CHAPTER 35

EDDIE recognized the location of the party. The newly-constructed building was across the street from the Federal Complex. Out front, a concrete structure loomed as thick as a corridor and as tall as a house. The sides were covered with a tarp, shielding the building’s benefactor.

The sheer magnitude of the sign’s dimensions and the sight of the cars—mostly limos—lining the sidewalk out front, brought reality home for Eddie. Rio Laraquette was out of his league.

“You’re dad owns the building beside the precinct?” Eddie asked as the car door opened. He extended his foot out and touched the ground.

“Well, sort of, but not really.” Rio slid across the seat and took the hand he offered to help her out of the car.

Eddie’s curiosity urged him to peek under the tarp, but his resolved talked him out of it. Instead, he fidgeted inside the tux, feeling a bit too cramped and cooped up in the formal wear.

In a surprising move, Rio laced her arm around his as they strolled toward the entrance. A well-dressed man opened the door with a bright smile.

A brunette wearing a deep-blue gown that complimented her azure eyes approached them. “Ms. Laraquette.” She and Rio exchanged a polite hug.

“Hello, Theresa,” Rio said. “You look great. I love that dress.”

“Thank you.” Theresa’s gaze journeyed toward Eddie. “And this must be Mr. LaCall.”

“Yes, this is Eddie LaCall.” Rio scanned the lobby. “Where is my father?” she asked, diverting the secretary’s attention elsewhere.

“He’s waiting for you in the office on the left side of the convention room.” Theresa excused herself with a slight nod and backed away.

They followed the corridor to the left and as they passed each open door leading into the elaborate convention room Eddie took in the sight of the excessive displays of flowers and ice sculptures. The room was, so far, pretty much empty, but duly decked out for the evening’s guests.

He’d never seen anything like this. In the world he came from, parties like this didn’t happen. As out of place as he felt, this was Rio’s world and for as much as he knew it was useless he wanted to find a way to fit in.

He followed her as she pushed open a set of double doors and entered the room. He watched her hips shift seductively beneath the snug dress clinging to her body.

An interior door opened and the sound of James Laraquette’s voice chased the carnal thoughts out of Eddie’s head.

Her father strode imposingly across the small space. “Rio...” He kissed her cheek and then offered his hand to Eddie. The two men greeted each other as they shared a handshake.

“Has Rio told you anything about this evening’s events?” James asked Eddie.

“Only that it’s some kind of mystery that I’m obviously not allowed to know about.” His voice gave away his disappointment.

“Surprise.” James gave a chuckle. “It’s called a surprise.”

Eddie glanced at Rio, her father, and then back at Rio again. He looked spooked, ready to run.

Not good.

She’d kept him in the dark long enough. On second thought, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Who was she to mettle in his personal life? It wasn’t like they were friends. He’d come to Vegas under false pretenses. She wasn’t sure their partnership had been designed to last—not that he cared. But he had let her win the poker tournament. That had to count for something. Right?

“Remember when you said you wanted to find a way to immortalize Olivia?” Not that he deserved what she’d done, but Olivia did.

“Yeah...” he said with a hint of caution.

“I was really moved by Olivia’s story, so I went to my father. You know he’s got all this money.” Her tone was full of torment, like she was suddenly rethinking her choices. “Well, I asked him to establish the Olivia LaCall Foundation.”

Words formed inside Eddie’s mind but faded just before reaching the tip of his tongue. He blinked, trying to process a declaration that made no sense to him. He shook his head when the awareness didn’t come.

“The foundation is a nonprofit organization.” James spoke up, as if he’d seen Eddie’s inner turmoil. “It will assist families who’ve known tragedy, such as the one your family went through.” James stood silent for a moment, giving Eddie time to process the foundation’s purpose. “You’re free to widen your scope of support as you see fit since the foundation does belong to your family.”

“What?” Eddie’s high-pitched tone pierced even his ears. Seriously? Rio had started a foundation to honor Olivia? Eddie’s emotions shifted into high gear and he blinked back the tear that was hell-bent on escaping.

“Eddie…” Rio’s voice was riddled with doubt. “Say something.”

He looked at her—which probably wasn’t a good idea since the instant his gaze met hers his face tightened and his jaw trembled, leaving him struggling to speak. “You did this for me?”

“I did.” Her hands unconsciously twisted together.

“I don’t know what to say.” Eddie swept her into his arms and held her snugly. “You’re such a wonderfully kind and giving person.”

Rio laid her hands on his chest and pushed away from Eddie, barely noticing her father disappearing into the same inner office that he’d appeared from. She drove her gaze back to Eddie, hoping it was as hard as she desired. “More than you deserve.”

