Hitched

39

Pamela and Arnold could always be found in the front row of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Park Avenue at the nine o’clock service on Sunday mornings. But today they had gotten there a little late and were seated toward the back.

So already things felt a little off.

After all the excitement last night, they got off to a slower start this morning. Pamela had prepared Arnold his oatmeal and coffee, grateful that Shauna and Tyler were late sleepers. It was wonderful having them stay at the apartment, but sometimes she felt the need for more elbow room.

Now they were going to have a child. And it will be named after one of us, Pamela thought as Father Tully preached to the congregation about God’s grace. It would be wonderful to hold a baby in her arms. So why was she feeling so unsettled? It should be a happy day.

Pamela smoothed back her hair with her left hand and realized that her earring was missing. Quickly she felt her other ear. That earring was in place. It was one of her favorite pairs, the large diamonds in a gold setting that Arnold had given her on their wedding anniversary last year. Did I drop it, she wondered in a panic. She looked around her seat. I shouldn’t be worried about jewelry when I’m in church, but that pair is so special.

I hope I find it when I get home.

Pamela sat back in her seat. She thought about the dinner last night. They had toasted the baby. Shauna had had several glasses of wine. Maybe it was because they were celebrating, Pamela thought, but she shouldn’t be drinking if she’s pregnant.

If she’s pregnant.

Pamela’s hand went back up to her left ear. This morning when I was getting ready, Shauna came into the bedroom. I had the safe open. Arnie was calling for me to hurry. Shauna was going on and on about the baby. I didn’t want to be rude so I tried to listen, but it was so distracting. I left the bedroom before Shauna, mostly to get away from her constant chatter.

But I don’t remember closing the safe.

Pamela’s heart started to beat faster. She felt light-headed. All my jewels are in there, she thought. They’re worth several hundred thousand dollars. Was Shauna distracting her on purpose? All of a sudden the story of Shauna’s pregnancy didn’t ring true. Pamela tried to calm herself. But she couldn’t. She was starting to feel physically ill. She tapped on her husband’s arm. God will forgive me, she thought. “ Arnold, I don’t feel well. I have to get home.”

Shauna and Tyler were throwing their things together as fast as they could.

“A bird in the hand,” Tyler crowed as he held up the bag they’d swiped from Pamela’s closet and filled with her jewelry. “I thought we’d have a bigger payday from Pammy and Arnold but we’ll have to make do with these gems.”

“I should have used a different name,” Shauna said. “But when we met them I had no idea it would come to this.”

They zipped up their suitcases.

Regan and Jack followed the assistant up to the newsroom at Tiger News Network. They were ushered into a private office. The news producer, a woman in her forties, was waiting for them. Her glasses were resting on top of her head, a large cup of coffee was next to the stack of papers on her desk. She got up quickly and introduced herself.

“My name is Dana Mansley. We’re getting a lot of calls about the piece on the missing dresses,” she said. “Most of them probably won’t amount to anything. But this guy sounded like someone you’d want to talk to.” She picked up her phone, pressed a button, and handed it to Regan.

“Hello, this is Regan Reilly.”

“Hello there, Regan. This is Horace Banks. How are you?”

“Good. How are you?”

“Most things are good, but I’m still legally married to a Shauna Nickles who disappeared a couple years ago. I want to get a divorce because I have a little lady I’d like to marry. By the way, she thinks that dress they showed today was really pretty.”

“I’ll tell the designers,” Regan assured him.

“Anyway, it takes a while before you can declare someone legally dead, you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I do.”

“If this is my wife, Shauna Nickles, I’d like to get in touch with her. I heard she’d taken up with a younger guy. She shouldn’t be getting married anyway if she’s still married to me.”

“No, she shouldn’t. Let’s see if we have the right Shauna Nickles. Can you describe her to me?”

“She’s forty-eight years old but doesn’t look it. She’s cute, or at least I used to think she was cute. She’s petite, with light brown hair, and big green eyes. I always called her a sparrow with a good figure.”

Interesting description, Regan thought. But it sounds like Shauna. “Do you have a description of the guy?”

“All I heard was that he was young, dark, and handsome,” Horace laughed. “The opposite of me. I’m just glad that he’s not rich! The two of them supposedly wander around like a couple of gypsies.”

As Regan processed this information, she could hear a woman in the background assuring Horace that he was as handsome as could be.

“Where are you calling from?” Regan asked.

“We live in northern Texas.”

Not that far from Santa Fe, Regan thought. “The Shauna I met said she didn’t have family.”

