Heart Wounds (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 2) by Linsey Lanier

Author:Linsey Lanier [Lanier, Linsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Felicity Books
Published: 2014-06-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Miranda watched Lady Davinia’s lips go tight with annoyance as she studied her watch before glancing anxiously around the restaurant. “Thirty-five minutes. I can’t imagine what’s gotten into Gabrielle.”

The waiter came by with the teapot and she shook her head.

He nodded but looked annoyed.

Davinia speed dialed her phone for about the fifth time and held it to her ear. After a few moments she shook her head. “Still going to voicemail.”

Miranda tapped her foot and eyed the emptying café. Someone was going to kick them out of here pretty soon.

She took a deep breath. “Why don’t we try to go look for her?”

Davinia considered that a moment. “Do you think we can find her?”

Miranda shrugged. “She said she was going around the corner. Can’t be far.” She hoped.

“Very well.” Davinia paid the bill, leaving Gabrielle’s uneaten cake and the two of them headed back out to the street.

They picked their way over the cobblestones, past shoppers, bike riders, an iron barrier filled with flowers. At last, they reached the spot where Gabrielle had parked her white Mercedes. A red Peugeot sat in its place.

Lady Davinia uttered a dignified moan. “This was where we parked, wasn’t it?”

“If not exactly here, it was near here. I don’t see a white Mercedes anywhere.”

“She drove off somewhere.” Davinia sounded like a lost child. A stately, well-mannered one, but still lost.

Miranda chewed her lip. This wasn’t good. It had all the earmarks of foul play. But wasn’t she supposed to be the victim of some devious plot here? Maybe she’d had it all wrong. Anyway with someone as fickle as Gabrielle, for all they knew, she was back at Selfridges trying on more dresses.

She huffed out a breath. “Let’s keep looking.”

They plowed across the street and trudged down the next sidewalk. Miranda was glad this block had normal cement rather than the cobblestone. They marched under multicolored flags waving overhead, past quaint bistros with colorful awnings, through outdoor cafes where people sat, having their tea under umbrellas.

Miranda eyed the patrons, peered into the store windows, especially the dress store window. But she didn’t see Gabrielle Eaton’s red-gold curls anywhere.

The sky was clouding over and the temperature was dropping. Miranda wished for a coat and hoped it wouldn't rain. Especially now that she had Lady Davinia to take care of. The aristocrat might melt in a downpour.

They stepped off another curb to cross the next street.

Davinia looked up at the sky. “Our brollies are in the car, of course.” She sounded like she wanted to curse. When they reached the opposite corner she came to a halt and Miranda saw the strain on her face.

“Perhaps we should ring the police?” The woman was losing her nerve.

Miranda folded her arms and thought about it. She wasn’t eager to have Inspector Wample or one of his ilk involved in this hunt. What if Gabrielle was off chatting with a friend somewhere like she’d said? It would be embarrassing.

But she knew Davinia was more worried than she showed. “I’ll call Parker,” she said at last, hoping that would satisfy her.

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