“I’m sorry.” Torment darkened his usually bright eyes. She got the feeling his remorse was genuine. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”

“Oh, sure. I can forgive you. But trusting you again...” She gave a slight, inconsequential shrug. “Now that’s another matter.”

His face drooped into a penitent frown. “Now I know what my mother meant when she used to say too much water has flown under the bridge.” Eddie glanced at Rio, looking helpless. “Ours is kind of flooded, huh?”

Oh, shit! Rio hadn’t told him yet. “There’s more,” she said, glancing over his shoulder and seeing the inner office’s door opening.

“More?” Eddie chuckled. “What more could there be after all this?”

Rio’s gaze darted past his shoulder. Eddie followed it and stood there, stunned. “Mom?” he uttered, scarcely above a whisper.

Vivian LaCall strode across the room on the arm of James Laraquette. She looked like a princess.

Eddie’s legs carried him toward her. “Mom, what are you doing here?” he asked, embracing her.

“Well, that is my doing,” James spoke up. “I invited your mother to come to Vegas to oversee the foundation. I figured you’d be too busy, solving crimes and all.”

“You’re moving here?” Eddie’s mouth spread into a happy smile.

Rio moved toward her father. “Thank you, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek.

“Have I told you lately—” He draped his arm around her shoulders. “—how proud I am of you?”

“Of me?” She didn’t feel worthy.

“You’ve started a wonderful thing here. And it’s going to help a lot of people.” He gave her a little squeeze. “You need to remember why you did it.”

I did it because I wanted to help Eddie. She tried to tamp down the urge to ridicule that decision. “What’s your point?” she asked, throwing up a tough front.

“My point is...” he said. “From the moment I met Eddie, nothing—including the secret investigation that brought him here—has mattered quite so much to him as keeping you safe. You were always his number one priority.”

“So what are you trying to say, Daddy?” She let out a hint of laughter.

“He’s worthy of your trust.”

Damn. Rio had always hated that about her father—his ability to read her innermost fears. She and her father had had their issues, but the one thing she could always count on was his sincerity. When he told her something was a fact, she believed it. He’d never steered her wrong yet.

James maneuvered Rio toward Eddie and his mother. They exchanged introductions and pleasantries until James said, “Well, shall we?” He offered his arm to Vivian. “We’ve got a crowd out there waiting for us.”

“By all means,” Rio said, lacing her arm around Eddie’s. “Let’s lighten their wallets considerably for them tonight.”

“Is this the illusive charity you were speaking of for our poker winnings?” Eddie asked Rio as they followed James and Vivian out into the convention room.

“Yes.” She nodded. “My father has seeded the foundation with a one million dollar endowment.”

“Holy crap!” Eddie managed to contain the shock to just above a whisper. “A million bucks?”

“Believe me,” she said. “Once the foundation opens, we’ll need all the money we can get our hands on.” She smiled and perused the crowd, mentally taking note of who was in attendance. Rio knew which guests had the loosest pockets and she had every intention of targeting them relentlessly.

“We?” Eddie said with a measure of hope.

“Freudian slip. Sorry. This thing belongs to you and your mom.”

“You founded it. You’ll always be part of it.”

Rio spotted the gang from the FVC Unit huddled in a corner. She elbowed Eddie. “There’s everybody from work. Let’s go say hi.”

“LaCall, Laraquette,” Gabe said as they approached. “It’s nice to see you both this evening.” He gave Rio a smile, one she hadn’t seen in a long time. It was his easygoing smile; the one that had made her feel safe as a kid.

“Love that dress, Victoria,” Rio said, as the guys huddled together a few feet away.

“Thanks.” Her tone wasn’t overpowered by confidence. “I wasn’t sure if it was formal enough.”

“Not to worry,” Rio said. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”

“Have you heard?” Victoria’s eyes brightened as if she had a secret to tell.

“What?”

“Mr. Dalton has offered me the recently vacated position in the department.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Rio nodded. “You’re a perfect fit.”

“Rio...” Digger rushed up from behind. “I have to talk to you now.”

“Hey, Dig.” Rio studied Digger’s face. She knew that look. It was one her friend donned only when she was worried. “What’s up?” she asked, trying to calm the anxiety creeping up her back.

Digger surveyed the room’s expanse. She let out a soft sigh and settled her worried gaze back on Rio. She looked toward the floor at Rio’s feet.

“Something wrong?” Rio asked, more worried than before. What was she looking for?

“You’re not going up on stage, are you?”

“No. Not that I’m aware.”

“Don’t.”

“Why?” Rio asked again. “What going on?”