Horace groaned. “She used that line on people when she wanted to gain their sympathy. For the stupidest things. Let me tell you something, she’s bad news. A real trickster. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if I should call because she doesn’t seem like the type to bother with a fancy gown for her wedding. But I had to. If it’s her, I want my divorce.”

Regan’s pulse quickened, but she kept her cool. “Horace, let me take your number. I’ll find out what I can and get back to you.”

When Regan hung up, Dana looked up at her questioningly. “I’ll check into this,” Regan said diplomatically. The last thing she wanted to do was slander Shauna to a news producer. “Please keep me posted about any other calls.”

Dana nodded. “Keep us in the loop, too. We’d like to follow this story.”

“Sure thing,” Regan promised.

But when Regan and Jack were on their way out, she turned to him. “Jack, let’s pay a visit to Fifth Avenue. Fast. If Shauna is this guy’s wife and she’s heard her name’s out there in the newspaper and on television, there’s no telling what she and her fiancé might pull on the Neys. It’s obvious they’re very wealthy and would be a perfect target for a couple of crooks.”

When they got in Jack’s car, he turned on his siren. They sped across town to Madison Avenue, made a left, and headed uptown.

Shauna pressed the button for the elevator. “This place was nice while it lasted,” she said to Tyler in a low tone.

The door opened and Walter, the elevator operator, looked at them with surprise. “Leaving us?” he asked.

“We’re taking a couple days away. Arnold and Pamela could probably use a break,” Shauna said with a laugh. Sweetly she asked, “Could you let them know downstairs we’d like a cab?”

“Of course,” Walter replied solemnly as he pressed the taxi signal. “I saw your name in the paper today, Ms. Nickles.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I’m sorry about what happened to your wedding dress.”

“Me, too,” Shauna said. “It’s just terrible what those thieves did.”

“It certainly is,” Tyler agreed.

The door opened at the ground floor, and Shauna and Tyler hurried off.

Arnold and Pamela grabbed a cab in front of the church and gave the driver their address.

“What’s the matter?” Arnold asked.

“You know how sometimes you just get a feeling that something is terribly wrong? That you’ve been so stupid?” Pamela asked, fanning herself with her white glove. Perspiration had broken out on her forehead.

Arnold looked into her eyes. “Do you mean about Shauna and Tyler?”

“Yes,” Pamela gasped.

“I hope they haven’t taken us for a couple of old fools.”

Pamela started to cry.

Regan and Jack turned the corner onto Fifth Avenue as Shauna and Tyler were about to get into a cab.

“There they are!” Regan cried. “They’re leaving.”

“What are you going to do?” Jack asked.

“I’ll just talk to them for a minute.” Regan jumped out. “Shauna!” she called and hurried over as the doorman finished loading their suitcases into the trunk of the taxi. Shauna had a velour floral bag thrown over her shoulder that looked like it was filled to capacity. It also didn’t look like her style.

Shauna turned. The expression on her face was not nearly as happy as it had been the day before.

“I’d like to talk to you,” Regan said as she approached her.

“I can’t right now. We have a plane to catch.” Shauna said impatiently.

Tyler was on the other side of the cab, with the door open.

“It’ll just take a minute,” Regan said.

“We don’t have a minute!” Tyler said, trying to sound in control. “We’re very late already.”

Another taxi pulled up. Pamela started to get out. She was screaming, “That’s my bag!” Regan’s head turned for a split second. In that moment, Tyler and Shauna took off. They ran across Fifth Avenue toward Central Park.

Regan ran after them. Jack jumped out of his car and crossed Fifth Avenue in a flash. They both hoisted themselves over the low stone wall that bordered the park and resumed their chase.

Jack ran ahead in hot pursuit of Tyler while Regan raced after Shauna.

She’s a fast runner, Regan thought. I wish I didn’t have these boots on. But Shauna had the heavy bag. There must be some goodies in there, Regan mused, pushing her body as hard as she could.

People out for a Sunday morning in the park were astonished to see the wild chase of Shauna and Tyler happening right before their eyes. Many scurried away in fear, others took out their cameras.

With a burst of speed, Regan ran across the road full of bicyclists and joggers, caught up with Shauna, threw her arms around her from behind, and they both stumbled to the ground. Regan firmly placed her knee on Shauna’s back. Panting, she grabbed the bag that had fallen to the ground and unzipped it.

It was filled with magnificent sparkling jewelry.

“Were you going to sell this on the street in Santa Fe?” Regan asked sarcastically.

Shauna didn’t answer.

“Regan!” Jack called. He was approaching fast with two police officers. “We’ve got the groom. Now we have a pair of bracelets for the bride.”

“Allow me,” Regan said, as she took the handcuffs from Jack and snapped them on Shauna’s tiny wrists.