If At First (Crimson Cove Mysteries Book 1) Read online

  We all stood, stunned and silent. Rachel had been planning to dump Ashton for the Skip guy?

  “What if he showed up late because he was our driver and you were already drugged so you didn't notice him?” Lainey offered, clearly searching her brain for answers.

  Sage nodded. “That makes sense. And if he killed Rachel and he was stalking us, being our driver makes the most sense. He showed up as we got there, signaling his partner to send the drinks to us.”

  “But why? Why kill Rachel and drug us? To what end? Who is he? What could any one of us have done to him to deserve this?” I scowled, not one-hundred-percent convinced of the killer inside the hipster.

  Those were questions none of us could answer. We all took turns opening our mouths to say something but then closing them.

  Lainey shook her head. “The timing wouldn't work. If you were unconscious at the same time as Sage, it would mean you were drugged at the same time. The party was crowded, you wouldn't have noticed him anyway.”

  We all nodded as Vincent, Andrew, and Jake walked over to us. Sage instantly got a hateful look on her face. “What?” she snarled at Vincent.

  “Oh, how I miss your random emotional outbursts.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Your dads want you all home now. Sierra, your driver is to take each of you home. Andrew and Jake will ride with you girls. Linds, you can come with me.”

  I frowned. “Why?”

  “Because you live near my house and the rest of them live farther down the cove. I told your dad I would get you home.”

  I rolled my eyes. “No, why do they want us to go home now?”

  Vincent swallowed hard, glancing at Andrew and Jake. Even they looked worried. “The parents are going for a little meeting with the police. The FBI has been brought in so they will also be there.”

  My stomach tightened. “The FBI? Because of our parents’ connections?”

  “I don't know.” He shook his head. “I do know I have been instructed to tell all of you it is time to go home. Your parents will tell you whatever they want you to know or are allowed to tell you. I don't know anything; I’m not invited to the party either.” He slipped his hand into my arm and tugged me gently from the girls and led me toward the limo he had parked three cars down.

  We were steps away from the girls when he leaned in and whispered, “Those roses were each delivered to the houses by a false company, No Name Deliveries. Robert answered the door at your house when the deliveryman showed up. He signed for the parcel, but he says he left it on the counter for you. Louisa, your father, and Lori all say they never even saw the package. You say it was in your room?”

  I nodded.

  “Then the person screwing with us put it there. I don't want you home alone.”

  I glanced back at my friends as Andrew and Jake ushered them into the limo. “But what about them? They’ll be alone. We have to tell them.”

  “No. And they won’t be alone, their mothers are all home. Each household has been put on alert with security added. Lainey and Sage have their sisters to help take care of.”

  I stopped, jerking my arm free. “We need to stay together. Forget our parents and their plans. I want to know the truth.”

  He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me, again with the PDA. I moaned and wriggled free, hurrying to the car before someone took our picture. “Can you not do that in front of cameras?” When his driver opened the door I eyed him up nervously. He was a beast of a man, like Lurch on The Addams Family.

  Vincent nodded. “Thanks, Hugo.” I looked back at Vincent and then climbed in, hating the fact I wasn't in my car or with my friends.

  We sat there in silence as Hugo started the car and drove off.

  Finally, he gave me a look. “I just want to be sure you’re safe.”

  “What about my friends—?”

  Vincent’s phone made a weird sound, cutting me off. He pulled it out, seething suddenly. “Son of a bitch. If that fuc—”

  “What?” It was my turn to cut him off as I leaned over, gasping at the sight. “You can see the cameras from your phone?” His cell phone had a video of his room. It seemed to be coming from an angle, above the room. Suddenly a person walked across in a hoodie. I jumped. “Oh my God!”

  “I am going to mess that bastard up,” he snarled, not sounding scared but angry.

  The person glanced about, clearly wearing something so their face was completely black, like there was nothing inside the hoodie.

  The stream switched to a different camera, giving us another angle as the dark figure crept around the room, going right for the bedside table.

  “Holy shit, Vince. That's the killer,” I whispered, light-headed and a little dry in the mouth.

  “I know. Looks like a guy, right? Those shoulders? I’m going to kill him.”

  I shook my head. “I don't know. Could be a girl with layers on.”

  “In this heat? It better not be a girl. I don't know that I could hit a girl.”

  “I can,” I murmured. “But you have to hold her down for me.”

  “Deal,” he muttered as we both watched the killer open the drawer, pushing down on the false bottom and lifting it out. The dark face looked right back at the camera, as if to brag. Then he or she turned their face back to the drawer.

  Vincent slammed his hand down on the seat and pressed the button, shouting into it, “Hugo, home before Miss Bueller’s!” I continued to watch as the killer ripped apart the dresser, like they didn't seem to find what they were looking for.

  “What’s in there, Vince?”

  “My dad’s spare key to the vault.”

  I winced. “Oh.” How did I say what I knew without looking insane? There was no way. So I leaned across him and pressed the button. “Just take us to my house, please, Hugo.” I sat back, hating myself and closed my eyes. “I have your key at my house. I stole it. You should call the police about the intruder.”

  He growled. “Why do you have my key?”

