Removing the Mask: Bayou Bounty Hunters, #4

By Melanie Atkins

Cherry Anne Starr, a female bail bondsman, upset after her fiancé dumps her, soon learns that he wasn't the man he had claimed to be and that he had disappeared with much more than just her dignity. Suddenly penniless and about to be homeless, she turns to a prickly PI for help.

 

Levi Walker has his own secrets to hide. Secrets that entwine with Cherry's and almost get them both killed. Their search for the man who betrayed her leads them down a dark path and forces them to face the truth about themselves and each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melanie Atkins
• Release date: Apr 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393857013

Book preview

Other Books by Melanie Atkins

Bayou Bounty Hunters:

Protecting Her Heart

Sealing His Fate

Unlocking Her Secrets

Removing the Mask

New Orleans Detective Series:

Cherished Witness

Prime Suspect

Chosen Target

Beloved Captive

Unwilling Accomplice

Perfect Partner

Keller County Cops Series:

Marked for Murder

Shield of Valor

Quest for Justice

Deliverance from Evil

Written in Blood

Trained to Kill

Code of Vengeance

Single Titles & Novellas:

Haunted Memories

Skeleton Bayou

Flash Bang

Blood Rite

Voodoo Bones

Emily's Nightmare

Valentine Vendetta

Copyright © 2016 by Melanie Atkins

ISBN:

Published in the United States of America

First Publication Date: November 2016

Second Publication Date: April 15, 2020

Editor: Sarah Giese

Cover Artist: Jenifer Ranieri

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No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information retrieval and storage system without permission of the publisher. Ebooks are not transferrable, either in whole or in part. As the purchaser or otherwise lawful recipient of this ebook, you have the right to enjoy the novel on your own computer or other device. Further distribution, copying, sharing, gifting, or uploading is illegal and violates United States Copyright laws.  Pirating of ebooks is illegal. Criminal Copyright Infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, may be investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Names, Characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious situation. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, organizations, incidents, or persons living or dead are coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

Dedication

To my furry little feline muses. You know who you are.

Chapter One

Cherry, you know I can't talk about wedding plans at work, her fiancé snapped in her ear. How many times do I have to tell you? We'll talk logistics this weekend.

But you said—

I don't give a flying damn what I said, he bit out, his tone so strident she almost dropped the phone. I can't get into it right now.

Well, fine. Anger fired to life inside her, yet she somehow found the strength to tamp it down. Goodbye.

'Bye. The deep silence that followed told her Mike had already ended the call.

Resisting the urge to fling her phone against the wall, she lowered it from her ear and muttered a curse. What had him so riled up? He'd been acting different lately, sure, but he'd never bitten her head off like that.

What's the matter? Crystal Lynn Mayberry, one of the co-owners of Oopsie Bail Bonds, along with Cherry and their friend Addison Hawk, halted on her way out the door. Was that Mike?

Yeah, Cherry said, a crevice of uncertainty opening inside her heart. Said he didn't have time to talk.

Well, that's not like him.

Not usually, but— She broke off before she said too much and gnawed her lip. He snapped at me like I'm a criminal instead of the woman he's about to marry.

Well, that's a first for Mr. Smooth and Laid Back. Crystal's eyes gleamed with a combination of sorrow and amusement. Addie and I have been jealous of you since day one for landing such a handsome, even-tempered guy.

Well, he might be handsome, but you sure as heck don't need to be jealous. She blew out a weary sigh. He's just proven he's an ass.

Oh, honey, that's not true. Mike's a sweetheart.

Then what's gotten into him? Why'd he snap at me?

Maybe he's just having a bad day.

Maybe, Cherry said, although she didn't believe it.

The old Mike didn't have bad days. He was the only person she'd ever met who took life and its complexities in stride with a smile on his face. Even their discussions about wedding prep had been peaceful and in sync, even while deciding how much to spend, considering possible venues, and sharing ideas for their honeymoon.

Now, however...

