Murder and Matrimony Read online

  She picked up the same chair but instead of throwing it at the glass doors, she tossed it at the large window next to the doors. This time, the chair went through with a satisfying crash. Margot yanked a tablecloth from the table nearest the window and wrapped her arm in it. She hit away the remains of the glass then laid the cloth over the ledge.

  “Come on,” she said, turning to the girl. “This is our way out.”

  When they staggered to the front sidewalk, the sirens were growing increasingly louder as they raced toward the restaurant. Danielle came rushing at Margot, tears streaking her cheeks.

  “I had no idea where you were, and the side gate was locked! I don’t know how that happened.”

  “The front door was locked as well,” Margot said, her anger showing. “I bet the back door is locked too.” It was becoming all too clear that Margot was a target for someone.

  But the question remained—why? Was it due to her investigating Adam’s innocence, or was it more than that?

  Margot sat in the front room of her bakery, the scent of smoke coming off of her like a campfire gone awry.

  “You should go home. Change. Get some rest,” Julia suggested.

  After they had been questioned by the police in conjunction with the fire and Margot had reported what she’d seen, she had insisted Danielle take her back to the bakery. She’d closed the shop down for the day, but her friends had stayed rather than go home as she’d said they could.

  “I can’t do that. It’s clear that I’m either on the right track...”

  “Or someone’s out to get you.”

  Margot gave Dexter a look that said he was being dramatic.

  “We don’t know that.”

  “You saw the figure from the video. That’s a big deal, Margot.”

  “Or I saw someone dressed to look like that person. We can’t know for certain.”

  “We can’t, but it’s no coincidence. If only the security cameras had been on at the restaurant.” Dexter had tried to hack into them the minute he’d heard of the disaster, but they had been disabled at the time of the incident.

  “No,” she agreed, “it’s not a coincidence.” Margot began to pace. She knew for a fact what she’d seen, but what bothered her was that she wasn’t sure if it was a move to get her to connect the incidents with what she’d seen on the tape and in the garage, or if it was a purposeful misdirection.

  She thought back to what she’d seen, pausing in her pacing to close her eyes. Had he looked caught by her look or expectant, like he’d wanted her to see him? Then she remembered the mask. He’d wanted her to see him, otherwise he wouldn’t have worn a mask. No one else was around and there would be no worry of him being seen.

  So, whoever it was had wanted her to see him leaving from the burning building. Now, the question was about his motivation. Was it for fear? Or for something else?

  “Margot?” Julia started to say when a pounding sounded on the front door.

  Margot turned around and saw Bentley with Tamera behind him. She had come back to the shop because she wasn’t sure she felt safe at home, but she also wasn’t sure if her shop would be safe. A niggling at the back of her mind made her think again how she felt targeted. But why?

  Forcing the thoughts away, she rushed to the front door and opened it, letting her friends inside.

  “What is this about a fire?” Bentley said, pulling her into a tight hug.

  “Are you all right?” Tamera asked, concern washing over her pretty features. “George said he’d come down if you need him.”

  Margot smiled. “That was sweet of him.”

  “I honestly don’t know what he’d do, but his heart is in the right place.”

  “Absolutely,” Margot said. Then, turning to Bentley, she explained what had happened. “Why are you down here if you didn’t know the details?”

  Bentley shot a guilty look to Julia, who shrugged.

  “I see,” Margot said, turning to her assistant.

  “Hey, we thought—”

  “Don’t lump me in to this,” Dexter said, shooting Julia a look.

  She made a face. “I thought they could talk some sense into you. You know, suggest you go home to get some rest and then you’d, I don’t know, actually listen to them?”

  “Look…” Margot held up her hands. “I appreciate your concern, but—”

  “The wedding!” As if only now realizing what had happened, Tamera gasped and clamped her hand over her mouth. “Where will you get married?”

  Margot’s stomach twisted at hearing her friend realize what she had only after the shock of getting out of the fiery building had caused. She’d had a similar realization but alone in her car. The tears had now dried, but that didn’t mean that their effect on her wasn’t still painful.

  “I’m not sure.”

  The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward her in compassion.

  “Look, we’ll figure something out. It’s what Adam and I do best.” Her attempt at humor fell flat and she bit her lip.

  “The senior center.”

  Now all eyes turned toward Bentley.

  “What?” Dexter said.

  “They can use the senior center. Sure, it’s not as swanky as the restaurant they were going to use, but at least it wasn’t on fire.”

  Dexter snorted, and Julia shot him a look. Margot tilted her head in thought, picturing the newly-finished space. It held potential and, while not as intimate as she’d hoped, she couldn’t see another option.

  Then another realization hit her, and she fought back tears. This was all well and good—but what if Adam wasn’t out of jail by the time of their wedding?

  Tears brimming, she merely nodded her response. Tamera rushed toward her, an arm outspread. Margot hated making a scene and felt awkward with everyone looking at her, but it was Danielle who spoke first.

  “Adam will be there. We’ll make it look amazing. You’ll have the best wedding.”

  Somehow, the woman’s assured words, while having no proof to back them up, did wonders to calm Margot down.

