Page 84 of Fast Currents
“So, what – they were just pocketing all of the money from A.A.’s work?” Zach asked. “Is that illegal?”
“Not particularly,” Nick allowed. “But using the art sales to wash funds from smuggling is. They were manufacturing art and using it to hide payments. We also found evidence that Chaz was trafficking in stolen art with some unsavory characters, falsifying records as he went along.” His gaze slid to Anya’s. “Some who are known to bring in counterfeit drugs from overseas through Canadian waters.”
“Did you recover the black case we told you about?” Lucy asked, frowning.
“No,” Nick said. “That’s still unaccounted for.” He shrugged. “It’s possible that was nothing more than art equipment.”
“Or they’ve already sold and disposed of whatever was in the case,” Lucy pointed out.
“Or that,” Nick said. “We may never know.” He clapped his hands, rubbing them together. “Fighting crime makes me hungry. Is dinner ready yet?”
Violet smiled. “I was just coming to tell you – dinner is served.”
We followed her into the kitchen, dishing up plates of turkey, stuffing, and green bean casserole. The menu was similar to what I’d served yesterday, but Vi’s family recipes had their own twists. Back in the living room, we perched wherever there was space. For a while, the only sounds in the room were forks scraping plates and compliments for Vi. Eventually, conversation picked up, drifting from food to ferry delays to Gran’s most recent antics.
“How was Thanksgiving with Gran?” Lucy asked with a smirk.
The Fenwick siblings groaned in unison. Anya and Rae exchanged grins.
“She invited Ollie Reyes,” Zach moaned, wincing.
Drew’s big shoulders rounded against the couch. “I thought things were bad when they were feuding. It’s way worse when they’re f—"
“Fooling around,” Anya cut him off with a smile.
“They were all over each other,” Rae added. “It was kinda cute.”
“It wasnotcute,” Zach protested. “The phrase you’re looking for, honey, is ‘scarring.’ It wasscarring.”
Rae rolled her eyes at him. “I still say cute.”
“Mr. Reyes bought all of her artwork at the benefit,” Anya said. “I don’t know about you, but I think those crazy kids might make it.”
Drew winced. “So long as theymake itsomewhere I can’t see, that’s fine.”
“Speaking of kids who are going to make it,” I said, pausing for effect and reaching for Lucy’s hand. “I asked Lucy to marry me.” Our friends groaned in unison, used to my proposals. “Shocker, she said no. Eight times. But the ninth time… she asked me.”
Anya was the first to approach Lucy with a hug. “Congratulations to you both.”
Zach grinned, his dimple flashing as he patted me on the back. “I always knew you’d wear her down.”
We accepted a mix of teasing and congratulations from the rest of the group. From loss and heartbreak to happiness. Lucy sat half in my lap. As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, her lashes swept up, love and affection beaming at me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lee whisper something to Vi and slip out the back door. The way Violet’s gaze lingered on his back hinted that I wasn’t the only one who’d been longing for something more in our group.
I settled my hand on Lucy’s thigh, even that simple touch yielding a predictable reaction. The need for more.
“You know something, Lucifer?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“What’s that?”
“I’m ready to go home.”
“And do what?” she asked playfully.
Grinning, I waggled my brows. “Start another world tour.”
With her as my only destination.