Crystal smiled. I'm sure he'll get over it soon and apologize.

Hope so, 'cause The Mill just canceled on us. They have some sort of major electrical problem. Cherry told the warning bells going off in her head to shut the hell up and focused on her friend. That means we have to find another place to hold the reception.

Holy cow! Crystal exclaimed with a gasp. Your wedding is in less than a month.

I know. Tell me about it.

I'll be happy to help you look for another place if you want, at least until you can get Mike on board.

That would be great.

No problem. Her pal caught her hand, squeezed it, and gave her a reassuring smile. Best friends, right?

You bet. Thanks, Crystal. You're a peach. Releasing another weary sigh as her friend released her hand and left the office with a wave, Cherry sank into her chair and dropped her head into her hands. No matter what she did, the warning bells pealing inside her brain refused to quit.

She drew in another deep breath and pressed her fingers to her temples. Mike's gruffness, piled on top of the venue canceling their reception and the other little things that had bothered her lately, scared the hoo-ha out of her. Her fiancé had come across early on as being too good to be true, so much so that Cherry had almost bailed out of their relationship before they'd gotten started. Addie and Crystal had talked her down, but now, after his abrupt change of demeanor and her other questions, she wished she'd gone with her gut and run as far from Mike Petrovich as she could get.

The desk phone pealed before she could drag herself out of the morass of self-pity. She lifted her head.

Now, really? Just what I need. Irritation boiled inside her, and she eyed the silver handset with suspicion. Probably not Mike, after his earlier tirade. She did expect to hear from Addie soon, however, so she snatched up the handset and zeroed in on the display.

Bayou Bounty Hunters, Inc.

Ah. The firm she and the other Oopsie women liked to use whenever one of their clients jumped bail. She'd been waiting to hear from them, too, since one of their bounty hunters was currently on the trail of an alleged armed robber who had bolted before his trial. Cherry released a relieved breath and brought the phone to her ear.

Afternoon, Riley. Despite her exasperated state, she did her best to sound pleasant. I was hoping to hear from you today.

Hey, Cherry. We got him.

Who? Rodney Williams?

Yep. One of my men found him hiding in a storage building behind his sister's house over in Long Beach, after she swore she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him. Levi had to open a can of whoop-ass on the guy, but he got him. Riley chuckled. Williams told Levi his sister had hidden him, so he called LBPD and they sent a couple of officers to pick her up, too. She'll probably call you after she's arraigned.

Oh, yeah? Do you really think a judge will let her bond out after she aided and abetted a convicted felon on the lam?

Probably not, but I still wanted to give you a heads up.

I appreciate it.

You don't sound as sparkly as usual. Everything okay?

Sparkly? She quirked her lips. I don't think anyone's ever used that adjective to describe me. Ornery, maybe. Or loud and brassy. But never anything so, well... glittery.

"Maybe bubbly is a better word." He chuckled.

She barked a laugh. I'd like some bubbly right now, I'll tell you. Let's just say I'll be a happy camper when this day is over.

Sorry you're having a rough one. Levi made my day considerably better when he located your fugitive.

That definitely helps. A thought came to her, and she rubbed her brow. Listen... I've heard your firm does PI stuff, too. In addition to fugitive retrieval.

Yeah, we do. His voice carried a frown. What's up? You need us to investigate one of your clients?

No, not a client. It's... it's personal. She swallowed, hard. And private. I wouldn't want anybody else to know.

Not even Crystal and Addie?

Especially not them. She leaned back in her chair and blew out a frustrated breath. It's just... damn.

Take your time. It's okay.

No. No, it's not. A wave of guilt enveloped Cherry. Mike was her fiancé, so she should trust him. Sure, he'd stopped being his usual attentive self and had become evasive and touchy, but today was the first time he'd actually lost his temper with her. Why was she so upset? She lifted her chin. Never mind, okay? Forget I said anything.

Cherry, if you need me to check somebody out or—

I don't. She forced a laugh. I'm probably just jumping to conclusions, so let's just forget it.

