“To the tune of fifty grand, and on top of that, Daniels and another guy I talked to were both giving her money for her condo and her car.”
Silver laughed. “Both of ’em, huh?”
“She was some piece of work,” Garrett said.
Silver rubbed his face and thought about what Garrett was telling him. If all he said was true, and there was no reason to believe that it wasn’t, any one of the men she was involved with would have had a reason to kill Abril Arrington. “What about this banker guy? She get him to invest in something too?”
“Magazine. He didn’t say how much he’d given her.”
“You know, Garrett, this is all very interesting stuff, but how do you explain the fact that hours after your client finds out that her husband is banging this broad, she ends up dead? Coincidence? I don’t think so. But it’s worth checking out.”
“I know it is. So why don’t you drop by my office, and I’ll share what I have with you,” Garrett said and the two men parted company.
19
During the months leading up to the trial, Marcus and Panthea discreetly continued their illicit affair. Each weekend the lovers traveled separately to different U.S. cities. For her part, Panthea would have liked to go to the islands, but as a condition of her bail, she had to surrender her passport.
They spent a weekend in Marco Island, a recreational paradise located on one of the fabled Ten Thousand Islands located between Naples and the Florida Everglades, on southwest Florida's Gulf Coast. It was a place where visitors came to enjoy the subtropical climate and pristine beaches.
Marcus chose the spot because Marco Island was home to only sixteen thousand year-round residents and thirty-five thousand seasonal residents. Spots like that would lessen the chances that they’d be seen together.
They stayed at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, which featured five miles of white sand beaches, a spa and fitness center, pool and hot tub as well as rooftop gardens.
Marcus booked a one-bedroom suite furnished in rich wood, lavish marble showers, floor-to-ceiling glass doors which led to a private balcony with full table and chairs. The resort also offered its guests maid service twice daily and twenty-four hour concierge service, of course.
On Saturday afternoon, Marcus and Panthea ate lunch at the beach. They dined on New York strip steaks and grilled salmon served with mixed greens. They also drank way too many French Kisses—a drink made with Grey Goose, Chambord, Melon Liquor and Sweet Vermouth.
While they enjoyed their meals, Marcus noticed a very attractive woman with nice sized breasts getting some sun. Panthea observed his interest in the woman and decided to have a little fun.
“You like that woman, don’t you, Marcus?” she asked and pointed to the woman.
“What woman?” Marcus asked, without taking his eyes off of the woman.
Panthea smiled at Marcus. “The one you’re staring at.”
“Was I staring?”
“Yes, Marcus, you are staring at the woman. But you don’t have to worry. It’s all right. A man is supposed to look at a beautiful woman like that,” Panthea said and ran her hand across his chest. “You want her, don’t you?”
“No,” Marcus said quickly.
“Come on, Marcus, be honest.”
“No,” Marcus said and leaned close to Panthea. “I’m here with you,” he said and kissed her on the cheek.
“I understand that, Marcus. But if you were here by yourself. Or better yet, if you knew I wouldn’t get mad at you, would you want her?”
Marcus sat back in his chair looking curiously at the playful look on Panthea’s face and then at the woman, who by that time had just taken off her bikini top. He looked at Panthea again. She was looking at the woman too. “Yes, Panthea. I want her.”
Panthea turned slowly toward Marcus. “Whatever Marcus wants, Marcus gets,” she said and stood up. She kissed Marcus on the lips. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Marcus asked as she walked away without answering.
Marcus watched as Panthea walked over and sit down next to the woman. He looked on as the two talked, then Panthea pointed at Marcus, and he wondered what she was telling the woman. The woman glanced at Marcus, smiled and waved to him before turning her attention back to Panthea.
The woman began smiling and laughing at whatever Panthea was telling her, so Marcus figured it was just Panthea having fun, and it was no big deal. Then the expression on the woman’s face changed, and she looked over at Marcus again.
Slowly the woman’s expression began to soften and turned into a smile. The woman said something else to Panthea, and she said a few more words before she got up and returned to the table.