Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

Annie perked up when she spied a smartly dressed woman she recognized from a Charleston TV station. The woman stepped right up to Nunamaker.

"Excuse me, Mr. Nunamaker, but aren't you jumping the gun here, if you'll forgive the cliche? After all, I understand the police chief searched Mrs. Fortenberry's residence and found incriminating evidence."

"It could easily have been planted," Nunamaker said. "Chief Tavis is desperate to find a suspect after yesterday's debacle regarding the loss of Mr. Fortenberry's remains."

"Has there been any news on that?" the woman asked.

"Not that I've heard."

"From what I understand, the suspect lied as to her whereabouts the day of her husband's disappearance," the woman went on smoothly. "There's also talk of a troubled marriage and adulterous affairs. That, combined with the fact the remains were found buried in the backyard, is pretty damaging in my opinion."

"And that, young lady, is precisely why I'm representing her and you're not," Cal said, earning a dark look from her. "That's all I have in my opinion."

The reporters called out more questions, even as Annie was led away with Max, Jamie, and Nunamaker surrounding her. The crowd was so thick that Annie didn't see Wes standing at the very back.

* * * * *

Annie was feeling better by the time she arrived home. Cal had insisted on giving her a ride in the limo Max had sent for him. He'd gone over the case briefly with Annie, discussed his strategy, and given her his private cell phone number in case she needed to reach him. He didn't stop talking until they arrived at her mansion, at which time his mouth fell open.

"Well now, I've never seen anything like that," he said.

"And you probably never will," Annie assured him.

Annie barely made it to the front steps before Theenie threw open the front door. She rushed out, followed by Lovelle and Danny. "Oh, thank goodness you're home!" Theenie cried, throwing her arms around Annie's neck. "Lovelle and I have been sick with worry. I don't know what we would have done had Danny not stayed with us. And, bless her heart, Jamie called several times with an update."

Annie gave Danny a grateful look and he smiled, but she could see the deep concern in his eyes. It was the same look he'd worn as he waited with Annie during her grandmother's final hours, the look he'd worn when he told her about Charles's infidelity and afterward, when Annie realized her husband was gone, along with their savings.

Theenie pulled away slightly and reached for a tissue as Lovelle gave Annie a quick hug. "It's going to be okay," Annie said.

Theenie took Annie's hand. "Come inside, dear.

We decided to hold off serving dinner until you got here."

"Welcome home, Anniekins," Danny said, leaning over to kiss the top of her head. "It's good to have you back."

Annie's kitchen had never looked more inviting to her. Theenie and Lovelle ordered her to take her seat at the table while they put the finishing touches on the meal. Although Annie had not eaten all day, she had little appetite, but she forced herself to eat so as not to hurt the women's feelings.

"Where is Erdle?" she asked.

"Who knows?" Lovelle said. "He hasn't been home all day."

"And Wes?"

"He came back a couple of hours after you were arrested," Theenie said. "He left as soon as I told him. He didn't say where he was going."

Annie wondered if he'd gone to the police station, if he'd spoken with Lamar, if he knew the truth.

Lovelle glanced up from her dinner. "Destiny called Lamar to check on you, then lost her temper on the phone, and then Danny grabbed the phone, and it went from bad to worse. You should have heard all the names he called Lamar. Even used the F word," she added proudly.

"I'm sorry to have put all of you through this," Annie said.

"It's not your fault," Danny said. "The good news is the ballroom floor looks great."

Annie smiled. "Thank you." She looked from one to the other and was touched to have such good friends. "By the way, where is Destiny?"

"She had to go into the office and help out, since Max and Jamie were at the police station. It probably saved Lamar's life." Theenie touched Annie's hand. "Did they lock you up with one of those, you know, big women?" she whispered.

Annie laughed. "No, Theenie. I never even saw a jail cell."

The woman gave an enormous sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness!"

"Everything is going to be okay, you guys. I promise." Annie hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.

* * * * *

It was late when Max and Jamie left the newspaper office. Muffin had news for them the minute they climbed into his car.

"I have information on Wes Bridges," Muffin said.

"I'm listening," Max said.

"He used to be a cop in Columbia, graduated to detective and pretty much ran the homicide unit. Now he's a private investigator." Max and Jamie exchanged looks. "The man doesn't come cheap, but he's supposed to be the best in the business. Charles Fortenberry's mother hired him to look into her son's disappearance after she collected insurance money on her husband's death."

"That explains why he rented a room from Annie," Jamie said. "Eve Fortenberry suspected Annie had something to do with Charles's disappearance."

She looked at Max. "I don't like it. I think we should drive over and tell Annie right this minute."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Max said.

"How can you say that? I think Annie has feelings for this guy."

"She's also up for murder. If he's that good, he just might find out who killed her husband."

"I don't want to see her hurt, Max. Again," Jamie added.

Max reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "It'll be a whole lot easier getting over a broken heart than doing prison time," he said. "I'm going to have to ask you to go along with me on this one, Swifty."

Jamie was quiet for a moment. "That doesn't mean I have to like it."

* * * * *

It was late when Wes arrived back at Annie's. She was sitting on the piazza, a candle burning on the wicker table beside her. " 'Bout time you got home, Bridges," she said once he'd cleared the top step.

He glanced her way. "Do you make a point of sitting up until all your tenants arrive back safely?" he asked.

His tone was as cool as the breeze that whipped across her face and ruffled her thick hair. "I was worried about you."

"How was jail?"

Annie frowned. "That's a helluva thing to ask."

"Yeah? Well, I'm not feeling very sociable tonight."

He had learned the truth. She had been naive to think he wouldn't eventually find out. She should have known that even Lamar would learn that she'd withheld information. Wes crossed the piazza and reached for the door.

"I was scared," she said. "Afraid that Lamar would think the worst if he found out I was in the bank that day."

"Well, he does think the worst, and now you're in a shitload of trouble. You weren't where you said you were, meaning you don't have an alibi for what, a week?"

She scooted forward on the swing. "I went to my mother's house just like I said. But when I arrived, she took one look at my face and knew something was wrong. I told her I had an appointment with a divorce attorney the following week, and she insisted that I return to Beaumont immediately and clean out the savings account. I was only planning to take half of the money, but I was too late."

"So you confronted him?"

"That was the plan, only Charles wasn't home. I was so outraged that I didn't think to check to see if he'd packed his clothes until I was on my way back to my mother's. I just figured what the hell, he was well on his way to wherever he was going."

"Lamar found the money."

"And you think I knew it was here?"