Are you—

Yes, I'm sure, she broke in, shoving a lock of hair out of her face with one shaky hand. Please don't mention it again.

Okay, if that's what you want.

It is.

Fine, then. He coughed. I'd better go. Work to do, and all that.

Me, too, she lied. Thanks for rounding up our fugitive.

You're welcome.

Still swamped with guilt, she told him goodbye and hung up without giving him time to respond.

Suddenly filled with resolve, she extracted her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk and came to her feet. She and Mike needed a new venue for their reception. He might not be available to help her find one, but she could do a preliminary search on her own. First, however, she needed to grab some lunch, and that meant stopping by the ATM to grab some cash because the little sandwich shop she, Crystal, and Addie often frequented during the summer months didn't take debit or credit cards. Why, she didn't know.

Her mind whirred on her way to the bank. She'd have lunch at Donetta's, then return to the spots she and Mike had liked during their first search for a venue. Maybe one of them would be available.

Traffic was light, and before she knew it she sat in line at the ATM behind a silver sedan and a dark blue pickup truck. She checked her email on her phone while she waited. No word from Mike.

Stop it. He's busy. You can talk to him tonight.

The sedan moved up to the ATM, and the truck edged forward. Once its driver finished using the machine and left the lane, Cherry pulled up and stuck her debit card into the slot. She only needed ten dollars for lunch, but decided to get a little extra so she wouldn't have to come back to the bank soon.

Once she retrieved her card and clicked the amount of cash she wanted, the machine whirred but failed to dispense her money. Perplexed, she read the message that had popped up on the screen:

You have insufficient funds for this transaction.

Her mouth dropped open.

Insufficient funds? What the hell? I only want forty bucks.

She had way more than that in her checking account. Several thousand dollars more, to be exact. Something was wrong.

The man behind her honked his horn.

Oh, lay off! she exclaimed, still bowled over by message.

She considered checking her balance via the machine, but decided to go inside instead so she could straighten out the error.

The man honked again before she could roll up her window and drive off, and she resisted the urge to give him the finger.

Impatient bastard, Cherry snapped as she glanced at the jerk in her rearview mirror. He looked kind of like Mike. She shook her head and gritted her teeth. Damn it. Stop dwelling on him.

Nerves on edge, she chose a parking space near the door and ventured inside. She didn't have time for this. What a pain.

She paused just inside the door, but didn't have to wait long before a man offered to help her.

Thank you, she said, eager to get the problem straightened out.

He lowered himself into the faux-leather chair behind his desk, asked to see her identification, and then motioned for her to sit in one of two vinyl chairs across from him.

I don't know what might've happened, she chattered on, stopping only after she sat down and smoothed her hands along her black slacks. He pulled up her account and studied the screen. The look on his face made a knot form in the center of her chest.

His frown deepened before he jerked his gaze back at hers. Looks like you made a withdrawal earlier today, ma'am. Quite a hefty one, in fact. Around ten a.m. Over four thousand dollars.

Excuse me? She gaped at him. I didn't withdraw one red cent.

"Well, if you didn't do it, then the other person on the account must have. You currently have a balance of twenty-two dollars and thirty-five cents."

Mike? A shaft of dismay blasted through Cherry, accompanied by a sickening surge of nausea. Her fiancé had only been on her account for the past six weeks. Combining their finances before the wedding had seemed like a logical move, especially when a big conglomerate absorbed his bank and hiked fees. She gulped to keep from throwing up. He wouldn't do it without telling me. I-I know he wouldn't.

He must have, ma'am, if you didn't. He's the only other person with access to the account.

Couldn't there have been some kind of computer glitch? she fired back, grasping at straws. Or maybe someone else used the wrong account number while making a withdrawal. That's possible, isn't it?

Not if the teller helping them followed our security protocols requiring customers to produce identification. His scowl grew dark. I'll check with our people, but I doubt that happened, given the amount of the withdrawal. Our tellers take all precautions when handling large transactions.

