“I knew Marisa very well, Isabeau, and she would want me to help you. I’d like to do just that if you don’t mind. I never had a daughter—only sons. Fortunately I love all of their wives, but they have their own parents to handle things like weddings. Marisa and I often talked about that—how as a mother we both had dreamt of creating a wonderful day for our daughters. She had no daughter either, so she pinned her hopes on Conner’s wife—you. She isn’t here, but perhaps you would be willing to fulfill both our dreams.”
Emotion nearly choked Isabeau. Tears burned behind her eyes and she had to bite down hard on her lip to stifle a sob. “I don’t know what to say. You make me feel like anything is possible.”
Mary’s face lit up. “Anything is. I just happen to have this trunk and it will be a treasure chest for us, I think.” She assessed Isabeau’s size, drawing her out of the chair and making her turn in a circle. “Yes, I think we’ll be just fine, and if not, well, I’m pretty handy with a sewing machine. Let me just make a few phone calls. I have friends who will come help us.”
“Conner might be concerned about strangers around, especially with Jeremiah in a bad way,” Isabeau pointed out reluctantly.
“Jeremiah is doing much better. Go have a look in on him and let your man know what I’m doing. Remind him that Abel and I have known those I’m calling for over twenty years. I’ve got a million things to do. Go reassure yourself that your friend is doing better and then get right back here.”
Isabeau felt her heart leap in her chest. For the first time, she felt lighter, as though there was a chance she could make the day special and memorable. Most likely, she realized, because she had someone to share her happiness with, someone to talk to while she got ready. Conner had Rio and the others, even Doc, but she didn’t know anyone that well. Mary made Isabeau feel as if she was being fussed over: Not only did she want to help with the preparations, but she looked forward to it.
She nodded and went on through the house to the back room where Jeremiah was resting. Conner and Rio were in the room with him. Jeremiah looked pale, bruises and lacerations marring his body. An IV fed him and she noted a bag of antibiotics dripping into his arm.
“How is he?” she asked.
Conner wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her to the side of the bed. “He’s fighting an infection, but Doc says he’ll make it. He’s going to have an interesting voice for the rest of his life.”
Rio sighed. “I shouldn’t have used him. He wasn’t ready.”
“I don’t think you could have stopped him,” Isabeau said. “He felt guilty for listening to Suma in the first place. He had the need to make it up to himself and maybe to me. He would have just followed you.”
“He handled himself well,” Conner pointed out. “He didn’t panic and in spite of encountering an enemy, he went back to the original mission, trying to protect us. Suma was experienced and a fighter. I had a few bad moments with him myself. Isabeau shot him, remember? I just finished the job.”
“You would have taken him,” Rio said, “but it was going to take time we didn’t have.”
“I think Ottila is going to be more dangerous than ever,” Isabeau ventured hesitantly. “He appeared to take a backseat to Suma, but I didn’t believe it after encountering him. I think he was the brains. And I think his number-one priority will be seeking revenge for Suma.”
Conner shook his head. “It will be acquiring you.”
She frowned. “Suma and Ottila seemed like close brothers. He said they . . .” She bit her lip and forced herself to continue, although she found it embarrassing. “They shared everything—including women. He was willing to share me with Suma, although he said I would carry his child.”
“That alone speaks to who is the dominant,” Rio said. “He would have taken her in her heat, not allowing Suma access to her, to insure the child was his. She’s right, Conner, it was Ottila, not Suma, who was calling the shots.”
“And we know they aren’t entirely loyal to Imelda,” Conner added. “Or they would have told her Philip Sobre was recording their conversations. My guess is, they pushed Sobre to do it. Ottila probably had Suma approach Sobre and lay out a plan. They would pretend to work for Imelda, but really be working for him. They most likely suggested he tape the conversations, probably even told him how. Sobre isn’t the brightest man on the planet.”
“Wasn’t,” Rio corrected. “Did you see the newspaper this morning?”
Isabeau snuck a quick look at Conner from under her lashes. They hadn’t looked at a newspaper or done much else other than enjoy each other’s body. She had lost count of the times he woke her and still, when the morning light crept into the room, he’d already be moving inside her. She wasn’t certain she could walk normally and definitely was a little sore.
“Philip Sobre was found murdered. He was hanging in a closet with his entrails wrapped around his cut throat. His tongue had been pulled through the opening in the traditional ‘Colombian necktie.’ He had obviously been tortured extensively. The party was mentioned, but the guests were all seen leaving, and Philip waved good- bye from the door, kissing the ladies, even Imelda on both cheeks,” Rio said. “They have video surveillance to prove it.”
Isabeau pressed a hand to her stomach. “That’s just sick. Did Imelda do that?”
“According to the papers, she was devastated. Philip Sobre was a former lover and a wonderful, close friend. She’ll miss him terribly and will not stop hunting his killer. She looked right into the camera when she uttered that lie with such complete sincerity. She had no comment on the findings in his private garden,” Rio added.
Isabeau inhaled sharply. “What did they find?”
“Bodies. More than thirty so far, both female and male. There is speculation that Philip Sobre could be Panama’s biggest serial killer in the history of the country,” Rio told her.
“I believe there’s only been one or two that have ever been acknowledged or known about,” Conner said. “This will be extremely uncomfortable for law enforcement, especially as so many officials knew him.”
“What a mess. Imelda just couldn’t wait,” Rio said. “My guess is, she took that place apart hunting for those tapes. By now all evidence against her is destroyed.”
Isabeau grew hot and uncomfortable, her mouth aching as if someone had punched her. Even her teeth hurt. The conversation made her sick.
“Maybe,” Conner said, “but if Ottila was the one who put the idea of taping the conversations in Sobre’s head in the first place, there’s a good chance he has them stashed somewhere. And if he was the one who searched the house, he’d have no reason to find them. Imelda has no idea he isn’t loyal to her.”
“Why am I his first priority?” Isabeau asked. “Isn’t money his true motivator?” Unexpected tears welled up and she had to blink them away rapidly.