didn’t know what Mick was hinting at. He sank into his chair and tried to make himself look smaller. He sure felt small.

“And you better warn your buddy, Randall. What he did amounts to grand larceny.”

“You have to know I had no idea where he got those bikes,” said Liam.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Provided you’re a good Canton soldier now.”

Liam set the bag of peas on the small side table. He wasn’t sure if it was the booze talking or his possible concussion, but his curiosity would not subside. Liam looked Mick Canton straight in the eye. “Where were you the night Inez disappeared?”

Mick blanched, but then steeled his eyes. “I was at the school dance at St. Veronica’s. Everyone was there.”

“Did you and Inez fight?”

“Detective Breyer,” Mick joked. “Should I get my lawyer?”

“Only if you have something to hide. Did you fight about the pregnancy? Leo? What?”

Mick raised his brow. “You presume to know an awful lot.” He poured himself a drink from a crystal decanter. He swirled the butterscotch-colored liquid before throwing it down his throat. “We did fight about the baby.”

“What about the baby?” Liam had always suspected that Mick killed Inez because she was pregnant, and he didn’t want to be tied down to her, but Autumn claimed that Mick really loved Inez.

Mick took another swig and set down the glass. “There was no baby. Inez had miscarried and then lied about it.”

Mick tapped the ashes from his cigar, but missed his crystal ashtray. Instead, the ash fell to the man’s pressed gray pants and burned a small hole. Mick Canton didn’t even flinch.

#

Inez stumbled into the gymnasium, but held her head up. They were all standing on the other side, Mariana whispering into Glenda’s ear as if they were confidants.

Inez ignored the stares of the nuns, who were too cowardly to confront her directly.

Inez smiled and wiggled her fingers at them. She bumped into the refreshment table. The punch sloshed over the bowl and stained the white tablecloth pink. Ralph’s sister sopped up the mess with cocktail napkins.

Mick charged toward Inez and snatched her hand, leading her out of the gym and into an empty chemistry classroom. His eyes flashed. “What’s this I hear about you kissing Leo?”

Inez pressed her hands against his broad chest, trying to both cajole him and shove him away. “I was just playing a joke.”

“Are you drunk?”

Inez slipped her hand in her pocket and withdrew the flask. “It’s gin. You want some?” She giggled.

Mick pushed the flask away. “Mariana told me something else.”

Gin sloshed in her belly, seeking payment.

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “She said you miscarried weeks ago.”

“She could never keep her mouth shut!” Inez tried to brush past Mick in an attempt to leave the classroom. She wanted to strangle her sister.

Mick grabbed Inez’s wrists. “How could you lie to me like that? I gave you my grandmother’s ring.” He ran his thumb over Inez’s finger. “Which you’re not even wearing. Do you even love me?”