“This was her dressing room.” John opened the double doors and stood aside. “Everything she wore was kept in here. Clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry.”
The inspectors combed through drawers and empty boxes, under things, over things, in the bathroom, and even through John’s dressing room and bureau.
The only things Holland’s parents left behind were her hairstyling wands, a set of trackie bottoms, and one pair of mud-stained trainers.
They were about to conclude their business when Tolsma retrieved a burgundy crushed-velvet box tossed to the back corner of a top shelf.
“Do you recognize this, sir? Did she keep the diamond in here?”
John rose slowly from the chair where he’d collapsed, shaking with anger, with loss, the sour taste in his throat sinking into his skin, his veins. “Like I said, I only saw her wear it once.”
She wore it on a night he treasured. A memory of memories. They’d just returned from their honeymoon, blissfully in love. Tanned, happy, rested, hungry for each other. There were moments he thought his heart might burst for want of her. He missed her when she was out of sight. They called and texted all day if they were on separate missions.
But he first saw the diamond the night they attended LAFFA—Lauchtenland Actors and Film Foundation Awards.
Holland dressed behind closed doors, insisting she wanted to surprise him with her new gown. When she stepped from her dressing room, she stunned him in a midnight blue frock with a plunging neckline and a blinding jewel resting against her tanned skin.
“You’ll be the most beautiful woman there.” Then he touched the diamond pendant. “Darling, where did you get this? Should I be jealous?”
“Yes, it’s from my other lover but I told him, ‘This is the last one or John will be cross.’”
He laughed and wrapped her against his chest and kissed her lips down to her neck and shoulders, and to the spot where the diamond rested in the deep V between her breasts.
“John is something, but he’s not cross.”
“Darling.” She sighed with passion. “We have to go.” Breaking away after a lingering kiss, she promised to meet him at this same spot after the gala.
It’d been a passionate, frantic reunion and the necklace was the only thing she wore as they satisfied their desire for one another.
“So where—” John held the diamond in his hand as she rested her head on his chest.
“A gift from Father. I’m his only child and he wanted to send me off to wedded bliss with something special.”
“Sir?” Meade touched his arm. “We’re satisfied the diamond is not here.” Meade then Tolsma handed John their cards. “Ring us, please, if you find out anything.”
He never returned to his office. He poured a glass of port and sat in the living room until the only light in the room ricocheted from the palace grounds.
His wife, the woman who carried his child, the one he trusted with his life, his future, had harbored a lie. Worse, facilitated an illegal business venture.
As for her relationship with Luca Reingard, were they more than business acquaintances? Luca had a reputation as the billionaire playboy. Did she have an affair with him? If so, when? Surely not after they’d met and married?
His phone buzzed with messages but unless Port Fressa was being bombed, he didn’t care. What couldn’t wait until tomorrow?
If Mum was in trouble, Dad would knock on his door. He’d missed dinner with Gus but he’d text something had come up and ask for a raincheck.
The ancient clock on the mantel tick-tocked the hours. John dozed in his chair then awoke with a stiff neck, his glass on the floor.
His butler, Shaw, roused him for a late supper, but he wasn’t hungry. Nevertheless, the man left a tray and turned on the telly to a favorite show.
The scent of grilled meat stirred his appetite after a moment, but he could only consume a few bites. He was too full of sorrow and confusion. If Holland were alive, what would she say? How would she make her case?
Reaching for his phone, John rang his father-in-law. The call went to voicemail.
“Cletus, it’s John. Can you ring me when you’ve a moment? I’d like to talk to you about something. Thank you.”
Gus texted around nine.
“Everything all right?”
