Holiday Illusion (13 page)

W
hile Andrew, Lucas's friend/bodyguard checked into Ted's background, Lucas waited for Anna to finish getting ready for de Chastelain's party. She didn't want him going, but that was just too bad. He understood her reasons for not wanting him there, but he'd skulk around outside if he had to, because there was no way he was going to let her do this alone.

Finally, she appeared at the top of the steps and his heart tripped all over itself to make her proud by beating just for her.

“Good heavens, what on earth are you doing dressed like the help?”

Lucas turned in the direction of the disdainful voice and said, “Just think of it as a costume party, Father.”

The man sniffed, “Surely she could have come up with a better costume than…that.” He waved a gnarled hand toward Anna, who merely smiled and gracefully descended the stairs, saying, “Hello, Mr. Bennett. I hope you have a lovely evening. Will you be joining us for church in the morning?”

The man snorted, “Not likely, although I'm sure Lucas will put in an appearance since he's gone and got religion now.” Muttering under his breath as he moved toward his parlor, he shuffled past Lucas, who caught the words, “Someone who floats down the stairs should be dressed in silk for a ball, not bartending.”

Anna grinned up at him from the bottom step, the stress of what she was about to do disappearing from her features for a brief moment. “It's a catering uniform, sir.” The man ignored her as continued on into the other room. She transferred her grin to Lucas. “I do believe he just paid me a compliment.”

Lucas reached out and pulled her to him. “He's right, you know.”

She quirked an eyebrow.

“You float. You're very beautiful even dressed like a bartender, and I'm scared to death something's going to happen to you.”

“Nothing's going to happen as long as I'm very careful. Jennifer will be outside able to hear every word I say thanks to this handy-dandy little earpiece and microphone. She's talked a few other fellow agents into coming, too, just in case.” Reaching up, she gave it a gentle tap. “If I get into trouble, I just have to give her the signal and she'll have FBI swarming all over the place.” She frowned, just seeming to notice him dressed in a tux. Attraction flared in her eyes for a brief moment before suspicion drew her delicate eyebrows down toward the bridge of her nose. “Why do you have on a tux?”

“I'm going with you.”

“Lucas, I've already told you…” He cut her off with a finger over her lips. He'd think about their warmth later.

“I've come prepared,” he said. “Look.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pair of black-rimmed glasses. A set of false teeth changed the shape of his mouth and a black wig that looked as real as his own hair covered his head. Freshly shaven, there wasn't a blond whisker to give him away. He pulled one more item from his pocket and pressed a neatly trimmed, wig-matching goatee to his chin. His eyebrows were dark enough to pass muster without dying them. He looked like an entirely different person.

“Where did you get this stuff?”

“I called Jennifer and asked her to help me out.”

Anna rolled her eyes, mentally reminding herself to have a talk with her friend. However, right now she had a party to get to and if he was determined to go with her…

“All right, but stay as inconspicuous as possible and don't act like you know me. Deal?”

His eyes lit up. “Deal.”

She frowned again. “This isn't a game, Lucas.”

Immediately serious, he said, “I'm well aware of that fact. Your safety is the most important thing in the world to me right now. You don't have to remind me how dangerous this is. In fact, I've already appealed to God for your safety.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He left it at that but she shot him a look that said he would be doing some explaining in the near future.

Sucking in a deep breath, she nodded. “Okay. Then let's get going.”

Two hours later, they pulled up to the gate. Anna had wrapped a faux-fur coat around her to hide her uniform from the guard. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Jennifer in the driver's seat of one of the many news vans.

She laughed to herself. Great thinking, Jennifer. The media was all over this party, hoping for a way in or at least an exclusive interview with one of the guests. No one would ever suspect the woman was an agent on a mission. Lucas flashed the invitation and they were on their way up the driveway to the mansion she'd never wanted to see again.

Memories assailed her as the house came into sight. Beautifully decorated for Christmas, with wreaths hanging and candles winking from every window, the house glowed with warmth and good cheer. A fully decorated Christmas tree stood on each end of the massive wraparound porch. Anna knew the welcoming appearance was merely an illusion; that underneath it all, behind the double oak door, lay evil and death. She shuddered, wishing she could turn around and go back into hiding…take the easy way out, cave in to the fear stuttering through her.

“You okay?”

Lucas's quiet question intruded on her flashbacks. She nodded and shoved away the memories along with her panic. “Yeah.” Then she spoke to the air. “Jennifer, can you hear me okay?”

