Wedding Bell Blues (29 page)

Then I flashed back to that little scene in the hallway the
day
before. Joey had been surprised to see me. There was no doubt about it.
Sure, he'd covered it, but not so quickly I hadn't seen. I'd assumed
he'd been surprised because I hadn't been in class that week and he,
like all my students, knew I'd planned on taking the end of the week
off because of the wedding. Just like I'd assumed that quick hint of
fear I'd seen in his eyes had been because he'd let his grades slip
enough to bring his eligibility to play into question. Hell, I'd even
thought he might have reacted that way simply because I looked like an
extra in some B grade horror movie.

But what if I were wrong?

"Jess?"

Biting my lower lip, I shook my head. I had to be sure before
saying
anything. I couldn't just accuse Joey because he'd reacted in a way I
hadn't expected. Still, his reaction had been out of character. But was
that enough to say anything to Colton?

Think.

Unfortunately, I didn't want to. I didn't want to think about
what
had happened Saturday and the possibility Joey might be involved. As if
that were enough to trigger memory, the image of the devil-masked
robber flashed to mind and my stomach pitched dangerously. Whether I
liked it or not, Joey fit the height and build of the bastard who had
hit me.

But so did a lot of guys. Was that enough to tell Colton, to
have him question Joey about the murder?

Damned straight it was. If Joey wasn't involved, Colton would
figure
it out quickly enough. But if he was, well, Colton would figure that
out as well.

With that decided, I told Colton what I could, describing the
scene
at school with Joey yesterday morning, as well as the similarities
between him and the guy who hit me at Manny's. I wasn't sure whether to
feel grateful or not when Colton didn't laugh or act like I'd lost my
mind. Instead, he asked if I knew who Joey ran with, who his friends
might be.

"The only one I know of he hangs around with is Josh McKilroy
- and,
before you ask, I don't know anything about Josh except he's on the
football team's second squad."

"Okay. You're doing good." He smiled at me in reassurance and
I
nodded. "Have you noticed anything about Walters recently that's seemed
different, off?"

"Not really. He's not a great student, but he does the work
and
knows not to pull the whole 'I'm a jock so I deserve a break' crap. I
haven't heard of any of the other teachers having problems with him."

"Is there anything else you can think of that might help me
when I talk to him?

"No," I answered after thinking for a moment. "Sorry."

"Don't be. You've done great, Jess." Now it was his turn to
push
back from the table and climb to his feet. "Let me brief the
lieutenant, see what's keeping Davalos, and then I'll take you back to
your parents'."

"All right." I stood and followed him to the door. Before he
could
open it, I closed my hand over his where it rested on the doorknob.
"You will be back in time for dinner, right?" I asked softly.

"I'll do my very best," he promised.

Of course, getting away from the station wasn't that easy.
Davalos
still wanted to meet with me. Before I could think of some excuse to
get out of it, Colton reminded me that I really needed to see what she
had to say. Not that I really cared. But there was something in the way
he said it that had me nodding in agreement. So, leaving him to get
back to work at his desk, I once again made my way upstairs to the
Arson Squad offices, wondering the whole time if I really needed to do
this.

By the time I left the squad room, I was more than glad I'd
come.
Oh, it wasn't because Davalos had anything new to tell me. She didn't.
In fact, all she did was confirm what Colton had already told me. It
was the other reason she'd wanted to see me that made my day. Whether
Colton had had a word with her, or someone had reminded her who my
parents were and how influential they were in the local political
scene, I didn't know. But someone had obviously told her she'd made a
big mistake treating me like a suspect and that it would be in her best
interest to apologize.

I'd managed, somehow, to sit there with a neutral expression,
even
as I fought the urge to laugh aloud as she stammered out her apology.
She really hoped I hadn't taken anything she'd said as an accusation or
indication that she'd thought for a moment that I'd had anything to do
with the fire. But it was her job to ask the hard questions and,
sometimes, she tended to get a little over-aggressive in the process.

