“Well, I wanted to remind you I’m leaving for that Elder Hostel trip tomorrow. You know, the one where we go to Italy and help out with an archeological dig?”
I ran my hand through my hair. “Geez, Mom, I’m glad you called to remind me. I’d completely forgotten. That sounds amazing. Is it with the usual gang?”
I could hear her smiling. “It’s with my usual gang, yes. Or posse, as you would call it. I’m rooming with Peggy, like I always do.”
I looked up at the sky. I wouldn’t have minded getting the hell out of town and spending some time in Italy, myself. The team’s last deal had been a killer. Not friendly, and not nice.
“Mom, you have a great time. Do you have enough money? I can wire you some, just let me know, okay?”
“Oh, sweetie.”
I heard the lump catch in her throat.
“You’ve already been so generous. I think I’m all set.”
I loved nothing more than treating my mom. That woman had been to hell and back.
“Okay. Well don’t hesitate to use your credit card. Buy yourself something nice, okay?”
“Love you, sweetie.”
“Bye, Mom.” She’d been my rock ever since my dad deserted us, and one of the high points of my life was spoiling her whenever she’d let me.
I knew what it was like to be left with nothing. That’s why I worried about the airplane mechanics whose jobs we’d just obliterated.
Chapter 3
AVRIL
“Miss, can I get you anything?” The waitress from earlier happened by while I was trying to call Devon. So I requested another gin and tonic. To avoid looking like a total wallflower, I took my drink and meandered over to the food. There was a magnificent spread of hors d’oeuvres, which included tiny oysters, stuffed squash blossoms, and something that looked like crab. No one was eating any of it.
No one ever ate at these things. It was all just for show.
I still hadn’t found my husband, but I wasn’t sweating it. He’d eventually show up. He’d probably planned something special, seeing as our anniversary was next week, and had gotten tied up with that. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the amazing necklace I was not supposed to know anything about.
I’d found it in the pocket of a jacket he’d left on the back of the sofa. I picked up after him whenever I could. There was so little housework to do because of all our staff, and I kind of missed the opportunity to nest, as my sister used to call it.
His gifts were always so generous.
He’d begun to woo me, just three and a half years ago, at the art gallery where I worked. On our third date, he gave me small diamond studs. At the time, I’d thought the gift was over the top extravagant and a little weird—I barely knew the guy—but my best friend Blu convinced me that it was actually a modest gift from someone of Devon’s means. After we married, he’d gotten me my own gallery.
But tonight, he was over an hour late to the party, and to be honest, did he really plan our anniversary stuff, anyway? I suspected such tasks were carried out by someone on his admin team, and that was fine. When you’re as busy as Devon, you pay people to help you with those things. And I hoped he paid them a lot. I knew what a bear he could be when the pressure was on.
I made a beeline across the terrace when I spotted some of Devon’s business associates.
“Avril, so nice to see you,” one of them said, looking me up and down. What was his name? Ed?
The others muttered their greetings.
“Thanks. Hey, I’ve been waiting for Devon. Anybody seen him? He’s not answering his phone.”
It was the damnedest thing, but they all just stood and looked at me. Jesus, was there something in my teeth? I glanced down at my dress again, just to make sure I wasn’t exposing myself. A couple of them cleared their throats, and they looked away.
Where they avoiding my eyes, or was I just paranoid?
“Okay, then. I’ll let you get back to your conversation. Sorry I interrupted.” I turned to walk away.
The damn party was turning into a disaster.