LLucy’s Revenge(Divine Creek Ranch 15)(124)
They’d had the guy within arm’s reach. “He came into Lucy’s place a couple of months back, looking for his computer. I guess he’d left it with Marvin and didn’t know the guy had changed locations. This asshole made an insulting comment to Lucy about her ‘massage parlor.’ Jackass.”
Looking pleased with the development, Ethan said, “Well at least you’ll recognize him when you see him.”
“No shit,” Beck said as he slid the photo back across the table.
“So, our audio surveillance failed to turn up anything that we could use to help us get a warrant. Smith does, however, seem to be talking to himself more and making sense less. Is he going off the deep end? I don’t know. But this makes him more unpredictable, and therefore probably more dangerous.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Patrick said. He shared a glance with Beck and a cold knot formed in Beck’s stomach. That crazy fucker was just running around Divine and had been for years?
“None of us does,” Mel said.
Beck vowed to himself that Baxter wouldn’t be a free man much longer if he had anything to say about it. The discussion veered to matters of Baxter’s financial maneuverings involving accounts in the Cayman Islands, wire transfers, and safety deposit boxes. Patrick asked a question and the discussion continued. All Beck wanted to know was what he could do to make a difference, to bring that bastard to justice.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lucy slipped out of the larger of her two massage rooms to let her customer get dressed and ready to leave. She went into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator. It was still early in the day but she was already feeling tired. The massage she’d just given had been a workout for her hands and she shook one out, then the other, and flexed her fingers.
The heat outside didn’t help either. The last few weeks it had intensified until she could barely stand being outside for long. Beck loved it, worked in it every day, and she didn’t know how he managed. It didn’t seem to bother Patrick very much either and of course, as was the case with children, PJ hardly noticed it at all. She’d gladly spent the majority of the July 4th holiday weekend either in Grace Warner’s pool or in the air-conditioning at home.
With big eyes, Tamara trotted in. “I hope this was okay, but while you were in with Mrs. Eckols, your next appointment cancelled. Right after I hung up with them, another person called wanting to know if they could possibly get in today, so I told them to come. Was that okay? It’s a full body massage.”
Lucy smiled and patted the eager teenager’s shoulder. “It’s fine. I’ll just take a shorter lunch. You did the right thing so that I don’t lose the business. I’ll get the room ready. Can you take care of Mrs. Eckols?”
“Sure. The lady said she could be here in just a few minutes.”
“Who is it?”
Tamara bit her lip and looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I was so happy to fill the spot I didn’t even think to ask. That was dumb.”
Lucy put a hand on Tamara’s shoulder. “You’ll remember next time. It’s not that big a deal. Just find out her name and pencil her in the book when she gets here.”
Lucy carried extra towels into the small massage room and set to work preparing.
Moments later, the front doorbell rang and she exited the room to greet her replacement client. She stopped in the doorway when she saw the woman standing there, gripping her purse in her hands. She was of short stature but the resemblance was clear as she cast her gaze around the interior of the retreat. She seemed a little confused.
“Hi, I’m Lucy,” she said as she stepped forward and put out her hand to shake the woman’s.
The woman smiled at her and shook her hand. “Lucy, I’m Amelia Owen.”
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Owen. Shall we?” she asked, gesturing to the room.
Mrs. Owen followed her into the massage room and put down her purse. “Lucy, I’m sorry we haven’t met before today.”
Unsure how to react, Lucy sat in the chair nearby. “I’m sorry, too. I could’ve reached out to you and Mr. Owen and I didn’t.”
Mrs. Owen smiled and shook her head, which made her abundant white curls bob around her head. “Patrick’s father has some unrealistic expectations for his son. Couple that with the fact he’s constantly working, and it’s unlikely… Well, I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I?” she said with a soft chuckle. She wrung her hands in her lap and Lucy noticed when her chin quivered the tiniest bit.