Deadly Touch Read online

  They didn’t seem as engaged with one another. But to be honest, Raina herself had always had trouble engaging with Tate’s dad. Jefferson Fielding had a great reputation for maintaining a stellar law firm, but he’d always seemed overbearing to Raina. On the one hand, Tate—and Jordan—had risen like young skyrockets in the firm. On the other, Raina wondered just how resentful Tate might be—his dad seemed to call every shot.

  Then again, while Helen Fielding had greeted her cordially that night, Jefferson Fielding had barely afforded her a nod. She didn’t think he could dislike her because of her failed high school romance with Tate, especially since she and Tate were still friends.

  She was suddenly grateful that Helen and Jefferson Fielding were not at her table.

  She realized she had paused too long. Clive was about to come onstage. She gave herself a little shake—mentally and physically—and hurried back.

  Clive and Titan seemed to be doing just fine. She thanked him, and talked to Titan, gaining the dog’s attention as the clown left. She really wanted them both to be at their very best that night. And admittedly, she was getting to the point where she was suspicious of the sun just for shining.

  But even as she kept talking to Titan, she realized why.

  She couldn’t forget being in the morgue. It hadn’t been “creepy.”

  It had been sad.

  And she’d had that strange sensation. As if the woman, a pale remnant of the dead woman, had stood just beside her, reaching out desperately, not knowing why someone had stolen her life and who that someone might have been.

  As she and Titan headed out to the stage wing, the thought took precedence again.

  A ghost was trying to reach her.

  How? Why? The dress had done something to her. It seemed a woman she had never known in life had somehow really managed to touch her. And the sensation of her overwhelming sadness and the fear she had encountered suddenly seemed to rush through her again.

  A thought occurred to her.

  The murderer was in the room.

  She almost groaned aloud—a big mistake when she was wearing a lavalier mic and any sound she made would be heard by the entire audience.

  She managed to push the ridiculous thought aside, firmly tamping it down.

  The murderer could be anywhere in the state.

  Or across the country or even in a foreign country by now.

  At her side, Titan gave out a low growl.

  As if even he was afraid that someone dangerous was in the room, as well.

  Six

  Clive the Clown was a good performer, playing with the front tables. Everyone went along with his sight gags and jokes, and he didn’t seem to mind performing while the salad plates were taken away and the main course set down. He was a slim man. With his clown suit and clown makeup on, it was difficult to know what he really looked like. When he’d come out, Lucia had whispered that Clive was really a shy man, almost an introvert—unless he was being Clive the Clown.

  Axel had met a few of the performers at Adam Harrison’s rescued theater who were brilliant onstage and shy when off, so he wasn’t surprised. Costumes and makeup could help a person change what they were—almost as if they were two different people.

  Clive left the stage to a nice round of applause.

  “So, you’re in town because of a murder?” Loretta said, leaning forward, waiting for the last of their table’s plates to be laid down.

  “Mrs. Oster...” Robert began.

  “I’m suddenly Mrs. Oster again, Robert?” she queried. “I was Loretta before! You’ve been out of school a long time, young man.”

  “We’re at a fundraiser. He doesn’t want to talk shop,” Robert said.

  “Frank Peters and I still take kids out there once a year,” Loretta said, looking back at Axel. “We need to know the dangers.”

  “The dangers are always there,” Axel said. He shrugged. “Maybe now more than ever. The estimation is that we have about sixty thousand pythons and boas out there. Certainly dangerous to small pets and children.”

  “True, but we have guides that are extremely careful and who know all about snakes and gators and critters,” Loretta said.

  She sat back. She was a slightly chubby woman with a round face that fit her. She was, he imagined, a little too old to be termed cute, but she was. Short, puffy black hair, rosy cheeks and that comfortable...roundness about her.

  Everyone and anyone was a suspect at the moment. And she was interested. That in itself meant nothing. People tended to be curious. They followed police and forensic shows. Sometimes a little knowledge was good, but sometimes a little knowledge without background and truth wasn’t so good. But interest seemed to be universal.

  “You’ve been going out there every year for years, right?” he asked her.

  “Frank and I both. We volunteered about fifteen years ago and we’ve been chaperoning ever since. I love the Everglades. I go walking out at Shark Valley and I like stopping at the ranger stations. When it comes to critters, rangers and guides know all about them. People murdering people...that’s scary.”

  “Yes, it is. It has been happening as long as anyone can remember,” Jeremy said. “We’ve had a lot of killing out there. To this day, there are miles and miles of wetlands, hardwood hammocks, muck, grass and trees. All places where people might be alone with other people, and where they might commit unspeakable acts.” He smiled again. They were all staring at him uncomfortably. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just an observation.”

  Loretta frowned. “Well, we all sit with the notion that killing is wrong. But what about the justice system? Sometimes horrible people aren’t punished, and then maybe a family member decides to punish them. Then, say, they committed murder. But is it murder if it’s justice?”

  “Loretta, I’m sworn to uphold the law,” Axel said. “Vigilante justice and mob rule can be just as frightening. That’s why we have laws.”

  “But the court system doesn’t always work,” Loretta argued.

