Authors: Candice Poarch
Deadly Intentions (7 page)
9
Lisa's sister, Vanetta, arrived at the party a few minutes before Wade Ripley, GM of The Cove Business Center. Vanetta owned The Cove with two other partners. She'd only recently begun working there. Although Vanetta had a business degree, her late husband had controlled the businesses. She was only working two or three days a week there, but it seemed to give her purpose.
Wade appeared the picture of a true businessman. Smooth and capable. He worked long hours and rarely left Virginia Beach. Lisa was surprised he came to her party.
“I see Dad's set you up with a date,” Vanetta said, humor dancing in her eyes.
Lisa moaned. “Just shoot me now. But Charles is kind of nice. Still, I'm not looking.”
“Happy birthday, Lisa,” Wade said. “Has it been good?”
“The party has been great.”
Jackie arrived then. “Where's the birthday girl?” she sang loudly. She squealed when she saw Lisa.
Vanetta groaned. “Does that girl have to wake the entire neighborhood?” she grumbled. Several of the aunts and uncles frowned at Jackie.
“I'm broke as hell, but I scrounged up enough to get you a little gift.”
“You didn't have to, Jackie. I've seen a few hard times myself.”
“That's all right. I wanted to. God, I need a drink,” she said, changing the subject. “Too bad Grandma won't allow liquor.”
Lisa chuckled. “Soda's going to have to do.”
“I have to speak to a few people,” Vanetta said, and walked off.
“Let's hit Pete's bar after we leave here,” Jackie said. “Spend the evening drinking and dancing. Then get somebody to take us home. We used to have a good time doing that.”
Lisa had spent many fun nights in Pete's bar, but those days were over. “Unfortunately, I can't. I've got company. Maybe another time.”
“Company?” Jackie's eyebrow arched.
Lisa nodded. “It's a long story.”
“Girl, you're a drag. Well, here's your gift,” she said, handing it over. “Something for your house.”
Lisa took the gift and tore off the paper. It was a garlic press. “Oh, thanks, Jackie.”
“Had to get you something. I'm starving. I know Grandma fixed a feast in your honor. Check you later.” Jackie went off in search of food.
Lisa noticed Wade was standing a few feet from her ogling Vanetta. She moved in his direction. “Don't even go there. It's going to take a long time for her to trust anyone after Matthew's betrayal.”
“I know.”
Matthew, Vanetta's late husband, had been found dead with his lover several months ago. Lisa thought they'd had the perfect marriage. No marriage was perfect.
“They're starting up a new card game and need another player. Want to join them?” Lisa asked.
“After I get a plate,” Wade said. Cards didn't seem to interest him.
“Grandma put her foot into these dishes,” Lisa said, laughing. It was an old southern saying when the meal was especially tasty.
“I know she did.”
“How is Vanetta doing at The Cove?”
“Very well.” He frowned as if Vanetta's presence there was an intrusion.
“It's good that she's getting out and doing things.”
“I agree.”
Lisa wondered if he felt Vanetta was invading his space. Her husband had never spent time there and Jordan Ellis, who ran the properties and was the largest stockholder in the company, frequently traveled.
“Well, enjoy.” After checking on Brian, who was sleeping on her grandmother's recliner in the den, Lisa joined her grandmother, who'd taken a seat on the deck.
Naomi brushed the hair off Lisa's forehead. “Did you enjoy your day?”
Lisa nodded.
“You've grown a lot in the last year, Lisa.”
“I'm embarrassed by some of the things I did and said in the past. I don't know what was wrong with me that I'd be so . . .”
“Stress, disappointment, and pain change us. But you weathered the storm and came out of it stronger. You didn't have to, you know. You could have taken a different path. Change is difficult,” Naomi said. “The fact that you took this leap of faith built your character. You see, you have the same strength your ancestor Abiola had.” Abiola arrived on the island in the early 1600s with the golden bowl.
“I guess the kidnapping made me think that life is short and I wanted to live it on my own terms. I wanted my life to mean something. To count for something.”
“It does, honey. Life's a risk no matter what. You might as well take your own risks rather than let someone else decide for you.”
“You're right. I'm not letting a man interfere in my life again.”
“Oh, dear,” Naomi said, shaking her head. “The right man won't interfere, but enhance.”
Lisa glanced at Naomi skeptically. “I don't know, Grandma.”
Naomi patted her knee. “You'll see. The right one might be closer than you think.”
Lisa glanced toward the house. “We're friends, nothing more.”
Brian tensed when he felt a firm hand on his arm.
“Time to go,” a strange voice said. “Wake up.”
“Maybe you shouldn't have slipped him that pain medication,” an older voice said.
“He was in pain and wouldn't take anything. Trying to be the brave, strong he-man.”
Now he remembered and opened his eyes.
“How are you, dear?” Mrs. Claxton's kind eyes regarded him and her warm hand touched his hand.
Brian swallowed hard. “Better,” he said.
Another brown pair of eyes snapped in satisfaction. “Of course he feels better. He took his medication. It's time to go.”
“I fixed some plates for you and some soup,” Mrs. Claxton said. “I know it's hard to eat when you're not feeling well. But it'll be good for you.”