“I can’t shake this feeling that you’ll be in danger of falling before the night’s over.” Digger shook her head as a perplexed look furrowed her brow.

“Michelle...!” Chris snuck past Rio and grabbed Digger’s hand. “What a lovely surprise,” he said and kissed the tops of her fingers.

“Chris...” Digger plastered on her sexy smile. “Charmed as usual.”

“I need to talk to you.” Dickie King latched onto Rio’s upper arm and guided her off to the side. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

Rio sucked in a deep breath. The teasing was getting old. “I give. Where?” she said evasively, determined not to play this game anymore.

Eddie looked at them, said something to Paul and Victoria before stepping away from them and heading toward Rio and Dickie. “Please tell me you got something for me?” he asked of Dickie.

“Man, do I ever!” Dickie laughed. “Your hunch that Atkins’s conversations with his visitors might have been taped were right. The thing is, your boy Switzer assumed his meetings with Atkins wouldn’t be taped. And we all know what happens when we assume....” Pride beamed from every pore of Dickie’s being.

“Seriously?” Eddie asked. “Switzer was my leak? Go figure.”

“Well, I guess this means your work here is done,” Rio said, curious to see how Eddie would respond.

She could see it, the beginning of some snappy comeback forming behind those mischievous coffee-colored eyes of Eddie’s. But as he looked at her, a sad smile tipped the corners of his mouth. “Laraquette, are you ever going to be open to the idea of trusting me again?”

“When I’m ready,” she said. “You’ll know it.”

Victoria tugged at her arm. “Hey, Rio. Where’s the little girl’s room?”

“Come on,” Rio said. “I’ll show you.”

Eddie watched them go and for the first time in a long time he didn’t worry about what dangers might lurk around the corner as she disappeared from view.

* * *

James Laraquette climbed the few steps leading up to a podium and welcomed the room full of guests, “I’d like to thank you all for accepting our invitation to attend this evening’s event, commemorating a project planned by my daughter, Rio and her partner, Eddie LaCall.”

The crowd responded with oohs and ahs as James paused for a moment and glanced down at Eddie, wondering where Rio was.

Eddie responded with a slight tilt of the head and a brief shrug as he mouthed the word, bathroom.

* * *

“So what are these rumors I hear?” Inside the ladies room, Victoria’s voice filtered through the air, making conversation while taking care of business.

“Rumors?” Rio asked from inside a bathroom stall.

“I heard you and Eddie are dating.” Victoria said, putting extra emphasis on the final word.

“Where’d you hear a thing like that?” Rio asked, just as the toilet in the stall next to her flushed.

She got no response from Victoria, thinking maybe she hadn’t heard her over the toilet. “Is that the rumor floating around the Department?” She tried to ignore the anxiety prickling at her nerves. It didn’t make sense that Vicki wasn’t answering her.

Still, no response as the racket from the noisy toilet subsided. She thought she heard the door bang shut.

“Vicki?” she called out softly, rising and adjusting her clothing.

Nothing.

Rio used her foot to flush the toilet and then opened the stall door. Angst pounded the blood through her veins as she stared into the eyes of the one person she thought she’d never have to see again.

The shimmer of blue steel gleamed in Rio’s peripheral vision. The gun’s barrel was sitting against Victoria’s head. A spasm of fright tightened in Rio’s throat. She had to get Vicki out of there before she ended up becoming another casualty in this lunatic’s rage.

“I’m the one you want.” Rio kept her tone even. “Leave her alone and I’ll willingly do whatever you want.”

