I’d forgotten all about my “moment” in the gardens with Federico, but obviously Jovan had not. She waylaid me at the foot of the stairs.
“Is there something between you and Federico?” she asked.
At least she had the guts to come to me to get an answer, and I gave her points for forthrightness. “No, Federico is my boss. I’m concerned about his daughter.” I matched her look for look. “I saw you on the balcony of my room.” I checked my impulse to ask her why she was there. It would be more interesting to see what she volunteered.
Jovan’s smile was amused. “Your door was open, and I heard something, like someone shuffling around. Creepy. Since Federico and I both have had that virus or whatever it was, I went in to check on you. I thought you might be sick.”
I knew what happened next. “But the room was empty.”
“Yes, the room was empty, and as soon as I went to the balcony, the noise stopped. I checked the bathroom and around, but I couldn’t find anything. It had to be a water pipe or something in the walls.” Her blond hair caught in one of her beautiful earrings, and she tugged it free. “It was so eerie. I honestly thought someone was there. Maybe the ghost that everyone is talking about.”
“And then you glanced out and saw me and Federico in the garden.”
She nodded slowly. “You looked pretty cozy. Federico and I are together because it suits us, but if he’s developing a new interest, I don’t want to be the last to know.”
“Like I said, we were discussing his daughter. He’s worried about her, and for good reason.” No matter that we’d sealed all the secret corridors we knew about, there were others. There had to be. Old houses made strange noises, but it also seemed that someone floated through that house like it was a poltergeist honeycomb.
“The little bitch is working him.” Jovan showed her first spark of Nordic heat. She was usually so cool, so unemotional, but Estelle had been pushing her buttons, too. While she might not show Federico her true feelings, she had no such reservations where I was concerned. “Estelle is a manipulative, dangerous woman,” she continued. “I’ve told him he should stop all contact with her. Every time he gets worried and upset, she wins.”
Estelle was manipulative. But dangerous? Yes, that, too. She’d hurt Joey, Jovan, Tinkie, and Chablis. And me. I could easily have drowned. “If we find her before tomorrow, I think Federico will put her in a facility for medical care. He’s afraid she’s going to harm herself.”
“Instead of a country club mental institution, I’d rather see her sit in jail.” Jovan frowned. “I hate to sound like a shrew, but she could have killed me. And your friend was hurt, as well as her dog.”
I nodded in agreement. “To be honest, I don’t think we’ll discover Estelle before tomorrow. And once we’re out of this house, she has no reason to bother us again.”
“Tell that to Suzy Dutton.” Jovan’s blue gaze held mine for a moment before it broke. “I’m afraid, Sarah Booth. If she killed Suzy in Malibu, she might try to harm me again. Or you. Or someone on the film like Joey. He was lucky he didn’t break his neck.”
“We don’t know that Suzy’s death involved Estelle in any way.”
“Right. It’s just a coincidence that Federico’s ex-girlfriend is dead and everyone on this film has been hurt.” Her face shifted into shock. “Except for Graf. Nothing bad has happened to him.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I didn’t intend to be rude, but what she was implying was ridiculous. “Only women and teenage boys have been injured. Graf is a strong man. Perhaps that’s why he hasn’t been targeted. And you’re forgetting Federico. No one has pushed or slugged him.” I moved past her. I was ready to join my friends in the kitchen. Chablis was home and I needed some pampered pooch kisses.
“Federico may have been a victim, too. I’m thinking someone tampered with our food. We had seafood delivered and he and I both have been sick.”
That brought me up short. Sick was one thing, but if Estelle, or someone else, was poisoning the food, it could also be deadly. Or it could merely have been a mild case of accidental food poisoning. Seafood and sun were a breeding ground for bacteria. “We should have had that food tested.”
“I know, but Federico threw it away.” Jovan walked with me toward the kitchen. “Look, we’re leaving in the morning. If that’s the end of all of this, I say let it go. Estelle is nuts, but she’s also Federico’s daughter. But what if this continues in Los Angeles? What then?”
“I’ll mention that to Federico, but I honestly think once we leave, you’re safe.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said, pushing the door open. “Graf asked me to hurry you up and I’ve detained you, jabbering about my fears. Graf said the steaks are almost ready.”
We entered the kitchen together, talking about the scenes that would be shot as soon as we unloaded our gear in Los Angeles. Jovan had a far better understanding of how the movie would be edited. But, of course, as Cece would point out, she was sleeping with the director. That did give her a slight advantage.
Throughout the meal, Chablis was alert and wagging her tail, but she didn’t leave Tinkie’s side. And Sweetie remained near her, attentive and protective. Like me and Tinkie, they were best friends.
Federico tapped his wineglass with a spoon and stilled the conversation that was buzzing around the table. “The plane leaves at ten in the morning. Be at the airport at nine.” He turned to Tinkie. “And what time is your flight out?”
“I have one last checkup with the veterinarian, so I won’t leave until the afternoon.”
Federico frowned. “I can leave Ricardo here to stay with you. He can catch a commercial flight the next day.”
“I wouldn’t think of such a thing.” Tinkie’s glitzed hair bobbed with the vehemence of her answer. “I’ll be perfectly fine.”
“I’ve offered to stay and so has Graf,” I said.
“It’s a checkup for Chablis. There’s no need to worry, and I’ll only be a few hours later than you guys in taking off.”
Conversation buzzed back to a mild roar, and I found myself leaning against Graf, feeling the reassurance of his strong chest as my support. For many women, this might be the norm. For me, it was a moment to treasure. I wasn’t the leaning kind-but it was nice to find someone solid when I did.
We broke up early, all eager to conclude in Costa Rica and head back to the States. Graf, Tinkie, and I volunteered to put the kitchen to rights and we set about our chores after the others went to attend last-minute chores.
“It’s been a wonderful trip,” Tinkie said as she dried the plates I’d just washed.
“Right. It isn’t every day you get knocked on the head and your dog kicked.” I gave her a grin to show I was kidding.
“No, this is a lovely place. Your coworkers are wonderful, Sarah Booth. This has been an experience. I’m sure Millie and Cece will pump me for information as soon as I get home.”
“Make it up, and make us look good,” Graf suggested. He was cutting the remains of a steak into tiny little bites for Chablis.
“Maybe I’ll just take you and Sarah Booth home to show them what a nice couple you make.”
There were so many things I wanted to say in answer to this, but I kept silent. I wasn’t certain where my life would take me, and I made no promises.
We finished the cleanup and headed to our rooms. Chablis had fallen asleep, and we were all tired. Our lives would change yet again in another few hours. I wondered if I was getting better at handling these sudden shifts, or if since I’d torn my roots from the soil of Sunflower County, I would forever be rootless. The prospect of that made me want to snuggle into Graf’s arms and hide.
We went to bed, exhausted, but not too far gone to forget that this was our last night in Costa Rica. We made love slowly and with care for each other. Graf could be both fiery and tender, and he was always a surprise. He aroused me with kisses that were sweet and familiar, and in other new ways. In bed with him, I had the sense that time stood still for us. Curled together, we fell asleep.