Free The Mystery of the Claddagh Rings by Kallie Lane Page A

wanted. She unzipped her purse, pulling out her wallet. “I’ve given you everything, except for my money and credit cards. Here, that’s all I’ve got.”
    “Shit, lady, now you’re really pissing me off!” He waved his weapon in her face, angling it sideways.
    She mouthed a silent prayer, and a miracle happened. A car roared up the drive. Her attacker sprinted for the trees. The vehicle screeched to a halt beside her.
    Her financial backer angled out from behind the wheel. “Who the hell was that?”
    “I d-don’t know.” God, she had to pull herself together or he would think her a complete fool. “The idiot tried to r-rob me.”
    He touched her elbow. “Are you all right?”
    “Yeah, I’m good.” Fin breathed deep, settling her nerves. This was their night to celebrate the new restaurant and partnership. She refused to let some fool with a gun ruin it for them. “I’ll follow you to the club so we can have that drink.”
    “Fin, maybe you should contact the police first.”
    “And tell them what?” No, she wanted to forget the whole thing. She scooped up her jewellery, money, and credit cards instead. “The guy is long gone. Besides, nothing was stolen.”
    “Still, you should report it.”
    “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Let’s toast our new venture first, and then I’ll speak to the cops.”
    He studied her for a moment, clearly not happy with her decision. But, he didn’t push it. “Deal, but make sure you stop by the station on your way home tonight.

Chapter One
    Fin drove through the gates of her former home, still a bit rattled after the attempted robbery last night. The cops had taken her statement, but didn’t hold out much hope they would find the creep who had attacked her. Apparently, he was either new to the area or just passing through, and not someone they recognized. She’d bought pepper spray after leaving the police station. If some nut job ever approached her again, she would defend herself. That was her right. She pushed the incident out of her mind, determined to focus on the upcoming visit with her mother instead.
    The Cape Cod mansion looked the same as she remembered. Overlooking Nantucket Sound, it stood alongside the shore, within walking distance from the Kennedy’s Hyannis Port Compound.
    Taking a breath, she stared at the rambling white cottage with the gray shutters and roof, its four brick chimneys standing like sentinels. She remembered seals sunning themselves on the beaches here, watching horseshoe crabs scuttle, and searching for sand dollars and starfish as a child. Carefree moments meant to be cherished, the uglier ones left in the past. Today was her first visit back since leaving for college ten years ago, preferring her little townhouse in Boston to the hoopla surrounding her celebrity mother.
    But family was family, and sometimes sacrifices had to be made. The famous—although infamous might be a better word—movie star and singer, Poppy, aka her mother, needed her help. Fin had no idea why.
    Like Madonna and Cher, Poppy didn’t have a last name. What she did have was the ability to whip her fans into a frenzy through abhorrent behaviour, her stints in rehab, and a string of exes almost half her age. Fin had never understood why her mother needed bad press to keep her career alive. Not when she had incredible Oscar and Grammy winning talent.
    Poppy was on top of the world on a good day. On a bad day…well, Fin didn’t like to think about those. Too many childhood memories steeped in nightmarish scenes of booze, drugs, and abusive men. Which was the reason Fin cancelled her ski trip to Whistler. Poppy was back in residence for the holidays and hadn’t come alone. Soon-to-be-husband number five stood waiting in the wings for a Christmas wedding. The knowledge weighed heavy on Fin’s heart.
    She braked to a stop in the driveway and hopped out of her SUV. Enjoying a quiet moment before facing her mother, she