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Chapter Thirty-Three

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Party Girl

Moodily, I sipped champagne. The dance floor was filled, a tribute to the talent of Jim’s band. Dot was twenty feet away, looking absolutely stunning in a sapphire gown. She led the conga line as it wove among tables where a handful of other guests were finishing their cake.

She waved for me to join. I held up my glass and shook my head, forcing a smile. I wasn’t really in the mood to celebrate.

The wedding had been every bit as incredible as Dot herself. All of Vegas seemed to have turned out for it; valets rubbed elbows with headliners, and a line of showgirls kicked off the reception with a full floor routine. Jim had literally swept Dot off her feet during the tango they performed for their first dance.

I was thrilled for Dot…and simultaneously miserable and wallowing in self-pity. I couldn’t stop ruminating over how I’d been played for a fool. And also what Marcella had said, about me attracting terrible shit; maybe she was right and I was cursed. Watching her make out with Toni a few tables over wasn’t helping either. Even Sandra had landed on her feet; she and Skeeter were dirty dancing in the far corner.

I went to take another swig, only to discover that my champagne coupe was empty. I eyed the bar, which seemed to have gotten farther away; I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I could stagger over there in my heels. I turned to look for a waiter to flag down and found Grace standing right behind me. I startled and put a hand to my chest. “Oh shit. You scared me.”

“I’m here to avenge my father,” she deadpanned.

“Not bad,” I said, slow-clapping. “You’re really getting the hang of this joke thing. But seriously, if there are any more serial killers in your family, this would be a great time to let me know. Murderous cousin Bill, maybe? Or slasher Aunt Sally?”

“I sincerely doubt there’s ever been a Cabot named Sally,” Grace sniffed, making a face. “We do have a few Bills, though. Well, Williams.”

“Fan-fucking-tastic,” I groaned. “I’ll keep an eye out.”

Grace sat down beside me and motioned with her hand; seconds later, the waiter who I could’ve sworn had been avoiding me was refilling my glass. “Perhaps you should also have some water,” she said.

“You’re not my mother,” I retorted, wincing as soon as the words left my mouth. For once, Grace didn’t seize the opportunity to make me feel like even more of a chump, which actually had the opposite effect. I sighed. “Thanks again for making sure they didn’t rob me blind.”

“Of course.” Grace paused, then added, “Thank you for making sure Father ended up back in prison.”

“Any time.” I took another big gulp of champagne and said morosely, “Must’ve been very validating to see me make such an idiot of myself.” I’d had breakups before, but no one had ever made me feel like a mark. It was a serious blow to my ego.

“Amber, stop blaming yourself,” Grace said gently. “You could not possibly have known.”

“You know what the kicker is?” I said, shaking my head. “I think I vaguely remember Kate from when we were kids. Which would explain why something about her was immediately familiar. I chalked it up to chemistry, but no: She seemed familiar because we’d actually met.”

“It was kind of you to give them the money regardless,” Grace said.

I shrugged. “It was only a hundred K.”

Grace quirked a corner of her mouth. “?‘Only’?”

“Yeah, I know. You’ve ruined me.” I drained my glass and sighed. Yesterday, I’d changed banks and done a full accounting; Kate had siphoned off nearly forty grand of my money and I hadn’t even noticed. Served me right for never checking bank statements; I would not make that mistake again. “Listen, I think I’m gonna head to bed. I’m not really in the mood for a party right now.”

“That’s understandable.” Grace eyed me, then said, “Will you be heading back to San Francisco tomorrow?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I was thinking of trying someplace else for a bit.” In truth, I was dreading going back to my apartment and facing the stuff Kate had left there. Part of me was tempted to just leave everything behind, but I did want to collect my diploma.

“That’s a shame,” Grace said. “I was planning on visiting.”

“Visiting me ?” I put a hand to my chest. “Seriously?”

“Not you specifically.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Grace cocked her head to the side. “This morning my algorithm flagged some activity in Alameda that seemed worth checking out. It’s only a few miles from San Francisco.”

“No shit?” I cocked my head to the side, mirroring her.

Grace smiled thinly at me. “I considered what you said, and perhaps you weren’t entirely mistaken.”

“Wow, thanks. About what part?”

“I have been somewhat adrift of late. I do have a talent for this. And I could use a change of scenery. Plus, Mother is settled in the facility Chuy recommended, and she seems quite content.”

“That’s great, really. I’m glad,” I said sincerely.

“Thank you.” After a beat, she added, “I was thinking that perhaps you might join me.”

“Join you?” My eyebrows shot up. “Wait, are you asking me to hunt serial killers with you?”

“Unless you’d rather go to graduate school?” Grace asked.

Someone tapped my shoulder, and I turned to find Marcella standing there. “Dot said if you don’t get your ass on the dance floor, she’ll make you regret it.”

“Well, then I guess I better get out there,” I said.

“Damn straight,” Toni said. “What are you ladies talking about?”

I looked at Grace. She raised an eyebrow, and I gave her a slow nod. “Alameda, huh?”

“In the general vicinity, yes,” Grace said. “Of course, we would have to narrow it down. I’m tweaking the algorithm.”

“Of course you are.” As I let Marcella and Toni drag me away, I called back over my shoulder, “Count me in. But I’m driving. And bringing the snacks.”