Chapter 25
Several minutes later, Angel stepped out of the bathroom and heard voices in the living room. Steeling herself, she walked down the hall and halted when she saw the crowd of men and women. Jude and Chad she recognized, along with Bethany, Miriam, Faith, and Sabrina. The other men filled the room with a wall of angry testosterone. They all seemed to be talking, but their voices ran together. The roar in her right ear had not diminished, but only served to irritate her more.
Monty, seeing her from across the room, immediately sought her out. Pulling her in closely, he spoke into her left ear. “These are my friends and co-workers, baby. The police and Fire Marshall are here also.”
Her eyes roved over the now silent crowd, their eyes all pinned on her. “Hello,” she said, offering an off-kilter smile.
Warm greetings and introductions were made before everyone settled into the spaces available. The detective and Fire Marshall sat in chairs directly in front of her. She noticed Mitch, the tall, dark-haired FBI agent, sat to the side. He appeared physically fit and his sharp eyes were filled with concern. Her mouth curved into a gentle smile and was greeted with his warm smile in return.
“Ms. Cartwright, we need to know what your actions were this morning, please.”
She noticed the Fire Marshall spoke clearly and somewhat slowly. Looks like everyone knows I’m deaf. Her irritation disappeared quickly as she realized he was trying to make things easier for her. Taking a deep breath, she gave a succinct description of her morning.
“After Monty left, I went downstairs about eight. That’s much later than I normally begin my day, but I wasn’t expecting to open for the breakfast crowd. I mixed the batter and then turned on the ovens.”
“You did not preheat the ovens first?” the detective asked.
“I did, but not then.” Seeing their confused expressions, she explained. “The cupcake batter needs to rest about ten minutes before I put it in the oven. So I mixed it up and then turned on the oven.”
“Then you went upstairs?”
“I realized I had forgotten my phone, so I ran upstairs to get it. I had it in my hand and had just gotten to the top of the stairs when…” she faltered. Monty’s arm gave her a squeeze and she leaned back into his strength.
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she continued. “There was an enormous exploding noise. I heard glass shatter and then there was a ball of heat that swept up the stairs.” She lifted her hand to her face, rubbing the bandage on her forehead. At least this cut is on the other side from my other scar.
Monty’s fingers massaged her neck, allowing her to slowly relax. “How are you holding up, baby?” he said in her good ear.
She turned to face him, admitting, “The roar in my ear is still there. It doesn’t hurt but is giving me a headache.”
Monty’s eyes searched the room, landing on Miriam. She nodded and reached into her purse, pulling out ibuprofen. She grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator and walked over to Angel. “Here you go, sweetie.”
Grateful, Angel took the proffered pain reliever. Looking back to the detective and Fire Marshall, she asked, “Now it’s time for you to talk to me. Was this an accidental gas explosion or was my oven—in my kitchen—rigged to explode?”
Her voice sounded harsh, her eyes boring into the men sitting in front of her. She noticed Chad shifted and her eyes moved to him. His expression was one of barely disguised rage. Shooting her eyes back to the Fire Marshall, she pierced him with her gaze. “I want to know exactly what happened to my bakery…and my home.”
“Ms. Cartwright, please understand that our investigation is just starting. I will say that our initial consultation with the investigators and the gas company is that it was not an accident. But that is all we know at this time.”
The detective looked at Chad. “I’d like to suggest that we be able to use your expertise in this matter.”
Chad agreed. “Absolutely. I’ll be heading back to the site this afternoon.”
The detective scribbled Angel’s statement and then proceeded to talk to Jack about the case they were working before he left.
She felt exhausted and the group of Saints and their women, while kind, were all talking amongst themselves and she could not hear their conversations. Bethany approached Angel, taking her hand and leading her over to where the other women were standing around the table. Looking down, Angel’s eyes widened in surprise. The table was covered in bags the women were emptying. Shampoo, conditioner, bath oil, body wash, underwear, t-shirts, sweaters, yoga pants, socks, and even some shoes.
“It’s not everything you need, but it will take care of you for a bit,” Miriam said.
Her eyes filling with tears, Angel looked around at her new friends, assuring, “Oh, this is amazing. Thank you so much!” Touched by their generosity, she embraced each one. The women took the bounty back to the bathroom as she turned around to watch Monty interact with his co-workers.
