Hitched

6

Luke Reilly was enjoying his Saturday. He had just played an early round of golf with a couple of his buddies who teased him about being the Father of the Bride. Getting in his car, he knew that he was going home to an empty house. He didn’t like that much but smiled at the thought of Regan and Nora picking up Regan’s dress and enjoying their day in the city with Kit. It was hard to believe his little girl was getting married. As he drove, a slight feeling of sadness came over him. To be expected, he thought. It’s natural at a time like this.

When he pulled into the driveway, he parked the car, hurried up the path, and unlocked the front door. The weather had suddenly taken an ominous turn, clouds had rolled in, and it started to rain.

Luke stepped inside and glanced at the family picture on the table in the front hall that was taken a couple of years ago at Christmastime. She takes after me, he thought. His hair was now silver, but Regan had clearly inherited her Black Irish looks from Luke. His eyes moved to the picture of Regan taken on her first communion day. She’d been so excited about that little white dress and veil, he remembered, and the anklets with the ruffled trim and patent leather shoes that completed the outfit.

She was standing in front of their fireplace with a big smile, clutching her prayer book, one of her front teeth missing.

Who knew? he thought. Who knew that she’d grow up and take on the task of tracking down criminals?

Next to the first communion picture was a photo of Regan and Jack taken right after they got engaged. They both looked so happy. If Luke had had a son, he would have wanted him to be just like Jack-responsible, smart, loving, with a good sense of humor. Now he’d have him as a son-in-law.

Life was good.

Luke had bought himself a new tux and, Luke being Luke, had picked it up two months ago. He didn’t know about Regan and Nora but he was ready for the wedding if they wanted to get married tomorrow.

I’ll see what I can dig up for lunch, he thought as he headed into the kitchen. There was plenty of food left over from the shower, and he’d put together a plate.

The house seemed so quiet, especially compared to the way it was last night. The phone on the kitchen wall rang. Luke raised his eyebrows. It’s never quiet around here for long, he thought. I should have savored the moment.

“Hello.”

“Is this the Reilly residence?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Is this the home of Regan Reilly, who is getting married next week in New York City?”

Luke frowned. “Who’s calling?”

“I’m calling from an engraving company. A friend of hers is sending her a very special present and wanted to have the date and time of the wedding engraved on the gift.”

“Wouldn’t the friend know that information?” Luke asked skeptically.

“Of course, but we can’t reach the friend, and our engraver is here now. We weren’t sure whether it was at 9 A.M. or 4 P.M. We can’t read the handwriting of the clerk who took the order and we just wanted to be sure of the exact time of the wedding.”

“Who’s the friend?” Luke asked.

“Ohhh,” the male’s voice said, sounding uncertain. “She really wanted this to be a surprise. It’s such an incredible gift.”

“Can I have your name and number?” Luke asked.

“If I could just confirm the time-”

“You can when I call you back.”

The person at the other end hung up.

Just as I thought, Luke mused as he replaced the phone in the receiver. Someone finds out about a wedding and figures that the bride’s parents’ house will be empty for several hours. So they scope out the situation, plan a break in, and hope that there are wedding presents around. If they’re lucky, good jewelry has been left out.

Nora got plenty of publicity and was often photographed wearing expensive earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, the whole works. She had said they should get someone to stay at the house while they’re gone next Saturday. Luke made a mental note to see if Nora had someone lined up for that.

Luke didn’t like the feeling that came over him. I gave this guy enough information even though I didn’t confirm the time of the wedding, Luke thought. Whoever was at the other end of the line could tell that this was the bride’s house. An owner of three funeral homes, Luke had seen plenty of trouble in his day. People often checked the obituary pages and burglarized the home of the bereaved while the funeral was taking place. You can’t get any lower than that, he thought.

Reaching into the refrigerator, Luke pulled out a bowl of what looked like chicken salad. I’ll get one of the guys from work to stay here all day on Saturday, he thought as he reached in the bread drawer for a roll. The Reillys had an alarm system, but Luke wanted someone he knew in the house.

The phone rang again. This time it was Nora.

“Hi, honey,” he said. “How’s it going?” He sat down at the table and listened to a Reader’s Digest version of what had happened. “That gown was expensive,” he joked halfheartedly. It wasn’t worth mentioning the phone call he’d just received. At least not now.

Luke flashed back to the picture of Regan in her first communion dress. She’d been so happy. Next week she was supposed to wear another beautiful white dress and veil. This time she’d be on Jack’s arm, and they’d be smiling together. It wasn’t fair that her dress had been stolen. My little girl, he thought.

“Tell Regan that she’ll look beautiful no matter what she wears,” Luke said, his voice a little husky.

“Jack already told her that. Alfred says he’ll make her another dress. But he’s in such a state that I don’t see how he’ll be able to get it done.”

“Maybe you should get a backup.”

Nora sighed. “It’s not that easy. We’ll figure it out. I just wanted to let you know what was going on. Regan is taking on this case. I tried to tell her not to when Alfred was out of earshot, but you know Regan. She’s determined. And Jack is busy with another bank robbery that happened less than an hour ago.”

These things come in threes, Luke thought as he looked around the kitchen and glanced at the back door. “You didn’t think it was going to be a typical week before the wedding with those two, did you?”

“No. But I didn’t expect this. Well, just as long as everyone is safe. That’s all that matters.”

“It certainly is,” Luke said as he glanced at the back door. He walked over and tested the lock. “It certainly is.”