The P.I.

Michael Dano interrupted at one point to mention that Channel Five news was covering a story about a wedding. The news team had been stationed in front of St. Peter’s church giving live updates for the past hour, but that they hadn’t given out any names yet.

Mario said nothing until Kit had finished. Before he spoke, he seemed to grow harder, as if he were gathering his strength. Kit had seen Roman do the same thing when the chips were down. And he could see in Mario’s eyes the same keen intelligence.

Finally, Mario spoke. “My daughter Juliana and Paulo Carlucci were getting married and now they’ve disappeared?”

Kit nodded.

“And you think the police might blame Roman for what happened at the church?”

“Nik’s afraid it’s going to play out that way,” Kit said. “I’ve put in a call to Theo. He’s up at the fishing cabin and he isn’t answering. I know that you have your own legal counsel, but—”

“Give me Theo’s cell-phone number, will you?” Once he had, Mario asked, “And Sadie was at the church also?”

“It looks that way. She called me earlier and left a message on my machine. I haven’t been able to reach her because she left her purse with her cell at the church.”

“The Carluccis must be behind it,” Michael Dano said.

Mario raised a hand. “What do you think, Kit?”

“Roman might have come there to stop the wedding, but if he shot someone it was in self-defense. I suspect that Roman might not have been the only one at the church with the idea of stopping the wedding, but I can’t say who or why. It’s just a theory.”

Mario nodded. “The Carluccis have a lot of motivation to hurt me. I’m about to beat Angelo out of that land deal along the Orange County coastline.”

“Once the Carluccis learn that Roman was there at the church, they’re going to be thinking you’re behind it,” Kit pointed out. “What happens if the feud between the two of you gets hotter and more blood flows? Would that affect the land deal?”

Mario pulled a cigar out of his pocket and clamped his teeth around it, but didn’t light it. After a moment, he turned to Michael Dano. “I want you to get back to the office and make sure that everything is all set for that deal to close.”

Michael frowned. “The papers are all but signed. The money changes hands on Monday.”

Mario’s tone grew softer. “Just do what I say.”

When Michael had left, Mario put a hand on Kit’s shoulder. “Michael’s a good man, but you think like my Roman.”

“He’ll be all right. He’s tough.”

Mario’s eyes narrowed. “But…”

Kit rubbed the back of his neck. “I just have a feeling that there’s another shoe that’s going to drop.”

Mario nodded. “One of your ‘feelings.’ Roman told me about them. You’re working on this?”

Kit nodded. “So is Nik. And I’ll get in touch with Theo. You’ll keep me informed?”

“And vice versa,” Mario said.

“Watch your back,” Kit warned.

Together they walked back to the waiting room. Drew was at the water fountain. Mario was picking up one of the phones in the waiting room before Kit turned and punched the elevator button.

“YOU READY FOR another ride?” Kit asked when Drew caught up to him at the bike.

He hadn’t said a word on the ride down in the elevator. And she could still recall the look on his face when he’d come out of Roman Oliver’s room. She glanced at the bike and then at Kit. “I have a feeling that another ride on this motorcycle will be a lot easier for me than that visit was for you. How is your friend?”

He drew in a breath and let it out. “They don’t know. I don’t know.”

Drew slipped her hand into his.

“He’s such an active man. He can beat Theo at tennis. Nik and I can’t do that. He’s nearly as good a sailor as Nik. I’m better at fishing, but Roman has more of a talent for it than either Nik or Theo.”

He was speaking of Roman as if he were a part of his family. She tightened her grip on his hand.

“It was hard to see him that…still.”

“What did his father say?” she asked.

When he’d finished telling her, she was relieved to see that some of the tension had eased from his shoulders. “You’ll know more in the morning.”

Kit nodded. “I’m glad I came. At least his father knows what’s going on. The police hadn’t even let him know about the wedding or that his daughters are missing.”