“Loud and clear. You be careful in there.” Jennifer's voice came through her tiny earpiece.

“Right.”

Lucas pulled the car up to the front door, stepped out and came around to let her out. She snuggled into the fur, shivering in the cold night air as Lucas handed the valet parking attendant his key and a tip.

The man sped off and as soon as the second attendant was busy with the guests arriving next, she and Lucas slipped into the shadows to slink around to the side of the house. Anna made her way to the kitchen entrance. The catering truck was backed up to the door, but no one was around. They'd probably already finished unloading. Hopefully, she'd be able to blend in if she kept her head low and didn't make any eye contact. Lucas grabbed her arm before she could enter. “Are you sure about this?”

Shivering, she stared up into his concerned eyes and knew that concern was for her. Heart clenching, she stepped in close to wrap him in a hug, breathing in his clean, masculine scent. “I'm sure. All I need to do is slip into the office, look around. I'm not planning on lingering. In and out, I promise. If I find something, I'll call in the troops. If not…”

“But—”

“Here.” She cut him off and shrugged out of the coat. “I won't be needing this.”

Lucas caught her hand. “Say a prayer.”

Startled, she paused. “What?”

“Just say a prayer. You're not going into this without being covered in prayer.”

“Wow,” she whispered.

“We'll talk later. Now pray.”

She did, then stepped back, looked into his eyes and felt a sweet relief move through her soul. Lucas had definitely made his peace with God.

Smoothing her hands down the sides of her freshly starched black pants, she threw her shoulders back and clipped her hair up into the net. She was ready. She warned him, “Don't get caught out here. Everyone's on the other side of the house where the large den and dining room are. There's also a huge glassed-in terrace that wraps halfway around the house. A lot of people will be out there.” She paused, took a deep breath then said, “All right, Jenn, just like old times, hey girl? Showtime, my friend.”

“Back atcha,” came the response in her left ear.

With one last look at a worried Lucas, Anna twisted the knob and slipped into the kitchen.

L
ucas figured he was intimately familiar with stress. Look at the family he came from, the job he'd held the past three years, the fact that someone was trying to kill Anna and might just get him in the process. Yes, he knew stress, but watching her disappear into the kitchen of the man who wanted her dead just about did him in. His gut was in a permanent clench, and he figured he had a good start on an ulcer.

But he couldn't just stand there like a coat rack holding the fur. Tossing the item over the nearest bush, he straightened his tux and did his best to imitate a man simply out for a stroll.

As he made progress around the perimeter of the house, the noise from the terrace reached him. But it was de Chastelain that Lucas wanted to keep an eye on. He gave a tug on the itchy wig, shifted the teeth in his mouth and slipped on the glasses.

Now that he had the chance to study it, the house took his breath away. Magnificently built, the entire back side was glass, to give the viewer a splendid view of the ocean down below—and, for someone standing out in the dark, a perfect view of the happenings inside the brilliantly lit home. He could literally see into three rooms at once.

He looked for Anna but wasn't able to spot her. Sticking to the shadows, he moved on down to see a different section of the crowd—and nearly dropped his false teeth when he realized he was staring into the face of Shawn de Chastelain.

Fortunately, the man was laughing at something one of his guests had said and didn't realize he was being watched. Then from the corner of Lucas's eye, Anna came into view. Her head low, she held a tray bearing all kinds of professionally concocted treats. Several people reached to take one off the tray, but didn't appear to notice the person holding it.

With lithe grace, she weaved her way through the mass of humanity, her goal the stairs. As Lucas kept his eyes on her, he moved parallel to her movements. Looking back, he breathed a small sigh of relief to note that de Chastelain seemed oblivious to Anna.

Still she moved with agility, stopping every once in a while to allow a guest to sample one of the pastries on her tray, then she was on the move again, her goal the door down the hall to her left. She'd described the layout of the house to him, but now, from this perspective, he understood her explanation a little better. Just a few more steps and she'd be in front of de Chastelain's office door.

 

Anna balanced the tray expertly, her years of waitressing in college coming back into play. She was almost there. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for de Chastelain. Good. He was engrossed in something someone was saying. She did wish he'd turn around and put his back to her, but as long as he wasn't paying attention…

Setting the tray on a table near the office door, she moved closer to it, waiting for her chance. She scanned the crowd and managed to keep de Chastelain in her sight at all times. De Chastelain's wife, Sherry, crossed the room to her husband's side, twined her arm through de Chastelain's and smirked at the pretty, petite guest who'd captured his attention. The young woman flinched, covered it with a demure smile…and slunk away.

