Under the Covers by Rita Herron Page B

Reese's cups?
    "I think he's in Mexico with Tony Milano," Victoria said.
    "How do you know?"
    "I have a friend on the force. Someone spotted Milano and a man fitting Lenny's description with him."
    "He did say he was going away with Tony," Abby admitted.
    Chelsea smiled wickedly. "Maybe they'll arrest both of them and put them in jail."
    A classic case for the psychology books—she'd married her own father.
    "I hope he stays out of the country until this publicity dies down," Abby said, thumbing a crumb from her chair and wishing she could brush the memory of Lenny's betrayal away as easily. "I'd hate for him to show up at one of my signings. Or at an interview."
    Victoria toyed with her spoon, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. "There's something else, Abby."
    Abby's heart sank. "What?"
    "What if Lenny was involved in Milano's scam?"
    Abby dropped her head forward in her hands. "Oh, my God. I hadn't even thought of that."
    "The police may want to question you."
    "I don't know if he was involved or not." Abby grabbed her sister's hand. "I swear, Victoria. He was so quiet those last few weeks, and he was traveling all the time."
    Victoria nodded, her voice grave. "I believe you. But once the police make the connection between Lenny and Milano, they may question you. And if you find anything in the house, any evidence about the investment scams or time-shares, you'll need to turn it over to them right away. I don't want you to get caught in the middle on some trumped-up charge of withholding evidence."
    Abby searched her memory banks for any mention of the time-share or any papers she might have seen involving Lenny's finances, but came up blank. It pained her to admit how gullible she'd been. "I can't think of anything, Victoria. You know Lenny claimed he was trying to get his photography business off the ground, so he really didn't contribute much financially." Another clue she should have seen.
    "Do you want to press charges?" Victoria asked. "We could sue him—"
    "But he doesn't have any money." Another foolish thing she'd done—paid his way while he was screwing Milano. Had he helped Milano steal from others, too? "Or if he does, he earned it illegally and kept it from me."
    The jukebox kicked on, the old country song, "Your Cheatin' Heart" blaring out.
    "There's a classic for you." The women exchanged tense looks.
    "Amen." Chelsea bit into another chip, smiling at a young blond waiter who walked by. "One reason I'm sworn to singlehood."
    "I know it's not much comfort, but at least you don't have to suffer through a messy divorce," Victoria offered. "And I'm glad no kids are involved. That makes everything even easier."
    Yes, except she had wanted children. "I know you're right. Things are complicated enough right now," Abby said. "Today one of those nosy reporters asked about my husband. What in the world will I do if they keep hounding me about him?"
    "You could tell them the truth," Chelsea suggested. "It's not your fault Lenny's gay. And they can't blame you for what he did."
    Victoria coughed. "Unfortunately, that's not true. I can cite at least a dozen cases in which innocent people have been wrongfully accused of crimes, and the trial has almost destroyed their lives."
    Abby gave her a withering look. "My publicist went ballistic when I mentioned it, too. She definitely doesn't want me to reveal the details. I still can't believe Lenny did this to me."
    Victoria shrugged. "I hate it, sis, but you can't let that slime ruin your success. Believe me, I've seen too many men do that, just when the woman they love starts making it big—" She cut herself off, obviously realizing her cynicism was coming through.
    "Yeah, wait till things settle down," Chelsea advised.
    Abby sipped her wine. Her sisters actually agreed—now she knew the world had flipped on its axis. "I wish I'd published this book under a pseudonym. Rainey said they actually have one author who's so shy they hired an actress to pose as her for