Free Charming Lily by Fern Michaels Page B

would even listen to something like that. We played in the same sandbox when we were kids. I’d lay down my life for him. I thought he felt the same way about me. Obviously, he didn’t . . . doesn’t.”
    â€œDid Matt investigate Marcus Collins?” Lily asked carefully.
    â€œI don’t know, Lily. If he did, nothing filtered back to me. I have to make a decision here. We’re unveiling the new software four days from now. Do I go back and stand in the limelight, or do I stay here and hunt for my friend? We know he made it this far because of Gracie, so it’s logical to start the search here.”
    Lily shrugged. “I think you were right, and we should call the police. Maybe even the FBI.”
    â€œJesus, God, no! Matt would have a fit if we did that. The place will be swarming with agents, cops, and who the hell knows who else. That’s when things could really get skewed. I say we try to do this ourselves. Marcus is back in the New York office. He can handle everything. He knows how Matt feels about this kind of thing. It will be interesting to see if anything is leaked.”
    â€œWhy? You’re implying that Matt was kidnapped. That is what you’re saying, isn’t it?” Lily demanded
    â€œYes. No. I don’t know, Lily. I’m no sleuth. It could be as simple as Matt being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or, it could be something more serious. I’m like a duck out of water. I’m having a hard time getting past the idea that Matt could think I would betray him and the company.”
    â€œMaybe that’s what he wanted you to think, Dennis. Do not ever make the mistake of thinking Matt is a fool. He isn’t. Where his business is concerned, he’s right there. It’s all in his head. I know because he talks in his sleep. Maybe it was just a show to throw anyone else off the track. For instance, let’s just say it was Marcus he was suspicious of. He wouldn’t want Marcus to know, so he picked you. Unlikely choice since you’ve been friends all your lives. It makes sense, doesn’t it, Sadie?” Lily muttered.
    â€œIt makes a whole lot of sense. Matt loved you . . . damn, we have to stop talking in the past tense. Matt loves you like you are his brother. He’s told me that hundreds of times. Tell us about Marcus,” Sadie pleaded.
    â€œFor starters, Gracie hates Marcus. She snarls at his wife, too. Betsy is high-maintenance. That means she likes expensive things. Marcus has a house in the Hamptons that’s worth seven or eight million. He owns a big boat. He calls it a yacht. I don’t know anything about boats. Every year they go to Europe for a month with the kids in the summer. They go again to Switzerland in the winter, too. Usually around the holidays. Marcus loves to ski. He drives a Porsche, and his wife drives a Benz. His kids go to fancy private schools. Betsy sports a lot of pricey jewelry. They have a ritzy apartment at the Dakota with a live-in housekeeper and nanny. Marcus makes good money, but then so do I. I always have the feeling he wants more. How many houses does one person need? How many cars? He says he likes Matt. Maybe he does, and maybe he doesn’t. I see his envy, his distaste at the way Matt thumbs his nose at the establishment and the way he dresses. I’m trying to be fair where Marcus is concerned, but I don’t like the son of a bitch.”
    Lily leaned back trying to absorb everything she’d just heard. She felt like crying and didn’t know why. She continued to stroke Gracie’s head as she played with the Wish Keeper around her neck. Suddenly, her head jolted forward and a vision flashed behind her eyelids. Matt’s Jaguar parked under a tree in the dark with only the moon for illumination. Her eyes snapped open.
    â€œDid it happen again, Lily?” Sadie asked, her voice full of concern. “Tell Dennis about how it happened