She heard the anger in his voice. “Do you want to stay here for a while?”

He shook his head. “There’s nothing more that I can do here.” Then he raised her hand to his lips. It was the briefest of contacts and it shouldn’t have sent a ripple of heat through her. But it did.

Kit handed her a helmet and was about to put his own on when his cell phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, he said, “It’s Theo.”

As she watched him fill his brother in on Roman’s condition and what had happened at the church, Drew noticed his tension ease. He seemed to be close with his brothers, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she had brothers or sisters of her own.

“Mario might bring Theo in on this.” Kit said as he pocketed his cell. “I’d feel a lot better if he did.”

Without another word, Kit put on his helmet, climbed on the bike and waited for her to mount behind him. As soon as she had, he backed the bike out of the parking place, eased it out of the lot and then opened the throttle. “Hold on.”

This time it wasn’t fear she felt, but a little pump of excitement. Traffic was moving more steadily and quickly now, and Drew shoved other thoughts and concerns out of her mind, quite willing to give herself up to the moment. The wind on her skin was cool, the speed exhilarating. The lights of the city flew past. Over her shoulder, she caught a glimpse of the illuminated Golden Gate Bridge. Farther on, a digital clock on a building told her that the time was 10:52 p.m. and the temperature was still eighty-seven degrees.

Kit slowed for another light. To her left, the pier was still alive with activity. Pier 39, she realized, and she wondered how she could be so sure of that and still not know who she was. Snatches of music drifted to the street. The stores on the pier were built on different levels and housed restaurants as well as shops. On the top level, she could see diners sitting at outside tables. Had she ever eaten there? On the lower level, people strolled along as if they hadn’t a care in the world; others leaned against the railing or shot photos.

For a moment, she felt a sharp wave of envy as her own situation came back to her. Then she firmly shoved all of that out of her mind. For the length of the ride, at least, she was going to live in the moment.

As Kit stopped the bike, she caught a flash of white on the upper level. She had time to register that it was a young woman in a sundress before her vision blurred and her head spun.

The images shot into her mind—just as fast and just as detailed as the last time. There were shadows again but they weren’t nearly as dark. The musty smell was gone. In its place was a heavy floral scent—not of fresh flowers, but of a perfume. She heard the soft strains of music and, through glass doors in front of her, she saw rain streaming down. Two figures pushed through the doors, a young man and a woman, holding hands and laughing as water dripped off of them. They were so young. And so radiantly happy that her breath caught in her throat. She knew them…She was sure of it. But before she could remember their names, the image vanished.

KIT STOOD beside Drew, gripping her arms as she opened her eyes. She seemed surprised that he’d pulled the bike up on the sidewalk against a railing that looked out on the sea.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I remembered something more.”

“Yeah. I figured. Lucky thing we were stopped at a light. You nearly fell off, and then I would never have heard the end of it.” While he talked, he engaged the kickstand and helped her off the bike and down beside him on the curb. “Tell me what you remembered.”

“Here?”

“Right here. We’re not getting back onto that motorcycle until you’ve got some more color in your cheeks.” That much was true. But it was also true that he didn’t want to let go of her yet. Not until his heartbeat steadied. When he’d felt her sag against him, he hadn’t been sure that he could keep her from toppling into the street.

“I wasn’t at the church this time. At least, I don’t think I was.”

“Close your eyes and tell me the details.”

When she’d finished describing the scene, he said, “It was raining, you heard music, smelled women’s perfume, and this young, beautiful couple came in through a glass door. Did I leave anything out?”

“I had a feeling that I knew them.” She pressed a hand against her temple. “But I can’t come up with their names. It’s so close. Why can’t I remember.”

Kit squeezed her shoulders. “You will. Could be they’re the bride and groom. You have to have known at least the bride since you arrived with her at the church last night. My best guess is that you were the maid of honor. Does the name Carlucci mean anything to you? Paulo Carlucci?”