Garden of Secrets Read Free Page A

blood, and he drew in a shaky breath. “What—what happened?”
    “I don’t know yet. Your housekeeper found her like this a few minutes ago.”
    “I was just outside checking the lights. Do you think she slipped in the dark?”
    “It’s possible,” he replied, his mind racing through a few other scenarios. He glanced down at Theresa, noting the red scratch marks on her neck. “Was your wife wearing a necklace?”
    Robert’s jaw dropped. “Yes. Oh, my God! It was a diamond necklace dating back to the shipwreck. It’s quite valuable.” His gaze dropped to his wife’s hand. “Her wedding ring is gone, too.” He stared at Joe in confusion and disbelief. “Someone robbed her, right here in our home, in the middle of a party. Who would do that?”
    Just then, Colin returned with Charlotte and Ray Bennington, an ER doctor at the clinic. Joe stood up and moved out of the doorway, allowing the doctors a closer look.
    “Jason just arrived,” Colin informed him. “Davidson is on his way to handle forensics.”
    “Good. Because it looks like Mrs. Monroe’s diamonds are missing—at least, the ones she was wearing.”
    “Damn. The blackout was planned?”
    “I’ve never believed in coincidences. Get Sheila over here, too. We’re going to need her to search the female guests while Davidson takes prints.”
    “I’m on it.” Colin passed the paramedics on his way out of the room.
    Charlotte stepped out of the bathroom as the paramedics joined Dr. Bennington. Her blue eyes were worried as her gaze met Joe’s. “She’s in bad shape.”
    “At least she’s still alive.”
    Charlotte nodded, but there was doubt written all over her pretty face. He’d come to the party for one reason—to see her, and maybe use midnight as as an opportunity to kiss her. He’d been thinking about her for weeks, missing her warm smile, her light blue eyes, her silky golden-blond hair and sun-kissed skin. In a short black dress that showed off her slender legs and sexy body, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. He just wished their reunion wasn’t in the middle of a crime scene.
    “This is crazy,” she muttered. “What do you think happened?”
    “Too soon to tell.”
    “Who would rob her in the middle of a party? It’s so bold.”
    “And personal,” he said, thinking about what kind of thief he was dealing with.
    “Like a friend?”
    “Obviously not a very good one.” He tilted his head to the side, giving her a thoughtful look. “Did you see anything? I saw you come down the stairs just before the housekeeper screamed.”
    “No, I didn’t see a thing,” she said, stumbling a bit. “The lights went off, and it was pitch black.”
    “Did you hear a scream? An argument? Anyone call for help?”
    “I heard a lot of screams when everything went dark. But nothing that sounded like someone was in trouble.”
    “What were you doing up here, Charlotte?”
    “Looking for a bathroom,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze.
    He didn’t know what to make of her evasiveness. Charlotte wouldn’t hurt anyone. She was a kind, generous person who went out of her way to help people, but there was something she wasn’t telling him.
    Before he could probe further, he saw the housekeeper hovering in the doorway.
    “Mrs. Monroe is still alive?” she asked, taking a few tentative steps into the room. She wore a black dress with dark stockings and flat shoes. Her black hair was streaked with gray and pulled back in a tight bun, no evidence of makeup on her rather plain face.
    “Yes,” he said. “They’re going to take her to the hospital.”
    “Thank God.” She made the sign of the cross on her chest. “I was worried. She was so still. And there was so much blood.”
    “What’s your name?”
    “Constance Garcia,” she said a bit warily.
    “You found her, Constance?” the mayor interrupted, stepping into the bedroom as the paramedics put Theresa on a stretcher.
    “Yes,” she answered.
    “Did you see