* * *

If James Laraquette expected his friends and colleagues to part with some serious cash, he had to give them ample reason to do it. Recalling the LaCall family’s tragedy should do the job. “It is, however, with a heavy heart,” he said in a regretful tone, “that we present this project to you.” He sucked in a deep breath and looked at Vivian, fearing that reliving the nightmare might be too much for her. She nodded, as if she’d read his mind. James continued on, “Twenty-six years ago eight-year-old Olivia LaCall left home for school one morning and never returned…alive.” A silence fell over the crowd. “She’d been abducted by a monster disguised as a man with a long history of criminal activity. Why had such a man—who today would be deemed a horrid threat to society—why was he allowed to slip through the cracks of justice and end the life of this innocent little girl?” A fiery rage burned James Laraquette’s eyes. He ignored it. “The monster’s identity was never discovered. According to profilers, he most likely developed a pattern of random pursuits in search of his next victim. Unfortunately, life for Olivia’s family drudged on in agony. No one came to their rescue as they tried to deal with this unimaginable tragedy.” James took a moment’s pause, trying to wipe out the images forming in his mind that placed him in John LaCall’s shoes. Imagining Rio in Olivia’s position was not a place he wanted to go. “Olivia’s father John was unable to deal with the guilt of not being there to save his daughter. Less than a year later he took his own life.” James’s gaze fell upon Vivian again, the mounting pressure of his own tears distorted the view. “Suppose there had been a facility that supported victims’ families. A facility that offered counseling and many other services that families need after the unspeakable happens.” Finally, James wiped the moisture from his eyes. “For those of you who know me well, you know that once I get behind a cause, I do it on a grand scale.” The little rumble of laughter that echoed across the room didn’t quite fit the overall mood. “When my daughter Rio came to me with this idea, I soon began to ponder that perhaps a victims’ support facility was only half of a great idea. Of course we want to be there for the victims’ families, but we also own the responsibility of prevention. To make such a facility truly useful, in addition to a victims’ support division we also need a counsel of great legal minds to challenge the holes in the legal system that allows criminals to fall through the cracks.” James scanned the room. By the looks on the attendees’ faces, he already had a number of them on the hook—but he wanted to snag them all. “If such a facility had been in existence twenty-six years ago...is it possible that little Olivia’s life could have been spared? Is it possible that perhaps a father would not have left an already-grieving mother and son with a bigger burden of loss?” James lowered his head, offering a moment of respect. When he looked back up, he felt empty. He’d always believed that he knew loss, having been abandoned by two wives. But his hardship was nothing compared to what the LaCalls had experienced. James half-turned to the enormous curtain hanging behind him and giving a wave to the man off to the side of the stage. “I’d like to direct your attention toward the screen…”The curtain began to ease open.

Eddie looked around for Rio and Victoria. They’d been gone a long time. He searched the crowd, barely hearing the words as James continued his speech.

“Ladies and gentleman, in hopes that we may offer financial assistance to shore up the legal system to ensure the safety of this country’s children, and, to provide support to the families of those the system has so grievously failed…I give you the Olivia LaCall Foundation.” The image of the grand sign out front flickered on the screen behind the half opened curtain. “Tonight, Laraquette Enterprises will match donations, dollar for dollar, so dig deep and help fund this noble and worthy cause.”

Where is Rio? This shebang was her baby. It didn’t make sense that she’d miss it. Eddie stood. He was going to go find her. Behind him, up on the stage, the curtains rested at the sides of the screen. He was about to step away from the table when he heard the gasps and hushed whispers traveling around the room.

Curiosity, more than anything, pushed him to look over his shoulder. He stared, stunned, at the image on the screen. Fear launched from his gut and shot out in all directions. The structure out front was still covered with the tarp shielding the building’s name. On top, Naomi held Rio in a choke hold with one arm and a gun to her head with the other hand.

James stepped away from the podium and stumbled down the steps, nearly falling.

The convention room’s main doors swung open. Victoria stopped just inside the doorway; blood soaked the side of her head, tainting her blonde hair red. “She’s got her...” she uttered just before her eyes fluttered shut and she fell to the floor.

Paul rushed to Victoria and Eddie raced outside. Those who weren’t fixated on Paul and Victoria watched the live feed on the big screen. Within seconds, Eddie came into the scene.

Eddie stared up at the top of the structure. “Naomi, what in God’s name are you doing?” He gave Rio a quick once-over, telling himself she was okay. For now.

“She wouldn’t listen. She wouldn’t back off.” Naomi’s words, delivered on a chilled tone, slashed at Eddie’s heart.

“Naomi…” He reached toward them as if he could help Rio.

“Shut up!” she yelled. “You’re as guilty as she is. You threw me away like I was yesterday’s news. And then you came up here and hopped right into the sack with her!”

Naomi tightened the grip she had on Rio. It stung, just thinking about the night Eddie had stayed at her house right after he was released from the hospital.

“You couldn’t control yourself,” Naomi said. “And you paid for that.”

“Paid?” Eddie mouthed the word.

“Your house.” Naomi’s tone hardened. “You think that was an accident?”

“You?” he asked. “You burned my house down?”

“It’s your fault. You made me do it.”

“You put that snake in my car?” Rio wrapped her hands loosely around Naomi’s arm that was pressing against her neck.

“No, of course not!” Naomi disgust for Rio showed in her tone. “I got that stupid-ass Blake Switzer to do that. He was supposed to save you, making himself seem more appealing.”

“You two were working together?” Rio asked in a tremulous voice.

Naomi laughed.

“The letters…?” Rio asked, terrified of the answer. “Who sent me those letters? Was it you or Blake?”

“Come now…” Naomi’s tone mocked her. “You don’t think Blake Switzer could ever be that creative, do you?”