She also hoped that her investigation hadn't slowed the
insurance
investigation and payment. If there was anything she could do to assist
in closing the claim file, please, just let her know. Even though I was
sorely tempted to string her along for a bit, I didn't. I remembered
Colton commenting that she was one of the best in the squad, and I had
no doubts that the job was hard enough without adding the fact she was
female in a predominantly male job. So I assured her I understood and,
if I thought of anything she could do to help, I'd let her know.

Best of all, Colton had me back to my parents' by four.

"You are going to be back for dinner, right?" I asked as I
swiveled around to pin him with a firm look.

"I will do my absolute best."

"Colton."

"Jess, I'm meeting Demarest at the kid's address. Hopefully,
by the
time I get there, the search warrant will have been issued and we can
toss his room before questioning him. If nothing breaks, I'll be there.
But if this case starts breaking, I'll have to follow through."

As much as I wanted to argue, I couldn't. This was his job we
were
talking about. A job he was very good at. No matter how badly I didn't
want to have to deal with Brett's best man, the last thing I wanted was
to have him jeopardize the investigation for me.

Of course, I'd be a whole lot happier if he'd take me with
him. Not that that was going to happen.

"Will you at least keep me informed?"

"Of course." Now he smiled and reached for my hand. "Jess,
I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise."

"You'd better be." I grinned wickedly. "Otherwise, I'll tell
my
mother that you're hiding because you're too scared to sit down across
the table from her."

"Bitch," he chuckled. "Okay, get inside. I'll call as soon as
I know what's going on."

Before I could do as he said, he pulled me close. In the back
of my
mind, I knew eyes were watching from the house as he kissed me, but I
didn't care. What rational girl would when he was doing such a good job
turning my bones to mush?

"If you're good and get here in time for dinner, I promise
we'll cut out early," I said huskily when I finally came up for air.

"If it's at all humanly possible, you've got yourself a date."

That was the best I could hope for. I gave him another quick
kiss before hurrying inside.

"I don't need to ask if you're all right," Mom said with a
grin from the door to the den as I stepped inside the house.

"Nope, there's no need to ask." I couldn't help smiling.
"Maryanne?"

"Upstairs trying to figure out what she's wearing tonight."

"I'll go see if I can help."

"Before you do, can you tell me why Colton needed you
downtown?" She stepped into the hallway, her expression worried.

"He wanted me to try to identify the car I saw at Manny's. I
did my
best, and he's running down a couple of leads based on that." It wasn't
much, but I really didn't know how much I could tell her. Besides,
she'd only worry if she knew the killer might be one of my students.
Hell, I worried because the killer might be one of them. "He promises
to be here in time for dinner unless something with the case breaks."

"But he's making progress?"

"He thinks so." I took one step up the stairs, hoping she'd
take the
hint. There was enough to worry about just then without wondering what
Colton was up to. Besides, I really was worrying enough for all of us.

"Good." She gave a decisive nod. "Now go reassure your sister
that
everything's all right. She's been worried you wouldn't make it back in
time for dinner."

Even though I didn't say it, I knew Maryanne hadn't been the
only
one. Otherwise, Mom wouldn't have been lying in wait for me the moment
I got back. Instead, I simply nodded and quickly climbed the stairs
before hurrying down the hall to Maryanne's bedroom.

"Hey, Tink," I said with a smile as I stepped inside. "Mom
said you might need some help deciding what to wear tonight."

"Jessie, you're back!" She flew across the room and caught me
in a rib-cracking bear hug.

"Easy there, Maryanne." I gently broke free. "I told you I
would be."

"I know, but I was afraid something might come up. I really
need you
here tonight." She bit her lower lip and suddenly looked more than a
little worried.

"Hey there, what's wrong? You can't be worried about having
dinner with Brett's folks. We've known them for years."

"I know. It's silly, isn't it? But I'm terrified. What if I do
or say something wrong and they suddenly decide they hate me?"

