Chapter 31
Elenie
The house was in darkness when she got home, the driveway clear of cars. Her heart rate quickened as she walked up the path and turned her key in the lock. She’d known before meeting Roman that a potentially empty house was too good an opportunity to waste.
“Hey?”
Elenie flicked on the light.
“Ty? Dean?”
There was no answer. Still, she went room to room through every part of the house to make sure everyone was out. She even traipsed out back to the garage, just to check, finding all the lights off and the heavy chain locked through the door handles.
Back inside, mouth dry and palms sweaty, Elenie ran through the possibilities open to her. Frank’s phone was a non-starter. It’d be in his pocket right now; he never left it at home. And the key to the padlock on the garage doors would be on Frank’s keyring, also in his pocket. That left a search of the house for money, drugs, or his laptop.
A quick glance around the living room told her his laptop wasn’t there. Elenie headed swiftly upstairs to the main bedroom, careful as always to avoid the most worn treads where the gaps in the carpet liked to snag unwary toes. Neither her mother nor Frank had made the bed. The air smelled faintly of cigarettes and dirty laundry, with a touch of her mom’s perfume thrown in, the partly open window helping to disperse anything more pungent. Elenie let the bulb on the landing illuminate the room, so no one pulling up in the driveway would see a light on in the bedroom.
Again, there was no laptop. In Frank’s nightstand, all she found were cigarettes, empty gum packets, a handful of loose change, three disposable lighters, and a strip of condoms which made her gag a little. Elenie slid a clumsy hand beneath the drawer, thinking of hidden compartments or taped paperwork, but there was nothing. Of course. Because her life wasn’t actually a TV show, even if it felt like one.
She flinched at the sharp snap when she closed the drawer harder than she’d meant to.
Inside the closet, she went through the pockets of Frank’s jackets and pants. Balled-up receipts for gas, more loose change. His clothes were surprisingly tidy. Her mother’s, not so much. Elenie bent down to look under the bed and grimaced at the layers of dust covering the carpet. One sock, discarded and forgotten, lay like a dead mouse a couple of feet in. She crooked her neck to scan the underside of the wired bedframe and mattress. No bundles of drugs, no wrapped wedges of cash. Frank wouldn’t be making this easy for her.
“Dammit.”
She tapped her way carefully around the bedroom floor, checking for loose boards, and dug her fingers gingerly into the edges of the carpet to see if it came away easily at any point along the walls or in the corners.
Elenie checked Athena’s nightstand, her dresser, and even inside the pendant lightshade in the center of the room. And all the while, her chest grew tighter and her palms damper; the silence screamed in her ears. She was drawing a blank.
Where else could she look?
A set of headlights dipped and bobbed their way up the drive, casting moving shadows on the bedroom wall. Elenie ducked instinctively, bending at the waist, and slid across the carpet on silent feet.
By the time Tyson and Dean crashed in through the front door, she had made it to the safety of her own room, beads of sweat drying on the back of her neck. As her pulse slowly settled, she pulled open her closet. When Dean passed her door five minutes later, he found Elenie studying her limited outfit choices for her date with Craig the following night.
At least this time most of the company was pleasant and the food was excellent.
Elenie smiled across the table at June Reed Sanders—a smart woman in her late thirties who managed to be funny, glamorous, clearly ambitious, and yet friendly at the same time. Her husband, Owen, reminded Elenie in many ways of Roman, with a calm and dependable air that was enormously appealing. She loved the affectionate touches they shared without embarrassment as the evening wore on.
“I’m time-poor at the moment while I get my current project onto a more secure footing,”
June told them.
“Doesn’t stop her looking for anything that will pay more cents on the dollar than tucking money away in the bank.”
Owen’s words were dry but full of humor, as he squeezed his wife’s hand on top of the tablecloth.
Craig continued the smooth spiel Elenie was familiar with by now, intent on encouraging June’s investment into an overseas project currently at the drawing-board stage. Or so he said.
Elenie knew for a fact there was little chance of the scheme ever getting off the ground. Craig had told her so himself. He laughed at what he called th.
“easy targets,”
looking to boost their property portfolios, who would fall over themselves to invest once he rolled out some slick marketing ploys and inflated profit projections. Expecting him to be a miserable but necessary distraction while she gathered dirt on Frank, Elenie had been side-swiped by the extent of Craig’s brazen scams. Now it looked like she might end up with a catalogue of damning information against the property developer as well.
