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Marco leaned his head against Daniel’s shoulder and sobbed.
“Fine.” Daniel hugged Marco. “But you and Susana go to the hotel tonight. You stay in your honeymoon suite. I’m not letting this guy take your wedding night away from you. We’ll stay here with Marco as planned.”
“No problem.” Ray spoke first. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“Sergeant Martinez, why don’t you make the announcement to your friends and family out there that we’ll be interviewing them all.” Detective Cooper slapped his hat on his head. “We’ll try not to inconvenience them any longer than necessary.”
Samuel moved toward door. “Mis primoswon’t mind staying at all. There’s still plenty of food. We’d planned to have the band play all evening anyway.”
“We can use the dining room and kitchen for interviews—keep the living room as a base of operations.” Ray added. “I’ll let the catering people know.”
Everyone began to disperse. Daniel realized he was about to be sick. He swallowed hard. No good. “I’m right behind you guys—I’ll be right there.”
He turned and dashed down the hallway to the guest bathroom.
Punch and water were the only things in his stomach. He rinsed his mouth, furious with himself, when someone tapped on the door.
“Daniel!”
Nicole. Daniel toweled his face and stared in the mirror. He’d faced down plenty of bad guys over the years. Yet, he hesitated to open the door to his own wife. “Yeah.”
“Are you all right?”
He opened the door. “I’m fine.”
“We need to talk.” She frowned. Her hand flittered up as if to touch his face, then dropped. “You look . . . sick. Is it just Benny or—”
“What do you mean, just Benny? Benny is very important—”
“I didn’t mean that. Are you . . . physically sick?”
“I’m fine.”
“I’ve been married to you for sixteen years. I know when you’re sick.” She planted two long, slim fingers on his forehead. He shivered at her touch. “I thought so. You’re burning up. You have a fever.”
A kind of relief surged through him. If he were sick, he didn’t have to be so embarrassed. “It’s nothing.”
“You need to lie down. I’ll get you some Tylenol and make you some soup.”
“No. I’m not lying down. Not with Benny out there.” Daniel stopped. “And since when do you care if I’m sick? You kicked me out of my own house a year ago.”
Nicole’s creamy, white complexion stained red. “I’m trying to help you, Daniel. But that’s your problem. You never want help. Least of all from me.”
She turned to go. Daniel grabbed her wrist. She glanced back, her breathing ragged.
“No soup, but I’ll take the Tylenol.”
She jerked her arm free. Their gazes battled. “We need to talk. Soon.”
“Soon. I have to find Benny first.” He headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To get my gun.”
Chapter Five
“Please don’t put the tape back on my mouth. Please.” Benny cringed. The man loomed over him. Benny wasn’t a crybaby. “I won’t scream. I promise.”
