Page 8 of Rules of Engagement

Chapter Three

I left Lucas to monitor the cellphone pings and made my way over to Chester. I had my zoom lens camera on the passenger seat and emergency snacks in the glove compartment in case I had to stake out the empty store. If Keira were inside, she might be formulating a deal with the vendor or even meeting with builders and specialist fitters. Just because I hadn't found evidence of a loan, didn't mean she hadn't been approved for one or couldn’t have possibly gotten a private loan from a family member.

Though I hated to admit it, Francesca's worries seemed to be coming true. Keira was in a very good position to compete with her boss. She was financially secure, she had experience in event and wedding planning, and she must have widened her business relationships since joining White's Wedding Planning. All that would have surely given her a good start. The faster I confirmed the truth, the faster Francesca could decide what to do next. It seemed sad that an apparently fruitful working relationship could be ruined by one half of the working couple doing the dirty on the other. If that were true, and Keira was planning to compete with Francesca's business, I figured I didn't have to feel too bad about Keira probably getting fired by the end of the day.

Lincoln Street was a bustling part of town. Plenty of people populated the sidewalk, and I watched with envy, (as well as a teeny bit of appalled greed), when several people left the bakery with pink-striped cake boxes. I zoomed in on the window, moving the lens over the dozen wedding cakes on display. Plain and round with lovely, little roses drifting in a wave down one side. Blue with a quilted pattern interspersed with diamantes. Seven square tiers with flowers between each layer. Black and white triangles. "Definitely round," I muttered to myself, pleased with my earlier decision. After that, I had no clue about what I liked most. "Simple" was Solomon's idea. I snapped a photo of the cake with the flowers between tiers. That looked simple, yet elegant. Francesca had promised something would stand out but she hadn't put a time frame on it. Perhaps I should look at some more. Perhaps I would have time to visit this bakery. My stomach grumbled with delight.

I scanned the camera to the right, roving over the empty store next to the bakery. Someone had whitewashed the windows so onlookers couldn't see inside and the occasional translucent gap didn't yield any answers. The lights were on but no one moved around inside. I couldn't see why the lights would be on without anyone being inside so I figured if I hung around long enough, someone would have to emerge.

Panning further right, I settled on David's Bridal. Beautiful gowns were proudly featured behind the big, plate glass windows, each of them a fairytale ensemble of silk and lace, pearls and sequins. That was another decision I hadn't made yet. How was I supposed to select one of the most stunning items I would ever wear? The cake decision was nothing in comparison! Solomon had it easy with a simple tuxedo. I had no idea how I could possibly commit to one dress; and the thought of trying on dozens only seemed to make it more complicated and difficult. With a growing sense of dread, I realized I was scared of my own wedding. That couldn't be normal. Wasn't I supposed to be happy and excited? Eager to try on dresses while basking in the unbridled admiration of my family? Thrilled at my opportunity to become a bride? Except I wasn't. I was in a sheer panic.

I panned back to the empty store again, then lowered the camera and reached for my bottled water. I unscrewed the cap and took a sip.

The door to the vacant store opened and a man emerged. I grabbed my camera and zoomed in, then took a snap. Caucasian, fifties, balding, and wearing workman pants and a paint-spattered t-shirt. Unless Keira were having a really bad day, it wasn't her.

The door opened again and a woman's head popped out. She called something and the workman turned around and gave her the thumbs up as he continued down the street. Through the zoom lens, and with her hair pinned back, I identified her as my target and I began snapping another series of photos before the door shut again.

I checked my watch. Solomon and I had plans for dinner later and most of my afternoon had already been sucked up in running searches on Keira, driving to Chester and staking out the store. Given that this wasn't an official case, I looked forward to a quiet night at home with Solomon. What I needed to do now was hurry along the progress.

Only one idea stood out to me.

Tucking the camera out of sight from opportunistic thieves, I grabbed my purse and hopped out the car. I crossed the street and walked over to the empty store.

My sole but clever idea was simply to ask Keira what she was doing.

I tried the door and it eased open. Stepping inside, I looked around, smiling when I saw Keira and another woman talking in the center of the stripped-back space. Both wore smart skirt suits but Keira had high heels that showed off her toned legs while the other wore flats. Drop cloths were spread across the floor and there was a work station with a saw, a painter's folding table already set up, and several cans of unopened paint. Someone had been very busy. I stepped inside, plastered on a cheerful smile and called, "Hello!"

Both women turned around. The second woman was visibly pregnant so I forgave the frumpy flats.

"Can I help you?" asked the woman with Keira.

"Maybe. I don't know. I was interested in renting this space but I might have gotten the wrong message about it still being available."

The woman and Keira glanced at each other. "Is it still available?" the woman asked Keira.

Keira shrugged and one of her corkscrew curls popped out of its clip to frame her face. "Technically, it is, yes," she said, brushing the curl back, but she didn't look happy about her answer.

"Are you the realtor?" I asked, playing innocent. It was better if Keira thought I came there to speak to the realtor. She might have been more open to answering my questions if she thought my real interest lay elsewhere.

"That would be me," said the woman, skirting the painter's table and producing a business card before handing it to me. "Bernie Martin. I'm managing this building on behalf of the owner. Are you interested in renting the unit?"

"I'm not sure. It's a very nice space. Are you a realtor too?" I asked Keira.

"No, I'm a wedding planner," she said.

"Oh, cool. Do you mind if I look around? It's such a great location!"

"You can but I don't want to disappoint you. We're planning on closing the contract on this space very soon," said Bernie.

I let the smile fall from my face. "That's a shame. I suppose this would be an ideal space for a wedding planning business though."

"It is," said Keira. "It's perfect, actually."

"I might need a wedding planner," I continued, purposefully oblivious to Keira's urgent desire that I leave.

"You could come by my office in Montgomery. White's Wedding Planning," she said.

I blinked back surprise. That wasn't the response I expected. Where was the shameless plug for Keira Bell Weddings or whatever she intended to call her business? Why was she telling me to go to the very same establishment she was trying to undercut? It didn't make any sense.