Each man, different in appearance, shared the same determined expression. Picking out the boss was easy. Jack’s somber expression matched the personality Monty had ascribed to him. It was interesting to see his face when his eyes landed on Bethany. There was no doubt the man loved her when his eyes lit and his expression relaxed. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Looking at Bart and Cam with Faith and Miriam, she understood the meaning of that saying. Jude was the only other Saint who had a woman with him. What was it that Monty said? Oh yeah, Sabrina was Bart’s cousin and engaged to Jude. Besides Chad, there were four other men there, all discussing the explosion.
Monty observed as the other women came back into the room and noticed Angel standing alone, her eyes moving over the group. He watched as they landed on him, and she smiled. She’s been through hell and she still smiles at me. If I had already solved this case, maybe I could have stopped this from happening.
Marc watched the emotions cross Monty’s face. “This is not on you,” he said. The other men heard and agreed. “Or if it’s on you, then we all share in that guilt.”
Monty’s face was tight with anger and frustration. Angel walked over, looking up at his face as she approached. As usual, she walked straight into his arms, not stopping until her body hit his. Kissing the top of her head, he then pulled her face back so he could peer into her eyes. “I know you’re tired, Cupcake. I’m so sorry.”
“Monty Lytton. You have nothing to apologize for! The guilt rests squarely on whoever is after us girls. And I’m going to let the rest of the sorority know.”
“Angel,” Jack said, then waited as Monty turned her gently toward his boss. Making sure she looked at him when he spoke, he continued, “We’re going to let you know that it’s our feeling that it’s not just the sorority that is tying these cases together, but it has something to do with Colonial Financial Group.”
Monty sucked in a deep breath, hoping to have been able to keep Angel from knowing what they were investigating since it possibly implicated her friend.
Cocking her head to the side so that she could hear better, Jack recognized the maneuver and apologized. “I’m sorry. I should have spoken clearer. We don’t think your whole former sorority is in danger, but rather those of you connected to Colonial Financial Group. And that’s what we’re working on.”
“I don’t understand,” she confessed, her mind grappling with the possible implications. Suddenly looking up at Jack and then twisting around to Monty, she said, “You think Marcia had something to do with this?”
“We’re considering her involvement since she was the broker for the other three of you,” he admitted.
“No! You have it all wrong,” she protested, shaking her head. “There’s no way Marcia would have done anything to hurt us.”
Monty quickly added, “Angel, we don’t know anything for sure. But we’re looking into the finances and practices of the group.”
She lifted her hand to her pounding head, sighing heavily. She looked back at Monty, proclaiming, “I’m done for today, sweetie. I’ve lost three of my closest friends, my shop, my equipment, my building, my home, my possessions, my hearing, and now I have to face the possibility that one of my friends may be involved in something I don’t want to have to face. I’ve got no more fight left in me.”
Leaning into his arms, she grunted as he swept her up, carrying her into the bedroom. He set her feet on the floor and pulled the covers back. Assisting her into bed, he tucked her in tightly. “I want you to rest. I’m going to talk to the others for a few minutes and then I’ll be right back.”
She nodded, but as he kissed her forehead and started to walk away, she tugged on his arm. “It wasn’t Marcia,” she implored. “And I know you’ll catch them, whoever they are.”
Kissing her head once more, he left the room.
*
The next morning, Monty lay awake as the pink, pre-dawn sky filtered into his bedroom, bathing the room in a soft pastel glow. Why have I never noticed that before? He knew the answer as he watched the light stretch across the room, offering a slight illumination over the woman sleeping in his bed. She brought the color into my world.
She had been restless during the night, at times throwing her arms up as though to protect her face from the explosions in her nightmares. He had slept little, preferring to watch over her. His mind had wandered to the final conversation of the Saints before they left yesterday.
Luke had headed back to Jack’s to pour over the financial records, hoping to use his new mystery contact to wade through the data quicker. Jude had left with Sabrina but was joining Luke in his searches.
Bart and Cam had decided to head out last night, taking another look at Geoffrey Daly. Blaise said his money was on Scott and Carlton. Jack had wanted to delve into Bill Bradley more. Chad and Marc had gone back to Angel’s apartment to see what else they could find.
Before Monty had a chance to ponder if his co-workers found any more evidence, his attention was diverted by Angel waking.
She slowly opened her eyes, flinching as her strained muscles and abrasions twinged when she stretched. The white walls were unadorned and she sat up quickly, trying to determine where she was. Monty’s place. Remembering why she was here sent her flopping back to the bed. Turning her head, she saw his worried face.