“Thanks, ma'am. I appreciate the food and the hospitality.” Brian set the recliner upright and stood.
“You're welcome here any time,” Mrs. Claxton said. “If you need help, just let us know. Lisa will take excellent care of you.”
Brian smiled. “Thanks.”
In minutes he and Lisa were on their way. When they passed the road to the ferry, Brian asked, “Where are we going?”
“To my house.”
“I need to get back to the motel. I have things to do.”
“Not tonight, you don't,” Lisa said. “If I take you back, that'll be the last ferry of the night and I won't be able to get back.”
“You can drop me off at the ferry. I can take a cab on the other side.”
“You're staying here tonight,” Lisa said definitively.
“Anybody ever tell you you're bossy?”
“It wouldn't matter.”
A minute later they drove into a yard. A halogen light beamed on a small Cape Cod. When Brian exited the car, he heard the sound of the waves lapping in the background. His spirits lifted.
“You live on the beach.”
“Where else on an island?”
Inside, Lisa showed him to the guest bedroom, then went to her office and listened to messages and copied them down. She'd return the calls in the morning. She got messages from three more clients who were interested in having their homes cleaned next week.
Brian was hanging up his cell phone when Lisa went back to the family room.
“Calling for reinforcements to break you out?”
“Would it work?” Brian asked, shoving his phone into his pocket.
“It might.”
Lisa sprawled onto the couch. She was dead tired. She remembered his pills and got up. “I'll fix you a plate so you can take your last pill.”
“I need the effects to start wearing off so I can think.”
“You can start thinking tomorrow. Tonight you're taking the pills.”
Brian narrowed his gaze at her. “I don't usually let people boss me around.”
“You're in the military, aren't you?”
Frowning, he nodded.
“Then you're used to taking orders.”
Brian ate and took his pill. When he went to bed, Lisa returned to her office.
Lisa was just getting ready to make out next week's schedule when someone drove up her driveway. She closed her eyes briefly. She knew it was coming. She geared herself up to lie as she opened the door to her cousin.
“What the hell did you get yourself into?” Alyssa asked before the door closed behind her.
“What happened to hello or happy birthday?”
“Cut the crap and answer my question.” Alyssa dropped her purse on the table in the foyer and glared down at Lisa. She'd intimidate a more fragile person.
“I'm a grown woman. I don't have to answer to you.”
“Well, grown woman, why don't we just have a family meeting. I'll just call everybody, including Grandma, and lay it at their door.”
“You can be a . . .”
“Don't even think it. Did you think I wouldn't hear? I have friends on the force.”
Lisa sighed. “I was at a job and I found the Virginia Beach housekeeper dead inside. That's all there was to it.”
“It's never that simple with you.”
“I wasn't mixed up in anything. It's a new contract and I was supposed to clean there once a week. When I got there, the woman was dead.”
“Who was this man at your birthday party?”
“Hi.” Brian came out of the bedroom fully dressed. “I'm Brian Knight.”
“Knight?” Alyssa's gaze veered to Lisa. “The Knight house where the murder took place?”
“My grandfather's house,” he said.
“Were you there at the time?”
“No. Lisa got there a minute ahead of me.”
“He was on his way from the hospital when it happened,” Lisa said.
Alyssa sighed, clumped into the living room and, uninvited, sat on the sofa.
Lisa sighed, too. “It's really late and I've had a very long day,” she said.
“Lisa, you have a way of drawing trouble, even if it's innocent. I understand what you're trying to do.”
Lisa stiffened. Did Alyssa know Brian's grandfather might have the bowl? For now she was going to play innocent. “What are you talking about?”
“Maybe you should give that client up,” Alyssa suggested.
“I can't afford to do that. I'm trying to get business from more houses in that neighborhood. Those older folks don't like cleaning and can afford to pay for my services. I'm trying to build my business, Alyssa.”
Alyssa shook her head. “Too dangerous. And the police don't know what the perp was looking for or why that woman was killed. Did you know her?”
“She interviewed me for the job. That's my only connection to her.”
“I knew her,” Brian said. “She was an innocent bystander. She only goes to the house occasionally to check up on things. She was there to get it ready for me.” He leaned closer. “And don't worry, I will find out who did this.”
Alyssa raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And who are you that you think you can find him before the police do?”
“I'm a man of my word.”
“Do you know something we don't?”
“No more than we told the police,” Brian answered curtly.
Alyssa stood to her full six-foot height and leaned forward. “Listen, buster. This isn't the Navy. Don't take the law into your own hands. Let the police do their jobs. We don't tolerate vigilantes.”
Lisa didn't know who was more imposing, Alyssa or Brian, but it seemed to her Brian came out on top. He didn't back down. That said something about his character.
“I'm not a vigilante,” he said, not budging an inch. “And I'm not interfering with the police investigation.”
Lisa had never seen anyone stand up to Alyssa the way Brian had, unless it was Jordan, her fiancéâand of course the sheriff. Nobody intimidated Harper Porterfield. Come to think of it, Alyssa's mother didn't take any crap from any of her children, or her husband. But it felt good that Brian wasn't intimidated by Alyssa.
“I want to see your military ID and your driver's license,” Alyssa snapped.
“He doesn't . . .” Lisa started.
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