Page 74 of Absinthe Minded

“I’ll dig up a better image. I’m sure the cruise line has promo material or employee badges.”

“Maybe it’s best you don’t.” I turned my attention back to the file. The credit report and bankruptcy filing surprised me, but the next piece of paper made my stomach turn. “She’s married?”

“Was married.” Shanna lowered her voice. “Her husband committed suicide about eighteen months ago.”

I did some fast math. I blew out a breath. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things, but the idea of Gabe sleeping with a married woman made my skin crawl. “Before she got pregnant. Gabe said they dated a few times. You don’t think the suicide had anything to do with him?”

“There’s more.” Shanna perked up. “On a whim, I cross checked the Marchionni files with Chantal’s.”

“I know Papa Joe suspected her of having something to do with the accident.”

“Right, and I think I know why. I got a hit on B.M.’s husband.”

I had trouble keeping up with Shanna, but I thought I had the gist of it. “What does Chantal’s husband have to do with the Marchionnis?”

“Martin Sinclair accused Papa Joe of sabotaging his business in order to force him to sell. A month later, Marchionni Corporation closed on his property, and Martin killed himself.” Shanna sounded like she had hit the Lotto.

“Wait.” I pressed my hand to my stomach to calm the churning.

Shanna didn’t wait. She barreled on. “It gets better. Two months later, Chantal filed for bankruptcy.”

I put the pieces together, but they didn’t add up. “Why did Chantal file bankruptcy? Wouldn’t the cash from the sale…”

“Looks like it wasn’t enough.” Shanna shrugged. “Or maybe they screwed her over?”

“Either way, why would Chantal get involved with a Marchionni after that?” Something told me I didn’t want to know the answer. I stood and paced. “Her husband dies, somehow leaving her broke, and she files bankruptcy. Then she hooks up with Gabe and gets pregnant. Is this all part of a bigger plan?”

“Maybe she wanted proof of wrongdoing and thought Gabe was an easy target?”

“Or she’s after his money, like Justin.” I sank onto the sofa. “I’m going to be sick.”

Shanna put her hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know this is a lot to take in.”

“I need to talk to Gabe. He doesn’t know she used him.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not sure of anything, but something isn’t right.”

“This could end badly for Gabe. Chantal obviously needs money, which Gabe has warehouses of. Has he filed anything to establish legal paternity?” Shanna chewed her lower lip.

“I don’t know.”

“Find out.” She stood. “I have to run, but I’ll check in tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Ella. No matter how this all came to be, the baby didn’t deserve to be treated like a bargaining chip.

By the afternoon, I’d worked myself into such a funk I couldn’t unravel the tangle of thoughts wadded up in my head.

Needing cake and needing it bad, I went straight for the kitchen. The store-bought variety never calmed my nerves. In times like these, only my grandmother’s doublefudge delightrecipe would do the trick.

Zach came home from school first. He took one look at the contents of the counter and went to the pantry for the powdered sugar and cocoa. “Bad day?”

I wiped my eyes on the back of my hand. “I’ve had better. Are you okay with what happened in court today?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He grinned, but I had a feeling he’d done it for my benefit.

“Need extra Xbox time?” While I had a million questions, I refused to put him in the middle of the fight between me and his grandparents.

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