  “I was in your bedside table, snooping, and I saw it and wondered what it was. That's when I saw the pictures of the girls.” I shook my head and tried not to sound crazy. “I like solving little things. I was going to put it back after I figured it out. I swear.” Tears leaked from my eyes. I was a little scared and a little ashamed and a lot worried. “You should call the cops about the intruder, Vince.”

  His breathing leveled off as he sat back and sighed. “I already knew you spied on me, obviously the pictures gave you away, but I knew long before then. I caught you once. Let’s just say you are the least talented spy I have ever met. Hence the reason I got girls to send me pictures.”

  I turned and gave him a tearful scowl. “So couldn't you tell I took the key when I was there?”

  He shook his head. “I didn't have the cameras on that day. The wiring was being weird. I was out getting a new part for it when you asked if I was home and I asked you to have dinner with me. I didn't want the electrician at the house again because I didn't want my dad to find out I had wired the house.” He smiled, sighing and calming down a little. “I can’t even tell you how relieved I am that you steal my shit randomly.”

  “You need to call the police,” I whispered as his words jumped about in my head, coming to one distinct conclusion. “Your father doesn't know you have a key to the safe, does he?”

  He shook his head.

  “But the killer must know. Look at that bedside table.” I pointed at the image of the ripped up wood. “Was that the only thing they might be after that is missing?”

  “I assume so.” He nodded, again licking his top lip. It was clearly a stress-induced tick. “Those burner phones were for someone else. They weren’t mine.”

  “Do I want to know what’s in your dad’s safe, Vince?”

  He swallowed hard, shaking his head. “But we should be worried that someone besides my father knows what’s in there. My father doesn't ever tell anyone anything about anything. My mother left for a reason.”

  T
he car came to a halt and then drove again. We were at the four-way stop just before my turnoff. I lifted Vincent’s phone from his fingers. “You need to call the police.”

  He sighed and dialed, lifting the phone to the front of his face.

  “Vince, what’s going on?” His dad’s voice was loud.

  “There’s someone in the house. My computer monitor was on, linked to my phone. I was accessing something and the camera was on, and I caught a glimpse of someone in my room. Then the computer cut out.”

  “Did you call the police?”

  “No.”

  “Good.” His dad hung up.

  Vincent sat back in the chair, tapping on the phone, checking the other cameras in the house but nothing else was disturbed.

  “Why didn't you call the cops?” I asked, truly curious about what was in their house.

  He lifted his face, pressing his lips together and taking a long breath. “I just can’t. My dad is particular about the house and the police. That's all I have, okay?”

  I nodded, dissatisfied and more intrigued than before. I had been in their house snooping a lot, but I was a close family friend. I was in the inner circle. Mr. Banks wouldn't even bat an eyelash at me lurking about the house. I had never found anything except that Mr. Banks kept his office locked up tight with special drawers, safes, and locks on everything.

  The car stopped and Hugo opened the door, giving me the creepy Lurch look. I shuddered and stepped out.

  “Thanks, Hugo. Take a nap or see if Lori will make you something to eat.” Vincent slapped the massive man on the arm.

  I walked up to the front entrance, ready to strip from my clothes, throw on a bathing suit, and go for a swim. Lori met me at the door with two men who looked like they might be secret service. I jumped, seeing them.

  Lori held a hand up. “These are the men who are going to be on the grounds, watching the house. I just wanted you to be aware before you went anywhere.”

  I sneered, not at her or the men but the situation. “Okay.”

  Robert strolled in, smiling when he saw me. “Miss Lindsey, your father has asked that you stay in the house until he returns home.”

  “Of course he has.” I sighed, nodding as I walked past them all, heading for the stairs. I realized Vincent was right behind me when I heard him on the steps. I stopped and turned, jumping again when I saw how close he was. “What are you doing? I’m going to change.”

  “You can change in the bathroom. I want to check your room first.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure the stiffs in the monkey suits did that.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “This person has gotten past all of my dad’s security, every time.”

  “Fine, whatever,” I moaned and climbed the stairs. I was suddenly very tired and very cranky. “I feel like shit.”

  “That's the adrenaline. You need something to pick you back up. Some sugary foods are usually good for that. I get it when I rock climb sometimes.” He turned on the stairs and spoke loudly, “Lori?”

  I turned and watched as she came around the corner, looking indignant. She hated being bossed around by kids, but Vincent wasn't a regular kid. “Be a dear and fix us something sweet, please. Some cinnamon buns or some Danish or something.”

  Her lip twitched but she nodded. “Of course.” She turned and stalked off.

  “She’s going to spit in our food.”

  He turned back at me, making a face and laughing loudly. “She wouldn't dare spit in my food. I would have her replaced before she could even breathe her next breath. They better be the best pastries I have ever eaten.” He winked and walked past me on the stairs.

  I knew she had heard him but I didn't care. I went into all my meals assuming she had spit in them.

  When I got to my room, he had the door open and his face was pinched. He lifted a hand and shook his head. “Don't come in here. You don't want to see this.”

  “What?”

  He winced, holding his arms out for me. I walked toward him but peered past him to see inside the room.

