Dying for a Dance (29 page)

“Mason is taking the blame for the smuggling scheme. He said he lost a ton of money in the recession. His real estate and stock market investments were all under water. Then he had a heart attack which cost him several hundred thousand dollars because he was uninsurable and didn't have medical coverage.”

“Oh, that's a shame,” I said sympathetically, even though I realized I was feeling sorry for two criminals.

Tom rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Yeah, well if they'd lived a more modest lifestyle none of this would have happened. Paula knew Didier from her cruise ship days and was aware that he occasionally dabbled in some shady transactions apart from his costume business. She introduced her husband to Didier and the two men came up with the concept of transporting the diamonds on her gowns.”

“Why did she agree to the scheme?”

Tom shrugged. “I gather she was so addicted to their expensive lifestyle and to her ballroom dance hobby that she was willing to do whatever it took to pump up their personal bottom line. According to her husband, his clients were furious with him because of some speculative investments he'd made with their money. Some of his clientele aren't particular whether their profits are obtained legally or not. And they are
not
the kind of people you want carrying a grudge against you. Anyway, he guaranteed that the diamonds were legit and they evidently accepted his explanation.”

“Some of them may have guessed it wasn't on the up and up, but they didn't really care how their assets were obtained,” Bradford chimed in. “The bump up in the price of diamonds was an additional boon. Not to mention it's a tax free gain.”

“What about that Didier guy?” I asked. “Did he confess?”

“The authorities are still searching for him. It's beginning to look like Didier established an entire ring of people transporting and selling diamonds in this country. He even provided fake certificates certifying that the black market diamonds were not conflict diamonds.”

“What about the murders? Does her confession count?” My brain still felt waterlogged and foggy about what had actually transpired, but I was fairly certain Paula had admitted to murdering both men while I was at scissor point.

“As far as the murders, there were plenty of witnesses to Paula's confession at the hotel. Not to mention your kidnapping and attempted murder. Twice.”

I straightened up. “Twice?”

“We don't know for certain yet,” Tom said, “but Paula was likely the one who shot at you. She picked up some interesting skills while she worked for the cruise line.”

Smuggling and shooting. Some hobbies!

All of a sudden I realized something else I'd forgotten. “The wedding. I can't believe I missed it. Liz is probably ready to murder me herself.”

“She was until she realized you would never intentionally miss her ceremony,” replied my mother. “And don't worry. There was no way she was getting married without you by her side. She should be here any minute...”

An enormous arrangement of flowers and balloons appeared in the doorway. Liz peeked at me from behind an oversized bright yellow smiley face.

“You'd do anything to get out of performing that wedding dance, wouldn't you?” Liz dumped the arrangement in Brian's arms. “Oh, Laurel, don't ever scare me like that again.”

She shoved Tom off the bed and took hold of my hand.

I smiled at my best friend. And my kids. At my mother and Tom.

Then I told them to move aside so the man who saved my life could receive a proper hug.

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FIFTY-THREE

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Once again I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My silver bridesmaid gown had been cleaned by the hotel, free of charge. Although technically it wasn't their fault, the Royal Tahoe Resort was embarrassed that one of their guests was almost murdered by another guest on the hotel's property. They comped my room for the entire length of my stay, which extended a couple of extra days while I recovered and everything was sorted out.

Paula remained in the hospital, her condition improving each day. Her faithful husband had hired the best criminal attorney in the county for both of them. Once she was well enough to be moved to the jail she would remain there, without bail.

Mr. Chandler, Dana and their son, Robbie, drove up to the hospital to visit me. They brought a beautiful floral bouquet and tucked in among the greenery was my Christmas bonus check. In his usual gruff manner, Mr. Chandler thanked me for solving the case and getting him out of jail. Dana hugged me like I was a long lost sister. I had a feeling we might eventually become good friends. Their arrival coincided with the departure of my children who were leaving to grab a bite to eat with their grandmother.

Jenna took one look at Robbie and by the expression on her face, I had a feeling she wasn't doing calculus equations in her head. He grinned at her and it was delightful to see the sullen young man break into a smile. It couldn't have been easy having his father arrested for supposedly killing his mother's lover.

The elusive Anya eventually turned up in Los Angeles. She had not only played hanky panky with Dimitri, but also with a married California legislator. She met the politician while working as a stripper at the Platinum Club in Sacramento to supplement her modest earnings as a ballroom instructor. The government men who were after her were investigating said politician for a variety of reasons, and they needed Anya's testimony regarding some of his illicit actions.

She finally agreed to help them out when the case came to trial in LA. In the meantime, she and Marcus were auditioning to become professional dancers on
Dancing with the Stars.

Boris admitted sending the threatening notes to Dimitri, hoping he would change his mind about opening his own studio. Boris also turned out to be the person who trespassed on our property and who sent me the nesting dolls in an attempt to woo me. He'd drawn the red mark in the shape of a heart but his artistic skills left much to be desired. While I appreciated the gesture, I was glad I wouldn't have to venture into the Golden Hills Dance Studio and encounter his presence ever again.

Stan had no such reservations about the studio. He planned on continuing his lessons with Tatiana. Despite the fact that his substitute partner turned out to be a killer, Stan won first place for his tango. He also found out that during our mad dash across the dance floor, we managed to beat out one of the other couples in the gold competition for, of all things, our foxtrot.

I picked up a stick of make-up concealer and touched up the scratches I'd suffered from Paula's deranged attack with the scissors. My wounds appeared to be healing nicely. With one last glance in the mirror, I grabbed a bouquet of white roses and lilies and set off for the elevator. It was hard to believe it had been only three days since I had made a similar trip in this same dress. I pondered the craziness of the last few days and hoped everything would return to normal. All I wanted was to lead a nice quiet life with my family and friends.