  “We still honor the law,” Jeremy said. “And yes, sometimes the law fails. But the law hopefully protects us all, sees us all equally.”

  “If only!” Lucia said. “I’ve heard that punishments aren’t exactly equal when it comes to many things.”

  “I work with competent people who see every man and woman as equal when it comes to justice. I vote like everyone else. I state my opinion. And I work with people who put their own lives on the line to find the truth. No, we aren’t judge and jury.”

  “And this is supposed to be a lovely social occasion—not grill Special Agent Tiger night,” Larry Stillwater said, speaking up again.

  “We have an FBI guy at our table. I’m just asking. And you were curious, too,” Loretta said.

  “Anywhere you have a landscape where people can hide bodies, you have a problem. I know a Cheyenne up in Wyoming who is with the tribal police and on good terms with his county sheriff, too. They have acres of hills and cliffs and caves, and they wind up with bodies far too often, as well,” Jeremy told them.

  “I just wish I knew more,” Loretta said.

  “Everything we know now has been on the news,” Axel told her. It wasn’t far from the truth.

  “But could we be more careful, or perhaps—”

  “Hey!” Robert announced. “Raina is coming out.”

  Lucia turned her chair around to face the stage.

  Axel watched as Raina walked out, accompanied by Titan. She introduced herself and the dog, asking Titan to say hello. The dog barked.

  Typical.

  But then the two of them together did much more. She’d give him a number, and he’d tap it out with a paw. She asked him if he was feeling relaxed, and he rolled onto his back. She reminded him they were in front of a large crowd, and he sat up straight. She told him they might need to sea
rch for a missing friend, and he lifted his ears and his tail and one paw, staring out at the audience.

  She had people laughing and clapping. And then she told the dog they needed to do a duet.

  Axel had never seen anything like it. A young man, perhaps seventeen or eighteen, came out with a guitar. Raina sang Neil Young’s “Old King” with a beautiful, clear voice. That in itself was a talent, but the amazing part was the fact the dog managed to let out a howling sound for the last two lines of each verse that sounded as if it were in true harmony.

  She ended by telling the dog she loved him.

  Titan seemed to bark, howl or whine out the words, as well, even if it was a bit like, “I ruf you.”

  Raina and Titan were met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Axel applauded along with the others, wanting to go to her and tell her she was amazing—except she was swamped.

  Titan might have been a fantastic performer, but he wasn’t really welcome in the dining room. Raina disappeared backstage with him. Axel glanced at Robert.

  Raina’s brother smiled and said, “Raina will be back out in a minute. Clive is a good guy, and he’ll let her have dinner with us. If we don’t see her soon, I’ll sneak back to Titan with some of my meat!”

  A high school glee club came up next.

  They left the stage, and Elly came on to thank people, to tell them to socialize and not to forget to purchase raffle tickets.

  Then Raina emerged from backstage. He rose, thinking she’d join them quickly and get to have her main course.

  But people were rising to greet her and talk.

  He watched as the table next to him rose one by one, catching Raina on her way to the table.

  Tate Fielding was up, catching her and pulling her to him, kissing her on the cheek and whispering something in her ear. She moved back from him a little awkwardly, but smiled and said something. Jordan gave her a hug, as did Mya and her husband and then Frank Peters.

  The others at the table shook her hand and she finally begged away, but was stopped by a grade school girl who wanted to say something.

  Raina stooped to talk to her for a minute, leaving the girl with a brilliant smile as she ran back to her table. Raina stood, glancing his way.

  He noted she hadn’t worn the dress that had been tried on by Jennifer Lowry, but the black cocktail gown she had chosen fit her just as well.

  At last, she joined them at the table.

  Naturally, everyone there applauded her.

  “My darling,” Lucia told her, “I know Titan is a special dog, but how the hell did you do that?”

  “Oh, I didn’t really do it,” Raina said. “Some dogs are just naturals.” She laughed. “Check out YouTube. You’ll find dozens of dogs that sing, especially huskies. They should really come up with a husky choir somewhere along the line. Now, that would be cool!”

  “Excuse me,” Robert told them, pushing back from the table. “I see one of our police captains I work with. I’m going to say hello. And, my friends, you are not limited to socializing here. Go forth and buy raffle tickets.”

  “Raina is just getting to her chicken!” Lucia protested.

  “It’s not chicken! It’s Cornish game hen!” Robert said.

  “It’s fancy chicken. For a great cause, though,” Lucia returned.

  They were comfortable together, Axel thought. Raina and Lucia, certainly, and Robert—and even Jeremy and Larry.

  They’d drawn the better table. It seemed the one next to them had been a little stiff. Maybe not. Maybe he was feeling just a bit of a rise in the green eyes there. He wondered if anything had ever gone on between Tate Fielding and Raina or perhaps Jordan and Raina. Or maybe there had been some awkward dating while they’d matured from teens to adults.

  And then he warned himself that it had nothing to do with the situation at hand.

  Still...

  “I’m happy sitting here with Raina,” he said. “You all feel free to go get those raffle tickets.”

