Wicked and the Beast Read online

  Wicked and the Beast:

  Paranormal in Manhattan Mystery:

  Book 15

  By Lotta Smith

  Copyright

  Wicked and the Beast © 2018 Lotta Smith.

  Cover copyright 2018 Molly Burton

  Editing and proofreading: Hot Tree Editing

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without express written permission from the author/and publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents and places are the products of the author’s imagination, and are used fictitiously. None of the characters in this book is based on an actual person. Any resemblance to locales, actual events, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and an unintentional.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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  Table of Content

  GET WHOEVER FINDS WICKED FOR FREE!

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  EPILOGUE

  Sneak Peek: Wicked and the Beast

  About the author

  PROLOGUE

  “Guess what? I’m in the middle of a really, really serious crime!” Julie Grey declared, spreading her arms like a pair of wings. Sporting rosy cheeks, she pushed her flat chest forward and stood as tall as her four feet could stretch. With her perfect posture, probably acquired from ballet lessons, she looked so proud and confident, and I was almost jealous.

  I was tempted to say, “Again?” but I didn’t.

  Julie, the daughter of Rick’s longtime friends Drs. Meredith and Benjamin Grey, had been kidnapped and held hostage for days two years ago. She came home unharmed, and according to Meredith, she didn’t seem to have suffered from any serious psychological trauma. Then again, I wasn’t insensitive enough to remind her of that case. After all, she was just a child, and I didn’t want to be responsible for triggering a bad memory.

  On the other hand, Rick didn’t share my discretion.

  “Don’t say you’re going to be kidnapped again,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Come on, I won’t ever again be kidnapped like some kind of an idiot.” She pouted. When she did that, she looked like a child of her age.

  “Julie, being kidnapped doesn’t make you stupid,” I said, in an attempt to offer her some moral support.

  “I think it does, especially when you’re being kidnapped for the second time.” She shrugged, sounding like an adult trapped in a little girl’s body. When I first met her, I was a bit taken aback, but according to Rick, she talked just like any of the kids in her social class—residing in the Upper East Side and going to one of those prestigious schools. “It’s not like I’m living in one of those unstable countries where you get kidnapped as often as grocery shopping. Being kidnapped just once is like encountering some rare creature about to go extinct, but if I get kidnapped again, that could make me look like a careless loser. Or at least that’s what Mom says. Anyway, as soon as I returned home, my parents upped the security level, and I’ve totally lost the liberty I used to enjoy on the way back home from school. Such as dropping by Bloomy to take a look at the latest collections and have some quality time with my French teacher over tea and a cupcake. Ah… memories. I don’t know why, but even if I’m eating the same cupcakes from the same Magnolia Bakery, they taste way better when I eat them on the way home than at home.”

  “I know.” Jackie nodded. “Everything tastes better when eaten on the way home from school.” Not that Julie could hear her voice because Jackie was a ghost, of course.

  She clapped her palms, saying, “Now, let’s get back to the point.” Sounding like a mini adult instead of a fourth grader, she batted her eyelashes at Rick. “Do you want to hear more details?”

  “Yup, I’m listening.” He nodded, keeping his hand in his favorite position, at the small of my back.

  “Me too!” Jackie chimed in. “I’m all ears.” She cupped her ears with her hands, as if she was determined not to miss any little piece of info. Jackie was a Broadway actor when she was alive and died as a drag queen on the night of her murder; though she had closure, she chose to remain in the living world. She loved dressing in flashy women’s attire before she died, and on this day, she was in a rainbow-colored dress and a pair of ultra-high platinum heels.

  Jackie was being her usual self, but lately I’d been overly sensitive and found humor in most things anyway, so I snorted with laughter before I could stop myself.

  “What’s so funny?” Julie narrowed her eyes.

  “Well….” I was tempted to tell her about my ghostly pal, but then I remembered we were in the middle of a tour of the hospital’s maternity ward.

  I glanced at the lady who was walking with us in the ward, helping us get the feel of each birthing room and suite while explaining available services and options. She patiently waited for us while the only daughter of the two highest profile doctors at the hospital interrupted her job. When our eyes met, she offered me a polite smile, but it was a little too forced to be considered sincere, and I had a feeling that talking about Jackie right then wasn’t going to give her a good impression of me.

  I liked the dark wood furniture, the prospects of having a concierge, food delivery from any of the topnotch restaurants in the city, and in-room spa and hairstyling services. I might want to deliver my baby daughter there, so I decided not to tell Julie about Jackie in front of the hospital staff.

  “You know, I tend to be really giggly these days.” I rubbed my protruding belly. “Maybe it’s the hormones messing with me.”

  I knew I was being lame, but I thought most nine-year-olds would buy lame excuses.

  “Oh, really?” She furrowed her eyebrows, giving me a head-to-toe once-over, and to be honest, I was a little bit intimidated. She might be young, but she already acted like any other lady from Upper East Side, sporting a slightly snobby attitude. “Are you having a boy or girl?” she unexpectedly questioned.