“Don’t be worried, sweetie,” she whispered. “I’m alive, remember?”
“I don’t want to ever feel like that again,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.
Smiling, she cupped his face. “I’m here with you.” Her eyes shifted beyond his shoulder as she made a decision. “I want to go back to my place today. I need to see it.”
“Oh no—,” Monty started to protest, but she interrupted.
“I have to. I need to do it for lots of reasons. I need to sort through to see what can be salvaged. I need to check on my new location and see if I can hurry that along. I need to talk to my employees. And I just need to see it. It was my shop…my apartment…where I worked and where I lived. I need to see it again.”
Monty had to admit that her reasons were valid, so he agreed. “But I’m going with you,” he declared. “And if it’s too overwhelming—”
“I’ve been taking care of myself for a while now, so I’ll be fine,” she assured. “But thanks for caring.”
They lay for another minute, pressed together, arms tight around each other. “I love you, you know,” Monty whispered into her left ear.
Smiling, Angel nodded against his chest. “I love you, too,” she whispered back.
*
Standing in front of the burned out bakery, Angel felt her anger rise again. Grimacing at the destruction, her hands fisted at her sides. Yellow caution tape encircled the area with Keep Out signs plastered on the brick walls.
Not heeding the warning, she stepped inside, looking around. The shop area still stood, the glass windows and cases shattered. The colorful walls were blackened and water damaged. Stepping over rubble, she walked to the back of the shop and stared at the damaged mural. Placing her hand on the painting, she noticed the face peering out at her was still barely visible. Thank you. You kept me safe and I’ll make sure you go on the new wall. Turning to walk away, she glanced back over her shoulder. If it’s possible, can you please help Monty find the killer? Please.
Moving on to the other wall, she peeked into the kitchen seeing nothing but destruction. Sighing heavily, she realized there was nothing she could save. She had planned to take the baking tins, mixers, and all of her kitchen equipment to the new site with her. Looks like I’ll be buying all new items.
“You can’t go in there,” Monty chided, pulling her back slightly. “I know Chad has been looking around, but I don’t want to take a chance with you.”
She nodded her agreement, knowing there was nothing to salvage. Stepping back out, she made her way to the side of the building and walked toward the fire stairs. She stopped and looked down; the little bit of snow that had not melted was dirty.
Monty followed her line of vision, knowing she stared at the spot where their snow angels had taken shape. Squeezing her hand, he leaned down and promised, “Those will only be the first snow angels we make together. We’ll have lots of winters to do the same each time.”
Smiling at his thoughtfulness, she started for the stairs but stopped as Chad rounded the corner.
“I’ve been up there,” Chad explained, “and the floor seems sound, but I wouldn’t trust it.”
She pierced him with her gaze. “Tell me the truth, Chad. Is there anything salvageable in my apartment?”
Sighing heavily, he looked at Monty first before facing Angel straight on. “The fire did get to part of your apartment, but what ruined almost everything was water damage from the hoses and smoke damage. None of your clothes or furniture will be salvageable. If you had pots, pans, dishes…maybe those would be able to be used again. But honestly, Angel, the insurance company will pay you for everything lost.”
“We can go on a buying spree,” Monty promised, trying to steal the sadness in her eyes.
After a moment of pondering what she had upstairs, she looked up sharply. “I have a filing cabinet up there…near the door actually. My dad bought it for me and it was fire resistant.”
Chad looked at Monty and asked, “Do you want to give it a try?”
Thrilled to be able to retain something of hers, Monty agreed. The two men carefully made their way up the fire stairs and disappeared into her former apartment. After only a minute, they emerged, each carrying an end of the metal drawers.
Feeling a sliver of optimism for the first time in twenty-four hours, Angel smiled. “Oh, thank you. This holds both my work and my personal business papers. I was working on taxes the day before all this happened.”
As they walked back to Monty’s vehicle where the men put the cabinet, she turned to Monty and whispered. “You saw it. Was Chad right? Is it all gone?”
Hating to break her heart more, he turned and cupped her face, allowing his warm hand to press against her cold cheek. “I’m so sorry, Cupcake,” he said, “but Chad was absolutely correct. There is nothing salvageable.”
She closed her eyes against the blinding rage that poured over her, but his voice brought her back.
“Angel, I promise to get whoever did this. And I promise to be with you as you start over…and would love it if we could do it together. Blend our lives…join our homes.”
Looking up, she watched as he brought his lips to hers. A warm kiss…one of the promise of a new future.