Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 (17 page)

Althea's eyes flared hot. “Yeah, and you're such a model of society. You left and never looked back until now.”

“Althea, what do you want?”

“I told you, I came to see my friend.”

Rikki wasn't buying that. Althea looked nervous. She kept glancing back over her shoulder. She paced back and forth, blocking the front door.

Murphy put a hand on his gun holster. “Miss Althea, don't make me have to pull out my weapon again.”

“Shut up, Murphy,” Althea said. “I'm not here to harm the little princess.”

Rikki was about to push past her when a car pulled up. Hoping beyond hope that Blain had tracked her down, she glanced at the figure coming up the steps to the porch.

Her heart sank and she knew she'd made a fatal mistake coming here. Her brother Victor walked in, grabbed Althea in a hug and waved his gun toward Rikki and Big Murph.

“Take out your weapons,” Althea said on a giggle. “Put them on the floor.”

Sick to her stomach, Rikki stared at her brother. “I told them it couldn't be you. I defended you and everyone else in my family and I came out here today to prove them wrong.”

“Joke's on you,” Althea said. “He's with me now.” She laughed up at Victor then waved her gun. “Now put your weapons on the floor.”

Rikki nodded at Big Murph. They both carefully laid their guns on the hardwood. Althea shoved the guns away with her booted foot and then smiled up at Victor. “I was right that she couldn't resist showing off her decorating skills.”

Victor didn't respond. Instead, he gave Rikki a thoughtful stare. “You're a hard woman to pin down, Rikki,” he said. “But...at last, I've found you.”

NINETEEN

B
lain couldn't get Rikki to answer. He tried the estate house phone. Daphne answered.

“Listen, Daphne, this is Detective Blain Kent. I need to speak to Regina Alvanetti. It's urgent.”

“She's not here,” the nurse said. “She left with one of the guards. She had an outside appointment.”

Blain closed his eyes and let out a breath. “Do you know where they went?”

“No. One of her clients.”

He heard someone talking in the background.

“I have to go,” Daphne said. Then she hung up.

He could call one of the guards but there wasn't any time. So he pulled up the client list she'd given him. Five names. One was Alec Caldwell. He'd call him if he couldn't find her at the others. He called the next one on the list.

An older gentleman answered and went on and on about how wonderful she was and how much he loved his home. But he said he'd rescheduled everything with Rikki since she was dealing with family matters.

Blain hit the steering wheel, still sitting out in the parking lot. He couldn't call and drive at the same time, but he was sorely tempted. The next call went to voice mail. He decided not to leave a message. Too dangerous.

Three more.

A maid answered the next call and explained the owners were out of town.

Number four yielded a bubbly young mother who said she totally understood that Rikki couldn't work with her right now, so they'd decided to put things off until after the holidays.

That left the last one. He checked the address after that one rang and rang. Then he remembered what Rikki had told him. Althea had given her a referral. The island. The house was out on the island.

He cranked his truck and peeled out of the station parking lot. Then he radioed in and asked for backup.

Traffic out to the island was heavy. People rented condos during the weekend of the Christmas parade. And they'd already started coming in.

Blain hit the siren that he rarely used and tried to move past a long row of cars over the causeway bridge out to the barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, sweat beading on his brow.

Dodging the sparse oncoming traffic off the island, he finally reached the old beach road and turned toward the mansions that lined the coast. But which one?

Searching on both the Gulf side on the left and the bay side to the right, Blain blinked and tried to focus. When he reached the curve that followed the shore, he saw a big stucco house with a massive set of wooden steps with ornate banisters. And two dark sedans parked in the wide gravel and shell drive. One of the sedans looked like one he'd seen at the Alvanetti estate.

This had to be the place.

Skidding onto the drive, he barely moved off the road before he jumped out of the truck and rushed up the stairs.

The front door stood ajar.