Despite Craig’s arm stretched across the back of her chair, they didn’t give off the convincing vibe of a loving couple. Anytime he got close to touching her, Elenie couldn’t stop herself from moving away, the quiet force of one magnet being repelled by another. And she felt the irritation coming off Craig in waves whenever she did.
He wanted her to back him up. Not have any opinions—oh, Lord no. But she was supposed to chirp in with positive reinforcements to echo what he was saying, give brief anecdotes to support his trustworthiness, build him up to June and Owen, just like he’d told her to build him up at the previous dinner he’d dragged her along to. The problem tonight was that she really liked this couple and she had no intention of selling them down the river for Craig’s benefit. She just needed an opportunity to give them a heads-up.
Elenie studied June and Owen across the table and tried to read their thoughts. June’s eyes met hers for a second. There was calculated interest in the look they shared.
“If you could live a different life, Elenie, what would you choose?”
Owen’s question drew her attention back to the table. Craig let out a stifled laugh but wiped it from his face when he saw the other couple were genuinely interested.
Wow. She hadn’t seen that one coming.
A kaleidoscope of images and sensations assaulted her, none of which Elenie could share. Even if she wanted to.
Roman. The serious version, the tortured version, the sexy, smiling, stunning version. Every different Roman there was. The press of his body, the band of his arms. The desperation in his kisses. The laughter in his parents’ home. His mother’s hug. Thea’s kindness. Summer and Caitlyn’s friendship and all the fun it brought with it.
Elenie’s heart squeezed so hard she almost doubled over.
Love. She’d choose love every time. And Roman Martinez.
“Good question.”
She took a sip of her drink because her throat felt raw. It bought her a little time to think.
“Cowgirl or trapeze artist, maybe. It’s hard to choose between them.”
Owen chuckled.
“Did you know you can scoop up water in a Stetson hat?”
Elenie reached for a random fact.
“They’re designed to keep out the weather, but with the side benefit of being able to water your horse as well.”
The conversation confused Craig.
“I didn’t know you could ride.”
“Well, no. I can’t exactly. I’ve never had a chance to try.”
“So maybe the trapeze artist might be a better fit?”
June suggested.
“Possibly. It might not make me rich, but what a buzz.”
“Money isn’t as important as following your dreams.”
June was laughing.
“You wouldn’t get me on a trapeze, but I’ll come and watch the show if you make it to the big time.”
Craig couldn’t hide his impatience.
“Luckily, money does make me happy. And it makes me even happier when I’m making it for other people, too.”
He waved a waiter over with a commanding gesture.
“More wine, June? Owen?”
“Actually, if you’ll excuse me a moment, I need to go to the restroom and then I think it might be time for us to call it a night.”
June gave Owen one of those looks true couples had perfected. And Elenie missed Roman even more.
“I’ll come too.”
She pushed away from the table.
“Women, huh?”
Craig rolled his eyes at Owen.
“Terrified of a little alone time, even when they need to pee.”
When he laughed, he laughed on his own.
Fortunately, they turned out to be the only two people in the restroom.
“So, how long have you known Craig?”
June’s question was polite but her eyes were shrewd.
Acutely aware there was only limited time, Elenie rinsed her hands in one of the washbasins and chose to leap straight in.
“Look, Craig’s a dick. I know it and I think you know it. Please don’t give him any of your money and please, please don’t tell him I asked you not to.”
She drew in a deep breath.
The mirror reflected June’s surprise.
“Well, I did not expect that.”
“I think you did, maybe just a little?”
“You seem an unlikely couple.”
Elenie made a face.
“We’re not really a couple. Not a proper one like you and Owen.”
She smiled tentatively at June.
“I really like you both. And I’d hate it if you got caught up in something I had the knowledge to save you from.”
June tipped her head to one side.
“And you? Are you caught up in this, too?”
“Right now I am. Unfortunately. But I have people looking out for me, like I want to look out for you. This business deal Craig’s offering isn’t genuine. Please save your money and don’t get involved with him.”
“OK, I believe you.”
June didn’t take long to think about it.
“I wasn’t getting a good feeling from Mr. Perry. I would have looked into his project in a lot more depth before deciding but he isn’t someone I’d be keen to invest with. I’d be surprised if Owen doesn’t think the same.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
“I take it you can’t give me more details?”
“I don’t think I should right now. And we’d better not be too much longer. Although I’d rather chat with you than go back to the table.”
