Femme Faux Fatale by Susan Laine

Author:Susan Laine [Laine, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-380-0
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2018-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

CAIN stared, dumbfounded. “Come again?”

Sheridan spoke slowly, perhaps to give Cain the time to acclimatize. “You see, Mr. Noble, there are not one but two Auguste Rodin statuettes: the Inamorata in Sepia, a female figurine… and the Inamorato in Sienna, its companion male figurine. They’re both made of wood, merely different types of wood, with slight variations in color.”

Cain’s head spun. He felt feverish and dizzy. The case had suddenly transformed into an endless bog of false leads, gruesome murders, and individuals wearing masks and costumes as if the world were their own never-ending masquerade ball, a playground for mimics. And Cain had only this soggy swamp beneath his feet.

“I’m terribly sorry to muddy the waters like this,” Sheridan murmured apologetically, as if reading Cain’s mind. “I’m sure you can imagine my surprise at learning this about my wife.”

“Wait. Let me get this straight, pardon the pun. Are you saying Camille married you ’cause of these Rodin statuettes?”

Sheridan straightened up with conviction and nodded firmly. “Yes, I believe so. I made the mistake of confronting her about the other statuette she had.”

“Where’d she get hers?”

“Camille told me it was an old family heirloom from Germany. Through her contacts, she’d heard about another statuette but missed its sale in France.”

“And she tracked you down?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t Camille simply make off with your statuette during the early days of you two dating? Why marry you?”

Sheridan grinned then, a cocky gesture after all the brooding. “Because I’d hidden it long ago. She couldn’t and can’t find it. It’s not at the mansion, which I bought with Camille.”

“Camille said it was, that you kept it by your nightstand.” Cain glanced at Riley. “Actually he told me that, while he was acting the role of Camille.”

Sheridan chuckled drearily. “Yes, I had a hunch. Riley’s smart. He saw through Camille’s disguise the first time he met her and warned me not to trust her.”

“Did he now?” Cain studied Riley more carefully. Having slept with the man twice wasn’t enough of a character reference.

Riley glowered at him. “When Sherry went missing, I came to you because I suspected that the Rodin piece had something to do with it. I’d heard through the grapevine that Camille was making inquiries about it but not about Sherry’s whereabouts.”

“When did you learn she was hiding in this hotel?” Cain asked through gritted teeth.

Riley worried his bottom lip. “Before you came to meet me at the club, before I went onstage. Honoré told me. Sherry had confided in him, concerned that if she contacted me directly, I would accidentally betray her location to anyone searching for her.”

Whether Riley was being honest this time, Cain hesitated to take his word for it. Too many lies had been spoken, too many hours spent in disguise, too many mysteries withheld. He said nothing out loud, though. No point.

The last bit made sense, though. Cain suspected they were all being watched. It had been prudent of Sheridan to take precautions to shield her secret placement.

Sheridan went on.

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