How had Candace managed to get it away from their father?
And who had taken it off Candaces finger?
The rings gone, she told Parker quietly.
Ring? What ring? Davidson blinked, suddenly looking more alert.
Parker didnt need to ask. Natalie knew he was already aware of what she was referring to. You mean that big golf ball-sized rock that your dads got hidden away in some faraway safe? When his partner looked at him in surprise, Parker shrugged the wide shoulders beneath his worn all-weather coat. What? I read People magazine. Sue me.
Thats the one, Natalie replied with a sigh, standing up again. Her grandfather, Joseph, had owned the diamond mine from which the multifaceted, near priceless gem had emerged, or so she had heard from her stepmother. Her fathers fortune was partially built on it.
Did he kill you for it, Candace? Did whoever did this to you try to take the ring only to have you fight him off? You should have let him have it. It was a stupid rockit wasnt worth your life.
A thought suddenly hit her, and she looked up at the two detectives. Anyone notify my father yet?
Parker and Davidson exchanged looks. She had her answer. Notification of a loved ones death was never high on anyones to-do list.
Not yet, Parker answered grimly.
Natalie nodded, already resigned to her part in this. Ill do it. Let me know what the ME comes up with as soon as theres a report.
Parker frowned, but his tone was kind as he tried to make her understand his position. Natalie, we cant have you
She stopped him before he could finish voicing his protest. Unofficially, she emphasized. Notify me unofficially. There was no room for argument in her voice. She looked around. Where are the kids?
Kids? Davis echoed.
Kids, she repeated. Candaces kids. Mick and David. My sister hashadtwo children. Dispatch said the nanny found her and called this in. Where are they?
Take it easy. She took them back to her sisters house. Dont worry, Sanchez went with her, Parker said, mentioning another detective. Um, correct me if Im wrong, but from what I heard, your sister really didnt keep close tabs on her kids.
No, she didnt. She needed to get in touch with the nanny, Natalie thought as she left.
She had the womans name and number programmed into her cell phone. Shed already checked out Amelia Pinteros background to satisfy herself that her young nephews were in good handsand not because Candace had asked her to. Candace, as she recalled, was just glad to have someone else take care of them for her. She would have used Gypsies if theyd crossed her path before Amelia had.
Natalie knew that it was a given that she wouldnt be allowed to investigate her sisters murder, but there was no law that said she couldnt look into it on her own when she was off duty. And even if there was, there was no way she was about to abide by the restriction. She and Candace hadnt gotten along in a long time, but blood was blood and after all was said and done, Candace was still her sister. More, shed been her twin. A part of her was dead.
She deserved some answersand the killer deserved to be put away for the rest of his life. It was as simple as that. And she planned to kick off her investigation by going to The Janus, the casino where Candace was last seen. She was going to have to find a way to get a look at the security tapes, to see if someone had followed her sister when she left the casinoor if, and this scenario was far more likely, Candace had elected to leave the casino with someone new.
In her heart, Natalie had always known that men would be her sisters downfall.
And that makes you different how? a mocking tone in her head queried. For her, it hadnt taken a squadron of men; all it had taken was one. One man who had sworn his love for her, given her an engagement ring and then pulled a disappearing act.
It had made her back away from the entire species.
Damn, she hadnt thought about Matt in, what? A couple of months or so.
Now was not the time for a stroll down memory lane, Natalie chided herself
as she pulled up in her fathers winding driveway.
Natalie took a deep breath, bracing herself for the ordeal ahead. It didnt really help.
With effort, she got out of her car.
The walk from the driveway to the front door felt exceptionally drawn out and almost painful, a little like a prisoner walking the last mile before his execution, she mused.
Clive answered the door. He smiled at her, looking both formal and kind at the same time. It was a feat she never quite understood how he accomplished. A pleased light entered his hazel eyes. Miss Natalie, what a pleasant surprise.
She knew he meant it. For a second, she allowed herself to absorb his words, and then she set her mouth solemnly. Not so pleasant Im afraid, Clive. Is my father home?
To his credit, Clive displayed no curiosity, asked no questions. Yes he is, Miss, but I fear that he doesnt seem to be himself today.
Natalie looked at the butler in surprise. Had her father heard about Candace? But how? The police were keeping everything under wraps for now. Their main logic behind this was to stave off the media vultures for as long as possible. They could feed on this kind of fodder for six, nine months at a time. And they would. But right now, they werent supposed to know.