  “You’re right,” she said, taking a deep, shuttering breath. She needed to focus. They had to divide to conquer. “And I have some ideas.”

  It was a true testament to her friends and their trust in her when no one asked her to clarify before all agreed they would help. It made Margot feel warmth spread through her chest and she even managed a small smile for them.

  Whoever was behind framing Adam, because Margot had determined that was what this all had to be, had no idea what—or who—they were up against. They might be a ragtag bunch of people, but they all had courage and hearts to do the right thing. That was something no criminal could count on, nor would they be able to thwart it, no matter how hard they tried.

  8

  Margot finally took the advice of her friends and locked up the shop. Then Tamera insisted on coming home with her so that she could help finish the cleaning while Margot took a much-needed nap.

  After waving to the officer stationed out front to watch over her house, Margot and Tamera cleaned up the rest of the kitchen and then, while Tamera got to work cleaning up more of the living room, Margot was finally convinced to take a nap. Clint joined her, and they slept for two hours.

  Waking refreshed, Margot felt as if her head had cleared some. After seeing that Tamera had left, leaving her a sweet note and telling her to call if she should need anything, Margot took a shower, dressed, made dinner, and sat down to eat, Clint at her side waiting for anything she’d pass his way.

  “I really shouldn’t,” she said, giving the dog a cursory glance, but his chocolate brown eyes pleaded in a way she couldn’t refuse. She tossed him a morsel from her plate just as her phone rang.

  “Hello?” she said, recognizing the number of the precinct.

  “Margot?”

  She recognized the voice but couldn’t place it. “This is she.”

  “Margot, it’s Peter.”

  “Oh, hello, Peter,” she said,
feeling foolish she didn’t recognize him right away.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you after the fire. Danielle kept me apprised of the situation, but I had a feeling you’d prefer for me to work the case though—was I wrong?”

  She smiled to herself. “You’re not wrong. Is there anything you can fill me in on?”

  “Well…” He hesitated only a moment. “I do have a few things I’d like to talk to you about. Any way I can stop by for a few minutes?”

  “Absolutely. Did you already have dinner? You can bring Danielle over too.”

  “I already ate. They are taking good care of me here. Making me want to move down from Maine.”

  She laughed, knowing he and Danielle wouldn’t leave her profitable and cozy bakery for anything.

  “All right, so maybe not, but almost. Anyway, Danielle is catching up with Dexter tonight, so it’ll just be me. Need anything while I’m on my way?”

  “No, but thank you. See you soon.”

  He hung up and she looked around the room. While things still needed fixing, some additional paint to touch up the walls, and a few pieces of furniture would have to be replaced, Tamera had done a wonderful job.

  Margot cleaned up her dinner dishes and then went in to the living room to wait, wondering what it was that Peter would tell her. What had he found out about the case? Was he even allowed to share things with her? Then again, he wouldn’t be coming if he wasn’t. Or, at least she didn’t think so.

  When a knock finally sounded on the door, Margot let Peter in and introduced him to Clint. The dog accepted the belly rub in payment for letting Peter sit on the couch and Margot curled up in a corner chair.

  “I’m so sorry about the break-in,” Peter said, cringing as he looked around. “But it looks like you’re getting things up and running again.”

  “It was quite the shock, but…” She trailed off, turning her gaze to her entwined fingers. Having her house in shambles was nothing compared to having her fiancé in prison. “Do you know anything that can help Adam?”

  Peter grimaced for a moment, directing his attention down to the dog still at his feet. She wondered at his hesitation, but then reminded herself he could be breaking protocol to come talk with her.

  “The chief doesn’t know I’m here,” he began, “but I did tell Les. I know he wants to free Adam as badly as any of us—though not as badly as you—but he made it clear he couldn’t come see you. I decided to take his place.”

  “I don’t want you two risking your careers.”

  “Don’t worry.” Peter offered her a reassuring smile. “I’m here because I want to be.”

  “What can you tell me?”

  “Not a whole lot, but that’s mainly because there isn’t a lot to this case—yet.”

  “How is that possible?”

  Peter let out a deep sigh and leaned back. “You know that we found the boat.”

  “Yes,” she urged him on.

  “Well, we also found only two sets of prints.”

  “Right. Adam’s and the victim’s.”

  “Dexter submitted that video but there is absolutely nothing, evidence wise, that shows three men on that boat.”

  Margot’s stomach cramped.

  “What we did find was a marina video showing two figures on the boat heading out of the marina.”

  Margot snatched onto something Peter hadn’t said. “You said figures. Does that mean you can’t tell who it is on the boat?”

  “No.” He held up a hand to stay her next statement. “I know what you’re going to say, but the evidence shows that Adam was the one on the boat, not our mysterious stranger.”

