on Forrest. And to make matters worse, Hank didn’t know where Jerome was. Thank God Ruby had agreed to help them, or Hank probably would’ve sent Gloria back to prison by now. Ruby would bring the information the feds needed to Marcus’s wedding tomorrow. Then, with Hank’s blessing, Ruby and Forrest would run off to Paris. And Gloria would be free to focus her attention on finding her fiancé.
But for now, she was still stuck here. After three weeks at Forrest’s villa, she’d almost started to think three a.m. beach bonfires and sled rides down the grand staircase were normal. Talking to an old friend helped her remember how absurd Forrest Hamilton’s lifestyle really was.
“What are Forrest and his pack of vamps getting up to now?” Marcus asked over the telephone. “Sparking some fireworks in the living room? Parachuting off the rooftop?”
“I’m not sure even Glitz or Glamour would be dim enough to try to set off fireworks indoors,” Gloria replied. “I should mention the parachute idea to Forrest, though—sounds right up his alley. But no, they’re all playing chess.”
“I don’t believe it. Sounds far too civilized for his crowd.”
“Well, it is human-sized chess. Forrest had the tiles out on the terrace painted to look like a chessboard.”
“Ah, there we go. Has anyone chucked a pawn off the terrace yet?”
She sat up from the sofa, looking out at the broad terrace through the wood-paneled den’s ornate French doors. The chessboard took up almost the entirety of the terrace. Larger pieces like the king and queen were more than half as tall as Forrest and his houseguests. Forrest and Glitz controlled the aquamarine pieces, while Marty, Ruby, and Glamour pushed the ivory ones.
Marty was the only one who seemed to be paying the least bit of attention to the game. Glitz and Glamour were using their respective bishops to have a sword fight of sorts. Ruby twirled her skirt this way and that and sang while a besotted Forrest applauded. Ruby had been singing soft, sweet songs in French all morning.
“No, but it’s only a matter of time,” Gloria replied with a laugh. “I’m sure you’re no stranger to this sort of thing now that you’re an experienced college man.”
“You forget I was nearly engaged by the time school started. I’ve been behaving myself these days, unlike you.”
“Well, I hope you haven’t completely reformed. The scoundrel Marcus Eastman is the one who’s been my best friend all these years.”
“I’m still me, don’t worry. I’ve just got my head on a little straighter. And you’re one to talk—I hope I’ll even recognize you at my wedding. You’ve turned into this singing jailbird who cavorts with shady billionaires. Doesn’t sound like the Gloria Carmody I used to know.”
Marcus was joking, but Gloria recognized the truth in his words. Would the girl Gloria had been in Chicago, president of the Honor Society and example to all the other debs in town, even recognize the woman Gloria had become?
Gloria didn’t think so. And she was so glad.
When Marcus spoke again, his tone was more serious. “Really, Glo, what are you doing out there? You’re way too good to spend your days as one of Forrest Hamilton’s girl toys. And now he’s coming with you to my wedding?”
“Just as friends,” Gloria corrected quickly. That way Forrest and Ruby would be able to flee the wedding directly and catch their ship to Paris. “You don’t want to know what I’m doing here, believe me.” Gloria peered outside again. She couldn’t see Forrest anymore—he’d probably returned to his own side of the chessboard, which Gloria couldn’t quite see from her vantage point. “It’s complicated,” she told Marcus in a whisper. “I’m working for the FBI, but I can’t really talk about it. Forrest thinks I’m here as a guest, more or less—he doesn’t know that I’m trying to bring him down.” Gloria thought of Ruby. “And I’m very close to getting what I need to satisfy the FBI and have him locked away.”
“I figured it might be something like that, considering you went straight from prison to that fellow’s house.” Marcus’s voice was tinged with worry. “But your detective work better not keep you from your role in my wedding. I can’t get married without my best friend there by my side.”
Gloria felt a rush of affection for her old friend. Maybe she didn’t agree with his getting married so fast, but she did have to admit this was the happiest she’d heard him in a while.
“Don’t worry,”