Blain's heart beat with a burst of adrenaline. He held his weapon up and pushed through the door, a silent prayer caught against each pounding of his pulse.

He checked the big open kitchen and living area and then carefully went through the empty rooms. In the last bedroom, he found a big man lying on the floor.

Big Murph. He worked for the Alvanettis.

“Murphy? You okay?”

Blain checked his pulse and found a solid beat. He had a nasty bump on his wide forehead and but other than that, Murphy seemed to be alive at least.

Blain called it in and then rolled Murphy over. “Hey, Murphy, can you hear me?”

The big man grunted and squinted up at Blain. “Detective?”

“It's me,” Blain said. “Murph, what happened? Where is Rikki?”

Murphy moaned and blinked. “That Althea. She came in and then...Victor showed up. They took...Miss Alvanetti. Took my...gun and...hit me over the head.” He winced. “I'm sorry. I tried but they took her away.”

Blain held a hand on the big guard and stared out at the brilliant sunshine hitting the water. And he wondered what to do now. When he heard sirens coming up the beach road, he waited.

But he called Santo Alvanetti while he was waiting.

* * *

Rikki didn't know how to pray. She was so angry at herself and the world she wanted to scream out to anyone who'd listen. She wasn't mad at God because
she
was the one who'd decided to run again. To go out on her own and do what she thought was best, rather than waiting on the Lord and the protector he'd sent to guard her.

Stupid.

Her own brother and her sister-in-law, in this together.

How could her family ever recover from this?

The sun was setting toward the west as the big SUV flew up the two-lane road. Victor drove while Althea sat in the back with a gun to Rikki's head.

“Why?” Rikki finally asked, still dazed from being dragged down the long row of steps at the house. Her whole body throbbed in protest from being forced into this vehicle.

Althea's laughter was full of a bitter bite. “Why do you think? My husband has always been too noble for his own good. He never wanted any part of the family's business but he was forced to take over when your father became too senile and disinterested to keep things going. He changed everything and became what he calls legit. Now we're struggling day in and day out. It's not right.”

“Santo is a good man,” Rikki said, her gaze hitting Victor's in the rearview mirror. “He wants to do what's right.”

“He's weak,” Althea said, her vivid green eyes widening. “Just like his father.”

“And what about you, Victor?” Rikki asked. “How could you ever stoop this low?”

Victor stared at her in the mirror, a flash of warning in his eyes. “I have my reasons.”

Althea pushed the gun at Rikki. “And you sit in judgment of us. You have no idea what this family's been through since you left.”

“As if I'm the reason for all of your choices,” Rikki shouted. “I left because of things like this. The secrets and lies, the betrayal. You all killed Drake and now you'll finish me off. And why? Over some lost piece of jewelry?”

“Rikki, Drake drank too much and had a horrible accident,” Victor said. “I wish you'd accept that.”

“I can't,” Rikki said. “And I can't accept this.”

“She knows where the necklace is,” Althea said to Victor. “That's the only reason I'm here.”

Victor didn't say a word.

“I don't know anything about a necklace,” Rikki said. “Why would I?”

“Your mother told Victor about it the day of the wedding and then she mentioned it again when she was in Europe,” Althea said. “He thought she'd give it to him eventually since he's the oldest. But then she lost her marbles and had to be shipped home. I know she must have told you what happened to it after you suddenly decided to return to the fold.” Althea dug the gun into Rikki's rib cage. “You have the key to that box.”

“I don't have any necklace,” Rikki said. But she now understood who'd been snooping in her mother's bedroom. “And I sure don't have a key.”

“She's lying,” Althea said, shouting up to Victor. “Sonia let it slip that she gave the key to Regina.”

“We're heading to the town house now,” Victor retorted. “So relax.”

The key? Her mother had mentioned a key. Her Bible and the key. Were the two connected? She almost said something but decided to bide her time. If they were taking her to her town house, she might be able to escape somehow.

