The Wrong Man

By Lindasue Flores

Twenty-five-year-old Victoria Roberts has a bright future ahead, one that is filled with possibility. Her first year as an elementary school teacher was rewarded with a new teaching contract, and she is planning the wedding of her dreams and a wonderful, romantic Caribbean honeymoon cruise with her soon-to-be husband, Rene. Life is good.

But behind all the promises of happily ever after, a dark storm brews in the young brides future. Renes life is cloaked in secrecy, and Victoria is too in love to acknowledge the red flags. It seems that Rene and an accomplice are secretly plotting her death, and his wedding present to himself is a million-dollar life insurance policy on his new bride. Rene has carefully planned out every step in order to get his hands on the insurance money. Unknown to Victoria, her groom has no intentions of spending even one night with her on the cruise.

In one heartbreaking moment of discovery, Victoria learns the truth about her fianc. With the help of Todd Morgan, a man she meets while boarding the ship, she plans her escape. But even if she has evaded Renes plans for her on the cruise, will she be able to escape his revenge?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781458211347

Lindasue Flores

Lindasue Flores is an avid reader who loves young adult and new adult literature. A naturalist, she enjoys the ocean, mountains, and all living creatures in their natural habitats. She is a substitute high school teacher who lives in a logging town of western Washington State.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Dress Problems

Chapter 3

The Wedding

Chapter 4

Insurance Policy

Chapter 5

Casino Lounge

Chapter 6

Luggage Search

Chapter 7

Two More Days

Chapter 8

One More Day

Chapter 9

Disembarking

Chapter 10

Home Again

Chapter 11

Insurance Policy

Chapter 12

Tragedy

Chapter 13

Arson and Shopping

Chapter 14

Beginnings

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my husband for supporting me in my writing endeavors. He is usually my first critical reader, and provides me with a variety of good ideas. I would also like to thank my copy editor, John Snyder, who taught me a lot about voice. My law enforcement consultant was Dan Scott, and I appreciate his help. My friends have also been supportive and served as readers, giving me constructive ideas for improvement of the manuscript. Special thank you to Linda Barnes, Kim Howard, and Kaye Snyder for both being my friends, and early readers. I received critical information about the book from all of you. Thank you students at Shelton High School who have listened to excerpts and provided a new way of approaching the story. Finally, I would like to thank the professional people at Abbott Press for their patience with me. Abbott Press, you have done a beautiful job. Thank you all. Lindasue Flores

Chapter 1

Victoria Roberts stood on the front steps waving as the last of the busses disappeared down the road. Her watery eyes demonstrated a consuming loneliness. Wrapping her arms around herself to reduce her inner chill, she watched the last school bus leave. She turned, walking back up the five wide steps and into the brick-front school, walked past the office and went straight to the teacher’s lounge in hopes of finding her best friend, Susan. Victoria wasn’t in a mood to be confronted by the older teachers with their confidence and experience. She and her best friend, Susan just weren’t there yet.

Victoria was exhausted and emotionally drained. She plopped down on the old, lumpy, overstuffed couch. Out of habit, she ran her fingers under a seam that had split long ago. She’d never before noticed the condition of the worn out couch, or how the broken springs sunk down with the least bit of weight. The couch only added to Victoria’s dour mood. She patted the lumpy surface, understanding why someone had gotten rid of it. Everything seemed out of sorts. Plain and simple, she missed the kids already. Nothing felt right. Some of her kids, she’d never see again.

Susan came in, sitting next to Victoria, in the same dour mood. I thought I’d be glad to see the year ending, Susan said. But I’m not.

Victoria was comfortable discussing her feelings with Susan. They had both started their first year at the same time, and at this same school. They understood each other. Victoria knew Susan wouldn’t make fun of her, even if their ideas were different. That’s just how Susan was, and that’s why the two young women became best friends.

I don’t know what I thought it would be like seeing the last day of school. I’ve looked forward to this day, yet I’m sad now that it’s finally here. I guess I’ll just concentrate on my wedding, Victoria told Susan. Then, Victoria got the hiccups, and she grabbed some coffee and drank it down fast hoping they would stop. Susan said, Do you get the hiccups in class?

Only once in a while. Isn’t that a bear?

I would hate to worry about it happening during class.

The kids laugh, then go on with their work. I actually think it helps the kids see me as more human. During class, I turn around, pinch my nose, and hold my breath to get it stopped. I told the kids at the start of the year that my hiccups would show up now and then, but they would go away. That way, they would know it is something I can’t quite control.

Victoria got off the uncomfortable couch and poured a cup of coffee for each of them. The dark liquid was so black and strong it seemed to have its own kick. The only reason they ever drank it was that sipping the coffee helped them relax, and the following caffeine kick renewed their energy. They could then concentrate on the work ahead. Susan turned her head facing Victoria, Are you sure this wedding is what you want? I mean, just because Rene is so handsome, and fun on a date, doesn’t mean he’s good marriage material.

What are you trying to say?

