Chapter Twenty-One

Aja Blue glanced around the police station. If she never had to step inside one again, she'd be grateful. It was a buzz of activity, and she knew they were doing good work, but she'd rather be elsewhere, like her desk, creating the new line of Christmas décor she'd planned. It would include knitted trees, bejeweled felt stockings, and plush winter animals like penguins, polar bears, and reindeer. Ideas were already floating around in her head, and she couldn't wait to put them on paper and watch them come alive.

With a sigh, she refocused on her surroundings. Kayne and Presley spoke to a man in a uniform while other officers moved around, shuffling from one place to another. Phones rang, and chatter filled the air. Every so often, the faint wail of a siren would sound from outside.

What was the captain telling Christian? Had they caught Jay's killer? That caused a wave of sorrow to crash over her. How could he be gone? He was a force of nature. Maybe if she hadn't taken off on a wild goose chase to Arizona, she'd have been around to stop him from being murdered.

Another thought crept into her head. If she hadn't jumped on a plane to search for Polly, Aja Blue never would've met Christian. She hadn't known him for long but couldn't imagine her life without him. Aja Blue had always subscribed to the theory of everything happening for a reason, and her impromptu trip had introduced her to him. He was the only thing holding her together through Jay's death and the destruction of her office. Christian was her rock.

Panic struck, and her lungs heaved. If Jay's killers were caught, Christian would leave. He would go back to his life, leaving her to pick up the pieces of hers alone. How would she let him walk away?

"Aja Blue, are you okay?" Presley asked.

She shook her head and glanced at Christian's coworkers. They were looking at her with undisguised concern. "Uh, yeah. Just thinking about my assistant." And your friend, but she didn't add that part.

"We will find out what happened to him," Kayne promised, and she believed him.

"I want to thank you two for helping Christian. It means the world to me."

"No thanks necessary," Presley insisted with a wave of a hand. "Catching the bad guys is what we do."

"We live for it," Kayne added.

She smiled, loving Christian's coworkers. They were incredible people. Kayne was so sweet and caring, and she could see becoming good friends with Presley. Knowing they would leave with Christian added an additional layer to her depression.

Aja Blue's senses sharpened. Christian was nearby. Sure enough, he appeared and smiled at her. "Ready to go?"

"Yes." She leaped to her feet.

They exited the building and piled into the SUV.

"So?" Kayne asked.

"They were able to trace a payment from Pastor Chet's lawyer to the man who ran into Presley and Detective Herbert. Pastor Chet's two bodyguards, Ricky Daniels and Rufus Ingram, both confessed to bombing Aja Blue's office and murdering Bryon Zikes."

"And Jay's murder," Aja Blue reminded him.

Christian shook his head. "They swore they had nothing to do with it."

"So?" Aja Blue said. "They're psychotic killers. They'll lie at the drop of a hat."

"I agree," Christian concurred. "But they'd already admitted to killing Zikes. They had no reason to deny it."

"What are you saying?"

Christian shook his head. "They didn't do it."

"And the man who tried to kidnap Aja Blue?" Kayne asked.

"They deny knowing about him too."

"What about Pastor Chet?" Presley questioned. "He might've pulled the trigger himself."

"Very possible."

"Let me guess," Kayne said. "He bailed out and fled."

"Right in one."

"What does that mean?" Aja Blue wanted to know.

"The cops can't find him. He's likely guilty, but they can't question him because he and his lawyer have disappeared."

"So, what, they get away with it?" Aja Blue cried.

"No." Christian shook his head. "They will be brought to justice, but it might be delayed. The local authorities are working on tracking him down. I'll notify my office, and I have no doubt they'll be able to locate him."

She believed him, but a cynical part of her wondered if the murderer would get away with it. What if they couldn't find him? He might change his name and vanish. When she'd met Christian, he had told her about the case he was working on. A cult leader had disappeared and reinvented himself. He had almost gotten away with it.

She'd hoped they could lay Jay to rest in peace with his killers behind bars, but that didn't look like it would happen.

Her phone rang, and she checked the display. Eleanor Sinclair. Green grass big mouth bass. With all that had happened last week, she hadn't thought about the pool house. Mrs. Sinclair paid a sizable retainer to Aja Blue, expecting her to fulfill the contract for which she had been hired. It was bad business practice to ignore the client.

With a pang of dread, she answered. "Mrs. Sinclair. How are you?"

"I'm fine, dear. It's good to hear from you."

Funny, considering the woman had called her.

"How are the plans for the pool house coming along?"

"We're working on them." Lie. She'd barely thought about them.

"Good. Good. Listen, I'm calling to invite you to our annual Sinclair Family Fundraiser. It's tomorrow night on our yacht. Dozens of movers, shakers, local politicians, philanthropists, and VIPs will attend with open checkbooks. We'll take a sunset cruise around the bay."

Aja Blue was heavily involved with charitable work but didn't feel like socializing. It was the last thing she wanted to do. "Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. My assistant, Jay Guitterez, whom I brought to your house last week, was murdered."

"Yes, dear, I heard about that. That's why I'm calling to invite you to the event. I know it's last minute, but I respect you and wanted to show my support. I've established a scholarship for underprivileged youth in Mr. Guitterez's name."

The generous gesture floored Aja Blue. A ball of emotion lodged in her throat, and tears stung her eyes. The socialite had only met him once, but the impact of what she was doing would be monumental. It would honor Jay's life in a meaningful, significant way—much more than anything Aja Blue could do for him.

"Aja Blue? Are you there?"

She cleared her throat, but her voice was husky when she said, "Yes. Sorry. Your thoughtfulness is humbling. I accept your invitation."

"That's wonderful, dear. With your permission, I will use your name in a publicity push."

She didn't think that would draw the moneyed crowd, but anything to help with Jay's legacy. "Absolutely."

"Wonderful. I'll text an invitation for you and a guest. Use it to board the yacht. It is a black-tie event. See you tomorrow."

Aja Blue stared at the phone, fighting back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. As always, Christian sensed when she was in crisis, and he grasped her hand, giving her strength.

"That was Mrs. Sinclair. She invited us to her annual charity fundraiser on her yacht tomorrow night."

"You accepted?"

She nodded, trying to swallow around the lump that wouldn't leave her throat. "She's establishing a scholarship in Jay's name."

Christian squeezed her hand. "That's quite an honor. I imagine she raises millions."

Aja Blue nodded as tears leaked out. "He won't be forgotten."