A few minutes later, Victor pulled the vehicle up to her house. “We have to hurry, Althea. Find the key and get out.”

“I don't have a key,” Rikki said again. They ignored her.

“You have a door key,” Althea said. “Open it.”

Rikki did as Althea asked, praying she could find a way out of this situation. Would they kill her if she didn't find what they wanted?

The house was eerily quiet, the Christmas tree looking lonely and forlorn and the smell of a sickly sweet cinnamon scent she'd once loved making her gag.

Althea forced her up to her room. “I want you to find your gold purse,” she said. “The one Sonia gave you last Christmas. You had it at the wedding.”

Rikki's heart skidded. Her mother had mentioned the word
gold
to her earlier. She thought her mother meant a gold key. Now it was a gold purse?

“I can only think of one,” she said as Althea shoved her into the closet while Victor stood watch. She tried to breathe, tried to put one foot in front of the other. But in her mind, Rikki was screaming for her brother to stop this and help her.

“Find it.” Althea seemed to delight in holding that gun at her back.

Rikki searched until she found a square gold leather clutch that had to have cost a small fortune. The designer emblem flashed at her in a gaudy wink, making her wonder why she'd ever liked this purse in the first place. She'd left it here after the wedding, never dreaming her mother had placed a key inside.

“Look inside,” Althea said, shoving at her again. “And hurry.”

Rikki thought about hitting Althea over the head but Victor would just take over. Her silent prayers held her steady while she searched inside the deep pockets of the purse.

And felt a big key.

Althea pushed her against the closet door. “Give it to me now!”

Rikki pulled out the key. “Here. If it means so much to you, take it.”

Althea grinned and shoved her out of the room. Rikki dropped the purse on the bed, hoping if Blain came here he'd find it out of place.

“Let's go, Victor,” Althea said. “We need to get to the warehouse before dark.”

Victor mumbled and gave Rikki a hard glare.

Her brother had turned into someone she didn't even know. Since when did he let Althea call the shots?

“You two deserve each other,” she said as she went past Victor.

He didn't respond. Soon they were back in the SUV and zooming out toward the warehouse. The sun was beginning to set toward the west.

And with darkness, Rikki's chances of making it out alive would soon end. They had the key now. They'd kill her. They'd been trying to kill her all along, probably so they could get in her house and search it under the guise of being concerned family. She had no idea what they thought they'd find. She didn't have the necklace.

But her brother didn't seem concerned now. He kept right on driving as if they were out for a leisurely ride.

Then her sister-in-law looked out the window. “Victor, we have to get to the warehouse before they find us.”

“I need to talk to Mama,” Victor said. “She might be able to tell us what we need to know about the jewelry case.”

“Are you crazy?” Althea asked, disbelief sounding in her tone. “That old woman won't remember a thing.”

“No, Althea,” Victor said. “I know exactly what I'm doing. Mother has always been on our side. If we don't find the necklace tonight, I'm going to talk to her.”

Confused, Rikki stared from her brother to her sister-in-law. “What do you mean?”

Althea laughed again, all of her anger gone now. “Your mother is one smart cookie. And she's probably not happy about the way things have been going lately.”

“But she's too sick to even know what's going on,” Rikki replied. “Just take the key and leave her out of this.”

“She's forgetful,” Althea replied. “But she's still the one in charge.” Althea glanced up at Victor. “Do you think she's on to us?”

“Mother always knows what's going on,” Victor said. “She knew which purse she put the key in, didn't she?”

Althea giggled. “I guess so. You did manage to get that much out of her. We have it now, anyway.”

Rikki thought she might be ill. Could it be possible they'd all fooled her? Could her dear, sweet mother really be involved in this, too?

TWENTY

B
lain paced back and forth inside the empty beach house. Murphy had been taken away in an ambulance but not before he'd given them a complete description of both Althea and Victor Alvanetti.

“It was them. They didn't even try to hide it.”

