Carol Clark - Hitched

“Thanks to that show we thwarted two jewel thieves. I’m going to see if the producer would be willing to run Joyce’s picture. Now that her purse has been found.”

“I understand,” Cindy said quietly. “What should I tell her boyfriend?”

“Tell him the truth. I’d like to talk to him. Tell him that I’ll call him back when we get to Joyce’s.”

“Okay, Regan.” Cindy clicked back. “Francis?”

“Yes, Cindy. What’s going on?”

“I hate to tell you this, but Joyce is missing. She went to the bathroom last night at a club we were at and never came back.” Cindy’s voice broke. “They just found her purse downtown.”

“What? Oh, my God!” Francis wailed.

“That was a private investigator on the phone. Her name is Regan Reilly and she was here last night. She’s investigating the stolen wedding dresses that everyone is talking about. Now she’s involved in this. Her boyfriend is the head of the Major Case Squad. They’re coming here in a few minutes to get a picture of Joyce. Regan wants to talk to you.”

Francis whimpered.

“Where are you?” Cindy asked.

There was no answer.

The line went dead.

“What happened?” Marco asked after Francis closed the cell phone and flung it across the seat.

“Joyce is missing!” Francis said. He was practically hyperventilating.

“Missing?”

“Since last night. They found her purse on the street in Manhattan this morning. The cops have been at the house. They’re coming back. One of the investigators is that Regan Reilly we saw on NY1. She’s also looking for the wedding dresses!” he yelped, pointing with his thumb to the trunk. “And I just hung up on Cindy. I got so scared. I’d better call back.”

Marco grabbed the phone. “No! Are you crazy? Stay out of it for now.”

“But I just hung up on Joyce’s friend. It makes me look suspicious!”

“Of what? You were so upset you didn’t know what you were doing. It’s understandable.”

“But what about Joyce? She disappeared last night when she was out with her friends.”

“I’ve done that plenty of times. Nobody went looking for me!”

“I’ve got to go back.”

“You can’t! Going back would put us in the middle of an investigation. And we’re guilty! Listen, the cops are looking for Joyce. Let’s keep going to Vegas. That’s all we can do right now.”

“I should at least call.”

“No! Then you have to tell them where you are. Or go back. Neither of which is an option. You’re her bereft boyfriend and hung up because you’re going out of your mind.”

“That’s for sure,” Francis said miserably as he stared out at the road.

Shauna and Tyler were being questioned separately. They were both insistent they had nothing to do with the break-in at Alfred and Charisse’s salon.

“You had a lot of cash in your suitcase,” one of the detectives said to Tyler. “You want to tell me where you got it?”

“We don’t have a bank account here in New York. We’ve been traveling. That’s why we were carrying such a large amount of money.”

“Twelve thousand dollars?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a lot of cash to have sitting around. And three months is a long time to hang around the city without a job. What have you two been doing with yourselves?”

“We’ve done work for the Neys. We planned to leave after the wedding.”

“I’m sure you did.”

“So where did you get the cash?”

“We had it when we got here!” Tyler insisted.

“You’re sure you didn’t rob any banks to get it?”

“No more questions. I want to talk to a lawyer.”

For the rest of the morning, Victoria fielded comments from co-workers who expressed surprise and happiness at her impending nuptials. Victoria was polite and thanked them for their good wishes. But she was starting to feel the pressure build. If anyone found out about her and Jeffrey…

I’m going to have to call Alfred and ask how my name got out, she thought. I told Regan Reilly that I didn’t want publicity. When it was almost time for her to go home, a young, earnest reporter with a microphone in his hand approached the front desk. He looked about twelve.

“Victoria Beardsley?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Evan Charlton with The Big Apple Sunday Morning radio program. I understand you are one of the April Brides. Could I have a few words with you?”

Victoria stiffened. “I really can’t talk now. I have work to do.”

“I understand. But our listeners would just love to hear your reaction to the stolen dresses.”

“I’m sorry it happened,” Victoria said, “but I won’t let it ruin this happy time in my life.”

“Have you heard the news about what happened in Central Park?”

“What?” Victoria asked quickly.

“One of your fellow April Brides is a thief!” He told the story succinctly but with great excitement. “What do you think about that, Victoria?”

“It’s a shame,” Victoria answered. “I’m just glad they didn’t get away with it.”

“Not as glad as that Fifth Avenue couple! For a quiet Sunday morning, this really gives us something to talk about. We want to know what’s going on with all the other April Brides!” With a twinkle in his eye, the zealous young reporter asked, “Victoria Beardsley, do you have any secrets you want to share with me?”

Victoria tried to laugh. “None. Now, if you don’t mind…”

“Would you be willing to come to the studio when you get off work and sit down for a chat with us?”

Victoria shook her head, but tried to remain charming. “My fiancé and I are private people. I didn’t do anything to deserve this attention. All I did was order a wedding dress from two very talented designers. That’s it. I want to stay out of the limelight.” She turned and disappeared into the back office.

Evan spoke into his mike. “There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Another of the April Brides. We’ll do our best to get statements from them all. Back to you in the studio.”

In the office Daisy looked up when Victoria walked in. She could see that Victoria was upset. “Are you all right?”

“I think that this wedding dress business is finally getting to me,” Victoria said. “Do you think you can handle the front desk alone until Kelly gets here? I want to go home.”

“Of course!” Daisy walked over to her co-worker and grabbed Victoria ’s hand. “It will be okay.”

“I don’t want Frederick to get angry with me. There was just a reporter at the front desk asking me questions. He’s trying to dig up dirt on people.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know.”

Daisy smiled. “Maybe the publicity will get people interested in Frederick ’s paintings! Your mom would be happy about that!”

Victoria waved her hand. “One of the April Brides was just arrested in Central Park for stealing jewelry,” she said, her voice a little shaky.

Daisy’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding! Whew! Did you ever meet her?”

“No,” Victoria answered honestly. “I didn’t.”

“Well you go home, honey, and get yourself some rest. You have the next couple of days off, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Are you going to go see Frederick?”

Victoria nodded. “I suppose it will be good to get away.”

“Get going!” Daisy said. “And I don’t care what you say, I’m planning you a party!”

When Victoria was out on the street, she picked up her cell phone and called Jeffrey. “Darling,” she said. “What a fiasco!”

“I know. I was dying to call you but I knew you couldn’t talk at work. I’ve been watching the news and I have the New York Post in my hands.”