You just don’t seem all that into getting married, Victoria, and I know that your family has been bugging you to get a ring on your finger, especially your grandmother. Are you sure they haven’t influenced you in some way? I mean, you guys have only known each other for four months. It’s what I call family pressure, instead of peer pressure Susan said, then smiled.

We’re getting married because we love each other, and not because of pressure from my family.

Okay, but I’m telling you, if he mistreats you in any way I’ll kick his white ass all the way back down to California. He won’t want to live in Salem, Oregon any longer.

Victoria looked at Susan, smiling as she asked, How do you know how white his ass is?

You’ve got a point. Shall we go shopping for your dress after we’re through here?

Victoria frowned. Rene Campbell, her fiancé, had planned a Caribbean cruise for their honeymoon, so they decided to economize on their wedding to make up the difference. Only Victoria’s family with Susan as her maid of honor would even be there. Rene had no family, and no one he could get for the best man, so Victoria’s brother was going to be the best man.

Meet me at my apartment at 6:00, Susan, okay? We’ll eat a bite, then go shopping. Supper’s on me. The two women rinsed out their cups, placing them upside down in the dish drain, and headed down opposite hallways, waving as they went. As they walked, the echo of their heels clicked with each step.

Victoria entered her classroom, glancing at the empty desks. Not one single sound greeted her as she looked around. Students were gone. Victoria had already made sure the desks were empty. Bits of paper were scattered around, littering the floor, and end of the year bulletin boards were still filled with student papers. She wasn’t sure where to start. The job appeared enormous. Everything had to be cleaned up, put away, and packed into boxes. Her own private books and materials had to be packed into boxes, and hauled to her tiny rental house. She could not imagine taking so much of it home.

Victoria walked to her desk and sat down, resting her hands on the cold metal top, mulling over the year. It had been different from what she’d thought it would be. Better, somehow. During the year, she’d become close to the kids and their parents.

Through the year, Victoria purchased an incredible amount of classroom books and materials. With her school loans amounting to $75,000, Victoria didn’t have much disposable income. She had only been able to afford rent on a small, one bedroom house. The kitchen-living room-eating area made one larger room, with the bathroom off of her bedroom. But it was hers. She loved her little house, and was comfortable there, even with pinched finances. She thought she’d have more to live on once she went to work; so when Rene asked Victoria to marry him, it seemed like an answer to her financial problems. Rene would pay half of their expenses, and she would pay the other half. Things would be better.

While Victoria worked cleaning up her classroom, she daydreamed about the evening Rene had proposed to her. Rene made reservations for them at the Starlight Inn, and arranged for flowers to be delivered to their table. He had even clued in the concierge ahead of time. He’d planned everything so they could have a romantic evening. Then he held her hand while he handed her the ring with his other hand. The memory of that night prompted her to glance at her ring. She had developed the habit of glancing at the ring several times a day, enjoying the sparkle. She turned the ring towards the light, watching the shine flashing on the opposite wall.

Her grandmother and parents were happy that she was getting married. They seemed to think she was still dependent on them, but I’m not, she said out loud to herself. I’m not. She had to get to work, and quit daydreaming, or she’d be at it all summer.

Victoria looked around the room again and glimpsed at her car in the parking lot, another thing she habitually did several times a day. Sunshine coming through the window made the room uncomfortably warm because the air conditioning had been turned off for the summer. She surveyed the things she had to pack up and take home, then realized she’d need boxes, so she went down the hall to the office. Do you guys have any boxes? she asked the secretary.

This time of year we don’t have any at all. Most of the teachers save up boxes from Christmas and during the year to use at the end of the year, the secretary said, with a smug look on her face that irritated Victoria.

Okay, then, why didn’t someone clue me in? The secretary gave her a weak smile, then told her to go to the back of a supermarket, or drive down an alley. You might find some boxes there, or if you can’t find any, you can buy some from the U-Haul place, or the office supply. They have sturdy ones with lids, and you can flatten them to reuse each year. She went back to her work without even glancing back at Victoria, or even waiting for an acknowledgement. Victoria had long since gotten the idea that the secretaries seemed to think teachers made so much money. This wasn’t the first time the woman had hinted to Victoria that she could just buy anything. Victoria groaned. Thank you, Ann.

She’d had to buy so much for her classroom, and now it looked like she’d have to buy boxes to haul those same things back home, just so she wouldn’t have to buy as much next year. Victoria had labeled everything she purchased with her own money for her room, and kept receipts so she wouldn’t have someone else claim them. More expenses seemed to keep popping up their ugly head.

Victoria didn’t know where to start the mind boggling job, except to get the boxes. She had no idea how many she’d need. She walked back down the empty hall and back to her classroom. The empty feel of the hallway added to her melancholy. Back in her room she pushed together four desks, making a square flat surface from the desk tops, and began piling her own materials on top. It took her a couple of hours to finish collecting her personal items. She glanced towards the pile of books, rulers, and bulletin board materials, amazed at the wide variety of items. She’d even bought a muffin tin to use for crafts. It surprised her to see how much she accumulated throughout the year.