June studied her face. She seemed to be weighing up everything Elenie had said, plus everything she hadn’t.
“Would it help,”
June suggested.
“if I led Craig to believe I was interested in taking this further? Maybe I could ask him for more information, which might be useful to you in the long run.”
“Oh, God, yes! That would be great, if you could. I know someone you could forward it to. He’s one hundred percent dependable but I can get him to contact you to give you any reassurance you need. He’s in law enforcement.”
“And your face lights up when you talk about him. How interesting!”
June smiled and Elenie fidgeted.
“Right, here’s my card. Text me or call me so I have your number and let me know how to contact this man of yours. If I can help you, I will.”
Elenie took June’s business card and was surprised to be pulled in for a tight hug.
“Thanks for the warning. I think it was a brave thing for you to do.” June reached for the door handle. “I don’t like the way he talks to you, Elenie. I hope whatever you’re mixed up in comes to an end soon. Craig Perry is not a good man for you to be around.”
The faintest of frowns tugging at one of Owen’s immaculate eyebrows told Elenie he’d had enough of Craig’s hard sell while they’d been gone. June was smooth and unruffled when she declared that she had a lot to consider but would be in touch shortly. They stood to say their goodbyes.
Imagining a done deal, Craig missed June’s outstretched hand and turned instead to clap Owen on the back, oblivious to the other man’s wince.
“Let’s leave the ladies to their shopping or spa dates next time and hit the golf course, shall we? My treat.”
Owen didn’t give him an answer, just a tight smile as he reached for his wife’s hand.
“Elenie, it’s been lovely to meet you.”
He bent to kiss her on the cheek.
“Likewise,”
she told him.
“I hope I see you again.”
“I think you will,”
June murmured into her ear as they embraced. The couple left the restaurant hand in hand.
“Suckers.”
Craig slipped on his jacket and called for the check. He drained the last drops of wine in his glass, shooting Elenie a smug look.
“That was a good move. Two couples having dinner together is the perfect cover for a soft sell. Puts a woman more at ease than negotiating in a boardroom.”
Sure. She suppressed a smile as he paid with his card and they got up to leave. She’d bet good money it would take more than a conference table to intimidate June. The fact that Craig couldn’t see it only emphasized his density.
“Elenie?”
The crystal-clear call brought her to a halt just shy of the main doors to the restaurant.
Ava and Elias Martinez sat at one end of a buzzing table of six. Gold and blac.
“happy birthday”
balloons danced above their heads, an air of celebration surrounding the group they dined with. A delighted smile lighting her face, Ava stood to wrap Elenie’s stiff body in a hug. Elias waved his glass in her direction to excuse not being able to reach her.
“What a surprise to see you out of town! Isn’t this a fabulous place? Our lovely friend at the end of the table has reached a grand old age that shall remain a secret and we are helping him forget.”
Ava’s joyous chuckle was echoed by the rest of the group.
“Damn cheek!”
A bearded giant of a man shook his head in mock rebuke.
Roman’s mother wore a silky turquoise dress with large diamond teardrops in her ears. She shimmered like a kingfisher, luminous in the muted light of the restaurant.
“What are you doing here?”
Ava’s eyes travelled between Elenie and Craig and back again.
Elenie cleared her throat nervously. Beside her, Craig gave an impatient huff as he pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time.
“Um, we had a business meeting. That is, Craig had a business meeting. He’s a friend—”
“Good to meet you, but we were just heading out.”
Craig slid an arm around her waist and tugged. He barely looked at Roman’s mother.
“Come on, Ellie. Let’s go.”
Afraid Ava would mention Roman’s name, Elenie willed her with her eyes and a tiny shake of her head not to say anything more, her heart racing like a train. A restrained expression drifted across Ava’s face. It made Elenie want to cry.
“Well, it was nice to see you, anyway.”
Her voice was noticeably cooler, carrying shades of their first meeting.
“Enjoy your evening.”
Elenie forced a smile and allowed herself to be swept onward by Craig, Ava’s eyes following them all the way to the door.
As they stepped out onto the sidewalk, she braced herself for an inquisition.
“Fucking hell, it’s raining,”
Craig griped. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and hunched his shoulders.
“Hurry up, babe, or the car seats will be soaked.”
He set off without waiting to see if she followed.
Elenie breathed easier, realizing the moment with Roman’s parents had barely been a blip on his radar. But, picturing the disappointed look on Ava’s face, she felt sick all the way home.