“You guys were working together!” Rio said, as the puzzle pieces fell into place.

“We weren’t exactly a team.” Naomi’s scoffing suggested Switzer could never be quite so innovative. “He was just an easy mark.” Suddenly, and for no real reason, Naomi began to prattle on about the brilliancy of her scheming. “I was hoping I could enlist the help of Chris Bradley or that little Hottie Dickie King. But then I realized my mistake after it became clear that you liked your meat a little darker.” She sighed and it turned into a shudder. “I did have hopes for Paul Rivera...but that little twerp was the only one who’d never consider crossing the line for you.” She shrugged and tightened her grip. “Deep down, I always knew you’d never leave a man like Eddie for a guy like Blake. That’s why I tried to scare you off.” She twisted the gun’s barrel against Rio’s head as if she were tightening a screw.

“Naomi…” Eddie tried to contain his anger. “Why don’t you let her go? And you and I…we’ll go talk about this.”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Her words spewed out harshly. “I realized if you wouldn’t come back if you thought I was pregnant—” She gave a helpless shrug. “Then you weren’t coming back until she was dead.”

What? The inquiry breezed through Eddie’s mind. She couldn’t honestly think he’d believe that lie, could she? He’d told the truth when he’d said it’d been months since he’d touched her; not to mention that he’d always used protection.

“The flowers and candy were from you!” Rio said as if the insight had just fallen into her thoughts.

“You bet your ass they were.” Pride seeped out in Naomi’s voice. “I saw it as the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.” Her devilish laughter pierced Rio’s eardrums. “Once I realized I had a tail on me, I knew the cops were closing in. But I also knew there was a tail on Blake, too. If anybody was going to take the fall, it’d have to be him.”

“You set him up?” That thought stomped Rio’s fear. Sure, Blake wasn’t a complete innocent. But if there was even a grain of truth in what Naomi was saying, Blake was far from the monster she’d led them to believe. “Before or after he died in the accident?”

“You guys aren’t too bright, are you?” Naomi’s inquiry snapped at Rio’s ego. “That was no accident. And it was all his fault. I had the perfect plan. We were all going to live happily-ever-after. But Blake kept shooting all my ideas down because they were illegal.” She tossed an indignant spin on the latter word and then began laughing. “Which is rich coming from a guy who’s been leaking information to that mob guy.”

There it was, a second finger pointing at Switzer today. The odds for his innocence were diminishing by the minute. Just when Rio was starting to feel a bit of sympathy for Blake, it vanished. “Lucky break, huh?” Rio said, feeding Naomi’s desire to talk.

“Boy, I’ll say.” Her chilling laughter didn’t lighten the mood. “But I knew he wouldn’t serve much purpose for long. And I was right, so I had to take matters into my own hands.” Her tone said she was getting annoyed now. Good. If she was annoyed, then she wasn’t fully concentrating. “I had it planned out so well. Eddie would go check on the untimely death of the guy who’d been tailing Blake. He wouldn’t be there to save you,” she said, burrowing the gun against Rio’s head again. “And if you’d gone straight to your desk like you were supposed to... you would’ve eaten the candy and we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”

“Naomi—” Eddie’s tense tone showed his disbelief. “—you killed two people?”

“You only have yourself to blame.” Naomi’s voice cracked. “And now, as the grand finale, you get to watch her die.” She shrugged, and in that split-second, tilted the gun away from Rio’s head.

Rio knew this was the only chance she was going to get. She jammed her spiked heel into Naomi’s foot. Naomi buckled. Rio struck with a spinning roundhouse kick and cracked Naomi’s jaw. The girl took two staggering steps backward and dropped her gun. It bounced off the structure and barreled to the ground.

Eddie watched the gun fall and quickly began searching for it in the darkness.

Naomi regained her footing and lunged toward Rio.

Eddie saw the barrel glistening on the ground near the base of the structure. He dove for it, knowing it was his only chance to save Rio. The two women were locked together, struggling for power. He wasn’t sure how it happened but Rio knocked Naomi back.

“Don’t move, Naomi!” He aimed the gun at her. “I will shoot you.”

Naomi laughed, as if that were the most ludicrous thing he could’ve said, and positioned herself to take another plunge at Rio.

All the guests began to filter outside as the gunshot echoed through the night.

Naomi’s stumbling seemed to be an aftereffect of the bullet piercing her skull. She stopped at the structure’s edge, her knees buckling. As she fell, her foot caught the border of the tarp and tore it loose. Naomi plummeted to the ground at Eddie’s feet. The canvas billowed downward, revealing the building’s name in cool, sleek steel.

The Olivia LaCall Foundation.