  “I think I’m done already,” Raina said. “Not too hungry. We can all be good attendees. Socialize and buy raffle tickets.”

  She pushed her plate aside, having taken only a few bites.

  “Kiddo, you’re going to be hungry,” Lucia warned.

  “Adrenaline, or something,” Raina said. “Really, all of you, you’re being wonderfully polite, but it’s not necessary. I haven’t had a chance to look at the goods being raffled.”

  “Some fabulous spa gifts!” Lucia said.

  “A trip to the Bahamas at Atlantis!” Robert said. “Okay, she’s my sister. I don’t have to be polite. Really, she bit me as a baby!” he teased.

  “Atlantis?” Jeremy asked.

  “Go buy tickets!” Raina said.

  Finally, the others began to rise. Axel stayed.

  “Finish your chicken.”

  “Cornish game hen.”

  “Whatever.”

  She smiled. “I’m telling the truth. I’m just not hungry.” She hesitated. “Axel, is this normal? I feel as if, well, not as if she’s still with me. She isn’t. But somehow ridiculously suspicious. As if anyone I look at—right down to the waitstaff—might be a murderer.”

  He shrugged. “I’m suspicious by nature. Hard to say what is and isn’t normal with a killer on the loose. But if you’re really all set with your food, I think I will chat with a few people and see what I can find out.”

  “I am finished. I’m off to view the baskets and goods. Go mingle. I know you’re here to meet the people involved in the project. People who know the Everglades,” she told Axel. “Go do it. I do want to throw some tickets into that Atlantis/Bahamas basket! Oh, and Clive is great with the dog and likes being back there, but I don’t want to leave Titan forever. So, if you need me and can’t find me, just cut through the wing, stage left, to get to the green room. That’s where I’ll be.”

  He smiled. “Sounds good.”

  She stood, allowing him to do so, too. They were alone there for a minute. The others had moved on to talk with friends or view the raffle goods.

  She turned quickly, heading for the back of the room.

  * * *

  The woman selling the raffle tickets was an old friend of her mother’s and she chatted with her for a few seconds before moving on so others could buy tickets. Then she walked along the length of the tables. She smiled, grateful her performance had gone so well. Her donation of five hours of in-home dog or cat training was doing well, too. The little basket with tickets was filled to the brim.

  She wasn’t sure she could teach another dog how to “harmonize” in five hours. And of course, during that kind of training, she’d really be training the pet owner—teaching him or her how to train their own pet. Animals responded best to positive reinforcement. Especially rescue pets; they just needed to be loved.

  “Hey, Raina.”

  She felt someone close behind her as she was putting her tickets into the basket for the Atlantis trip and glanced around.

  It was Tate Fielding.

  “Hey!” she said. She hadn’t felt uncomfortable around Tate before, even when they’d broken up after briefly dating. They’d stayed friends. But it felt like he’d made a little bit too much of an effort to kiss and hug her when she’d come offstage.

  “Hey again,” she said, smiling to take the slight reproach away.

  He grinned at her. “You really want that Atlantis trip.”

  “I might as well put my tickets toward the prize I’d really like to win.”

  “We all offered free legal consultations,” Tate said lightly. “People do love their dogs, though. Your donation is doing well.”

  “Yes, people have long had strong relationships with dogs,” Raina replied, smiling. She had the odd feeling he had sought her out purposely.

  “So, you’re seeing the gover
nment guy now?” he asked her.

  “I...we ran across one another.”

  “There’s more to that last murder than they’re telling everyone. And then there was that murder a few months back. I guess that’s why he’s here, not that Miami-Dade County doesn’t have its fair share of murders. And the county has a damned good homicide department, too.”

  “You don’t practice criminal law. You do civil cases,” Raina reminded him.

  “I do civil cases, but my firm has members who practice criminal law. Jordan is going in that direction.”

  She laughed. “Keeping the scum of the earth on the streets?” she asked.

  “Ouch! Jordan would take offense at that. You know people are accused of crimes they didn’t commit.”

  “Of course.”

  “And sometimes an attorney fights for the rights of his client. People who commit murders wind up out in a few years, and some silly white-collar crime can result in the same sentence. Jordan has gotten involved with several groups making sure innocent men and women aren’t rotting in jail.”

  “That’s great,” Raina said. “The innocent shouldn’t suffer.”

  “So, has he talked to you about the investigation?” Tate asked, giving her his signature charming grin.

  She frowned, wondering why it seemed everyone wanted to know what Axel was doing. Was it natural human curiosity? Or something else?

  Tate could be a jerk, but he wasn’t a murderer.

  “No, it’s an ongoing investigation,” she said. “You know there’s only so much he can say.”

  She saw Jeremy Gray was next to them, studying the paper that explained the trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas, donated by one of the local travel agencies.

  “Hey!” he said, as if just noticing she was there. “Great display of...stuff!” he said. He flashed Tate a smile, as well. “Raina, for that pet thing you’ve offered, I’m taking it you aren’t into training alligators?”

  She laughed. “Nope. I’m too much of a coward. I don’t see how anyone manages that whole alligator wrestling thing. I’ve seen the size of Big Ole Mac out in the village.”