was that Greg Shafer had been in the same neighborhood as Charlie and Lindy/Lacey whenever he visited his father. Beyond that, Greg had known one of the twins.
A coincidence that Charlie was working for a man who’d been that close by at the worst time of her life? Not a chance. Was that what he’d been trying to tell her?
He wanted to stop the wedding, find Charlie, put an end to whatever this was. But as he pocketed his phone, the organist struck up the first chord of the wedding march. As everyone stood, a million thoughts raced through his head. He looked at all the people who had gathered for this wedding, and he tried to breathe.
What would stopping the wedding buy him? The best thing he could do would be to let Greg and Amanda get married and then find out the truth about Greg Shafer later. Could this possibly be what Greg had to tell Charlie? Hadn’t he told her something about them having a connection?
Did it have something to do with the murder? Did Greg know something he wanted to tell her? Charlie had heard the killer come into the house. Mulvane had found blood on the stairs the killer had left behind after he’d brutally killed Lindy.
Shep’s heart pounded. Perspiration popped out on his forehead even though it was cool in the room. The music was a dull roar in his ears. He stared at the groom, terrified of his thoughts. Greg’s gaze was on the door that had just opened at the end of the room.
Shep turned to see Charlie as she made her walk down the aisle. She took his breath away, making him forget all about Greg for a moment. All he could think about was what a beautiful bride she would make. The navy blue dress Amanda had chosen for her was tasteful and fit her perfectly. Her long curly hair was pulled up, loose dark tendrils framing her face.
She met his gaze and smiled, her brown eyes warming to liquid honey. He felt his heart lift and soar. He wanted this woman—for life. He wanted to marry her, have children with her, grow old with her. He found it hard to breathe and felt as if he would die if he lost her.
He had to swallow the lump that formed in his throat as she passed. As Shep turned to watch her approach the pastor, he caught Greg looking at her, his expression unreadable.
Was it longing? Or was it fear? Had Greg been there the night Lindy died? Was he afraid that Charlie had seen something? That she knew more than she’d told the police about that night? His hands fisted at his sides before he saw Greg’s attention shift to the young woman coming down the aisle. Tara, Charlie’s friend who’d had the baby just days ago.
Greg was looking past Tara to his bride.
Shep turned to see Amanda swishing toward the altar. She’d chosen a very voluminous dress that brushed both sides of the aisle. Static seemed to crackle and pop as she moved. But it was her expression that surprised him. There was something almost fragile-looking about her. Definitely vulnerable. Shep wondered if she had any idea what she was getting herself into.
He was only thankful that this wedding would soon be over. That earlier sense of foreboding he’d felt was now a thunder in his chest.
The preacher cleared his voice and everyone sat. Shep lowered himself into his chair. He realized he was holding his breath, terrified that something horrible was about to happen and he wouldn’t be able to stop it.
* * *
CHARLIE FELT IN a daze as she listened to Greg and Amanda share their vows. This was really happening. All the wild days since she’d first seen Lacey standing across the street from her apartment seemed to lead up to this moment. She felt as if she’d been caught in a whirlwind that had brought Shep back into her life.
Amanda had wanted her to pinch her because she couldn’t believe it was finally her wedding day. Charlie felt the same way. She’d never dreamed she could feel this way at just the sight of Shep. She was beyond happy. Beyond content. Beyond her wildest dreams.
With a start, she realized that she hadn’t checked her horoscope this morning. She never forgot, but this morning... She took a breath and let it out slowly. Maybe it was for the best. What if it had said something