Blain couldn't believe he'd missed the Althea angle. But how did Victor play into all of this? Was he in love with Althea?

“They talked about a necklace,” Murphy said. “I heard 'em right before I passed out. Some necklace that could bring them millions of dollars.”

Blain stopped in his tracks. That necklace had to be either at the Alvanetti warehouse or at the estate. At least all of the clues showed that someone had been searching for it at both places and at Rikki's townhome, too.

They'd sent a patrol over there right away. A report had come back that someone had been there. An empty gold purse was lying on the bed in Rikki's room.

He wondered if she'd gone by there or if whoever had her had left that purse there.

He turned and hurried to the chief. “I have to go.”

“And where are you going?”

“To the warehouse and then the estate. I think the necklace could be at either location. And that means they might have her there, too.”

“But she's been at the estate for several days now,” the chief pointed out.

“But they didn't know where the necklace was hidden,” Blain said. “I'm beginning to think they never wanted Rikki dead. They just wanted her out of the way so they could search for this mysterious necklace.”

“So they killed people all around her to scare her?”

Blain nodded. “Or they killed people all around her because they panicked. Either way, if they have what they want now, they'll be done with Rikki.”

Chief Ferrier frowned and pondered. “I don't know what you're doing, Kent, but you are sure up to your eyeballs in this case. You take someone with you wherever you're going.”

“I will,” Blain said, turning to leave.

“I'll go with him,” a deep voice called out from a hallway.

Blain turned to find his dad standing there.

“Where did you come from?” he asked, surprised. He'd been waiting to hear back from his dad about Billy Rogers and now here he was.

Sam checked the hallway and then said, “I heard chatter on the radio. So I drove out and came in the door when you were in the back.” His dad moved close. “I need to talk to you. Privately.”

Blain wanted to leave but he walked with his father into a bedroom. Dad wouldn't halt him unless this was important.

Sam spoke into Blain's ear. “I have Billy Rogers handcuffed out in my car. And he's told me some very interesting things.”

“Let's go,” Blain said. He'd blinked and let Rikki walk right into a trap. He hoped Billy would give up the goods on the entire clan and right now, he didn't care whether they did things by the book or not.

Because the whole family was once again under suspicion.

* * *

Rikki yanked away from Althea's hold on her arm after they entered the back door to the warehouse. She'd tried to find a way to run but the night was so dark she feared she'd get lost in the thick woods near the river. That might be better than sticking around to die here, however.

She tried to get to the truth by talking. Maybe she could stall them. After they entered the warehouse, she said, “This is ridiculous. My mother has been ill for months now. She can't be in on this. She's been asking—”

She stopped and clammed up. She wouldn't give them any ammunition to use against her. The warehouse was dark and still, with large crates and boxes everywhere. She could hide here amidst the clutter until someone came for her. It was the only way.

“Asking what? What has your mother been telling you?” Althea said, whirling with the gun pressed to Rikki's chest. “You'd better tell me now.”

“What are you doing?”

They all turned to find Santo staring at them from a dark corner near the hallway to the office. He flipped on a glowing yellow light that cast an eerie aura all around them.

“Santo?” Althea looked shocked. “What are you doing here?”

“I asked you first,” her husband said, his tone flat, his eyes as black as coal. His gaze moved from Althea to Rikki and then back.

Althea faltered. “I...have business here. You should leave.”

Santo stared at his wife. “And what business would that be since you left me and our children? Maybe I should ask Victor about that?”

Rikki tried to run to Santo, but Althea held her and pointed the gun to her head. Rikki spoke to Santo. “They claim Mama knows what's going on. They want a necklace that's worth a lot of money.”

“Mama is safe at home,” Santo replied, his tone as calm as the wind outside the window. “
I
have Daphne and a guard in her room. Our father is there with her.”

“Daphne?” Althea's confidence was waning by the minute. “But she's—”

“In on this?” Santo asked, his dark eyes following his wife's every move. “I think you're wrong there, darling. I hired Daphne personally and she follows my orders. Not yours.”

