And yet…as she stared up at him…a shiver slid down her spine.
When I opened the door, it was as if the murderer was standing right before me. Ivy edged back toward her house.
“Ivy? What’s wrong?” Then Cameron laughed. “Why are you looking at me like I’m some kind of killer?”
Because I’m trying to figure out if you are. But she didn’t tell him that. Instead, she asked, “D-do all of the men in your organization wear these white masks?”
“Those are the ones we picked this year.” He shrugged. “I didn’t ride in the parade tonight, so I’m not in costume.”
Each year, she knew members switched up and different folks would ride in the floats so that all organization members would eventually have a chance to be in a parade. The man she’d seen that night—he’d been in a tux and a mask, just like Cameron’s. Because he’s in the same Mardi Gras society? Because he was one of the men not riding in their parade?
Cameron was in the Order of the Pharaohs, one of the oldest groups in Mobile. They’d paraded right before her group, kicking off the night. Their ball was already rolling, no doubt packed out and…
Is the killer there?
Because it made sense. Maybe he’d been planning to attend the ball with the woman in the gold gown. But he’d killed her instead. Would he now show up there, just to give himself some kind of alibi?
“Are we going to the ball?” Cameron asked. “Remember the plan, we hit your party, then my ball? Double the fun in one night?” When she didn’t respond, his face hardened. “Ivy, what’s happening?”
Trust him. She shouldn’t be afraid of Cameron, but she was. Because he was the right size and that mask…she thrust it back into his hands. “Where were you earlier tonight?”
He motioned behind him, and she saw the limo idling by the curb. At his cue, the door opened, and another man in a black tux waved toward her. Only he didn’t have on a mask.
Her twin brother smiled up at her. “Come on, Ivy!” Hugh yelled. “Don’t take all night.”
“I was with your brother,” Cameron said.
A woman’s laughter filled the air.
“And his date,” he added. “Shelly.” He leaned in closer to her. “Now why don’t you tell me what’s going on? Why the hell are you looking at me as if you don’t even know who I am?”
“I saw a murder tonight,” she whispered.
“What?”
Order of the Pharaohs. “And I want to find that killer.” She spun on her heel. “Give me five minutes.”
She had a ball to attend.
Because the killer might be there…and if he is, I want to find him.
***
Ivy DuLane was trouble. Always had been, for as long as he could remember.
Did she really think no one would notice her? The damn woman couldn’t go any place without being noticed.
Bennett put his hands on his hips and glared up at the escalator. Its occupants were slowly descending to the ground level of the convention center, a line of women in their designer dresses and men in their tuxes—with tails. The men had perfectly knotted bow ties. The women had dresses that fit like gloves.
And right in the middle of that crush, wearing a green gown with a slit that exposed far too much of her gorgeous leg…was Ivy.
She was supposed to be home, safe!
Instead, she was walking right into danger, and damn if the woman wasn’t on the arm of a bozo wearing a white mask. A mask that far too many other men at that ball were also wearing.
As soon as she reached the ground level, Bennett stalked right toward her. Fury pumped through him. Did she think this was all some kind of game? The woman was crazy, way out of her league.
He stepped into her path.
Her eyes widened. Eyes now lined with shadow and mascara. Eyes that looked even darker than he remembered.
“Hey, buddy,” the guy in the mask began. “You need to step—”
“Cameron,” she said smoothly, “you remember Bennett Morgan.”
Cameron? Oh, hell, not Cameron Wilde.
“Ben?” Cameron’s golden eyes glinted behind his mask. “Almost didn’t recognize you, buddy!”
I’m not the one wearing a mask. And I am not even close to being your buddy.
Cameron slapped his hand on Bennett’s shoulder. “It’s been too long.”
Actually, Bennett rather thought it hadn’t been long enough. “She shouldn’t be here.”
Over their shoulder, he spotted the other couple. Ivy’s twin brother Hugh and a curvy redhead. Hugh didn’t look overly happy to see him. Not surprising, really. Hugh had once ordered him to stay the hell away from his sister.
Bennett had stayed away, for a time.
But he was back, and everything was about to change.
He reached for Ivy’s hand. “When I send you home with police protection, you’re supposed to stay home.” He walked right around to the other escalator—the one that would take her back up to the second level and away from the crush of people. “You’re not supposed to just stroll in here and—”