Page 22 of Desperate Justice

Diana held up a finger. “One minute.”

An armed guard, pistol hanging from his belt, hovered nearby. Diana went over to him.

“Where is Old Glory? Paul told me his uncle would have the yacht here for the season.”

The man shrugged. “Mr. Hector loaned it to a friend.”

“For how long? I wanted the boat for the rehearsal dinner.”

“Mr. Hector changed the plans. The rehearsal dinner won’t be held here. Your parents know and are making alternate plans.”

“Paul promised...” Diana turned away.

“Di, what’s wrong?” Allison asked. “So what if you can’t have the rehearsal dinner on the yacht? It’s better to have it somewhere else, like a restaurant. Less fuss.”

Busy taking photos of the water and the racing boat, Rafe almost missed the distress on Diana’s face.

“Paul promised me the yacht,” Diana said, biting her lower lip. “It would have looked so impressive with the wedding guests. He promised...”

As her voice trailed off, Rafe stepped up. He had to control the situation before he lost the opportunity. Clearly Diana was upset about the change in plans, but he sensed a larger issue here.

“Miss Lexington? Where is the wedding going to be held? Out here? Will there be a temporary deck for guests and dancing? Or do you plan to have chairs on the grass?” Rafe asked.

When she didn’t answer, he repeated the question in Spanish. Finally she looked up at him. Rafe’s pulse raced at the empty look in her eyes.

She had been bubbly and energetic driving through the gate. And now, on the grounds, Diana acted like a different woman.

Then she pushed back at her long hair and gestured to the pool. “Out here, on the grounds. I think there is a contingency plan if it rains because the house has a large living room where we can set up chairs. Um, I guess the flowers and trees, whatever you think is best, but something that can be moved indoors.”

Perfect. Exactly what he’d wanted—access to the house’s interior. But he needed to know what else was bothering Diana.

His gaze flicked to the guard standing by the pool. “If you’re worried the racing boat won’t make a good backdrop for the wedding, I’m sure it can be moved.”

Diana started to speak, then shook her head. She motioned to her sister. “Let’s go inside the living area so you can see how much space there is and how we can arrange the furniture if we need to move the ceremony inside.”

They entered the house through French doors leading directly to the living room. Though he was here to gather evidence, Rafe could not help but admire the Italian marble flooring, the stone fireplace, elegant silk furniture in subtle shades of ecru that did not contrast the splendid view from the windows, but enhanced it.

Then he remembered why he was there, and how many lives Hernandez and his drug operation had claimed, either through violence or overdoses.

Rafe asked questions about moving the furniture, how many guests and placement of floral arrangements and potted palms. While he talked, he moved around, taking photos with his electronic pad while writing on it.

“If it rains, we should decorate the entryway with flowers and potted trees, perhaps with fairy lights,” he told Diana.

She led him down a long hallway to the front of the house. An attractive brunette, a housekeeper, judging by the gray uniform and apron, set a crystal vase of fresh lilies on a hallway table. She saw them and frowned. Diana swallowed hard.

“Hello, Lucy,” Diana said.

The housekeeper glared and arranged the flowers.

“I love how you arranged the flowers,” Diana told her.

“There’s other things I’m better at arranging,puta.”

Allison gasped at the swear term. The woman mumbled something and ran upstairs.

Rafe blinked. Something was off about that one. “What’s her problem?” he asked.

“Nothing.” But Diana stared after the housekeeper and muttered, “I can’t believe Hector gave her a job here. She loves to make my life difficult.”