Savage Beauty - Peggy Webb Page 0,57
is ready for the family’s Christmas Eve viewing of the sunset.”
“Can’t we do it tomorrow? I’m ready to go home.”
“You know my answer.”
“It’s going to take forever.” She gave a dramatic sigh then dug around in her purse. “Can I borrow your phone? I want to call Mom and let her know we’ll be late.”
“It’s rude to talk on the phone in a restaurant. Your mother knows we’re going to be late.”
“I just want to talk to her. I could go outside and talk and wait for you in the car.”
The drug he’d slipped into her hot chocolate should be kicking in by now. Apparently Annabelle had the constitution of a horse.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer. I’d like to enjoy my after-dinner coffee in peace.”
He pasted a charming smile on his face and sipped his coffee as if he’d rather be in Mary Mahoney’s with his stepdaughter than anywhere else in the world. A couple walked by and smiled appreciatively at the two of them. It would have been perfect if Annabelle didn’t have such a rebellious look on her face. Maybe they’d chalk it up as typical teenager behavior.
He wouldn’t know. By the time he was her age, he was preoccupied with luring the perfect girl for Clive’s roses.
“May I be excused to go to the bathroom?”
“Yes. That was nicely done, Annabelle.”
She stumbled when she got out of her chair, and he leaped up to steady her.
“Are you okay? Do you need my help?”
“No, thank you. I’m a little dizzy, that’s all.”
Perfect. Nicely played. He smiled indulgently in her direction as she made her unsteady way to the back of the restaurant. Then he swiveled to include the couple at the table across from them in his small family crisis. There. That should do it.
Poor man, they’d say when they recalled the evening. His daughter got sick, and he had to help her from the restaurant.
By the time they were halfway back to Ocean Springs, Annabelle wouldn’t know she was in the world, let alone headed to the “Betsy” at the marina.
Although Ocean Springs had a population of only slightly more than eighteen thousand people, Lily felt as if they all thronged the downtown streets, where a city-wide Christmas Open House was still in progress. Holiday songs spilled through open doorways, and every window featured elaborately decorated trees plus winter scenes complete with lights and fake snow.
The festive mood only worsened Lily’s fear. She and Jack had already been inside every shop except this one. Neither Annabelle nor Stephen had been seen, and there was no sign of his black SUV. Nor had there been any word from Detective Yancy, who was at the manor, or any reports from the two teams of cops, who were making their own sweep of the city.
As they entered Hillyer House, she was grateful for Jack’s arm steadying her.
“Don’t give up,” he said.
“Never.”
She hardly noticed the art pieces and the jewelry as she made her way toward a middle-aged salesclerk she knew, Myrtle Hennessey.
“Lily.” Her face lit up. “I haven’t seen you out and about in a while. What a pleasant surprise.”
She almost burst into tears. Thankfully, Jack rescued her.
“We’re actually here looking for Lily’s daughter, Annabelle.” He pulled a photo of her daughter from his wallet, one she didn’t even know he had. “She was with Stephen Allistair.”
The salesclerk turned to Lily. “Your fiancé--how exciting! I’d certainly know if Mr. Allistair had been in. He’s one of our best customers. But no, I haven’t seen either of them.”
Lily held back a scream. Where on earth could her daughter be? And would their names forever be linked with that of a cold-blooded killer?
Jack said, “Thank you for your help,” then hustled her outside. And none too soon. Tears stung her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She turned and hid her face against his shoulder. Without a word he got them back to the Jeep and helped her into the passenger side.
“Let it all out, Lily.”
“I hate crying in public.”
“It’s dark here. No one will see you.”
She put her head on the dashboard and sobbed while Jack rubbed her back.
“Oh, I’m so mad at myself.” She straightened up and swiped at her cheeks with her hands. “We haven’t even checked a single restaurant. I was so upset, I forgot that Stephen said they were going out to eat.”
“We’re going to find her.”
“Government Street Grocery. It’s her favorite.”
They were almost within sight of the restaurant when her phone lit