I-I see. Another frightening thought struck Cherry, and she struggled to articulate it. Did Mike... will you please check the balance in our savings account? I added him to that one, too, because we're getting married in less than a month. Probably not the best idea, in hindsight, because that's where I've stashed my retirement savings until I can open an IRA, but I still—

Hang on. Let me check. He clicked the mouse.

Cherry doubted he'd need it, but she rattled off the account number. I should have almost eighty thousand in that one. I know I should've put it into a retirement account before now, but I've just been too busy.

That's all right Some people— He broke off, and his face paled. He looked at her. Ma'am, I hate to tell you this. But—

Sweet heaven. Did he withdraw money from that one, too? Her stomach clenched. That account contained the bulk of her savings, for now and for her retirement. If Mike had swiped all of it and disappeared, she was screwed. She'd already deposited her check for this month, but hadn't yet paid her rent; it was due tomorrow.

The bank clerk nodded reluctantly. He left five dollars in your checking account, and ten and change in savings.

Holy cow. What am I gonna do? A wave of helplessness washed over her. I can't pay my rent or buy gas or... or pay my other bills.

Why don't you call Mr. Petrovich and ask him about it? The man clicked the mouse again. I'm sure he had a reason for withdrawing that much cash. Maybe he wanted to surprise you.

Well, if so, he succeeded. Anger rushed in to fuel her anxiety. And you can bet I'm gonna call him, right after I call the police.

I'm afraid you have no recourse there, Ms. Starr.

What do you mean? She stared at him. He stole my money.

Both of your names are on the accounts. He looked at the screen. "Cherry Ann Starr or Mike L. Petrovich."

"So what? Most of the money was mine."

Not the way the accounts are set up, ma'am. With both names on it and only one signature required for withdrawal—

Are you telling me the police won't help me?

That's exactly what I'm saying. He frowned. I'm sorry, ma'am.

I'm sure you are. She snaked her hand into her purse and dug out her cell phone. Her fingers trembled as she unlocked it and pressed Mike's number. He'd damned well better answer, especially after the way he'd snapped at her before. If they could only talk...

The call went straight to voicemail.

Cherry's consternation grew. Doing her best to quell the nausea roiling through her stomach, she attempted one more call and got the same result. This time she left a message for Mike to call her back.

Son of a—

Have the two of you talked about maybe buying a house? the clerk asked, his unexpected question breaking into her train of thought. Perhaps he found the perfect place and wanted to surprise you.

He'd better not have bought any property without consulting me! Cherry bolted to her feet and glared down at the poor clerk, who flinched as if she'd slapped him.

Heads turned, and the man flushed ten shades of red.

Regretting having made a scene, Cherry swallowed back a surge of bile and lowered her voice. Sorry, sir. I-I'm just... upset.

That's perfectly understandable, he babbled, twisting in his chair like an unhappy schoolboy. Considering the circumstances.

Yes, but I shouldn't have shouted at you. It's not your fault. Her cheeks burned. She snatched up her purse. I appreciate your help.

No problem, Ms. Starr. He rose with a halfhearted smile and extended his hand. Good luck.

Thank you. She reluctantly gripped his fingers in a gesture of good will, a limp-fish experience at best, then stalked out of his office and exited the bank, her entire being blazing with fury.

How dare Mike do this to me!

Powered by indignation, she marched out the door. A warm burst of wind caught her blouse, and she angrily slapped it back down. By the time she climbed into her vehicle and buckled her seatbelt, the fury and exasperation rising inside her had reached a fever pitch.

She drew in a deep breath, fished her phone out of her purse, and called Mike again. Even after all that had happened, she expected him to pick up and joke around with her like he usually did.

No answer. Again. Damn him.

With one shaky hand, she pressed his work number. Maybe he was still there and was buried under paperwork. He'd blown her off for work earlier, after all. So maybe...

Administration, the man who answered said.

Cherry flinched. Not Mike. She swallowed. "May I please