“He’s always thrived on turmoil, so that sounds about right,” Luke drawled.
“I think we’re getting closer to knowing what happened, Luke.”
They each took a seat on one of Declan’s couches while Cara filled her brother in on everything that had happened. Her accusing Courtney, the conversation with Dr. Keller, and their plan for the next day. Luke looked at him with a new respect when Cara mentioned it was Wes who discovered the connection between the music and the pin number.
“But you don’t know for sure that’s what the pin number is?”
“No.” She agreed. “But it’s our best bet. Courtney would have tried all the other pin numbers she knew. It can’t be a coincidence that he changed the security pin and then insisted that my mom send me the snow globe.”
“I hope you’re right. There may be nothing other than money in there, and that is rightly Courtney’s,” Luke cautioned.
“If there isn’t something related to Dad’s death, then I’ll just close it and leave. It’s getting late, and Declan will be back soon. I need to go do a practice run on the makeup so we can take a picture and get it to whomever Declan’s using to make the fake…”
Luke put his fingers in his ear. “La la la la—I’m not hearing a crime being planned—la la la.”
Cara stuck her tongue out at her brother and walked to the door with the shopping bag in her hand. She stopped at the door, and nonchalantly said, “Wes, can you help me? I need to dye my hair first.”
Luke’s face darkened, and he glared at Wes. “I’ll help you.”
“Don’t be such a child, Luke. I’m doing it in the sink, not the shower. Unless?” She winked at Wes.
“I’d prefer not to have your brother murder me, if you don’t mind.”
“Fine, I’ll do it myself.” Cara gave a dramatic sigh.
Avoiding Luke’s suspicious gaze, Wes retreated to the dining table in the suite with his computer, using the excuse that he needed to catch up on emails. In reality, he needed a minute away from Cara’s brothers’ scrutiny. The Blooms were intense.
When Declan returned it was almost as if the two brothers communicated silently, they took seats opposite Wes at the table and began grilling him.
“You’ve helped my sister. We appreciate that,” Luke began. “You’ve lived with her for months?”
What the fuck?
The brothers exchanged a look.
“Separate bedrooms, right?” Declan interjected.
Wes decided silence was the best option. Luke grinned, recognizing the tactic.
“Nice. He’s smart,” he said to Declan, but it was Cara who interrupted by opening the suite door.
“What do you think?”
“Holy shit, that’s scary.” Luke’s mouth hung open.
Dressed in her pajamas she posed with one hand behind her head and one on her hip.
“David, you terrible tease!” Her whole voice changed, and while Wes recognized what she was doing, the slack nature on her brothers’ faces showed how effective the transformation was.
“Uncanny.” Declan let out a disbelieving laugh. He walked close to Cara to inspect her makeup, but Wes noticed him take his sister’s hand as if the smooth skin reassured himself it was still the younger woman.
“This might work. Damn! Is this what you’ve been doing?” Luke was as dumbstruck as Declan, but pride sounded in his voice.
Wes’s chest expanded as Cara’s face transformed with happiness. Even though this was to reveal her father’s killer, her brothers were finally seeing what she could do.
“We should take the picture,” Declan finally said.
Cara obligingly stood in front of the white wall, and Declan snapped several pictures before walking to the door.