After noticing it was almost five o’clock, Victoria decided to call it a day. She estimated that she’d need three boxes from the office supply. Then, she’d use the same boxes each year, as the secretary had suggested; she would not have to buy new ones for next year. The secretary had given her a good idea, if she only hadn’t acted so smug about it. She would simply consider the cost of the boxes a good investment.

She headed home to shower and change. Today she was going to buy her wedding dress, and suddenly her mood lifted as she thought of her wedding. Rene was so handsome, and polished, and he was good to her. She couldn’t imagine her good luck at having met him. He would be perfect for her, and she’d be free of the constant harassment from her family to get married. Two incomes would have to be better than one.

Victoria thought of the day they met. It had been at the book store, and she’d been sitting at a table reading a new children’s book and sipping coffee. Rene came up to her and asked her if he could sit at her table. They got to talking and ended up with Rene asking her for a date the very next day. They had been dating steadily now for four months, and Victoria had enjoyed every moment of it. They had fun together.

Rene had an air of mystery about him. Maybe that was one thing she liked. He worked from home, but he seemed to always be busy. He had said that working from home was one way to avoid the Salem traffic. Rene seemed to be as busy as Victoria, and she felt that she would have to reduce the amount of resources spent on her job. The problem was that her job took over ten hours a day and four or five on Saturday. Victoria hoped that, with experience, she could reduce that time. It would allow her to build on her relationship with Rene. Oh, well, she thought. All couples have things to work out. That’s why she’d delayed getting married until she had completed college, and was established in her job. She wasn’t exactly established in her job yet, but she’d at least completed one year, and signed a contract for another one.

Victoria went home and turned the key to open her door. Meeko, her cat, ran to her purring and rubbing against Victoria’s ankles. Meeko looked like a mottled gray ball of fur, and insisted Victoria pick him up immediately. She picked up the full-grown cat, nuzzling him under her chin, rubbing his soft fur against her own face with affection. Meeko purred even louder as the two cuddled each other. She carried him into the kitchen area and filled the empty water bowl, then opened a can of cat food, feeding him.

She watched as Meeko ate, and she thought of how she’d rescued him from the animal shelter. She loved him, and Meeko didn’t care whether she made more money or not, and he didn’t care how she looked. That’s what she liked about animals, she thought. Her little house hadn’t seemed as empty since adopting Meeko. She made a mental note to get a larger water bowl for him. He shouldn’t be running out of water, especially when it was as warm as it had been. Salem could get uncomfortably warm in summer.

Susan picked up Victoria in her car, and they went to a little bistro close to Victoria’s apartment. They discussed the dress while they ate. I think you should get a white dress, Victoria, Susan said. After all, you are a virgin and you will never be one again.

I just don’t want to spend that kind of money for a dress that will be worn only once, Susan. I mean, if we were having a big wedding, it would be different. But with just so few people, it seems a little unnecessary.

But what about what Rene would want?

Victoria thought about Susan’s question, then took a slow sip of her wine. Both of them had consumed way too much caffeine, and needed the wine to calm them down. She didn’t answer right away, but reached for her French Dip sandwich, dipping it in the sauce, squishing the small, dripping, bite; savoring the mixture of flavors. It was her favorite sandwich, and she loved the little bowl of succulent dip served with it. This Bistro made the best she’d ever eaten.

She took one bite, then told Susan, Rene was the one to suggest a quiet wedding with just a few people. It’s because he has no family to attend our wedding.

Vicky, everyone has at least some family. I don’t know why, but I think he’s lying about his family. Have you questioned him?

I love him. Why would I question him?

You’re way too naive, Victoria. There are too many things about Rene that just don’t add up.

"Susan, are you going shopping with me for my dress, or not? We can’t sit here all day discussing the good and bad qualities of Rene and get anywhere. Sometimes your mouth can be annoying.

At first, Susan looked at Victoria as if she wanted to say more, but she restrained herself, saying, Suit yourself. Let’s go! We can’t get anywhere sitting here chewing our cud. Victoria looked at her best friend, but made no comment. Susan was the type of person who just said what she thought, without trying to impress anyone. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad quality, but Victoria didn’t want to hear any more about Rene right now. They were on a quest to find the perfect dress.

They went from one store to another until Victoria’s feet were killing her. She’d forgotten to change her shoes while she was home. After they’d been to the more logical stores in Lancaster Mall, they left the mall, walking down Lancaster street, until they came to a small boutique that looked expensive. They had exhausted everything else in the general area, and they were tired, so they decided to go in. Let’s check it out. What have we got to lose? Victoria asked. It wasn’t really the type of store either Susan or Victoria normally chose for shopping, but it was for Victoria’s wedding; they really didn’t have time to go to Portland.

As they entered, a middle-aged woman approached them. Victoria glanced at Susan and they almost left, but Susan said, We’re looking for a wedding dress that can be used more than just once, like after the wedding. It’s a small wedding.

"I’ll bet we