River Road(24)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“Sara told me about your job with an investigation agency that specializes in finding lost heirs.” Teresa’s expression brightened with curiosity. “It sounds fascinating.”

Lucy recalled the scene in the bar when the Grieving Widow had tossed the contents of a glass of beer in her face. “It has its moments. Well, if the little black dress is out, what do you suggest?”

Teresa moved around the end of the counter. “I’ve got a couple of things, either one of which will be perfect for tonight.”

“Great. I certainly didn’t come prepared for this kind of party—or any party at all, for that matter.”

Teresa took down a summery, cap-sleeved, knee-length dress in a shade of blue that had summer sky written all over it. “Something along these lines with a light sweater or wrap will work. It turns cool after sundown.”

“I’ll need shoes as well.”

“Absolutely no heels. Wine-country casual means flats or wedges or sandals. Parties at wineries are often held at least partially outdoors or on a terrace, especially at this time of year. You’re supposed to look like you are prepared to tramp around the vineyards or go do some work in the tank room at any given moment.”

“Got it.” Lucy glanced at the ring on Teresa’s left hand. “Sara mentioned you were married.”

Teresa laughed. “Two kids, a couple of dogs, a mortgage and a husband—not necessarily in that order, I might add.”

“Congratulations. I’m glad it worked out so well for you.”

Teresa gave her a commiserating look. “Your aunt told me that your engagement had ended.”

“As everyone keeps reminding me, better to find out things weren’t going to work before the marriage than afterward.”

“True. Was he a total jerk?”

“I found him in bed with someone else.”

“Right.” Teresa nodded. “Total jerk. Think of it as an experiment that didn’t go well.”

“It was a mistake, not an experiment.”

“Uh-uh.” Teresa wagged her forefinger. “You know what they say, it’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it.”

“I learned a lot from it,” Lucy said. “Saw a very expensive therapist for about six weeks afterward.”

“And?”

“Turns out I’ve got commitment issues.”

“Bullshit.”

“The implication was that it was probably my fault that the engagement ended. My inability to commit drove the total jerk to another woman.”

“I repeat, bullshit. A total jerk is a total jerk. Total jerks are incapable of change. On some level you must have sensed the total jerkiness of your fiancé, and that is why you couldn’t commit. So either consciously or unconsciously you tested him, and sure enough your suspicions proved to be correct.”

“Wow.” Lucy was impressed. “That is deep, Teresa.”

“Yes, I know.” Teresa smiled a smug little smile. “You should have consulted me instead of a very expensive therapist. I would have sold you the right clothes and sent you out to look for a replacement for the total jerk.”

Lucy laughed. “You’re right. I needed retail therapy after my engagement ended, not psychological counseling. What was I thinking?”

“I can tell you that your taste in men has already taken a quantum leap forward.”

“Meaning?”

“Mason Fletcher is taking you to the ball, Cinderella. How cool is that?”

“It’s not exactly a date,” Lucy said quickly.

“Yes, it is a date, your second one, according to my calculations. Mason was with you when you found Brinker’s body in your aunt’s fireplace, wasn’t he?”

“Well, yes, but I’m not sure finding a dead body together constitutes a date.”

“So dates with Mason are a little different than dates with other men. That’s a good thing, if you ask me.” Teresa took down a second breezy dress in the muted colors of twilight. “Have they figured out for sure if it was Brinker’s body in your aunt’s fireplace?”

“The verdict isn’t final, but there’s really not much doubt. When Mason and I gave our statements to Chief Whitaker this morning, I could tell that he was going on the assumption that the body was that of Tristan Brinker. They have determined that it is the body of a male about Brinker’s age. Whitaker said he couldn’t find any record of another man going missing in the vicinity of Summer River that year.”

“It’s Brinker. Has to be him.” Teresa shook her head. “Hard to imagine your sweet little aunt killing anyone, but as long as she did get into the mood, I can’t say I’m sorry she chose Brinker as her target. In hindsight, it’s clear he was a real sociopath. I don’t have any trouble at all picturing him as the Scorecard Rapist.”

“I agree.”

“Wonder why Sara did it, though. Do you think he attacked her? Maybe she defended herself and was afraid to call the cops because she had just killed Jeffrey Brinker’s son. Brinker senior would have made her life a living hell if he found out that she was responsible for the death of his precious heir. In his eyes, Tristan could do no wrong.”

“We may never know why she did it,” Lucy said. She was not prepared to divulge the conclusions that she and Mason had come to regarding Sara’s reasons for committing murder—not yet, at any rate.

“It certainly has the locals talking, that’s for sure,” Teresa said. “And now I’m dressing you for a party out at the Colfax Winery. No offense, but just between you and me, mind satisfying my curiosity and tell me how you got the invitation?”

“Jillian Colfax invited me personally,” Lucy said.

Teresa clutched the hanger and dress to her bosom and widened her eyes.

“Holy crap. Jillian invited you? Okay, didn’t see that coming. Last I heard, you and Jillian did not move in the same social circles.”

“Nothing has changed in that regard.” Lucy grasped a handful of the dress fabric, enjoying the soft, fluid, lightweight feel. “However, in case you weren’t aware of it, I inherited a nice little chunk of Colfax Inc.”

“Oh, yeah, that news is all over town, too, trust me. Which is why it is a very good thing that Mason is going with you tonight. You may need someone to watch your back, and I don’t know of anyone better qualified to do that. You know what they always said about him.”