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“And do you promise to live together in contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future?”
They both looked taken aback, but Palmer said, “Yes, I do,” his voice strong, and Maria said, “Yes, I do, too.”
“Then I now pronounce you man and wife,” Carpenter said, his voice ringing out.
“You can do that?” Maria said. “Just like that?”
“Yes, I can,” Carpenter said. “Do you want to kiss the bride, Palmer?”
“Yes, I do,” Palmer said, and kissed Maria. Agnes looked at Lisa Livia, who was crying.
“Did you hear what my daughter said about me?” Lisa Livia said. “Yes, I did,” Agnes said, putting her arm around her. “Damn fine wedding.”
“Damn fine minister, too,” Lisa Livia said, sobbing. “Tip him well for the ceremony,” Agnes said, “as only you can,” and turned to see how Brenda was taking it. Brenda was gone.
Shane had been so busy watching Casey Dean that he missed what happened in the gazebo, although it was evidently good because people applauded and Maria and Palmer came down the aisle looking like they were in love again, and Agnes was up in the gazebo kissing Carpenter, which meant Carpenter had probably saved the day. You can count on Carpenter, he thought, but his focus was already back on Casey Dean.
He pulled out Abigail’s cell phone with one hand as he began to roll the trunk down the dock.
“Hey, Princess,” Shane said when Casey Dean answered. “Come join me. I’ve got the money.”
“Where’s my sister?”
“One thing at a time,” Shane said.
“Fuck you.”
“Funny, that’s what Abigail tried to do.” Shane turned the phone off. He saw she was coming toward the dock, despite her outrage. He could see Agnes now talking to Xavier as they headed with the wedding guests for the reception in the barn.
Shane rolled the trunk down the gangplank and onto the floating dock. He looked out at the boat and saw the shadowy figures on the bridge. He punched in speed-dial 2 on his phone.
Wilson answered on the first ring. “Yes?”
“I’ve got Casey Dean.”
There was a slight pause. “Terminated?”
“No, she’s coming this way right now. I can deliver her to you for questioning.”
“All right.”
“And I have the five million.”
There was a short silence. “All right. I’ll be there in a minute.”
The phone went dead.
No “Atta-boy, good job.”
No “You mean Frankie had the five mil?”
No “Wow, you mean Casey Dean’s female?”
No shit, Shane thought.
Casey Dean arrived, leading with a large-caliber automatic pistol that was aimed right between his eyes. “Shane. Nice to meet you again. Come here often?” She sounded tough, but Shane could tell she was off-balance in more ways than one as she came down the metal ramp, keeping the gun pointed at him.
“I plan on it.” Shane watched as she reached the bottom, easily recognizing the blond princess from the bar, now that she’d lost the dark wig. “So you’re Casey Dean.”