And maybe, just maybe, someday I, too, would walk down the aisle with someone special.

Preferably someone tall, dark and handsome.

For today, all I hoped was that the wedding nuptials would go smoothly and it would remain a cherished day for the new bride and groom.

* * * *

A half hour later, I stood next to my children who were both participating in the wedding. The strains of Pachelbel's “Canon in D” filtered into the reception area where we waited. Jenna wore a floor-length forest green velvet dress that complimented her auburn tresses. Ben looked grown up in a suit that, with luck, would survive the wedding before he managed to ruin it.

Tears glittered in my eyes as I watched my two children walk down the aisle hand-in-hand. The church wasn't too crowded since this wedding was being held mid-week. The bridal couple had decided they couldn't wait another day to become husband and wife.

I hugged the bride, careful not to mess up her coiffure and wedding attire. Her short blonde hair was unadorned and she wore a long, elegant St. John's white knit sheath with a matching jacket. She looked like perfection, as my mother always did.

“I still can't believe Liz and Brian decided to put off their wedding,” I whined. “I feel like it's completely my fault.”

“Can you imagine Liz giving up that romantic pre-paid cruise to Hawaii?” My mother's eyes sparkled as much as the diamond on her left hand. “Plus, now she gets to plan another wedding. She and Brian just reversed things by taking the honeymoon first.”

I rolled my eyes. “Which means more to-do lists for me when they return.”

I clasped my mother's slender hand. “Are you sure you're ready to go through with the wedding? This isn't purely a kneejerk reaction to my almost being killed.”

“Honey, everything that happened this week reinforced my belief that life is too short and far too precious for me to wait any longer. I love you and the kids, of course. But I love Robert, too, and we are ready to start our new life together. Whether you approve or not.”

I grinned at my beautiful mother. “Are you kidding? The man jumped into Lake Tahoe to save my life. You're marrying a hero and I couldn't be happier.”

I looked around for the best man, who was supposed to escort me down the aisle. Bradford's former partner and friend. The man whose smile melted my heart and all of my vital body parts.

Now where was Tom Hunter?

The strains of “Here Comes the Bride” rang out from the chapel. My mother grabbed her bouquet then turned to me. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, there was a last minute change.”

Her words were lost as muscular arms enveloped me in a bear hug. At last, Tom had arrived. I looked up into the smiling eyes of a cuddly grizzly bear.

Boris?

His teeth gleamed under his stiff black moustache. I turned to my mother.

“Mom?”

She shrugged. “What can I say? Tom was called away on a case, and Boris fit into Tom's tux.”

Oh, well. There was nothing I could do but accept the studio owner's proffered arm. The wedding was about to begin.

I'm never certain where my life is going to take me, but there is one thing I know for sure. The next time I pray for someone tall, dark and handsome to walk me down the aisle, I'm going to be a lot more specific!

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ABOUT AUTHOR CINDY SAMPLE

* * * *

Although Cindy Sample's initial dream was to be a mystery writer, she put aside her literary longings for a weekly paycheck, landing a job as a receptionist with a real estate office. Her career path eventually led to the position of CEO of a nationwide mortgage banking company.

After one too many corporate mergers, Cindy found herself plotting murder instead of plodding through paperwork. Her experiences with on-line dating sites fueled the concept for her first novel, Dying for a Date. Dying for a Dance is based on her adventures in the glamorous world of ballroom dancing. Cindy is currently working on the third book in her series, Dying for a Daiquiri. Research has never been so much fun.

Cindy is a former columnist for the Gold River Community Newspaper. She is past president of the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime. She served on the boards of the California Mortgage Bankers Assn., Sacramento Opera, the YWCA, and is co-chair of Left Coast Crime 2012. She has two wonderful adult children who live too far away.

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Visit Cindy on her website

www.cindysamplebooks.com

PRAISE FOR DYING FOR A DATE
by Cindy Sample

“Packed with zany characters, humorous situations, and laugh-out-loud narrative. Consider reading this book in one setting, because once you start, you will be reluctant to put it aside."
—Midwest Book Review
—5 STAR REVIEW

“Cindy Sample knows how to weave a story that satisfies and excites. Time literally flew by as I turned the pages...simultaneously harrowing, exciting, tender, and uplifting, a true who-done-it combined with a romance that will warm the heart and sheets."
—Long and Short Reviews
—5 STAR REVIEW

“
Dying for a Date
combines the fun of a spunky and smart heroine with an exciting murder mystery. This is an excellent entry to the world of romantic mysteries."
—San Francisco Book Review

“Funny, smart with a fast paced plot that keeps you guessing.
Dying for a Date
will keep you laughing, intrigued, and happy that Cindy Sample isn't writing your life story."
—Fiction Addict

“Sharp intelligence and flippant wit, turmoil and anxiety, danger and deception...all blend into one smooth and tasty read. I hope this turns into a long running series."
—Once Upon a Romance Reviews

“A delightful romantic mystery. The plot was entertaining and I was kept guessing the murderer's identity right up until the reveal at the end. I look forward to reading more mysteries in the future from this talented new author."
—Rebecca's Reads
—5 STAR REVIEW

“Cindy Sample has an irrepressible sense of humor which is reflected in her writing.
Dying for a Date
is funny, fast paced and a kick to read. Laurel McKay is a lovable, klutzy protagonist backed by a team of quirky, humorous characters who are going to be a continuing hit with her readers."
—Mountain Democrat Newspaper

“If the genre you love to read is romance or mystery, you've found a book that gives you both. Cindy Sample's writing is straight forward, funny and thoughtful."
—Around Here Magazine

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