Diamonds and Spurs [The Callens 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Melody Snow Monroe Page B

the boisterous laughter caused Vince to turn. “What do you know? It’s Darby himself.” Vince didn’t believe in coincidences.
    Tara slid out of the booth. “I’ll wait on him and let you know if I find out anything.”
    “Appreciate it.”
    Vince slid into a booth and nursed his beer. He tried not to watch the possible suspect.
    The man shared a joke with Tara. Something got him in a good mood. She stood there smiling and laughing before placing the order at the bar. After retrieving and delivering the drinks to Darby and his friend, she sidled over to Vince, ostensibly to see if he needed a refill.
    “Did Darby tell you why he’s in such a good mood?”
    She shrugged. “Apparently, the insurance company issued him a policy.”
    Could be because he paid them. “Let me ask you this. Has Sharon Lipman been in here recently?”
    She cocked a brow. “Sharon, as in your ex-fiancée?”
    “That would be the one.”
    “Once, maybe three days ago. I wouldn’t have noticed except all the whistles drew my attention.”
    That didn’t surprise him. “Was Darby here at the time?”
    “Sorry, it was so busy, I couldn’t keep track.”
    “That’s okay. Thanks.” Vince left half the glass on the table, and handed her a large tip. “Keep your eyes and ears open. Call me if you see them together.”
    She smiled. “You can be sure of it.”
    Next step was to investigate Craig Clairbourne and the Indulgent Spa. If Mandy’s ex thought he had long arms, he hadn’t met the Callens.
    Before he headed back to his office, though, he stopped by the sheriff’s office to pass his theory by Will. The sheriff ushered him into his office and Vince took a seat.
    “I don’t have anything concrete for you, Vince. To be honest, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to match the bullet to a particular gun.”
    “I figured. I have a theory.” He told him about the two people who benefitted from driving Mandy out of Intrigue. He didn’t want to think about that person wanting her dead.
    “You know Sharon as well as anyone. You think she’d do something like this? She has a lot to lose if she’s caught.”
    “The operative word being caught . Sharon wants what she wants without regard to the consequences.”
    “What about Mandy’s ex-husband?”
    He told him about the Ponzi scheme and what he had to lose if Mandy testified against him.
    “Sounds like either one could be involved.”
    “In two days, we’re heading into the wilderness. All I ask is for you keep an eye and an ear out for anyone who has come into money or who asks too many questions.”
    “Will do.”
    They shook hands and Vince left, determined to get to the bottom of the issue.

Chapter Eleven
     
    Mandy was going crazy sitting in Vince and Cam’s home for the last couple of days and not working. Both men seemed to find reasons to avoid her like she was the criminal instead of the victim, even though neither was rude. In fact, they went out of their way to make sure she had her privacy, but not once did Cam invite her into his bed. Vince had ample opportunity to put the moves on her, but he didn’t.
    As for Cam, it was almost as if he was waiting to find the shooter before he pursued her. She considered confronting him, but her head wasn’t in the right spot to start a new relationship.
    Right now, she looked forward to going on the two-day outing and being out of their house. Trinity would serve as the lead. Mandy was there to observe, and Vince came to protect. According to Sam there never had been an incident that required the man to defend them, but Mandy was glad Vince would be there just in case.
    The seven women in the group were amateur photographers and the eighth was their teacher. Apparently, they’d completed a three-day photo seminar to learn about their cameras and this was their reward at the end of the class. The only camera she’d ever used was her iPhone. Now that phone was a distant memory stuck in her former home’s flowerpot. Her