She sounded so nervous, I couldn't laugh. I wanted to, because
the
very idea that she could do anything to upset her future in-laws was
ridiculous. They adored her and had for years. She was the daughter
they never had. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me at all if, by some
freak chance she and Brett should one day divorce, his parents sided
with her instead of their eldest son.

"Maryanne, you don't have anything to worry about." I smiled
and led
her back to the closet, carefully looking through the clothes she'd
brought over from her apartment in preparation for staying the week
here. It didn't take long to find the red and black silk dress. She'd
bought if just for tonight, and I knew it would look wonderful on her.
"However," I continued as I handed her the dress. "I, on the other
hand, do have reason to worry, especially if Colton doesn't manage to
get here in time for dinner."

For a moment, she simply looked at me, her head cocked to one
side,
not sure what I alluded to. Then her mouth formed an "oh" of surprise
and her eyes twinkled in amusement. "Hayden," she said simply and I
nodded. "Jessie, he really isn't that bad."

"You can say that because you'll have Brett to run
interference. You
know as well as I do, little sister, that I will have to keep something
very solid between the two of us unless I want to have his hands all
over me. But that's not the worst of it. He's a boor who thinks he's
funny and smart. I never have understood why Brett likes him."

"Honestly, neither have I." She gave a conspiratorial smile.
"It has to be some guy thing."

"Must be." And Colton had better be here to run interference
for me,
if he knew what was good for him. "Now, what else needs to be done
before everyone starts arriving?"

"Nothing, really." Still, she took another look at her dress,
as if
making sure it hadn't somehow managed to get all wrinkled in the short
trek from closet to bed. "They're supposed to be here at six-thirty. So
that gives us plenty of time to do one last check and get changed."

"Then why don't you try to get a little rest? I'll go
downstairs and see if Mom needs any help."

"Maybe I will."

"Do. You've been going non-stop since you got up this morning.
Besides, you want to look your best for Brett and his parents, don't
you?"

Okay, it was a low blow, but one I knew would work. She had
been
busy all day and, unless I missed my guess, she hadn't slowed down a
bit while I was gone. So she needed a few minutes of calm before the
emotions of the evening. Besides, if she managed to rest a little, she
wouldn't be worrying about Colton being delayed.

And I was worrying enough for both of us.

Ten minutes later, after assuring her I'd come get her if
either Mom
or I needed help, I made my way back downstairs, where I hoped for a
drink and a few minutes of peace and quiet so I could gather my
thoughts before having to deal with Hayden Forsythe.

Even though
I'd told myself over and over that there was the possibility Colton
wouldn't manage to get back before the others arrived, I kept hoping.
Still, when my cell phone rang as I was putting on the finishing
touches to my makeup, I couldn't help cursing. The small readout
confirmed my first guess - Colton. Crap.

"Hello?"

"It's me." He sounded distracted, almost distant.

"You're not going to make it."

"No, I'll be there. But I'm going to be late. Tell your sister
I'm sorry, but it can't be helped."

"Did you find Joey?"

"I can't really get into that right now." He paused and I
could hear
someone talking to him. Was that why he couldn't tell me what was going
on? Or was he just hesitant to do so over the phone?

"Understood." Well, not really, but what choice did I have?
Besides,
as soon as we had a moment alone, he'd better be prepared to tell me
everything. Otherwise, things were going to heat up, and not in a way
he'd enjoy. "Will you let me know when you're on your way?"

"I will," he promised.

"Be careful, Colton," I said and rang off, slipping my feet
into a
pair of sandals and going off in search of my sister to break the news
to her.

So, just as I feared, I was left to fend off Hayden Forsythe
on my
own. More than that, it was all I could do not to turn him into a
soprano on several different occasions. By the time dinner was served,
I was ready to decrease the size of my sister's wedding party by one
more, whether she liked it or not.

Making matters worse, with Colton absent, I found myself
sitting
next to Forsythe, a veritable captive audience for his roaming hands
and not-so-charming personality.