Page 8 of Two Hearts' Ploy

He frowned. “Why in the hell didn’t you tell me, Wren? You know you’re supposed to let me know right away so I can turn the originals over to the cops.”

She snorted. “For whatever good that does.”

“I hear you,” he replied, heaving a sigh. “And I’ve been thinking about that. What we need is a top-notch investigator who can be discreet.”

“I agree.” Wren sighed. “But we’ve had such rotten luck. The last guy we used was obviously being compensated by the tabloids and not just me.”

“I’m sorry about that, Wren. I had no idea that Phil Denton was someone I couldn’t trust. I haven’t talked to him since I filed that complaint.”

“I understand,” Wren answered. “It’s hard to find people you can trust – that’s for sure. That’s why I’m so happy that it’s worked so well for us.”

“You can always count on me as a real friend, Wren. Abby told me that I needed to be more reassuring because of all the rotten luck we’ve had hiring personal assistants and investigators.”

“You’re so lucky to find someone as sweet as she is,” Wren observed.

“You don’t have to tell me that. Anyway, we’re getting off track here. Have you got the note?”

“I do,” she replied, pulling it from her purse. “Here you go. It came along with some black roses last night when I returned from my final encore.”

She knew the routine and had already stuck the note and envelope in separate baggies.

Reaching for the note, Marc scanned it briefly. “This person seems to be escalating, Wren, as far as these threats. But the flowers might have been sent to you from one of the local florists since the arrangement was apparently delivered and the note wasn’t left on your dressing table, as usual. We might be able to track who sent it.”

“You don’t deserve to live,’” she recited from the card. “I wouldn’t count on it. But I’d say you’re right about checking into it. I’m glad I’m going to be taking a break from touring for a while to record that new album.”

“That’s all well and good, but how many people already know when and where you’re going to be recording? Plus, you’re still going to be living at your house, aren’t you?”

“If I didn’t already have the time and studio booked, I might have considered New York.”

Marc grimaced. “But still, you’d be working at your regular stomping ground. Everyone who’s ever worked for you knows that you own an apartment there.”

“You still think it’s someone I see regularly, even though multiple background checks have been done, and everyone’s even been cleared by the cops?”

“I do. We’ve got to be missing something.”

Wren frowned fiercely. She hated to think it could be someone she trusted. Plus, she had yet to figure out why someone had it in for her.

“Try not to worry. We’ll take on extra security. What time do you have to be at the studio tomorrow?”

“Originally, we were scheduled to begin at eight, but I called and talked to Barry about the break in. He made a few calls and switched with another artist so that I don’t have to be there until two.”

Marc patted her hand, glancing around the room. “I guess we’d better get started going through this mess. Hopefully, wecan get it all done today. Supposedly, your insurance company was here earlier today too, taking pictures. They left some paperwork allowing you to list the value of the items that were damaged.”

“Good. That’s one less call I’ll need to make,” she said, starting to pick items up from the floor. “I’m glad I bought some paper to wrap things in as I box them up. I think I’ll try to find the undamaged items first.”

“Good idea,” he said. “I think I’ll clear your guest room and bathroom first to get that out of the way. I don’t have a clue what’s valuable here or not.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she replied, giving him a strained smile.

“I’ve got some extra security on the way, so they should be here shortly.”

“Thanks, Marc,” she replied, relieved when she found every piece of her Limoges vase collection intact.

“I’d better escort you to the studio on Monday,” Marc said.

“I promised you vacation time,” she answered.

He shrugged. “That was before all this happened. I want to keep a closer eye on you during your recording sessions. I’ll also have someone following your driver. I know you wouldn’t mind the expense, but I can’t see the point of having someone keeping an eye on everyone you’ve worked with during the past four years, when you first began getting those notes. If only we could find some kind of clue to narrow down suspects. Like you said, the cops haven’t been much help. They’ve got too many other things going on.”

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