Free Deadly Décor (A Caprice De Luca Mystery) by Karen Rose Smith Page A

with their children . . . her other pregnancies. “I don’t know why Joe won’t tell me. Maybe he’s having an affair.” Her voice caught on the word.
    Most of all, Caprice wanted to wrap her arms around Bella. But she had the feeling her sister would push her away. Bella was trying to be strong and not break down. Affection could make her break down, whereas anger and resentment could very well shore her up.
    “So exactly what is his alibi? What’s he telling Grant?”
    This time Bella’s gaze swerved toward the kitchen and she sighed. “He says he went for a drive. But he also says he didn’t stop anywhere and that he doubts if anyone saw him.” She took Caprice’s arm and pulled her a little bit farther down the hall. “I found something, though.”
    Maybe they were going to get somewhere. “What?”
    “You suggested I go through his pockets, so that’s what I did. I found an e-mail coupon from Hollywood Casino. It was sent to his work address.”
    North of Harrisburg, the casino was a playground for senior citizens who had a penchant for slot machines, as well as for more serious gamblers who headed for the poker room and the blackjack tables. The casino was part of a complex that included Penn National Race Course.
    “Have you ever gone there with him?” she asked.
    “We drove up there a couple of times after the casino was added to the track. But that was a long time ago, and we haven’t been back. At least I haven’t.”
    But possibly Joe had.
    Bella’s eyes were so troubled because she’d obviously been living with that realization since she’d found the coupon. “I looked through the top dresser drawer too, and his underwear drawer. But I didn’t find anything else. I write all the checks for the bills, and I pay our credit cards online. There haven’t been any strange charges. But . . .” She sighed again. “I’m not naive. He could have a credit card I don’t know about. I have a couple that he doesn’t know about.”
    So much for one hundred percent disclosure in marriage, Caprice thought. When had Bella and Joe’s communication started to break down? Or maybe it had never been built on a solid foundation from the beginning. Was an unexpected pregnancy ever a good foundation to marry? She supposed it could be if two people really loved each other, if those two people were really ready to get married. Had Bella and Joe been ready to get married?
    Caprice didn’t know if she was helping the cause of their marriage or just helping the cause of the investigation when she asked, “Does Joe have any place else he spends a lot of time . . . where he might stash something?”
    “Like what?”
    “I don’t know. Anything he wouldn’t want you to see.”
    “I can check the top shelf of the bedroom closet. The kids couldn’t reach that if he was worried about them finding a secret stash. The only other place might be . . .” She thought about it. “Possibly the garage. I never go in the garage unless I’m getting into the car or out of it. I suppose he could have a strongbox on his tool shelf that I don’t know about.”
    “If it’s a strongbox, you won’t be able to open it.”
    “That depends. I’m good with a hairpin.”
    All at once, Caprice was looking at her sister in a new light. Maybe she wasn’t all just pretty curls and perfume. Maybe because Joe was rigid and somewhat controlling, she’d defiantly adapted to her life with skills Caprice didn’t know she had. On the other hand, she might have also learned to lie a little too often. Caprice really didn’t want to think that. There was a big difference between little white lies and monumental ones.
    “Have you and Joe had problems only since you told him you’re pregnant, or did they start before that?”
    “Every marriage has problems,” Bella said, defensive again. “Even Mom and Dad don’t always get along.”
    “But they always make up,” Caprice reminded Bella, knowing it was true.
    Yes, their parents