The Prince & The Showgirl by JoAnn Ross

Author:JoAnn Ross [Ross, JoAnn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-02-03T01:21:52+00:00

7

The following morning, Burke stood in the basement of the Montacroix Police Station, frowning down at the lifeless form that only last night had been a vibrant, attractive young woman.

"Yes, I recognize her," he said quietly. "She worked at the casino. She was a waitress in the Salon Prive."

"The casino manager claims never to have seen her," Caine informed him.

Burke shot him a quick, surprised look. "But that's impossible. Only last night this same woman brought Sabrina and me each a glass of champagne. She claimed it was from Dominique, to celebrate Sabrina's luck at the tables."

Caine's dark eyes narrowed. "What time would that have been?"

"After midnight," Burke answered promptly.

"That'd be a bit difficult," Drew said. He'd accompanied Burke to the old brick building. "Since Dominique went home early last night. She'd already left the casino by eleven-thirty."

Burke snapped to attention. "Impossible."

"Her story checks out," Caine said. "Apparently her mother was taken ill. The casino telephone operator logged the call at eleven-twenty."

"Her mother has a heart condition," Burke remembered. "That was the reason Dominique moved in with her last month. To ensure that she was being properly taken care of." His dark brow furrowed. "How is Madame Brasseur?"

"According to the doctors at the hospital, it was only a slight flutter. She was kept overnight for observation and released this morning."

"That, at least, is good news." Burke made a mental note to send the elderly woman flowers and have the casino manager instruct Dominique to take all the time she needed before returning to work. With pay, of course.

"And her daughter stayed by her side all night," Drew tacked on significantly.

"Then Dominique could not possibly have sent the champagne," Burke considered.

"Not unless she called the order in from the emergency room," Caine concurred. "And although the casino manager assured me that Dominique Brasseur is a model employee, she undoubtedly had something more important on her mind than ensuring her boss celebrated his guest's good fortune. Did you drink any of the champagne?"

As Burke remembered placing the untouched glasses on the passing tray, ice skimmed up his spine, reminding him of something Sabrina had said last night. A cat walking over her grave.

At this moment, looking down at the poor unfortunate woman laid out unceremoniously on the stainless steel table, he understood the American idiom perfectly.

"No. Sabrina was fatigued. She wished to return to the palace."

"Lucky for you," Drew murmured.

"Damn lucky," Caine concurred.

"I don't suppose you will be able to locate those glasses," Burke asked. What if one of the drinks—or both—had been doctored? The idea of Sabrina being harmed was unthinkable!

"We've already closed the casino, intending to go over the place with a fine-tooth comb," Caine said. "But I'm not holding out any hope."

Yet another unpalatable thought occurred to Burke. "I suppose my father will have to be notified."

"I can't see any way to keep him out of it," Caine agreed. "Not without endangering the rest of the family."

"Of course we cannot do that."

Although the sight chilled his blood, Burke looked

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