Chapter 10
A few days later, the team gathered together once again. This time, they had more concrete plans. As they waited for the FBI to arrive, Oliver spoke up.
“I have something to tell you all. It’s a good thing.”
Finn nodded. “Go ahead, buddy.”
“Anabelle and I are getting married. It’s going to be small, but you’re all invited.”
Heath clapped him on the back.
Finn punched his fist in the air. “Yes!”
The others reacted.
“You may not all be able to make the date because the ceremony is a week from Saturday.”
“Wow.” Juliet’s smile was broad.
“I’ll be there,” Finn told him.
The others, surprisingly, were free.
“My brothers are coming and my mother. It’ll be at Annabelle’s parents’ house in the backyard. Her mom is her matron of honor.”
Scarlet got up and circled the others until she got to him. Leaning over, she hugged him. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
Even Heath was grinning.
More good wishes were offered, then Heath checked his watch. “I’m going out.” He’d wait for the FBI agents at the front door of his studio, as arranged. Two of them came back with him.
“As you can see,” Heath said to the group. “My contact at the House of Representatives came through big-time. This is Special Agent Fara Rayburn and Special Agent Jack Stanton. They’re from the Behavioral Analysis Unit.”
Neither one these people fit the mold for typical FBI agents.
Rayburn stepped forward first. Her brown hair fell to her shoulders and her navy suit sported a pink blouse beneath.
“I’m the lead on the case. And if you’re not familiar with our unit, the BAU provides behavioral-based support to law enforcement for complex investigations involving violent crimes, terrorism, and other threats.
Our profiling and psychology training help identify and apprehend offenders. ”
Stanton picked up after her. “This investigation is unusual because it involves so many different crimes. That’s why we took it. First, we’re going to list the incidents, no matter how small, to see what’s left to solve.”
Rayburn set her computer on a table, booted it up and brought a power-point onto the white wall across from them. The screen read
Finn McKenna–car stolen, violent beating SOLVED
Heath Elsworth-private practice bombing SOLVED
Collective—Explosion in common area of the collective SOLVED
Cary Jacobs murder—SOLVED
Juliet Sullivan snake-UNSOLVED
Oliver Ricadi barbell UNSOLVED; mother’s fall UNSOLVED
Scarlet Smith—horse tranqued UNSOLVED
She asked, “Is there anything else, no matter how small, that’s happened?”
Juliet waved. “This is small, but I went to carry boxes inside one day and they all fell on top of me. I had significant bruising. I thought I tried to take too many, but it turned out that all the bottoms had been split apart. It wasn’t uniform, so they weren’t faulty boxes.”
“Thank you. More information. Anyone else?”
Scarlet leaned forward. “I had an odd incident. I’m a hypnotherapist so many of my clients are unusual.
But one man came in and I quote wanted to be cured.
Of course, I don’t cure people. I help them cure themselves.
In any case, when I told him that, he said, “’You’ll regret this, Scarlet,’ and stormed out. ”
“I didn’t know this,” Heath said vehemently. “You should have told us.”
“None of us knew, Scarlet,” Finn said. “I agree with Heath.”
Scarlet’s face flushed. “I’m sorry. I should have said something.”
“What was his name?” Rayburn asked, adding it to the board.
“Henry Perkins. It was a first interview so I only met him once. I have his information form but it’s spotty.”
“Do you have it with you?”
“Yes.” She handed a paper to the male agent.
Agent Stanton said, “My first recommendation would be to close down the collective until we can figure all of it out.”
Daisy’s eyes widened. “We talked about this. And we closed for two weeks after the homicide. But I need this income to live and by practicing in Scarlet’s barn, which was nice and I appreciated, my enrollment dropped.
And I can’t leave the collective. We all invested a big chunk of change in this place.
” Heath worried that she was close to spiraling. “We can’t close.”
“Do the rest of you agree?”
Oliver put his hand over Daisy’s. “We all lost money during that time. It’s all our livelihoods except for Heath, who still practices medicine.”
“Hold on a second.” Rayburn pulled Jack Stanton aside.
Oliver huffed. Juliet sighed. Scarlet got up and paced. Daisy was close to tears, Finn scowled and Heath sat stone-faced.
The agents came back in ten minutes. “All right,” Stanton said. “You can keep your businesses open. We’ll provide more security.”
The members of the Harmony Health Collective let out their collective breath that the FBI wasn’t abandoning them.
* * *
From her parents’ kitchen, Anabelle stared out into the bright, sunny day. Even the weather was on their side. She sighed at the lovely turn her life had taken.
Her dad came over to her, dapper in a lightweight navy suit. “How’s my girl doing?”
“I’m terrific, Dad. And very happy.”
“Good. That’s good.”
She’d chosen a deep rose dress, sleeveless and calf-length. Then she’d found rose outfits for both of the girls. They were inside with Irene in another room of the house. They’d come out just before the service began.
“Is everyone here?” Dad asked.
“Not quite. Three of Oliver’s brothers and their wives came early. Mrs. Ricardi is coming with the oldest.”
Just then Rosalina Ricardi appeared. Her dress was a deep shade of pink and she’d had her hair done in an upsweep.
“Are the members of his collective here?”
“Finn’s in the living room with Oliver. I count four of them already seated.”
Then, Oliver walked out a side door, over to his mother and hugged her. He looked gorgeous in a tan suit and white shirt, open at the collar. Then he headed up front.
Finn escorted his mother to the first row.
Her mother joined Anabelle.
“Are you ready honey?” she asked.
“Yes, very ready. I love him so much.”
She brushed her lips over Anabelle’s forehead. “I know you do.”
Irene came out the side door with the twins and walked up the middle aisle with them.
Oliver left his position up front and crossed to the girls. “Up, up,” Emily said. He picked up both girls, one in each arm and kissed them.
Lila said, “Dear Lord, that made me teary.”
“That’s my guy.”
When he rejoined Finn, the music began. Her mother went out the French doors first. She smiled broadly as she made her way down the four rows.
“Time for us, sweetheart.” Her dad kissed her cheek and they stepped outside.
Oliver watched his bride come down the aisle and emotion swelled inside him. Briefly, he closed his eyes and thanked God for his good fortune.
Finn poked him. “Hey, no crying from you. You’ll make Anabelle break down.”
“You’re right. I can’t believe she’s mine. Forever.”
“Believe it, Oliver. You both deserve this.”
When she reached the front, she locked gazes with him. He saw the same joy he felt on her face. He stepped out to take her hand. “Happy honey?”
“Very. You?”
“Couldn’t be happier.”
They faced the judge who was a friend of her Dad’s.
“Greetings to all of you. I welcome you to the marriage of Oliver and Anabelle. Their joy touches us all.”
Oliver said his vows first. “Anabelle, I’m anxious to start our lives together. I promise to be a good husband to you and a good father to our little munchkins.”
Laughter rumbled through the small group.
“I promise to support your job, your mothering, your hopes and dreams.”
Anabelle expression was profound. “I can’t wait to begin our lives together too. I promise to be there for you in the good times and bad. I promise to love you always and savor each precious moment we have together.”
They faced the judge and he pronounced them husband and wife.
* * *
Unbeknownst to the guests at the wedding, the person responsible for the horrible things happening at the collective looked on from where he hid in a copse of trees, vowing that the bride and groom would not live happily-ever-after.
* * * * *
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