  I gasped when I saw it. I cringed and held back the scream that was lodged in my throat, blocking off the air. He wrapped himself around me as my phone started going nuts.

  I pulled it from my pocket to see the girls had started a new group chat, one without Rachel. It had the same image that was in my room. Each of them had posted it with comments. I dialed immediately.

  “Linds. Did you see?” Lainey cried into the phone with a soft voice. I nodded and stared at the picture of the five of us in the woods, all of them covered in blood and me staring at Sage and Rachel who were on the ground.

  “Linds, you there?”

  I handed the phone to Vincent as I dropped to my knees, again wincing in pain as I hurt my knee with the landing.

  “Hi, Lainey. She’s here. She’s got the same photo the rest of you have,” Vincent whispered. “I am sending Hugo to pick you up right now. Bring your little sister.” He hung up and called the rest of them.

  I closed my eyes and shook my head, forcing myself not to see or believe.

  Chapter Eighteen

  More of me

  I glanced at the clock and tipped over the queen, sighing and sitting up. “I don't want to play anymore. I’m tired and I just want to know what the hell is going on.”

  Sage snuggled into me, sighing the same way I just had. “Me too. I’m hungry again too. I think stress makes me hungry. We better solve this, or I’m going to be two hundred pounds.” She glanced over at Lainey. “Did you check and make sure the girls were asleep?”

  Lainey nodded. “They both are.” Sage and Lainey had both brought their little sisters to the house with them.

  I moaned. “This whole thing sucks.” I still shuddered when I thought about it all.

  “Super sucks.” Sage pouted.

  Vincent gave us both a look. “Sitting here babysitting you isn’t my idea of fun either.” He rearranged the chessboard so the pieces were back where they should be.

  I opened my mouth to complain again, but Sierra beat me to it, “I have an idea. Why don't we do some shots and come up with an idea board. Between all of us, someone for sure knows the killer.”

  Jake gave Sierra a look. “Shots, yes. Hot tub—hell yes. Decorating a board about death, hard pass.”

  Sage nodded. “Drinking and hot tub sounds good. We are all about to die anyway—who cares who the killer is?” She stood and lifted her shirt off. She glanced back at Vincent as she walked to the bar, grabbed my dad’s bottle of scotch, and headed out the back door to the pool. Her laugh sounded like she was the evil queen or something.

  Rita got up and pulled off her shirt too. “I’m down for whatever.” She followed Sage outside. She hadn’t really said much to us, considering she was from New York. But what a first weekend at your new home—a girl invites you over and then gets brutally murdered. I wouldn’t have too much to say either. In fact, I didn't.

  Vincent gave me a look. “This is a colossally bad idea. I think we should decorate that board of death.”

  Lainey nodded aggressively. “I agree. I don't think drinking in a hot tub is a good idea.”

  Andrew shrugged and pulled off his hoodie. “Last one in is a rotten tomato.”

  “It’s egg, moron.” Sierra scoffed and dragged off her shirt and pants, slipping through my games room in her bra and underwear.

  Screams filled the air. The three of us jumped up and ran for the door, stopping to see that Jake had tossed Sierra, Rita, and Sage into the pool. Sage swam to the side and splashed Jake who jumped in, cannonballing them. Rita was swimming and wiping her eyes, cussing at Jake.

  Lainey huddled into herself. “I don't want to swim.”

  “Let’s just go in the hot tub. I can grab some girlier drinks than scotch. Sage is just trying to taunt Vincent into getting naked with her again.”

  “I’m right here!” He gave me a look.

  “Duh.” I nodded. “I know that. I just mean, we all know what she’
s doing. She doesn't like to admit defeat. She’s all about being proactive. Being fun and jumping into the pool in her skimpiest French lingerie is bound to get you back, right?”

  “You really just said duh? Seriously? I think I had more respect for you than a duh-spouting girl.” He shook his head. “And while I agree about her motives, I don't want to talk about it. I broke up with her for a reason. These sort of antics are the icing on the crazy cake.” He sighed and walked through the door, leaving me and Lainey staring at each other.

  “You getting the idea we don't really know her as well as we think we do?” Lainey asked.

  “I don't know what to think.” I gulped and turned back for the bar fridge. “This is stupid, but we don't have to drink. Help me carry some of these out there.” She slumped and sighed again in defeat and followed me to the bar fridge.

  We hauled out cans of Palm Bay and a couple of San Pellegrinos for Lainey and I. We both hated drinking in hot tubs—too hot and too drunk, too fast.

  I pulled off my shorts and tee shirt, flashing my Spiderman underwear and black sports bra.

  Jake made a face. “Why did I always know that is exactly what was lurking under there?” I tossed a drink at his head but he caught it fast.

  “Because she always has sports-bra boobs. It’s like a loaf of boob.” Sage laughed and winked at me.

  I lifted my middle finger up at her.

  Lainey pulled her pants off and laughed quietly so no one could hear her except me. “Twinsies.” She had on Batman underwear and a white sports bra.

  We both giggled; we were alone in that. Even Rita gave us a horrified stare.

  “Girls in superhero underwear are so hot.” Andrew laughed and nodded at Lainey. She blushed and scrambled to get in on the other side.