Poor Sherry, Anna thought. She had a sham of a marriage and no assurance of a husband who loved her and was faithful. In fact, she knew otherwise. While Anna had worked there, it had been a topic of many heated arguments. Yet, Sherry stayed with him. The whole scenario made Anna sad and showed her exactly what she didn't want in a marriage.

Finally, a rather large woman crossed in front of de Chastelain. Tossing away thoughts of de Chastelain and Sherry, Anna focused on the job she was there to do, and twisted the knob to slip inside the office.

Heart pounding, breath whistling in short gasps, she realized her nerves were going to need some major reconstruction after this adventure…assuming she made it out without being caught. She studied the room that looked almost exactly like it had four years ago. De Chastelain's wife had changed nothing. Excitement leaped within her. Touches of Christmas cheer mocked her. A small tree on the desk blinked its multicolored lights and mistletoe hung from the light fixture in the center of the room.

And the umbrella stand stood right where it had the night of the murder. Upon closer inspection, she realized the desk was different, a close copy, but different. Somehow, de Chastelain had managed to switch the desks. Then she remembered this one as being the desk from the upstairs study. And, most likely, had no little secret drawer.

Crossing to the umbrella stand, she pulled out the decorative arrangement and set it aside. Then she picked up the stand and turned it upside down, fully expecting the memory card to fall out with a clink.

Nothing.

Frustration nearly choked her. Think. Think. She scanned the floor, the beautiful hardwood, the new area rug that hadn't been there four years ago. Bending to her knees, she pulled up the edge—and froze.

The creature must have fallen down the vent and couldn't get out.
Maddy's words echoed in her head as she stared at the air-conditioning vent located only a couple of inches from the umbrella stand.
The creature must have fallen down the vent and couldn't get out.

Could it be?

A sound at the door swung her around. Quickly, she picked the arrangement up and stuffed it back where it belonged. She rolled the rug back over the vent and froze, huddling behind the desk.

Giggling and shushes filtered their way through the closed door and footsteps made their way on down the hall. Anna nearly wilted with relief. She honestly had no idea what she would say if she was caught.

No time to think up a story. She'd have to be creative if the need arose.

Immediately turning her attention back to the rug, she pulled it up again. Grateful, she'd thought to bring a small penlight, she snatched it from her back pocket, knelt on the floor and shone the beam into the vent.

And there it was. The memory card, caught in a cobweb suspended in the shaft, illuminated by the thin stream of light, blinked sleepily up at her as though offended by the intrusion after all these years.

Pure, unadulterated disbelief made her voice shaky. “Jenn, I found it.”

“You're kidding.”

“It's here.”

“Good, now leave it and get out so we can find a reason to get a search warrant.”

“I can't get to it,” she ground out, ignoring Jenn's order. Excitement warred with frustration. So close, so close. She'd have to pry the vent off then find a safer place to stash it. She didn't want to leave it hanging on that web a moment longer in spite of the fact that it had been there for four years.

Jennifer's voice hardened. “Well, I can't send anyone in. I don't have just cause to search the man's house. I need you to get out and help me find a reason. Then we'll get the card.”

The door opened and once again, Anna froze.

“Anna, you in here?” the voice whispered.

Lucas.

How much more adrenaline could her body produce? Her heart still pounding, not bothering to rise to her feet, she looked up over the edge of the desk and did a double take at his altered appearance.

“What are you doing in here?” she whispered. “Are you crazy?”

She didn't have time for this. Pulling open the desk drawer, she searched for something, anything to lift the vent. A nail file, a screwdriver. If she could get the cover off, she could reach down there and grab the card. But she would only get one chance. If she knocked it loose, they'd have to take apart the system to get to it, as it would slide on down into the shaft.

She slid the drawer shut and tried the next one.

“De Chastelain kept looking this way. I managed to slip in when he turned to talk to another guest, but my guess is he's getting ready to come in here.”

Anna groaned. “Not yet. I'm so close.” Nothing in that drawer. She slid open the bottom one and found a metal ruler. It would do. Grabbing it, she jammed the thin edge up under the vent cover and lifted. It rose partially.

“Come on, Anna, you're making me nervous.”