  With Jackie excitedly bouncing by my side, chanting, “It’s a baby girl. Woo-hoo!” I said, “We’re expecting a baby girl.”

  “Yup. Can’t wait to see the little princess,” Rick chimed in.

  “Wow, a baby girl?” Julie moved her arms elegantly, as if she was channeling a fairy or something. “I hope she resembles Rick a lot. You know, according to new research, babies who look like their dad tend to be healthier. Wouldn’t that be great?”

  Contrary to her saccharine smile, I felt like I was being scrutinized. Maybe I was just overreacting, but my eyebrows started to knit together nonetheless.

  “A girl who looks just like me?” Rick leaned in. “Sounds fun, but personally, I’d really love to see a mini-Mandy.”

  Then he kissed my cheek, prompting me to giggle again and the baby to kick as Julie rolled her eyes.

&
nbsp; My name is Mandy Rowling. I’m a former FBI special assistant turned chief agent of Paranormal Cases Division of USCAB, a security-based conglomerate owned and run by Rick’s dad, Dan Rowling. I was seven and a half months pregnant with our first child, and as an expecting mom, I was shopping around the hospitals where my obstetrician, Dr. Bergman, was affiliated. While the tour escort at Mount Sinai showed us around the maternity ward, Julie crashed our meeting.

  Julie was a nine-year-old girl whose mom, Meredith, had been a close friend of Rick’s since childhood. On that particular Saturday, she was visiting the hospital for “Take Your Kid to Work Day.” And the moment she found us—or rather Rick—she practically forgot about observing her neurosurgeon dad’s work. In spite of the age difference between Rick and her, she seemed to have a huge crush on my husband. She’d never mentioned it, but when Rick kissed me, I caught her shrugging and sticking out her lower lip.

  “You’re gonna so get over Rick, sweetie,” Jackie cooed by her side. “I know Rick’s steaming hot, but he’s too old for you, in my honest opinion.”

  “So, Julie, do you want to tell us more about the crime you’re involved in?” Rick bent down to her eye level.

  “Oh, right… the crime.” She cleared her throat. “Actually, we’re expecting another crime in our family.”

  “No kidding?” I blinked rapidly, not quite following.

  “But how can you expect a crime?” Rick furrowed his eyebrows. “Most victims are ambushed in surprise.”

  “I know, but the one I’m talking about is different. He’s predictable,” she said, grinning. “You’ve heard about the serial thief called Mysterious Art Connoisseur?”

  “Oh, I see. You’re talking about the serial art thief stealing from the mansions in the Upper East Side, right?” Rick nodded.

  “Exactly,” she agreed. “My mom’s older sister, Aunt Nicole, lives in the neighborhood where the thief has struck not just once or twice but six times, and she’s recently acquired a really priceless art piece. She knows two of the victims, and she’s seriously thinking about upping her security.”

  “Aunt Nicole’s neighbors might be getting robbed, but that doesn’t mean her home will be burglarized.” Jackie crossed her arms.

  I nodded ever so slightly so only Jackie would notice.

  Julie wasn’t looking at me as she went on. “She and Uncle Eddie already have a USCAB subscription, but I suspect Aunt Nicole is likely to need your services since Uncle Edie is still in London for business. Anyway, that’s what brought me to chat with you—to be the bridge between you and my aunt just in case. You know, like a liaison, and—”

  “Hello, young lady,” called a woman’s voice from the doorway.

  “Oh… Mom.” With her mouth and eyes wide open, panic crossed Julie’s face for a second, but she was quick to regain her composure. “Hi! I thought you were busy,” she commented, offering a nonchalant smile.

  “I am.” Meredith tapped the floor with the tip of her Yves Saint Laurent ballet flats. “But when your dad texted me about losing you while he was checking on his patient, I had to take some time off and look for you. Who could’ve imagined you’d be bothering Mandy and Rick?”

  “Actually, she wasn’t bothering us,” I lied. Okay, she was keeping our attendant from doing her job, but I didn’t have the heart to say that in front of her.

  “No, she wasn’t,” Rick agreed. “Julie was offering her expertise of being a baby, helping us pick the right candidates for the delivery.”

  His comment caused Julie to puff her cheeks and pout, insisting, “I’m not a baby!”

  Her mom chuckled. “That’s the lamest excuse I can imagine, but you have a point, Rick.” As she threw her head back, her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders. “Now that you mentioned her babyhood, I’m less angry. Julie, you owe Mandy and Rick a huge thank-you.” She glared at her daughter.

  “Mandy, Rick, thank you so much,” Julie muttered, gnawing her lower lip.

  “You’re welcome.” Rick beamed. “Be a good girl and don’t go missing, okay?”

  “Sure.” She bobbed her head at him and then looked up at Meredith. “I was not just helping them pick the right room, but I also briefed Rick about Aunt Nicole’s potential risk for having her art stolen. Her latest collection is likely to be taken, so telling him about that in advance is going to help her, right?”

  “Now, Julie, let’s go back to the orthopedics clinic,” Meredith commanded while clutching Julie’s hand tightly. Then she turned to me. “So, Mandy, are you all set to give birth here?”

