Alice Sharpe - Multiples Mystery

It couldn’t have been their fight. Something like that wasn’t important enough to drive a man away from his family and friends and his career.

As if attuned to the direction of her thoughts, he looked down at his feet, then into her eyes. “I wanted a minute alone to apologize to you, Olivia.”

No need to ask for what.

“I shouldn’t have spoken to you like I did. I had no right.”

“No, you didn’t,” she said. “And on my wedding day, too, Zac. That was just plain mean.”

“Yeah. Anyway, I’ve always thought of you as a little sister, like Faith, but you aren’t.”

“No, I’m not. You telling me I absolutely could not marry Anthony Capri was totally out of place. Frankly, even if you’d been my brother it would have been going too far.”

“I know that now.”

“You really upset me.”

“I’m sorry. Am I forgiven?”

She stared at him a second, then smiled. “Of course you’re forgiven.” She’d missed him. She was ready to let that unfortunate day go. Like Faith, Zac was as good as family, and family had to forgive and forget, otherwise there’d be no one to spend holidays with. “Are you really thinking about taking the sheriff’s job and coming back to Westerly?”

“That depends on you,” he said.

She furrowed her brow. “Me?”

“And Anthony. I wouldn’t want to make either of you uncomfortable.”

She said, “I’ve never told Anthony what you said about him that day, Zac. What would that have accomplished? You take the job if you want, too. I think Westerly is big enough for all three of us.”

He nodded once. “Fair enough. So, do you know what Faith wants to talk to me about?” He glanced around the room before adding, “Where is Anthony, anyway?”

“That’s what she wants to talk to you about,” Olivia said, leaning forward to reach the water glass. She’d pushed the tray too far away, however.

Apparently taking pity on her feeble attempts, Zac handed it over with questions burning in his eyes. She gave him the flowers and he set them on the tray. “Did he leave already?”

She wanted to say, Yes, he left a few minutes ago. He’s the most devoted husband on the planet. You were totally wrong about him.

“He didn’t come,” she admitted, busying herself taking sips of ice water.

“He didn’t come?” Zac repeated, stepping closer. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said. I don’t know why. I’m worried sick, of course, but he didn’t come or call or…anything.”

“Maybe he’s been in an accident.”

“I thought of that. Faith said we should ask you to do something, but I don’t want to be a bother.”

He took the water glass from her hands and set it back on the tray next to the flowers, then hitched his hands on his waist and stared down at her. “When was the last time you saw him or talked to him?”

“The day before yesterday.”

“And he knew about today’s scheduled births?”

“Yes.”

“Did he plan to be here?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Could he have forgotten?”

“I don’t see how, though I know he’s in the middle of a deal—”

“Like the one he drummed up in Westerly? What was it, a chain of snowboard and ski shops? He talked the Robinson brothers into investing, right?”

“He put in money of his own, too,” she said. “He’s quite wealthy.” She didn’t know why she added that last part, except that Zac looked so smug.

“Must be that Harvard education of his.”

“Or the fact that he invested in Midas Touch Computers before anyone else did. Jealous?”

He held up both hands as though backing off. “Sorry. You have to admit, though, the man is larger than life. Navy pilot, Super Bowl champion…He’s done it all.”

Zac could just not help himself. When it came to Anthony’s exploits, give Zac enough rope and he’d hang himself. Determined to keep the peace of their newly repaired friendship, she said, “Yes, he has.” Actually, after weeks of misgivings and a morning spent cursing his absence, it almost felt good to defend her husband. Oh, God, maybe he really was hurt and she was being a raging, selfish bitch.

“I see,” Zac said, and by the tone of his voice, he saw a lot more than Olivia was comfortable with.

“I know he wanted to be here,” she insisted. Liar. Tell him the truth. Tell him you think what really happened is your husband got cold feet and ran away, that he was willing to risk millions in investment dollars rather than face you and four babies.

Zac said, “I heard you guys are building a house out by the point.”

“Yes.”

“Is that where he’s been living since you started bed rest here?”

“No, he stayed in my old place in town in order to hurry the contractors along so we could take the babies home as soon as possible.”

“When will that be?”

“Not long. The doctor wants them here until they each reach four pounds. Two were born over four pounds and two aren’t far away. But they’ll probably lose a little weight before bulking back up, so it’s kind of a day by day thing.”

“Where did he stay when he wasn’t in Westerly?”

“He has a suite at the Marina Inn here in Seattle.”

“The Marina Inn. Nothing but the best, huh?” He raised a hand again and shook his head. “Sorry.”

“You just can’t help yourself.”

“I’m trying. Okay, that’s enough to start. I’ll drive over to the hotel. Try not to worry, I’m sure something unexpected came up.” He stared deep into her eyes, then he smiled the old familiar Zac smile.

She caught his hand. “You’ll come back? You’ll tell me what’s wrong even if it’s—unpleasant?”

“What do you mean ‘unpleasant’?”

“Like he’s hurt or…I don’t know. Missing, maybe.”

“I’ll tell you whatever I find out.” He stared at her a moment longer, and then he leaned down and brushed her forehead with his lips.

“I’ve always valued our friendship,” she mumbled as their eyes met.

“I know,” he said softly, and then he was gone.

ZAC FOUND FAITH by the nurses station, holding a slender vase in one hand and gripping the countertop with the other. She was talking to a nurse on the other side. The colorful smock the nurse wore looked a lot cheerier than either woman’s expression.

Faith shook her head as he joined her. “It’s no use, rules are rules. Olivia is going to have to wait.”

Zac turned to the nurse. “Have a heart.”

“As I told this lady,” the nurse explained patiently, “we’re waiting for Mrs. Capri’s doctor to give the okay. He’s been called into emergency surgery. When he has time, I’m sure he’ll release her.”

“She’s a new mom. There’s no real reason for her to have to wait. She’s a very fit young woman who’s been athletic her whole life. Let her call the shots of what she can and can’t do.”

“Not without—”

“I mean, how would it sound,” Zac mused, “if the press got wind that the new mother of quads couldn’t see them?”

The nurse’s eyebrows rose. “Maybe you have a point,” she said. “It doesn’t do to be a slave to rules.”

“I agree with you,” Zac said with a smile.

“I’ll go take her vitals and if everything checks out, I’ll get a wheelchair.”

“Excellent,” Zac said. “Thanks.”

He and Faith watched the woman hustle down the corridor toward Olivia’s room, snagging a vitals cart as she passed one. Faith said, “That was smooth.”

“Maybe she could sense I was ready to shoot her if she didn’t cooperate.”

Faith grinned. She was short and willowy with a pale complexion and pretty, girl-next-door looks—the opposite of Olivia, who was tall and graceful with dark, exotic beauty. Faith was a teacher by trade, patient and good-tempered by nature, a homebody. Olivia could be impulsive and restless. Faith dated regularly, though she’d yet to find the love of her life. Olivia kept men at arm’s length, always too busy planning for the day she could strike out and see the world. That is, that’s what she’d been like before Anthony Capri came along.