“Crack the door and see if you see him.”

“Anna,” Jennifer spoke into her ear. “I can hear everything. You need to get out of there if there's a chance de Chastelain is going to walk in on you.”

“I'm not leaving without making sure that evidence isn't going to disappear…again.” She had visions of the thing being jarred loose, sliding on down the vent and she'd have no way of proving she'd been right all these years. Not to mention that de Chastelain would get away with murder. And Lucas's life would still be in danger…because she failed. She had to get that card.

“It's been there four years, it's not going anywhere. Now get out.”

Lucas came back from the door. “He's closer, definitely heading this way, but getting stopped along the way by people.”

“I've. Almost. Got. It.” The ruler snapped and Anna fell back with a growl of frustration.

He grabbed her hand, pulled her up, then stepped on the vent to squash it back into place. He rolled the rug back over it and grabbed up the broken ruler. Anna nearly screamed at him. Instead she lowered her voice and asked through gritted teeth, “What do you think you're doing?”

Gripping her cheeks, he forced her to look him in the eye, through the clear glass of the glasses into his beautiful brown ones. With one hand, he stuffed the ruler into his back pocket, then pulled the false teeth from his mouth and slid them in his front pocket. “You're not thinking clearly. What's going to happen if you tamper with that evidence?”

She stopped and closed her eyes. “I wasn't going to take it, just…move it. To a safer place.” Her beautiful sapphire eyes popped back open to meet his.

He urged her, “Think, Anna. You can't do that.”

Anxiety knit her eyebrows together. “But if it falls…”

“Then someone will go to a lot of trouble to get it, but it can't be you. Think it through. You'll do the very opposite of what you're working so hard to accomplish. You'll screw up the investigation and de Chastelain will get off on some technicality.” He paused, his eyes twin beams of intensity. “You're always saying how God is in control. Well, trust Him. Do the right thing and exercise that faith of yours that I admire so much.”

“Listen to him, Anna, he's right.” Jennifer's no-nonsense tone startled her. Anna had forgotten about the woman.

The door opened and Lucas's lips swooped down to claim hers. Shocked, she jumped, then the kiss caught her attention to the exclusion of all else. She felt her lips soften, relished the feel of this man holding her in his arms.

The clearing of a throat pulled them apart. She buried her face in Lucas's chest, knowing her face had to be flaming red. As she started to turn toward the newcomer, Lucas's palm trapped her head against him. She relaxed, getting the message. He didn't want whoever was in the doorway to see her face.

De Chastelain spoke. “Could you two take that somewhere else? This is my private office and I don't appreciate trespassers. Isn't she supposed to be working anyway?”

Lucas responded with a lisp. Somehow he'd managed to shove those awful teeth back in his mouth before looking at de Chastelain. “Yes, we were just taking advantage of the mistletoe, but no problem, we'll get right out.”

“See to it.” Someone called his name from behind and de Chastelain gave a growl of disgust, then Anna heard him say, “Out. Now.”

The door shut and Anna sagged, Lucas's muscular arms the only thing keeping her from hitting the floor. He maneuvered her to the love seat to allow her to catch her breath.

“That was close,” he muttered.

“Too close. I think I've come to my senses now.” She slid him a shaky look, tried to relieve the tension by saying, “At least the ones you managed not to rattle with that kiss. But you're right. Let's get out of here before he decides to come back and give us a personal escort.”

Just the thought of coming face-to-face with the man had her shuddering, reliving her past. All the feelings, emotions she'd felt that night she'd seen him kill a man swept through her, causing her to tremble uncontrollably. At least she blamed it on the memories and not the kiss that still tingled on her lips. She stood, forced her legs to walk to the door. What had that kiss meant to him? Did he feel what she felt? She vowed to ask him as soon as possible.

“Hey.”

Lucas's soft whisper brought her attention back to him. He was staring at a picture that had fallen to the floor, no doubt thanks to her rustling through the desk.

“What is it?” She walked back over to him to peer over his shoulder.

Two boys about six years old stood side by side, an arm wrapped around each other's shoulders, identical smiles grinning for the camera.

“I think I know who your missing body is.”

 

They made it back to Lucas's house without further incident with Lucas offering an explanation for the latest bombshell he'd just dropped on her. They were
twins.
Lucas explained that twins had identical DNA. There would be no way to know which brother the blood came from. The only thing that would differentiate the twins would be fingerprints.