“I think we all can, without being psychic,” Camden said. “Lawrence Franklin.”
“But that’s crazy,” Elena said. “Cici said Roger knows, that he found out later. Now we know that’s obviously because they went to the clinic. I imagine she came totally clean then. So, why would Roger work with a guy who got his future wife pregnant in college?”
“Because Franklin is the very best in the business. Politics makes for some strange bedfellows,” Jake said.
“Well, this one takes the cake,” Camden said. “Hell, it takes the wedding cake, the Jordan almonds,andthe beer cans tied to the back of the ‘just married’ car.”
Lach nodded. “We need to figure out how this info can be used against the Bennetts and stop it.”
Camden’s top concern went unspoken because he didn’t want to spook Elena. Did Lawrence target Elena? And if so, how much more danger was she in now?
Twenty-Two
“Tina, sweetie, time to go to the kids’ room.” Elena had kept her daughter with her through setting up the catering at the villa—not an easy feat, since the little girl was the definition of curious, and Camden had shown her pictures of a beautiful mermaid sundial in the garden, promising that if she was good, they could go see it after the party.
“I don’t really want to go to the kids’ room. I won’t know any of them.”
“You’ll know the Bennett twins. They’ll be there and they love playing with you.”
Elena watched her daughter consider that. She was flattered that a couple of older kids—twice her age, she loved to point out—played with her.
“Okay. But you promise we can see the sundial after?”
“Promise, Pepita.”
“I want to see if the moon works on the gnomon like the sun does.”
One of the servers, Claudia, looked at the little girl. “Smart, that one,” she said.
“Sure is,” Elissa chimed in as she passed by with the first platter loaded with small plates of mini street tacos.
Tina beamed.
The little stinker dropped the word Camden taught her just to show off, Elena thought. She laughed to herself as she shook her head. “Vamos, Pepita. I need to get back here quickly.”
“Sheisa smart one.” Elena cringed when she recognized the man’s voice behind her.
“Lawrence,” she said, turning. “Did you need anything?”Or can I just tell you to kiss off?
“I’m just making sure everything is going to plan.”
“Well, we’re good in here.” Elena put her hand on the small of Tina’s back to encourage her to go.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to this smart and charming young lady?” Lawrence bent his knees until he was face to face with Tina, who clearly didn’t like the attention she’d been trying to get a minute before. But Elena had raised a polite daughter. Tina extended her hand and said, “I’m Tina Martinez and it’s a pleasure.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” Lawrence shook her hand then stood.
“We were just on our way to the kids’ room, so if you’ll excuse us.” She pushed past Lawrence, Tina in tow.
Elena smiled at the two Watchdog security guards and one dog flanking the door to the kid’s room. She didn’t recognize one of the guards, but the other was Kyle, who had helped her move in. He gave her and Tina a brief but warm smile as he did some sort of hand signal that probably told the dog that they were friends, not foes.
Cici was just inside the door talking to another woman. Elena assumed she must be one of the sitters, since she wasn’t dressed to the nines. Cici saw Elena and Tina and smiled.
“It’s a little Lord of the Butterflies in here, isn’t it?” Cici said as a little girl in a poufy white party dress ran by shrieking.
Elena laughed as Tina moved closer to her. By the way Tina grabbed her hand after she smoothed down her daughter’s hair, she’d just realized the same thing Elena had—the twins were nowhere in sight.Crap.
Cici waved and walked away while the sitter told Elena about the movies they were going to watch, and that a magician would be by later. Elena looked down at Tina and was relieved to see her smile back at her.Must have been the magician, she thought.