  “I like this hospital, but I’m still torn between here, Lenox Hill, and St. Luke’s,” I said, rubbing my belly. “Here and Lenox Hill are closer to home, and St. Luke’s is close to Rick’s workplace.”

  “I believe each facility has its own pros and cons, but all are reputably good,” Rick interjected. “The baby’s still staying breech, and we’re expecting a C-section. Which hospital would you prefer for that procedure?”

  “Well, that’s a good question. Each location has its perks. I hear Lenox Hill’s suite offers a to-die-for view.” She chuckled, softening her face. “Except, if you’re going with a C-section, you’re going to deliver the baby in an operating room and the view would be irrelevant. It’s easier to go home when you and the baby are being released from the hospital if it’s closer to your home. So my recommendation would be here.”

  “That’s a good point,” I agreed.

  “I’m not telling you this just because I work here, but they serve amazing dinners.” She winked.

  “Really?” My ears perked up.

  The staff member who had been showing us around cleared her throat. “So, Mr. and Mrs. Rowling, would you like to see the other rooms?”

  “Sure, sorry for keeping you waiting,” I apologized.

  “Oh no, you didn’t keep me waiting at all.” She shook her head.

  “Oh, Eliza! Thanks again for giving me the heads-up about my daughter’s whereabouts!” Meredith scurried to the attendant, hugging her with one arm while Julie gave her a dirty look with her hand still secured in her mom’s death grip.

  “My pleasure, Dr. Grey.”

  “So, how’s our daughter reacting to this suite?” Rick whispered in my ear.

  I reached for my belly. “Hmm, she’s been quiet for the past few minutes.”

  “Is she okay?” He stared at me like he was trying to read her condition through my eyes.

  Just as I was getting lost in his mesmerizing green eyes, Jackie chimed in. “No worries, she’s fine. She’s just sleeping right now.”

  “Jackie says she’s asleep,” I relayed, planting a peck on his jaw.

  “Good.” His lips parted into a smile. “Darling, Mom and Dad are really looking forward to seeing you.” He stroked my tummy, making me giddy.

  Neither of us expected that, in a few days’ time, we’d be involved in the serial heist case Julie had mentioned.

  CHAPTER 1

  Two days later, I was on a roll doing household chores. After breakfast and sending Rick to work, I cleaned the floors and washed the dishes and did the laundry before making my lunch.

  Okay, so I cheated a little. Our lovely Miss Roomba vacuumed the floor while Mr. Braava ran around sweeping, and the machines took care of dishwashing and laundry. The most striking part was that the cleaning robots never collided with each other thanks to being equipped with cutting-edge sensors. Also, I’m proud to say that I didn’t skip cleaning the toilets, which I did manually by squirting Clorox and leaving it to sit for a while and then brushing and flushing. Jackie volunteered to be my assistant, notifying me every time she spotted places needing additional cleaning. Perhaps doing it solo would’ve been easier.

  After eating linguine with bacon and pesto sauce with coleslaw on the side for lunch, I prepped dinner. When dinner was almost ready, with a rack of pork roasted and tomato sauce simmered and smelling so heavenly, just needing to be reheated when Rick came home, I was ready to treat mys
elf with some leisurely reading. When I was a med student, I always found myself in desperate need of a Janet Evanovich fix when I was supposed to be cramming a ton of knowledge in my head for exam after exam. There was a time when I told one of my classmates about my favorite scenes from Stephanie Plum, and she looked at me blankly, asking, “So, what specialty were you rotating when you met that Stephanie?” She didn’t get the fact about the super-famous bounty hunter being a fictional character.

  “What’s your plan for the rest of the day?” Jackie flew over to me as I brought Sophie Kinsella’s latest book to the dining table, which happened to be my favorite place for reading.

  “I’ll sit and read till Rick comes home, so the afternoon will be pretty much quiet,” I replied. “What’s your plan, Jackie?”

  “I was thinking about visiting a theater off-Broadway.” She danced on the spot. “There’s a rehearsal of a Jersey Boys-style show going on, starring lots of good-looking guys taking off their shirts and everything. So I guess I’ll visit there and take a peek at the boys.” As she explained, she couldn’t stop grinning.

  “Sounds good,” I said, and the baby kicked me as if she was interested in joining her ghostly auntie. “We’ll stay home, honey. The show Auntie Jackie is going to is for adults. Besides, they don’t show rehearsals to living humans. She gets to see the show because she’s a ghost and is invisible to most people.”

  “I’ll take you to steamy shows when you turn eighteen,” Jackie cooed at my belly.

  “Wow, Auntie Jackie’s gonna take you to adult shows when you’re big. How exciting!” I said to the baby, then turned to Jackie. “Enjoy the show.”

  “Sure.”

  The moment she raised a hand to wave at me, my phone beeped.

  It was Rick. “Hi, Mandy, how are you doing?”

  “I’m great, thanks.” I smiled. It wasn’t a video call, but just listening to his voice made me giddy and our daughter move a lot. “What’s up? Do you need something?”

  “Oh, Mandy, I didn’t know you picked up mindreading skills.”