  Margot’s hands clenched into fists. “That’s not to say that Adam didn’t get on that boat, touch a few things, and then get off as Sid and whoever rode off into the sunset.” She heard her own tone and cringed. “I’m sorry, Peter. I’m just frustrated.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. I get it. And honestly, I’m beginning to think like you are that he was framed. I mean, let me rephrase that, I thought that from the beginning, but what we have is almost too pretty. Too by the book. Evidence suggesting Adam was the only one aboard. A post mortem changing of the body in order to use Adam’s handcuffs. Some mysterious stranger…”

  Margot leaned forward. “What is going on, Peter? I mean, Adam’s in jail for goodness sake, and now I’m being targeted by this mysterious man. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “I went up to see Adam,” Peter said in a rush, as if he’d been waiting for the right time to tell her and it had just come busting out.

  “You did? How is he? Can I see him again?”

  He held up a hand again. “You can visit, but he says he’d rather have you here thinking about the case.”

  Margot smiled. “Sounds like Adam.”

  “I told him what happened—”

  “You shouldn’t have!” Margot’s heart began to beat faster. She knew how helpless Adam would feel and she didn’t want him in jail thinking she was in danger—even if she was.

  “Don’t worry,” Peter assured her, “I let him know every precaution was being taken to keep you safe. And, while he was upset at first, he calmed down and was able to see this for what it is.”

  “Which is?”

  Peter stared at her for a long while before forging ahead with his next statement. “That you are being tormented to increase Adam’s anxiety.”

  “What?”

  “He’s been getting notes slipped to him. Things that shouldn’t make it to him but do—somehow. They detail how he will regret what he did.”

  “His undercover mission.”

  “Exactly.”

  “You know about it?”

  “Anthony filled me in.”

  Margot was surprised to hear this but reminded herself that Peter was working to free Adam and needed every weapon in his arsenal to do so.

  “Adam is certain that whoever is doing this is someone he personally hurt.”

  “Personally?”

  “Yes. He wouldn’t give me names, not in the area where were talked since it’s likely bugged, but he hinted enough to help me fill in the picture. When he was undercover, he likely worked with someone very closely. It would be that person who, now that he’s found out who and what Adam was, is taking personal revenge on him.”

  “Isn’t there a list or something? Some way to narrow down who it is that is doing this?”

  “That’s what I’m working on, covertly as possible.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you remember what Adam was doing?”

  Margot knew that Peter was leading her to the answer so she took a moment to consider. He had been working on an undercover sting operation with… “You think it’s a cop? So someone isn’t who they say they are.”

  “Or, more so, someone has an ax to grind with Adam and is doing everything in their power to put him under in every way possible. Margot, if Adam goes to prison…”

  Peter didn’t have to complete his thought for her to get the picture. As a policeman, and someone who put away dirty cops, he wouldn’t stand a good chance of lasting long in prison. Then again, he was a strong man. But no, she ground her teeth. She wouldn’t even let her thoughts go there.

  “He’s not going to prison, Peter. He didn’t do this, and I’m going to prove it.”

  Margot paced across the back patio of the The Parisian Pâtisserie. It was a beautiful day, though already hot at only eight in the morning. The shop had been open for an hour and Julia had only recently stepped in so Margot could take a much-needed break. She’d pushed herself to go in to the bakery despite the fact she’d rather be doing something else—anything that could help Adam. But that was easier said than done.

  When Peter had left, Margot began to feel less and less confident about proving her fiancé’s innocence. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe he was innocent, but the reality of proving it was going to be very difficult. The mere fact that it seemed to all be planned out better than she’d
expected was the first hurdle.

  She pulled out her phone and tapped Anthony’s contact. He picked up on the fourth ring, sounding groggy.

  “Hi, Anthony,” Margot said, trying to sound somewhat apologetic. “It sounds like I woke you.”

  “Had a late night. But it’s okay. What’s up?”

  She debated telling him what she’d talked about with Peter, but she didn’t want to risk it being overheard nor did she think she needed to talk with him about that. In fact, if she were honest with herself, she would admit that she wasn’t completely sure why she’d called him.

  “I miss him,” she said, surprising herself at the emotion in her voice. Here she was, admitting the deepest feelings she had to her fiancé’s brother whom she hardly knew.

  “I’m sure you do,” he said, sounding like he was waking up. “I wish…” He trailed off and let out a breath. “Maybe there’s a way I can get you in to see him again.”

  Margot thought back to the last time she’d seen him. It had been so hard seeing Adam in jail. Then again, she’d rather see him there than not see him at all.

  “Could you? At least talk to him. I don’t think he wants me to come—to see him like that again—but it’s killing me. I just need to see him.”

  “I understand. I’ll see what I can do. And, Margot?” He paused, as if weighing his words. “We’ll catch a break. I know we will.”

  She sniffed back tears and nodded, even though she knew he couldn’t see her. “We will.”

  They hung up and Margot slipped her phone into her pocket before wrapping her arms around herself, despite the growing warmth of the day. This wasn’t how she’d expected the week before her wedding to go. She thought of her sister and her family who would be flying in for the wedding. Then she thought of Adam’s family. Adam’s family!

  She pulled out her phone again, ready to call Anthony back, but hesitated. When she’d celebrated Christmas with Adam and his family, no one had even mentioned Anthony. She knew that something had happened to distance them all, but she had a feeling this could be the thing to bring them back. She wouldn’t have wished it, but if it was the outcome, then maybe it would make sense of the heartbreak.