“What?”

Santo's calm, angry eyes met his wife's. “I'm not going to call in the law just yet. I'm giving both of you a chance to explain this first. So you'd better make it good.”

Rikki saw the fear in Althea's cold eyes. Had she truly believed she'd get away with this? Rikki glanced from Althea to Victor. He hadn't spoken at all. But she saw a look passing between her brothers. A knowing look. What was going on around here?

“I'm waiting,” Santo said. “Speak up before it's too late.”

And then another man stepped around from the hallway. “It's already too late.”

Blain!

“I'd suggest you two hand over that key,” he said, his own gun drawn. “You're not getting the necklace and you are not getting away with anything else. But you are going to jail for murder.”

Althea looked shocked. “How did he get in, Victor? You told me he'd be taken care of.” Her skin turned a molten pink. “We have to end this. Go talk to your mother and get her to be reasonable.”

Santo held up a hand. “No one is going to disturb our parents. You had your chance.”

Victor drew a weapon and stepped up beside Althea. “Everything will work out.” Holding the gun on Santo and Blain, he tugged Althea away. “Let's get out of here.”

“No.” Althea yanked at Rikki and tugged her back, her gun held to Rikki's head. She gave Blain a cold stare. “Put that gun down or I'll take her out of here and none of you will see her alive again.”

“You won't do that,” Blain said, his gun still raised. “You need Rikki to show you where the jewelry is hidden. Tell her, Santo.”

Santo nodded, his hands in the air. “I know exactly where it's located. If you want that necklace so badly, well, I'll be glad to give it to you.”

“I'll kill her after I find the box,” Althea said, bobbing her head. “I don't need you anymore, Santo. We'll get the necklace and then Victor and I can finally leave together just as we planned.”

Santo started toward them again, his dark eyes on Victor, his shaggy black hair ruffled. “My own brother, double-crossing me. Victor, you know you won't get away with this.”

Victor didn't seem to care. He looked gaunt and tired, his brown eyes flashing. “Don't be stupid, brother. Your wife wants to be with me.”

Rikki wondered why Victor seemed so detached and uncaring. He looked so different, too. His hair was shaved short. He'd aged into someone she didn't recognize. Had Victor truly lost his mind?

Blain tried to make a move, but Althea waved her gun again. “I said, drop the gun. I can always kill her now. I'll find the necklace on my own if I have to.” She edged the gun closer to Rikki. “And if you come after us, I will kill her just like I killed Tessa and that idiot Chad.”

Rikki tried to twist away but Althea held her. Rikki watched Blain, her gaze holding his. He didn't want her to try anything that could result in a shoot-out.

Blain held up one hand and then placed his gun onto the floor but shook his head. “You don't need to kill anyone else. We can work this out. Take me and I'll find the box you're looking for. I think it's hidden underneath the floor in the office.”

Althea let out a cackle. “Everyone is so noble today. Take me. No, take me.” She gave Santo a look of disdain and then shook her head at Blain. “I can't do that.” She turned the gun toward Blain but Santo pushed Blain out of the way.

And then a shot rang out and Rikki watched as Santo stumbled to the floor.

“No,” she screamed as Victor grabbed her and forced her toward the office while Althea held the gun on Blain.

“Don't do it,” Blain said. “You'll regret this.”

“I only regret that I married the wrong Alvanetti,” Althea said. “I have the key and I'm leaving here with her. I don't care what Sonia or anyone else says. Rikki knows where that box is. She has to know. I've searched everywhere. She'll inherit the necklace but it should have been ours.” She stared down at where Santo held his shoulder. “I need that necklace.”

Then she shot the gun into the air and pushed Rikki up the hallway. “Don't follow us,” she said to Blain.

Rikki glanced back, worried about Santo and afraid that Blain would be shot next. When her eyes met Blain's he nodded to her. “I'm going to come for you, Rikki. I promise.”

But after Victor slammed the door to the hallway and locked it, she had to wonder if he'd be able to keep that promise.

* * *

Blain stooped to check on Santo.

“Go, go,” Santo said. “I'll be okay.”

Sam Kent came running from the back of the warehouse. “Hey, everybody okay here?”

“Check on Santo,” Blain called. “He's been shot. They took Rikki.”

“They won't get far,” Sam shouted. “We've got people on the way.”

“I'm going after them. They're headed to the office.”

“Got it,” Sam called. “Be careful, son.”

Blain rushed outside, hoping to ambush them at the front of the big building. The dark, moonless night was draped in a heavy humidity that chilled him down to his bones. The parking area was empty now, except for the dark SUV hidden out back. His dad had parked on the road. Billy Rogers was handcuffed in the backseat.

Blain prayed their little sting wouldn't get Rikki killed.

Things had gone down fast after Billy Rogers told them the plan. Blain and his dad had decided to hurry out to the warehouse and wait for Victor and Althea, but Blain had called Santo to warn him. Good thing, too. Victor and Althea had detoured to Rikki's town house, giving Blain just enough time to get everyone situated here and warn the Alvanettis to be on the lookout. Blain should have taken them both out the minute they arrived but Santo thought he could reason with them.

Now Rikki was at the mercy of her brother and the mastermind behind this heist—Althea Alvanetti. He'd have to sort all of this out later. He had to help Rikki.

He approached the hulking building from the side, a sick kind of dread filling his heart. The door was locked tight and after checking several windows and doors, Blain decided the place was empty.

Where had they taken Rikki?

* * *

Rikki didn't know where she was.

They found the secret compartment hidden beneath a rug under the desk. Victor lifted out a heavy wooden box that looked like a true treasure chest. Then Althea insisted on hurrying toward an underground storage area.

“We need to get out of here,” she kept shouting. “And we need to kill her and dump her.”

Victor finally showed some emotion. “I'm not killing my sister. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in jail?”

“We can kill her and go away, Victor. To anywhere in the world. They can't find us now. Tessa is dead. Chad is dead. We're free and clear now.” Then she snorted. “Except for this one little detail—your sister.” When he didn't make a move, Althea added, “Do I need to remind you that I have certain information that can ruin you forever?”

Rikki didn't dare speak up for fear that Althea would realize she'd blurted out too much information. But she now saw the truth. Althea was blackmailing Victor.

But Victor didn't seem too worried about that. “You shouldn't have shot the woman, Althea. You know what Rikki looks like. How could you have mistaken Tessa for my sister?”

Althea urged him on, her gun pressing in Rikki's back and they climbed down a set of stairs. “I haven't seen your dear sister since the wedding last year. I panicked, okay. It was an accident.”

Victor let out a grunt of frustration and lifted the box onto an old table. “All because of the infamous wedding where you overheard Sonia talking to me about the necklace. Rikki stood to inherit it and you didn't like that.”

“It wasn't right.” Rikki heard Althea shuffling behind her. “I'd had it with Santo,” Althea said. “And then your mother encouraged me to take matters into my own hands.”

“Yes, she sure did.” Victor sounded defeated. “But I don't think she meant for you to kill anyone or steal a priceless necklace. She wanted you to save your marriage.”

They discussed and argued until all of the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Rikki stayed quiet until they'd moved deep into the underground storage area that sat near the river. The plastic curtains to the loading dock flapped in a slow breeze. She thought she heard water lapping against a shore.

The wind surrounded her while they dragged her toward the big open doors. This part of the building smelled musty and decayed. She didn't want to think about what they planned to do to her.

“Do you think this will work?” Althea asked.

“It's the only way,” Victor replied. “You're more stealthy and athletic than me. And I believe you know these particular woods. You can make it out with the necklace and I'll take care of everything else.”